Help the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association fight costly abuses of government pensions San Diego County Employees Retirement Association refuses to comply Pension costs are a rapidly increasing expense for both local and state governments. In San Diego, the Little Hoover Commission estimates government pension costs could reach 50% as soon as 2025. This means less resources for services that make …
The Barkeep Goes to the Republican Convention
I had a few with The Barkeep tonight. Downtown. The normal place. If I ramble you can figure out why. I took notes though. He went to the Republican Convention this week at the Capitol. Here’s my version of what he said: The big fight was about whether or not the GOP would endorse. That’s all anyone flapped their gums …
Light versus Right
The debate is now a question of pension reform light versus pension reform right. The Mayor said just a year ago that the pension system was already fixed. Now he’s admitting that there is still a problem and asking us to put another cosmetic band-aide on it. Enough is enough. We need a system that provides city employees with benefits …
Environmental Land Grab? Constituent Accuses Michael Beck of Conflict of Interest
While it’s a bit old, I still found this video testimony about a possible conflict of interest by Director of the Endangered Habitats League (EHL), president of the Endangered Habitats Conservancy (EHC), and San Diego County Planning Commissioner Michael Beck worth noting. A North County resident, Ginger Perkins, provided the San Diego County Board of Supervisors testimony in this video …
Faulconer, Sanders propose sweeping pension and payroll changes
The following is from San Diego City Council President Pro Tem Kevin Faulconer: Faulconer on KUSI discussing 401(k) ballot measure Hello: Mayor Jerry Sanders and I announced the details of our groundbreaking pension reform ballot measure today at a news conference. I sincerely hope you will join us in support of these very important and necessary changes. Below are my …
San Diego Watchdogging
Dave Maass, at CityBeat, gets in on the local watchdog action with his report of how County Supervisor Ron Roberts and Carlsbad City Councilwoman Ann Kulchin treat the San Diego Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) like their own personal slush fund. (My words, not Dave’s). The fund was established in the 1990s to build out and maintain the system …
In San Diego: Employees vote; taxpayers don’t
Starting today, an important election involving city finances is taking place in San Diego, but taxpayers won’t be casting the votes. Nope, this election rests with city employees, who have a week to vote on whether to eliminate a controversial and costly employee benefit – the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). Yes, in San Diego, employees have the final say …
Breaking: Eiffel Tower evacuated after terrorist threat
While the French are proclaiming they are not at war with Libya, authorities evacuated the City of Light’s famous Eiffel Tower after a suspicious package was found. Approximately 4,000 tourists were whisked away when the landmark’s personnel received a phone call that the Eiffel Tower would be blown up by the package left at the tourist attraction. While details remain …
Operation Joint Effort Deports 406 Criminal Aliens
Escondido – Escondido Police and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) have arrested and removed 406 criminal illegal aliens in the first 10 months of a special program called “Operation Joint Effort”. This is a model program and Escondido has been at the forefront of combating criminal aliens to keep the streets safe. Escondido has also housed ICE agents at the police …
The GOP’s Big Gay Secret
Just what exactly went down at the GOP Convention last weekend? I’m glad to see the media taking an interest in the GOP. Just imagine the coverage if they stuck around for the acid-dropping, naked chandelier swinging parties. Look folks, it’s not hard to believe Republicans know how to party. The way most of them dress tells you right away …
Lock and Load: Rostrafarians Invited to Breakfast with Sheriff Bill Gore Wed, March 23
This Wednesday, Rostra readers and fellow travelers have the rare opportunity to directly address the senior law enforcement official in San Diego County, express your concerns and ask your questions. The San Diego Press Club is hosting a breakfast forum with Sheriff Bill Gore on March 23, 8 to 9:30 a.m. The event will take place at the KGTV 10 …
Nobel Peace Prize winner Obama declares war against Libya
With his $1.6 million peace prize in his pocket, President Barack Hussein Obama launched an aggressive onslaught of U.S. cruise warfare missiles into a sovereign nation, Libya, which has an internationally recognized leader in Moammar Qaddafi — a tyrannical leader to be sure, but a leader none-the-less. Now America’s young and globalist president has taken the helm for America’s third …
San Diego’s Ron Nehring reflects on his 4 Years as California Republican State Chairman — He is now Term-Limited
San Diego County’s Ron Nehring concludes his 2nd and final 2-year Term as Republican State Chairman today. In a farewell message, he takes pride in retiring the State party’s debt, putting it back on its fiscal feet: “After four years as your Chairman, this morning I’ll step down due to term limits and make way for our new chairman and leadership to guide …
Opposing Putting Tax Increases on the California Ballot
Governor Jerry Brown’s plan to combine tax increases with some spending reductions appears to be popular: A Field Poll released this week showed that 61 percent of voters, including 56 percent of Republicans, want the state to have a special election on the budget. Fifty-eight percent of voters say they would favor extending the temporary taxes. This poses a difficult …
Bardella Admits Transgression To The North County Times
My colleague Mark Walker has the story. On Friday, Bardella, 27, acknowledged during an exclusive interview with the North County Times that what he did was a mistake. His former boss, a Republican from Vista and chairman of the powerful House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, was right to let him go for the transgression, Bardella said. “I did …
Finally, a Loyal Opposition in California
This op-ed originally appeared in the Sacramento Bee There is no need to spin from budget dance to budget dance every six months in California. But unless the state begins to deal with the huge structural problems that face us, we will continue to be dysfunctional. I had very high hopes for the “new” Governor, as expressed in previous editorials. …
Good news for the GOP — Supervisor Ron Roberts files initial papers Friday to Seek a new Term on County Board
Supervisor Ron Roberts filed preliminary papers Friday which allow him to prepare for a 2014 re-election bid. The 1-page ‘Candidate Intention’ statement signals his continuing enthusiasm for the County job. Roberts won a 57% landslide victory last November, in a campaign helmed by Tom Shepard and Aimee Remanick. Roberts’ effective County staff is headed by respected veteran Sal Giametta. Republicans now hold all 9 elective …
News In The North
There is some talk that with various possible financial scandals involving her arts gifts (remember what happened in Encinitas recently), Supervisor Pam Slater might still pull the plug on her campaign for County Supervisor. This mixes the race up and opens the door for more candidates. Two names floating around are Democrat Scott Peters, who previously served on the San …
Message from CA GOP County Chairs
Linked here… The passage of Proposition 14 resulted in the abolition of Republican party primaries to elect the official nominees of the Republican party for federal and state offices. In order to preserve the Republican party’s right and ability to nominate candidates, last year Chairman Nehring asked the state committee to adopt rules providing for a nominating system empowering county …
State Senator Joel Anderson Endorses Steve Danon for Supervisor
California State Senator Joel Anderson formally announced today his endorsement of Steve Danon for County Supervisor in 2012.
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