Scam Diego Entries for January, 2008

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Liarless in Seattle

Something has gone terribly wrong within the band of professional sports hucksters lobbying for public money. One of them is ...

2005 Audit Shows Internal Accounting Weaknesses; Despite Some Headway, Many More Improvements Must Be Made, Says Accounting Firm

The city council's audit committee today (January 28) was provided the City audit report of governmental and business-type activities for ...

Mingei Raided on Suspicion of Smuggling Pipeline, LA Times Says

According to the Los Angeles Times, federal agents this morning (Jan. 24) raided four Southern California museums in the opening ...

Stock of Ballpark Bond Insurer Zooms 72 Percent on Bailout Rumors

Stock of Ambac, the municipal bond insurer that backed the ballpark bonds, soared 72% yesterday after New York insurance regulators ...

Qualcomm 8th Best Company To Work for, Says Fortune Magazine

San Diego's telecom whiz, Qualcomm, comes in 8th in Fortune's new list of the best companies to work for. Says ...

U.S. Market Recovers Most of Loss; Wall Street Expects More Juice from Fed

The Federal Reserve sliced interest rates by 3/4ths of 1% before the opening this morning, but U.S. stocks initially plunged, ...

Federal Reserve Slices Interest Rates Three Quarters of One Percent, but Stock Futures Still Down

As I surmised last night, the Federal Reserve this morning (Tuesday) lowered its target on the federal funds rate by ...

Market Bloodbath Overseas; Dow Futures Down 451; Interest Rate Slash Possible Before Tomorrow's Market Opening

Stocks in overseas market plunged today at the greatest rate since 9/11, as investors expressed concern about a U.S. recession ...

People Fleeing California, Says Economist Arthur Laffer, Who Did Just That

"Unfortunately, after a great start to his tenure, Governor Schwarzenegger has turned to the dark side, embracing unions and massive ...

Insurer of Ballpark Bonds Downgraded; Could Bonds Be Affected?

Fitch Ratings today (Jan.18) cut the rating on Ambac Assurance from AAA, the highest rating, to AA, the third highest. ...

Charlotte Russe, Defying Industry Trends, Posts Excellent Sales Gain

San Diego's Charlotte Russe Holding, chain retailer of value fashion for younger women, reported today (Jan. 17) that its first ...

Mozilo Cancels USD Keynote Address

A funny thing happened to Angelo Mozilo on his way to San Diego. The chief executive of very ailing mortgage ...

Francis Says Lobbyists Control City Hall, Blasts Special Interests

Entrepreneur Steve Francis, in throwing his hat in the mayoral race today (Jan. 15), showed that he understands the cancers ...

Union-Tribune Lays Off 27, Says 18 More Will Go

Another shoe finally dropped at the Union-Tribune today (Jan. 15). The company posted a memo saying that it was informing ...

"Independent" Analyst Swayed National Expert To Soften Position on Appointed Auditor

Andrea Tevlin is the so-called independent budget analyst working for the council. But she has apparently been compromised. Jay Poole, ...

SEC Won't Pursue Usana Further

According to the Wall Street Journal today (Jan. 11), the Securities and Exchange Commission is no longer investigating Utah-based Usana ...

El Cajon Headquarters of Hells Angels Now Shuttered

The infamous El Cajon headquarters of the Hells Angels and the motorcycle club's saloon are now closed and boarded, covered ...

U-T News People Get Pep Talk, but Little News

In early December, the Union-Tribune said it intended to cut 43 jobs in the newsroom. Those who got in line ...

Why the Strong Mayor Idea Won't Work with a Dishonest Mayor

It is amazing how some San Diegans believe Mayor Jerry Sanders when he pretends that he is a straight shooter. ...

Group Protests Governor's Plan To Cut San Diego Lifeguards

In his 2008-2009 budget, Governor Schwarzenegger proposes to cut lifeguard service in five San Diego County locations, the Silver Strand, ...

Countrywide Stock Zooms 55 Percent on Rumor B of A Will Buy It

Stock of Countrywide Financial, the nation's largest mortgage operation, shot up 55 percent today (Jan.10) to almost $8 a share ...

Symphony's $120 Million Gift Hasn't Made It Flush

Portfolio.com,, put out by Conde Nast, has published an article noting that the San Diego Symphony's $120 million gift has ...

Website Slams Mozilo Appearance, Noting Stock Sales Before Crash

A website, disinvitemozilo.com, is criticizing the upcoming appearance of Angelo R. Mozilo, CEO of Countrywide Financial, at the USD real ...

Countrywide's Mozilo To Keynote USD Real Estate Conference

The Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate at the University of San Diego has snatched a speaker who should jam 'em ...

Religious Scammer Gets 25 Years, Told To Cough Up $43 Million

John Harrell, who once claimed to control a trillion dollar trust, today (Jan. 8), was sentenced to 25 years in ...

City Employees To Hold Anti-Aguirre Rally at Democratic Meeting

City of San Diego employees, retirees, and their families plan to rally against City Attorney Mike Aguirre at the County ...

U-T Axes 14 in Pressroom Without Buyouts

Last Friday (Jan. 4), the Union-Tribune laid off 14 employees in the pressroom. That's out of a total of about ...

Wall Street Journal Blasts San Diego in Municipal Bond Editorial

In an editorial Dec. 31, the Wall Street Journal excoriated "shady accounting in the public sector," and cited San Diego ...