Indian giving

On another ballot front, the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, proprietors of a big East County casino, gave $175,000 on September 16 to the campaign against Proposition 5, which would expand state drug-treatment programs and lighten sentences for some nonviolent drug offenders. The tribe, which also owns two downtown hotels, the U.S. Grant and the Hotel Solamar, frequently gives money to causes favored by Mayor Jerry Sanders and other members of the GOP establishment. As it turns out, helping to lead the battle against Prop 5 is none other than San Diego district attorney Bonnie Dumanis, who is showcased in a video on the main page of No on 5’s website; she is said to be counting on a resounding defeat of the measure to jump-start her drive for higher office, possibly state attorney general. That puts her on the opposite side of Qualcomm billionaire Irwin Jacobs, who earlier this year contributed $150,000 to qualify the proposition for the ballot. … Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani and wife June gave a total of $5000 to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama on August 27; termed-out councilman Scott Peters gave $2000 the same day. … Ex–San Diego city manager Jack McGrory, whom many blame for the pension-fund crisis that emerged after he left city hall, has given $500 to the campaign opposed to Prop 8, the anti-gay marriage initiative.