A virtual media blackout is taking place along Mexico’s borders, and nowhere is the need to get the stories out more important than the U.S./Mexican border – a place where more than 25,000 have lost their lives because of cartel violence. “After years of relative calm, the gangland nightmare is back-and yet, barely a single mention of the clashes here …
Marti “Firetruck” Emerald
It seems after being publicly humiliated at a recent Council meeting Marti Emerald is taking steps to reach out to the community and push her message of, umm…well, I’ll try and get back to you when I find it. She has reinvented her monthly community newsletter although spelling seems to not be a concern. “Subject: We need to restore borwned-out …
K-12 per pupil spending reaches past the $25,000 mark
When you put the education costs per pupil in perspective not only are there big differences between states, but the public and private sectors glean unexpected results. The Cato Institute found public schools can be 93 percent more expensive than private schools. They contend the public school districts are anything but transparent and this creative accounting lends itself to muddy …
What are the real costs for government pensions?
First of all, my disclaimer. I am a government employee. I hope that someone can answer my questions and clear up my thoughts. We hear about government pensions being underfunded. When these pension plans are calculated, why aren’t the long term costs revealed during contract negotiations? Why shouldn’t the agency that employed the employee be responsible for the full retirement …
How Bell got poor taxpayers to unwittingly pay for their huge salaries
The outrageous story of the hapless city of Bell, California is now widely known across the nation. A group of city politicians led by City Manager Rizzo allegedly colluded to pay themselves obscene salaries in a poor city of under 40,000 residents. The disgraced city manager has resigned, losing his $790,000 salary. But not to worry — he’ll get by …
Councilmember DeMaio’s Statement on “Blank Check” Sales Tax Increase
Councilmember DeMaio issued the following statement regarding the proposed sales tax increase: “Until pension reform is implemented, San Diegans can continue to expect chronic budget deficits and service cuts. This tax hike is not a solution to fix run-away pension costs. It’s a blank check tax increase on working families that will end up delaying reform.”
RINO Exhibit at City Hall Zoo
As the melodrama surrounding City Hall unfolded this week, one thing became obvious to all observers of city and local politics. Jerry Sanders has shown himself to be a R.I.N.O. (Republican in Name Only) who lacks the ability to lead this city. His commitment to Republican principles has been whispered about for years. This week has shown Jerry to be …
Senator Graham wants to change birthright citizenship laws
Looking past Arizona’s SB1070 ruling this week, some lawmakers are toying with the idea of ending the “birthright citizenship, birth tourism or anchor baby” policies America currently has in place. After the Arizona ruling came down Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Fox News that “birthright citizenship” needs to be changed. “I’m a practical guy, but when you go forward I …
Coalition Letter to Mayor Sanders, Re: Sales Tax Ballot Proposal
REFORM BEFORE REVENUE COALITION Asian Business Association of San Diego Republican Party of San Diego County Building Industry Association – San Diego San Diego County Apartment Association California Restaurant Association San Diego County Taxpayers Association Neighborhood Market Association San Diego Tax Fighters Lincoln Club of San Diego County July 29, 2010 Honorable Mayor Jerry Sanders Honorable City Councilmembers City of …
Breaking: Sterling to challenge Madrid in La Mesa
City Councilmember Ruth Sterling has taken out intention papers to challenge incumbent Art Madrid for mayor in the City of La Mesa. Both are Republicans. The move is further evidence that Madrid may have no serious challenge in November. Sterling has done little in the fundraising arena during her 18 years on the council, other than about $10,000 of her …
City of San Diego moves headlong toward “something”
Voice reporter Liam Dillon is literally camped out at SD City Hall. From Voice of SD… City Sets Emergency Financial Meeting; Frye and Mayor to Present Joint Proposal? The San Diego City Council will meet Friday morning at 10 a.m. to discuss City Councilwoman Donna Frye’s proposed ballot measure linking a sales tax increase to a series of cost-cutting reforms. …
Arizona’s SB1070 ruling draws ire and applause
Arizona federal Judge Susan Bolton says there will be no sanctuary cities in the state, but sided with the Obama administration on key provisions that resulted in a bevy of lawsuits and boycotts. Both sides do agree that the immigration lawsuit ruling leaves room for a robust interpretation of many issues. For example, buried in a footnote, police have the …
DeMaio & Faulconer Outline Criteria for Achieving Fiscal Reform Without Raising Taxes
DeMaio & Faulconer Outline Criteria for Achieving Fiscal Reform Without Raising Taxes Proposed Sales Tax Initiative Does Not Fix Broken City Government Read Full Report San Diego – Councilmember Carl DeMaio joined Councilmember Kevin Faulconer in identifying “10 Criteria for Real Fiscal Reform in City Government.” The reforms include significant reforms to the city’s debt-ridden pension system, immediate implementation of …
When “Enlightenment” Turns To Bigotry
From The Hollywood Reporter, July 26, 2010 NEW YORK – The Anti-Defamation League on Monday slammed filmmaker Oliver Stone for comments he made to the Sunday Times in the U.K., calling them anti-Semitic. Abraham Foxman, ADL national director, said: “Oliver Stone has once again shown his conspiratorial colors with his comments about ‘Jewish domination of the media’ and control over …
Homeless veterans in 5 cities to get housing relief
In a continued push to take care of those who served their country only to fall through the cracks when they returned home, the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced five cities will share $15 million in funds to build permanent housing structures for homeless veterans. The $15 million in grants will go to five military communities located around …
Taxpayers Are From Mars, Unions Are From Venus
The following commentary by San Diego Republican Party Chairman Tony Krvaric appears today on the FlashReport… In San Diego, like everywhere, the appetite of public employee unions for higher taxes is insatiable San Diego has some unique attributes – most notably our near-perfect weather – it’s no different than many other cities in at least one notable respect; when times …
Time To Retract Mexican Takeover Story
The claim in certain quarters of the dextrosphere, including here, that a Mexican drug cartel took over ranches in Texas deserves euthanasia. There is no confirmation on the record, just anonymous sources. Texas newspapers say the story is groundless. Time to put it out of its misery. The story got an inauspicious start by using anonymous sources. I think the …
ZOMBIE SALES TAX RETURNS YET AGAIN
SALES TAX IS NOT DEAD YET! We enjoyed some brief success yesterday (Monday, 26 July, 2010) when Donna Frye threw a monkey wrench into the San Diego City Council majority’s plan to put a sales tax on the ballot. As you probably all know by now, she joined with Carl DeMaio and Kevin Faulconer to torpedo a sales tax increase …
Solidifying the GOP’s Stance with Gun Owners
Guest Commentary by Michael A. Schwartz A recent foxnews.com article indicates that pro-gun Democrats may get a boost in November. This is both good news…and bad. The good news is that people have been fighting to make gun rights a part of everyone’s agenda and it is working. The Second Amendment is important whether you are gay or straight, black …
Lawmaker pushes Holder on ‘sanctuary cities’
By the Washington Times: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jul/21/lawmaker-pushes-holder-on-sanctuary-cities/print/ Frustrated at the Justice Department‘s lawsuit against Arizona’s new immigration law, a Republican congressman introduced a bill demanding that the attorney general also take action against so-called “sanctuary cities,” which discourage immigration enforcement. Rep. Duncan Hunter‘s bill is the latest step as lawmakers seek to inject themselves into the debate and force their colleagues to …
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