Weekend Thoughts?

Thor's AssistantRostra Administrator (Thor's Assistant) 6 Comments

UT columnist Tom Blair notes the other day that former state GOP chairman Ron Nehring is consulting the Bonnie Dumanis for Mayor campaign… http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/26/tom-blair-some-people-are-just-born-salesmen/ Reader thoughts? Post a comment below. Also, take part in the Rostra Facebook survey… Which GOP candidate loses the most from the Log Cabin Club endorsement of Nathan Fletcher for Mayor? http://www.facebook.com/sdrostra

Occupy Oceanside . . . Filling In The Ellipsis

Bradley J. FikesBradley J. Fikes 1 Comment

The “Occupy” movement came to Oceanside yesterday. And as with all the “Occupy” movements, the question is, what’s their purpose? A brief preview story in the San Diego Union-Tribune provided this tantalizingly elided quote from an Occupy Oceanside press release: “The big banks, multinational corporations and unscrupulous billionaires … have far more influence on the democratic process than ever intended …

While others Cut their Hours, GOP’s Ernie Dronenburg calmly restores them — His Offices are open to the Public till 5:00 pm again

Jim SillsJim Sills 3 Comments

SD County court offices now close at 3:30 pm … Library, fire station and recreation center hours are cut back, but somehow San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk  Ernie Dronenburg still  bucks the trend.  First, Ernie reopened the Kearny Mesa and Chula Vista  offices closed to the public under  an appointed Democrat predecessor toppled in last year’s election.  Now Ernie has expanded public hours too, keeping doors open until  …

Log Cabin Club Endorses Nathan Fletcher for Mayor

Greg LarkinGreg Larkin 1 Comment

From the Log Cabin Republicans: We know many will be puzzled by the Log Cabin Republicans’ endorsement of Nathan Fletcher. With two LGBT candidates in the race it does seem a bit puzzling at first glance. However, we are a Republican organization first and an LGBT organization second. When it came time to endorse we asked ourselves, “Who is best-positioned …

CA Supreme Court Strikes Down Redistricting Challenges

Assemblymember Marie WaldronAssemblymember Marie Waldron Leave a Comment

The following press release was issued today from the California Citizens Redistricting Commission addressing two lawsuits filed in opposition to the new State redistricting maps for State Senate and for Federal Congressional districts. The Commission asked the court for the dismissal as they claimed the lawsuits did not clearly prove that any wrongdoing by the commission had been proved. Now …

“Let’s Build the Navy Headquarters”

Carl DeMaioCarl DeMaio 2 Comments

As Major Coastal Commission Vote Looms, DeMaio Issues a Call-to-Action to Urge Support for Stalled Navy-Broadway Project Calling it the “single most important military project proposed in San Diego in decades,” Councilmember Carl DeMaio today called on the California Coastal Commission to drop its efforts to block construction of the much-anticipated new Navy Headquarters in San Diego.  “The importance of …

San Diego Rostra and Gayle Falkenthal collect 4 Awards at Last Night’s annual “San Diego Press Club” dinner

Jim SillsJim Sills 5 Comments

The prestigious San Diego Press Club held its annual awards dinner last night in Mission Valley, and for a 2nd straight year, San Diego Rostra and Gayle Falkenthal received multiple honors.  Gayle took home a 1st Place  for Daily Newspapers & Websites, Headline Writing, and SD Rostra a 2nd Place for Website News and Opinion.  (The 1st-place site discusses Real Estate, so …

SD POA: Criticism from taxpayer advocacy groups over AB 2510 unjustified

Guest ColumnGuest Column 14 Comments

Following the organization’s endorsement of mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher last week, San Diego Police Officers Association President Brian Marvel noted to us via Twitter that recent analyses of AB 2510 by columnist Steve Greenhut and radio host Chris Reed, some repeated on Rostra, were inaccurate, stating the references as “a perfect example on the right of trickle down laziness.” He …

MTS to Consider a “Large” Police Force this Thursday

Steve GrammSteve Gramm 1 Comment

The Metropolitan Transit System board of directors this Thursday will consider putting in place a police force. State law allows transit agencies to employ police officers, meaning in addition to security personnel (the latter of which MTS clearly has in place). These officers must have the same training as sworn cops with any police department. Item 31 on this week’s …

