Former Judge, City Councilman and State legislator, Hon.Larry Stirling announces his support for Carl DeMaio’s campaign. With commendable brevity, Larry explains the reasons why. “Carl DeMaio is the only prospective candidate for mayor of San Diego that has demonstrated through courage, energy, and intelligence the path to successful operational and financial reform for San Diego. They say he is “divisive.” From long experience, …
The Mayor’s Race – First Few Days
Some observations on the first few days of the Mayor’s race: #1 Republicans Up. The Republican candidates for Mayor (DeMaio, Dumanis, Fletcher) are up and running: raising money, throwing up websites, gathering endorsements, hiring consultants. The Democrats are having a harder time getting on their feet. I can’t imagine this is planned. More like they spent so long deciding that …
DeMaio Hits the Ground Running: 25 Events in 23 Days
Focuses on Grassroots Fundraising Push During June San Diego – Mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio announced an aggressive grassroots fundraising push with 25 events scheduled in 23 days during the month of June. “I’m up against the labor unions and downtown special interests,” said DeMaio. “That means I have to raise money from the community. I’m going to do exactly that.” …
The Root of All Money
Ayn Rand once asked: “So you think money is the root of all evil. Have you ever asked what is the root of all money?” Candidates now seek out that answer for the next 12 months in the hopes of being San Diego’s next mayor. Primary races boil down to two very basic survival needs: money and endorsements. In truth, …
My Thoughts from DeMaio’s Announcement
For me, the most interesting thing about the speech wasn’t the text of the actual speech. Don’t get me wrong, it was a very good speech that focused on his plans to fight for the fiscal future of San Diego. He hit all the fiscal conservative points and really dialed in on pension reform. But what was really intriguing was …
Mayoral Candidate Fletcher on the Pension Initiative
From this morning’s Union Tribune in regard to the ballot measure to fix city pensions: Fletcher said he won’t decide whether to support the ballot measure until a fiscal and legal analysis have been done. He also said he has concerns about stripping pensions away from newly hired firefighters, as the measure would do. “It is clear we have to …
ICYMI: DeMaio Kick Off Speech
DeMaio Kicks Off Mayoral Campaign Pledges to Implement His “Roadmap to Recovery” and Pension Reform City Councilmember Carl DeMaio launched his campaign for Mayor on Sunday in Rancho Bernardo. In his announcement, delivered to a crowd of 200 supporters, DeMaio focused on making city government work for San Diegans once again. What follows is the full text of his speech: …
DeMaio and Fletcher are In
Today… SDUT: Fletcher to run for San Diego mayor SDUT: DeMaio kicks off campaign for San Diego mayor Prior stories… Rostra: Heidi Klum’s Take on the San Diego Mayor’s Race Rostra: Deep Thoughts….By People Who May Be Your Mayor Someday SDUT: Kehoe explores run for San Diego mayor Voice: Kehoe Explores Mayoral Candidacy Voice: Kehoe — Let’s Talk Pensions Later …
Deep Thoughts….By People Who May Be Your Mayor Someday
In the spirit of election season, which officially kicks off Sunday, here are some deep thoughts by people who may be San Diego’s Mayor someday: “San Diegans want an app that routes all of their complaints to an intern in my office.” ~Carl DeMaio “San Diegans are tired of drinking at the beach.” ~Kevin Faulconer “San Diegans want a new Chargers …
Heidi Klum’s Take on the San Diego Mayor’s Race
Do I know what will drive Rostra reader traffic, or what? While Mrs. Seal hasn’t technically made any direct comment, her admonition to contestants on her reality show “Project Runway” applies nicely. As in fashion, in politics one day you’re in, and the next day you’re out. In a few short days on June 5 when fundraising can begin, all …
Major Settlement in 2007 Wildfire Debris Removal Case
Holds Contractors Accountable and Recovers Taxpayer Funds Due To Alleged Over-Billing by City Contractors Today I announced a major settlement agreement that recovers $900,000 for taxpayers stemming from alleged over-billing by city contractors for debris removal after the 2007 Wildfires. Today’s settlement not only recovers taxpayer funds, but it sends a message that we will hold city contractors accountable for …
Mayor’s Race: Booorrring
WARNING: This blog contains a large dose of snark. 2012 Mayor’s Race: Booorrring. Ya, I said it. And I meant it. All the hype around early races kills the enthusiasm with saturation. In this case, it’s been just sheer overload. In December, I traded calls with all the muckety mucks, reviewed all the uber early, virtually meaningless polls, gobbled up …
Grand Jury Report Validates Flaws in Case for New City Hall Project
I applaud the San Diego Grand Jury report released yesterday for questioning the renovation and leasing estimates used by the City to push for a new City Hall. This report validates our concerns that the project would cost millions of dollars we simply do not have. I call on city leaders to abandon this project. There are plenty of common …
Smart Phone App “San Diego 311” Launches
Today I unveiled San Diego 311 – a system to streamline how city services are provided to San Diego residents. San Diego 311 will be available as a Smart Phone “App” for Androids, Blackberrys and I-Phones – and accessible through online Widgets. San Diego 311 gives citizens an easy, one-stop way to access key city services and it’s finally time …
Supporting San Diego’s Small Businesses with Better Policies
May 16 to May 20 marks National Small Business Week. This is a time to honor small businesses in our community and the vital role that they play in our local economy. It is also an opportunity for city leaders to examine ways to better support small businesses and remove impediments to their success. I have proposed a number of …
As the Albondigas Turn: May’s Meatball Mayoral Poll
In the previous edition of the already legendary Albondigas San Diego Meatball Poll (and who are we to argue with this assertion), Councilmember Carl DeMaio, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, and Congressman Bob Filner were the top three picks in February for the San Diego Mayor’s race. Back when this poll took place, Charlie Sheen was still on “Two and a Half …
$1.8 Billion Retiree Health Care Giveaway
The public deserves to know exactly what is in this deal how the numbers were reached. Once again, the labor unions and politicians are telling the public to trust them to give public employees an enormous benefit in a backroom deal. If this was really the good news it’s being sold as, then the public should have been given more …
First Managed Competition Results Will Save Taxpayers Over $1 Million
I’m pleased to hear that the first managed competition results will save taxpayers over $1 Million. Congratulations to the City print shop employees for winning the bid by streamlining their operation and reducing their costs by 30%. My hope is that other departments will follow the print shop’s lead and aggressively rethink service delivery through the managed competition process. It …
DeMaio Opposes Massive $1.8 Billion Retiree Health Care Giveaway
15-Year Contract Creates De-Facto “Vesting” of Life-Long City Employee Benefits On Top of Medicare Just when you thought bad pension deals were a thing of the past at City Hall, along comes this unprecedented 15-year binding contract that guarantees life-long taxpayer-funded health benefits to city employees that are far in excess of private sector benchmarks. How can city leaders actually …
Would You Vote To Reform Public Employee Compensation?
Election results show city employees wouldn’t I recently told you about a vote employees at City Hall were taking. City workers, including myself, were asked if they wanted to eliminate a controversial and costly employee benefit – the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). Who in their right mind would vote to eliminate a retirement benefit, especially one that allows participants to …
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