Bill Would Use Property Tax Revenue to Promote Renewable Energy Projects

If these guys just want to privatize everything, then I want a special assessment Pothole District. City councilmembers across the state would designate "bad pothole zones," without voter approval (when you wipe out elective government, who needs voters?). Then they form Pothole Districts and assess any property owner who is ever likely to drive down streets in the zones. Nonprofit corporations are given the right to manage all the money. After deducting organizational expenses from the assessments the corporations use the remaining 25% of money to fix potholes. Why doesn't the get-rid-of-government crowd ever have useful ideas like this?
— March 20, 2012 5:36 p.m.

Oceanside Councilmember Has Harsh Words for Mexican Mafia During Presentation from Laura Duffy

There might even be connections between La Eme and certain City of San Diego contractors, working in the arena of auditing and accounting services provided to some of the city's more questionable nonprofit economic development corporations. In addition to the drug business, La Eme needs legitimate-appearing businesses, even if the addresses are mailboxes.
— March 18, 2012 6:42 p.m.

A Better San Diego Talks Tax Proposals

Only rabid anti-tax people would move to Las Vegas to dodge a needed and overdue taxation revision. A lot of such people think they are in upper income groups, but they are not. They are a little clueless. Arizona and Nevada can have them. We desperately need more revenues for education and infrastructure. Kehoe, no matter what stand she takes, is an empty suit: she is one of the longstanding champions of special assessments, which, if imposed and collected, are grossly wasted on business-friendly junk. A record of support for real taxes for real services and needs is not in Kehoe's resume. Where is the discussion of Prop 13 revision, to make commercial property owners pay fairly?
— March 18, 2012 4:57 p.m.

Will Golden Hill Residents Have to Pay for Their Now-Defunct Maintenance Assessment District?

Absolutely correct that municipal law and state law can't circumvent or supersede the Cali constitution (Art XIIID). If the SD council is desperate to get $$, as they always claim when getting behind the special assessment scams, "because the city is broke," then they should focus on supporting revision of Prop 13 by constitutional amendment. General fund dollars are needed for real things: streets and highways and sidewalks and parks and trees...assessment dollars are wasted on propping up and paying business groups' rent, their phone bills, their parking tab when they go to meetings, their boards and directors, and on their banners, promotions, fancy street items in front of their businesses. Most of the business owners involved in the illegal MADs don't own the property they are in and so don't pay assessments. But the SD council is their big friend, giving it all away to them at property owners' expense. LA mayor Villagairosa says in the LA Times, 3-12-2012: "At issue is a provision in the constitutional amendment that prevents sharp increases in property taxes ... intended to provide homeowners with financial security, but businesses have used legal maneuvering to avoid costly reassessments. As a result, homeowners have paid an increasing share of property taxes, according to a recent report from the California Tax Reform Assn., a Sacramento-based advocacy group." "What was conceived of as a measure to relieve the tax burden on homeowners has had the effect of benefiting commercial property owners at the expense of homeowners." So HEY, council, Sanders, Goldsmith, and all of you business groups, community development corporations, realtors, and developers, get behind revising Prop 13, wontcha??? Why don't you hire a consultant to do that????
— March 18, 2012 4 p.m.

Carl DeMaio Proposes "San Diego Sunshine Law"

During one Council session, everyone watched in amazement as DeMaio screamed and ranted at the Exec Director of the downtown PBID. That was because the PBID ED was honestly stating that the PBID could not legally fund maintenance of the CCDC's porta potties. DeMaio demanded that it be done, law be damned. It's true: DeMaio wasn't supporting breaking the law in secret, like Sanders and crew have always done, but I'll pass on Demaio's version of sunshine. I want someone who respects the law. For. A. Change.
— March 13, 2012 3:35 p.m.

DeMaio Scores Official Republican Party Endorsement

They deserve each other.
— March 11, 2012 2:31 p.m.

Non-Partisan Group Offers Host of Democratic Endorsements

Good profile of Ducheny and her accomplishments, published two days ago: http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/8929
— March 10, 2012 10:20 a.m.

Vargas Corporate Backers to be Fined for Hiding Identity

Good profile of Ducheny and her accomplishments, published two days ago: http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/8929
— March 10, 2012 10:19 a.m.

Non-Partisan Group Offers Host of Democratic Endorsements

Vargas Spineless Rubber Chicken Award, correct link http://youtu.be/uZkZwdfQKh0
— March 9, 2012 4:19 p.m.

Vargas Corporate Backers to be Fined for Hiding Identity

Please read my comment about Vargas in Dave Rice's Reader story today, on endorsements for women, including Denise Ducheny: http://tinyurl.com/7m3m6vn Vargas is a willing tool. Last year County Supervisor Bill Horn hated Vargas because Vargas introduced a bill related to the Gregory Canyon landfill. Horn said publicly that he hoped Vargas would never, ever be in a position to carry another bill. But all of a sudden Horn loves Vargas: he and other County supes endorsed a proposed Vargas bill that will put taxpayer dollars in the pockets of local commercial property owners and businesses, who are Horn's big money supporters. Horn tweeted "Its funny how an election year causes Sen Vargas to change his stripes. Stripes are very trendy these days & we like his new look." Bought, sold, and delivered to the wealthiest interest group, that's always been the Vargas way. Monaghan said it best: "We need someone with intelligence and integrity to represent us in Congress and that person, hands down, is Denise Ducheny.
— March 9, 2012 3:40 p.m.