San Diego’s Mayor Race Relationship Status: It’s Complicated

Erica HollowayErica Holloway 8 Comments

Originally posted on the Flash Report. The 2012 San Diego mayor’s race began like other love affairs – lots of hope and promise for the future. Then, the sparkle and shine of courtship faded quickly into the same old dull routine. No more flowers. No more moonlight and love songs. Seems I’m not the only one who noticed our romance …

RAND Corp. recalls study that crime increased after pot shops closed

Kimberly DvorakKimberly Dvorak Leave a Comment

A controversial study published by the RAND Corp. that claimed crime increased in Los Angeles after medical marijuana dispensaries were closed was officially retracted. The RAND study was published in September, linking increases in various crimes to the closure of dispensaries. The report prompted public safety advocates to question the study. A Santa Monica think-tank reviewed all the data used …

AD 77 race Update. There IS a Democrat running for the Nathan Fletcher seat …. Dustin Steiner and Maienschein for GOP

Jim SillsJim Sills 8 Comments

Commenting on  the Dustin Steiner v. Brian Maienschein GOP primary in AD 77, Rostra regulars Erik and Alger wondered if a credible Democrat would  run here.  If not,  the two Republicans could battle all the way to November.  Well,  the Secretary of State’s website shows a credible Democrat is running:  Ruben Hernandez.  He has an active website as well, and resides in the redrawn 77th State Assembly seat. …

Closing schools? The bigger issue is Sacramento

Poway RogerPoway Roger 1 Comment

Regarding San Diego Unified, see the UT’s “School closure plan draws ire, skepticism“… So what do you do when the population gradually moves out of an area? The district has avoided this topic for years and it looks like it is finally forced to act. The issue could have been addressed a long time prior, but decision-makers were afraid. Think of …

DeMaio Jobs Forum Outlines Strategies for Preparing San Diego’s Workforce for the 21st Century Economy

Carl DeMaioCarl DeMaio Leave a Comment

Outlines “Hire-A-Youth” Job Training Program for 5000 Students and Proposes Stronger Partnerships Between City, Colleges/Universities, Veterans Groups, and Businesses Key to Equip San Diego Workers with Skill Sets] Councilmember Carl DeMaio wrapped up his latest “Job Creation Summit” today by issuing a call to action to “make San Diego’s workforce the most innovative workforce in the country.”  DeMaio pledged to …

What I saw in August to support a good man, Herman Cain, for President of the USA — by Judge Larry Stirling

Jim SillsJim Sills

Judge Larry Stirling (ret.) went “all in” for Herman Cain when the Georgian  looked like a hopeless long shot.  How things have changed!  Today Larry tells us what drew he and wife Linda to Cain’s candidacy… My wife and I were certainly pleased to host Herman Cain during one of his earlier campaign appearances. That was in August when he was …

Mayoral Debate Fails To Strike Sparks, DeMaio and Dumanis Stay Out, Is Fletcher’s Heart In Pension Reform?

Bradley J. FikesBradley J. Fikes 15 Comments

I really wanted to see the mayoral debate on Wednesday, but my day job kept me until it was too late to go. But from what’s been printed about it, I didn’t miss much. Only two of the top four candidates even showed up — Nathan Fletcher and Bob Filner. Kudos to them for showing up. As for Carl DeMaio …

Curt Hagman Endorses Nathan Fletcher!

Nathan FletcherNathan Fletcher Leave a Comment

Assemblyman and former Mayor of Chino Hills Curt Hagman today announced he has endorsed Nathan Fletcher for mayor of San Diego. Hagman serves on the Assembly Public Safety committee and serves as the Republican Floor Leader. “Nathan is the best choice to lead San Diego into a new era and turn the page on a tough decade,” said Hagman. “As …

Full Transparency Needed in City’s Five-Year Financial Outlook

Carl DeMaioCarl DeMaio Leave a Comment

Yesterday, the City’s Five-Year financial outlook was presented to the Budget and Financial committee meeting and I was very disappointed to see that the true infrastructure deficit was excluded from the City’s financial forecasts. If the full infrastructure deficit is not included I fear that our roads and infrastructure will continue to fall into further disrepair since the City Council …

“It’ll sure suck when they take away your Porsche!”

Ryan T. DarbyRyan T. Darby 7 Comments

Occupy San Diego has really been a blessing for those of us who enjoy fascinating—albeit degenerate—distractions. Today I was walking to my office when I saw two (count them, two) protestors posted on the corner of 5th and B, in front of the Wells Fargo building. They were waving their signs at oncoming traffic…and, for whatever reason, they sought validation …