Does City Attorney Jan Goldsmith have a future in politics?
Recent disclosure shows Goldsmith hired a public polling firm, indicating a possible run for office.
City Attorney Jan Goldsmith's campaign committee's war chest is drying up. By January of this year, the committee reported having just $18,900 in the account. But just because the days of $25,000 donations to Republican political action committees are over, …
Restaurateur commissions city employee to help fundraise for Councilmember Lorie Zapf
Mission Bay Park District Manager seeks potential donors for Lorie Zapf campaign event
Councilmember Lorie Zapf's push to ease the permitting requirements on sidewalk cafes seems to be paying off. If nothing else, her efforts have won her support from some of San Diego's most influential restauranteurs who are willing to ask City …
Emails show Doug Manchester in no rush in bringing Grand Del Mar to code
UT San Diego publisher waited until the final days to pay fines.
At Doug Manchester's flagship resort, the Grand Del Mar, construction crews are working on bringing the resort into compliance with city code after six long years of permit violations. Of course, no one said it was going to be easy. …
Constituent says Mayor Filner sexually harassed her at monthly meet and greet event
Woman says Filner excused staff from room and kissed her without consent.
The sexual harassment allegations lodged against Mayor Bob Filner may be more far-reaching than previously reported. There are now claims that the mayor’s advances toward women were directed not only at members of his staff and city employees. The most …
The Downtown San Diego Partnership set to receive another $5.8 million in taxpayer subsidies to manage the Clean and Safe Program
The council will consider approving the budget for this coming fiscal year, despite complaints of mismanagement and lack of oversight.
On Monday, city councilmembers will once again sign off on the annual budget for the Downtown Clean and Safe program, releasing an estimated $5.8 million dollars in assessments to the Downtown San Diego Partnership to manage the Property and Business …
City accused of subverting public records law in lawsuit over Convention Center expansion
Lawsuit alleges that Chief of Staff for former mayor Jerry Sanders used private email accounts to broker a deal with labor union in exchange for support of $520 million expansion
San Diego's elected officials have had a long and well-documented history of backroom dealings. Whether it be a midnight deal to boost redevelopment funding or letting developers dictate the size and footprint of their development, residents often find themselves in …
Public records show a close working relationship between Councilmember Lorie Zapf and Sunroad Vice President Tom Story
The two met at a downtown diner to discuss the proper way to gain approval for the Sunroad Centrum project.
What better way to discuss pushing through a development project than over some Mussel Bisque from Dobson's Restaurant? Councilmember Lorie Zapf and Tom Story, Sunroad Enterprises' vice president of development, did just that on May 8, when the two met …
Spokesperson for San Diego's Lifeguard Union files run for District 2 council seat
Ed Harris filed papers on July 3.
Longtime lifeguard, Ed Harris, has officially jumped in the race for District 2 city councilmember. Harris, a spokesperson for the local Lifeguard Union, filed the papers necessary to kick off his candidacy with the City Clerk on July 3. The …
Did City Attorney Jan Goldsmith lift the suspension on closed session meetings?
A closed session meeting is schedule for Tuesday, eight days after calling an end to them
The line that City Attorney Jan Goldsmith drew in the sand in his duel with Mayor Bob Filner may be disappearing. A closed session meeting is planned for Tuesday, just over a week after Goldsmith threatened to suspend the meetings …
Council President Todd Gloria's Office says no vote was taken to release closed-session transcripts
Statement from Gloria's Office comes on the same day that attorney files lawsuit for release of meeting record
The Fourth of July holiday couldn't have come at a better time for City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. The Independence Day break may provide Goldsmith some time to reflect on, and deflect, the criticism directed at his office for prosecuting a …
Lawsuit coming over City Attorney's refusal to release complete record of Filner and Jones exchange
City Attorney says closed session transcripts may not be released without city council authority. That begs the question: Did the City Council vote to release those transcripts to the press on June 20?
It took the City Attorney less than two days to give the press carefully redacted notes from the closed-session meeting where Mayor Bob Filner booted Deputy City Attorney Andrew Jones for disrupting the meeting. Nearly two weeks later, Goldsmith is …
Acquitted on all 13 counts of vandalism, jury says Jeff Olson should be free
A review of the plea-deal offers deputy city attorney Hazard said were fair
With each of the 13 "not guilty" verdicts, defense attorney Tom Tosdal grabbed Jeff Olson's shoulder in a sign of support and relief. On Monday, jurors rejected all 13-counts of vandalism charges filed against Olson for scribbling anti-Bank of America …
Is it the mess or the message? City Attorney has been selective when prosecuting chalk vandalism
Other chalking events, such as one pro-life protest, was granted permission from the Police Department. No charges were ever filed.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jun/30/48329/ Is it the mess or is it the message? Is it the fact that Olson's message was a key tenet of the Occupy Wall Street movement or would it happen to any person or group wishing to exercise their …
City Attorney Jan Goldsmith has a history of prosecuting activists who scribble chalk on public sidewalks
18-year-old Occupy San Diego participant spent three days in jail in 2012 for writing free speech slogans in chalk. Lawyer for the woman says City Attorney was "personally involved" in the case.
Earlier this week, San Diego's City Attorney Jan Goldsmith issued a statement on the misinformation spread by the media in regards to the prosecution of a man for scribbling anti-bank statements in chalk on the sidewalk. "The defense is trying …
Judge issues gag order in case of man prosecuted for scribbling anti-bank messages in chalk
Judge Howard Shore says media has exaggerated possible punishment and also admonished Mayor Filner for statements made in support of the defendant.
The judge in the case of the anti-Bank of America protester has issued a gag order, prohibiting the defendant or any witnesses from speaking to any members of the media. Judge Howard Shore criticized the media coverage in the case, …
Jurors selected, trial begins in case of anti-bank protester
First witness called but testimony cut short due to timing.
The trial in the case of the man who wrote protest slogans in children's washable chalk on a public sidewalk outside of three Bank of America branches has begun. The case has started more than one year after Olson made …
Paraplegic man sues City of San Diego in Federal Court for lack of access to La Jolla Children's Pool
The issue of access at La Jolla Children's Pool will be floating into Federal Court. This case, however, is not just access to the water but gaining access to the beach itself for those with disabilities. On June 25, Jack …
Chalking the plank: Judge won't allow bank protester to claim first amendment rights
Arguments are set to begin tomorrow morning.
The First Amendment has no place in Superior Court Judge Howard M. Shore's courtroom, not when it comes to vandalism with water soluble chalk. Today the trial began in the case of a San Diego man who is being charged …
He chalks the line: City Attorney prosecutes man for writing anti-bank slogans in water soluble chalk
Man faces 13 years and $13,000 if convicted of vandalism with sidewalk chalk.
Jan Goldsmith's job as City Attorney is to represent the City of San Diego. In addition, it appears as if his office is also fully prepared to stand up for the little...rather, the big banks. On Tuesday, the City Attorney's …
Questions raised over City Attorney's decision to release transcripts of closed session meeting
Transcripts were given as a response to a public records request from only two days before.
Mayor Bob Filner said he wanted a more open, transparent city government. Having the City Attorney release transcripts of closed session meetings two days after the meeting transpired, however, was probably not be what he envisioned. On Thursday, June 20, …