The real redistricting scandal by David King at San Diego News Room Republished with permission Link to the original content at SDNR Many have asked the simple question: “What is wrong with our government today?” Although the list is long, for years I have been of the mind that manipulation of our legislative districts is the prime culprit—the reason “safe” …
Fact Check: Dumanis used “Huckster Propaganda”
The Voice of San Diego, in partnership with NBC 7, recently released their latest fact check. This time they reviewed DA Bonnie Dumanis’ statements on her own “Public Integrity Unit”. The unit was created to investigate elected officials for corruption. Since the program has been an utter failure, Dumanis has attempted to rewrite history on the reasons for creating the …
U.S. federal land provides a safe haven for drug and alien smuggling
Last week former Border Patrol Agent, George Taylor, testified before a Congressional Committee hearing regarding America’s growing border security issues. After 43 years law enforcement experience Taylor calls it like he sees it and this former BP Agent points to the National Parks and designated Wilderness Land along the southern border as the main culprit in the uptick of cartel …
Our Transportation Dollars Going To Transit
You probably have been living under a rock if you haven’t noticed the significant progress San Diego County has made in upgrading our highways in the last couple of years. That being said, “Progress” may be a little too complimentary of a word. The truth is much of what has been upgraded in the past few years has been nearly …
Biotech, Pharma Industry Congressional Hearing Held in San Diego
From my article at the North County Times: Local members of Congress back biotech, pharma regulatory reform LA JOLLA —- Biotech and pharmaceutical business leaders asking for more responsive government regulation got a sympathetic hearing from four local members of Congress at a forum Thursday. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee forum was convened by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista. …
Fixing California – A Reform Agenda
The Economist has a special report this week on the state of Democracy in California, and it is not good. For the last few years, I haven’t agreed with the magazines editorial positions on a growing number of issues, but they are still first rate journalists and point out some important facts. But before we get to the article, they …
A Q&A: Cuts to libraries and rec centers
I received an email Thursday from Voice of San Diego’s City Hall reporter asking for the councilman’s position on proposed cuts to libraries and rec centers. I had written a blog post a day earlier on San Diego Rostra that said some local reporters weren’t giving the City Council much of a say in stories about the proposed cuts. The email from Liam Dillon at the Voice …
Victory for Justice in National City
IJ Client Carlos Barragan Jr. at the CYAC gym in National City. The Institute for Justice has obtained a victory in the long running dispute between National City and the Community Youth Athletic Center, which was designated as blighted in order to allow seizure of the gym by the city so that an influential developer can build luxury condos. Dean …
Tom Shepard’s Stock Drops by 20 Percent. Not.
Longtime political strategist Tom Shepard may be among the most successful campaign consultants the San Diego area has seen, but he is most certainly unmatched in one rather unique category. Who before him could ever lay claim to being the consultant for every one of the members of the County Board of Supervisors…simultaneously? (Jim Sills, if you can actually come …
When Bills About History Make History
Originally written by Bob Siegel and published in The Washington Times Communities, 4-21-11. Used by permission. SAN DIEGO, April 21,24, 2011 —There is a new bill making its way through the California legislature. It already passed the Senate. If it also passes the Assembly and gets signed, public school teachers will be required to update both their lectures and their …
East County Meatballs Have Their Say on Pension Reform
The National Albondigas Political Society (East County Chapter) convened today in El Cajon, also known as the Gateway to El Centro. El Cajon Mayor Mark “Meatball” Lewis lent his presence as did the likes of numerous East County councilmembers, school and water board, hospital district board members, Chamber officials, business leaders, political consultants, staff representatives of local elected officials, lobbyists …
New Report Shows Fire Department Compensation 137% to 325% Higher than Private Sector Benchmarks
Councilmembers DeMaio and Zapf Call for Critical Review of Fire Department Labor Costs Councilmembers Carl DeMaio and Lorie Zapf today released a troubling report showing extreme differences between Fire Department employees and similarly qualified employees of private sector ambulance companies. The analysis showed the Fire Department is paying salaries that are 137% to 325% higher for comparable work in the …
Councilman pitches bright idea for street lights
From 760KFMB: Posted: Apr 21, 2011 1:45 PM PDT SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The City of San Diego could save taxpayer money by installing solar panels on as many as 33,000 street lights due to be replaced, a councilman said Thursday. The panels would provide enough electricity to run the lights, and any excess could be sold to San Diego …
Texas snatches 1,000 high-paying eBay jobs from California (Corrected)
Correction from Rostra Admin, 4/25/11… We contacted Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s Chief of Staff Ray Sullivan (a former San Diegan) about this article, related to the claim that the jobs are being relocated from California to Texas. Mr. Sullivan’s response: “These are new jobs as I understand it…added in Texas instead of California. So, few if any eBay personnel will …
FlashReport: Controversy Swirls Around Partisan Staffer of San Diego Redistricting Commission, Assemblywoman’s Daughter
From today’s FlashReport by Jon Fleischman (linked here)… What is Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) doing in Otay Mesa on a Wednesday night? Touring the border? Offering Northern California’s help on water issues? Nope, she was here to support her embattled daughter Midori Wong, the Executive Director to the San Diego Redistricting Commission. For the FlashReport readers around the state not …
‘Club for Growth’ National President Chris Chocola speaks in San Diego on Tuesday — Fairbanks Republican Women host
Thanks to Linda Dealy for the news: The Club for Growth’s President, former Congressman Chris Chocola, will speak in San Diego next Tuesday evening, and tickets to the event are a very-affordable $50 ! You can register to attend on-line here: www.frwf.org Chris Chocola represented the “Notre Dame” district of Indiana, winning it away from Democrats in 2002, before losing in the ‘wave’ …
GPU and the Future of San Diego County
Guest Commentary by County Supervisor Bill Horn This month, the Board of Supervisors made a decision on what I consider the most important issue I have dealt with during my 16 years as your County Supervisor. The vote was to move ahead with the County’s General Plan Update (GPU), a document that sets the course for land use decisions in …
Terrorism’s down-payment in the form of drugs and U.S. aid money (part 4)
Afghanistan’s corruption is legendary (see Part 3 in this series). The war-torn tribal nation provides fertile fields for training terrorists and growing poppies, is home to al Qaeda, and is where the 9/11 plotters hatched their terrorist attack on America. But sadly, in the worst kept secret in Central Asia, the U.S. condones and encourages the growing of poppies, the …
Odds of saving libraries and rec centers better than Lions making playoffs
Stories about budget cuts are easy to tell and reaction is fierce, but the coverage is often misleading Just about every media outlet has recently and repeatedly told San Diegans the news isn’t good – massive cuts to your libraries and rec centers are coming. It’s a great story for the overworked journalist. Easy to report. Easy to write. Readers, …
Dual Profiles for Redistricting Chief Midori Wong
KUSI’s story about the liberal partisans on the “independent” Redistricting Commission has reverberated throughout San Diego. KUSI sat down with Redistricting Commission Chief of Staff Midori Wong. The Redistricting Commission website’s profile of Wong does not mention her being a 2010 fellow of the liberal New Leaders Council. It also omitted her campaigning for Democrat Assemblymember Mariko Yamada, her mother, …
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