By popular demand, the Albondigas Straw Poll (AKA the Meatball Poll) will continue as a regular feature exclusive to Rostra. This month’s edition turned to statewide issues. Albondigas San Diego members were asked to weigh in on five questions, yes or no. The results: 1. Will Governor Brown be successful in eliminating redevelopment? Yes: 41% No 59% 2. Will we …
They Shoot Deserters, Don’t They?
Not satisfied with holding the Legislature hostage, union leaders in Wisconsin now seem bent on calling for a general strike. I’d point out the history of striking against the public, which is illegal, and how it never bodes well for the union. But this article from The New American does the heavy lifting for me. Writing in Liberation, the official …
Media Union Urges Protest Against Republicans
Supposedly objective journalists are being encouraged by the Pacific Media Workers Guild to protest against Wisconsin Republicans for acting against “fundamental labor and human rights,” a.k.a. collective bargaining rights by public employee unions. PMWG outlets include the San Francisco Chronicle; Contra Costa Times; San Jose Mercury News; Valley Times; Oakland Tribune; Sacramento Bee; Fresno Bee; Modesto Bee; Monterey County Herald …
Math Meets Political Power
Math is winning, what a surprise. (This is a recurring theme at The Scratching Post.) Today’s U-T headline about the California budget dilemma is a case in point: Democrats Confronted with the Limits of Power In last November’s election, voters removed the requirement for a two-thirds majority to pass California’s budget. Democrats control both legislative houses and the governor’s mansion, …
Bonnie Dumanis is running… for Mayor Jerry Sanders’ third term
San Diego has a longstanding tradition of electing establishment Republicans, often with either military or law enforcement roots as its mayor. Before becoming U.S. Senator and California governor, former Marine Corps officer and Republican Pete Wilson was mayor of San Diego from 1971-1982. Wilson, a moderate to liberal on social issues, did limit the growth of the city’s budget, cut …
The Opponent Bonnie Dumanis Fears Most – And It’s Not Who You Think
San Diego political insiders have been all a-Twitter today (literally) with the filing of candidacy papers for the City of San Diego Mayoral Race by District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. Ongoing speculation including a bet between Rostra blogger Barry Jantz and San Diego County Taxpayers Association senior director Chris Cate on whether Dumanis would actually enter the race ran rampant and …
Rescinding the “Crash Tax” in Oceanside — Double Taxation, says Felien
Councilman Gary Felien, just elected last November in Oceanside, believes the city’s “Crash Tax” isn’t working and is moving to repeal it. “Other cities around the county and state are using Oceanside’s crash tax as a justification to pass their own version,” Felien told Rostra. “It’s time to let them know that this tax isn’t working and will never work.” …
You’re Not Worthy (Of Darren Pudgil)
UPDATE: The inevitable apology. “In my attempt to defend someone I greatly admire – a former police chief who knows something about courage – I said something I shouldn’t have. I’ve called Vince and apologized. We all feel strongly about making our city better, and we will continue to work together.” __________ Darren Pudgil (pictured), the ever-helpful spokesman for San …
Mayor’s Race
As noted in the post below it looks like District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis is in. The emails swirling around town this morning also mentioned that she hired GOP consultant Kevin Spillane from Sacramento to run her race. In the past Dumanis used Democrat consultant Jennifer Tierney, who is also the consultant for the Firefighter’s Union. Does this mean that the …
When Senators Act Like Spoiled Brats
Well they finally did it! They finally took a vote in Wisconsin without waiting for the Democratic senators to return and none too soon, because Governor Scott Walker had been ready to offer a compromise regarding the unions if the Democratic senators who jumped ship and fled to Illinois would only come back. I believe it was a mistake to …
Dumanis is In
From Bonnie Dumanis (original is linked here)… Greetings! I want you to be among the first to know that I’ve made an important decision about our future. For some time, I’ve been talking with San Diegans about how my experience can be of value as the city continues its struggle back to financial health. As your District Attorney, I see …
The U.S. has Massive OIL Reserves and high gas prices? Nice…
I got this email earlier today, just after I drove my all electric Nissan Leaf past a bunch of gas stations advertising $4.00+ prices for a gallon of gasoline. As a side note, based on miles per Kwh and the price of electricity, I’m paying the energy equivalent of about 20 cents per gallon driving the Leaf… But back to the …
Le$ar, Atkin$ And Homele$$ne$$
Contrary to what I originally thought, San Diego CityBeat wasn’t the only local publication writing about the cozy homelessness study contract between the CCDC and former board member Jennifer LeSar. A pseudonymous blogger at San Diego Reader has also examined the questionable deal for a $464,750 study on how to end downtown homelessness in 5 years. My apologies to the …
SD Rostra’s own Marie Waldron named “Woman of the Year” in North County’s 74th District by Assemblyman Martin Garrick!
SD Rostra’s Marie Waldron has been named Assemblyman Martin Garrick’s “Woman of the Year” today, a prestigious Honor made annually by members of the California State Assembly. Marie is Deputy Mayor of Escondido, and won a landslide re-election victory in November. “I am very pleased to honor Marie as my Woman of the Year,” Garrick said today. “She has clearly …
Sky high gas doesn’t help GM’s Electric car sales
With fuel prices edging past the $4 per gallon mark in many states, one would think budget-conscious consumers would be making a beeline to GM’s new electric cars. They’re not. After the federal government publicly took over General Motors, many tree-hugging bureaucrats embraced the former gas-guzzling auto giant and designed the new environmentally friendly “Volt.” However, the inception of General …
Free Speech Working Both Ways
Originally published by The Washington Times March 3, 2011 — Landmark court decisions often leave a peculiar fragrance behind, spawning a plethora of mixed feelings. Such emotional roller coasters may understandably look like a contradiction, but the truth is, feelings and laws are often owned in unavoidable tension with each other. The latest Supreme Court case regarding Westboro Baptist serves …
PolitiFact Right About Rachel Maddow
Funny thing about fact-checking: When you really delve into an issue, it’s always possible to be surprised. I was prepared to blast the fact-checking site PolitiFact yet again for a false claim, this time about Rachel Maddow. But PolitiFact is correct, and Maddow wrong. So is the Web site Stinky Journalism (love the name!) which came to Maddow’s defense. PolitiFact …
GOP budget hawks look to lasso the cowboy poet’s festival
Cry me a river Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is calling the Republicans mean for wanting to cut the cowboy poetry festival in his home state of Nevada. “The mean-spirited bill, H.R. 1, eliminates National Public Broadcasting,” says Senate Leader Reid. “It (H.R.1) eliminates the National Endowment of the Humanities and National Endowment of the Arts.” Reid continued to …
2012 SD Mayoral Candidates: Where’s Your Base?
Here’s a fun question for discussion: what do you think will be the voter bases for the Republican candidates seeking the San Diego City Mayor’s Office in 2012? In 2000, Dick Murphy, a Del Cerro resident, built a GOTV machine in his nearby San Carlos/Navajo precincts and dominated the vote there on Primary Election Day. In 2005, Jerry Sanders built …
VOSD: $300 Million More In San Diego Slush Fund
The ever-resourceful San Diego City Council quietly raised its redevelopment slush fund from $4.1 billion to $4.4 billion. Thanks to a Voice of San Diego article by Keegan Kyle, we know how the underhanded trick was accomplished. While the City Council fast-tracked its approval of the plan, the $300 million cushion was not part of the public discussion. It wasn’t …
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