Staff Blog Entries

California's ethics watchdog takes another bite at San Diego conflict ruling

Advice letters fly regarding one-time consultant to lobbyist for controversial Jamul Indian casino

As reported here last June, marketing and economic consultant Michael Casinelli, then-chairman of the county's Jamul Dulzura community planning group, ...

Hotel moguls spent $19,000 lobbying in Filner funding war, report says

Same lobbyist used by billionaire Irwin Jacobs for failed Plaza de Panama makeover employed in battle to force mayor to sign Sanders-negotiated deal

Another major San Diego controversy has paid off big for MJE Marketing Services, Inc., the influence peddling firm that was ...

Downtown lobbyist from Carlsbad seeking San Diego city council seat

Interim president and CEO of Terry Brown-backed lobbying group seeks redrawn sixth council district spot, filing says

Chris J. Cate, interim president and CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association - the lobbying organization that has ...

With horses dying, Del Mar's political giving very much alive

Del Mar track money to California politicos is healthier than ever, disclosure shows

Whether horse racing is good for horses or not, one thing appears sure, it's great for political fundraisers. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/apr/11/43565/ A ...

"Papa Doug" backs a Bush with lunch at UT San Diego headquarters

$1000 a person luncheon set to raise Texas campaign cash in newspaper's "Headliners Club," invite says

Fresh from a dust up over the price of campaign ads sold to favored San Diego candidates, UT San Diego ...

Dumanis draws first re-election opponent

Heavily backed by Evans hotel family and other local financial interests, incumbent District Attorney already out fundraising for 2014

San Diego county District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis - who badly lost her bid for mayor last year, but has already ...

U.S. grant for "urban surveillance" drone run from Point Loma naval base

University of Arizona professor working on "tracking and shepherding " drone overseen by San Diego naval research office

The robotic birds aren't flying over Point Loma just yet, but according to a document posted online by Muckrock, a ...

San Diego hotel mogul's political reach extends to Big Apple

Evans Hotel executive, key fundraiser behind San Diego council's Todd Gloria, contributes cash to New York's bribery-torn mayor's race

Robert Gleason, the CFO and general counsel at Evans Hotels - one of three homegrown San Diego hotel empires behind ...

U.S. audit hits San Diego non-profit housing operation for $5 million trust fund misuse

Bay Vista Methodist Heights used millions in restricted funds for "ineligible operating expenses," HUD review finds

A non-profit corporation founded in 1966 by the late Grandison Phelps, Jr., pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church for ...

San Diego city attorney dances to lobbyists' tune in banquet video

Video posted by business lobbying group features Jan Goldsmith in chorus line to "help us roast our new mayor"

Lobbyists' banquets have not always been kind to Republican city attorney Jan Goldsmith. Back in February, newly elected Democratic mayor ...

Another unreported DeMaio contribution disclosed by Sheppard Mullin law firm

Tally of previously undisclosed San Diego political contributions by hoteliers' law firm mounts, shedding additional light on anti-Filner money

Add another $500 to the list of campaign contributions heretofore undisclosed by the San Diego office of Sheppard Mullin, the ...

Lobbyist for Fox Sports in Padres cable blackout also represents pot vending machine maker

Southwest Strategies, whose ex-employees include spokesman for city attorney Jan Goldsmith, seeks to cash in lobbying for medical marijuana law

As reported here two days ago, Southwest Strategies LLC, the influence peddling boutique founded by ex-San Diego Tribune reporter Alan ...

Personal and campaign gifts to council Democrats a long tradition at GOP's Evans operation

Todd Gloria only the latest in a long line of pro-Evans council members to get campaign cash, tickets, food, and other blandishments from major city lessee.

Now that San Diego's GOP hotel moguls have reportedly decided to call off their lawsuit and cut a deal with ...

Obama bundler, not Filner, gets top spot at county Democrats' gala

San Diego mayor not mentioned in invitation to county party's Paint the Town Blue May awards dinner

He's the first Democrat since 1988 to get elected mayor of America's eighth-largest city and currently engaged in an epic ...

Fox Sports lobbies up in ongoing civic war over Padres TV blackout

Southwest Strategies reveals new lobbying client late the same day city council passes resolution in baseball cable dispute

As reported here yesterday, Time Warner Cable has retained the services of San Diego super lobbyist Paul Robinson in the ...

GOP super-lobbyist long tied to U-T San Diego publisher enters Padres TV fray

Growing intrigue over possible ties between "Padres to the People" bid and Time Warner Cable trench cut fee deal

As first reported here last July, U-T San Diego columnist Matt Hall kicked off his "Padres to the People" campaign ...

City ethics commission won't release Maas investigation documents

Executive director turns down public records act request for emails and other material, saying, "Commission could decide to re-open a closed matter"

It's without a doubt San Diego's most sensational political story so far this year: yesterday's UT San Diego exclusive about ...

Filner seeks "change agent" in new chief operating officer, recruiting brochure says

No salary set for key management position; document says San Diego mayor is "similar to the Governor or the President"

San Diego's Democratic mayor Bob Filner has been busy lately handling everything from seal kicking to a lawsuit filed by ...

Big Texas money enters San Diego's fourth district city council fray

Austin real estate executive and African safari goer who handles luxury San Diego holdings becomes third major donor to Williams' cause

It's not quite the Rick Perry campaign, but a big-time Texas real estate maven has just kicked in $6750 to ...

Big labor spends $75,000 for Democrat in fourth district council race

Campaign committee run by San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council lays out more than $75,000 for cause of Myrtle Cole, according to filing

With the special election for city council in San Diego's fourth city council district already shaping up as a classic ...