The Doug and Irwin Show

Downtown super-lobbyist Paul Robinson had a solid second quarter, according to a disclosure statement filed last week by his law and lobbying firm, Hecht Solberg Robinson Goldberg and Bagley. His top client, the Grand Del Mar Resort, run by U-T San Diego owner and publisher Doug Manchester, paid $3000 to have Robinson lobby San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith; Danna White Nicholas of the City’s Community Justice Division: Code Enforcement Unit; mayoral planning honcho David Graham; and the City’s Development Services chief, Kelly Broughton. The topic of discussion is listed as “Notices of violation and processing of entitlements to correct and bring legal.”

Documents previously released by the City after a request under the state’s public records act show that the Manchester resort has been cited for repeatedly violating the City’s Resource Protection Ordinance. Alleged transgressions have included “unauthorized grading, including removal of sensitive biological resources.” The City has asserted that the hotel project’s grading has “impacted wetlands, steep hillsides, open space areas, mitigation areas, and property containing potential historical resources.”

Other familiar Robinson clients included the Molasky Group of Companies, run by Las Vegas developer Irwin Molasky, onetime associate of the late mobster Moe Dalitz. Molasky’s firm ran into trouble developing a new San Diego headquarters for the FBI. Robinson and associate Neil Hyytinen called on a bevy of high-ranking city officials for help, including Mayor Jerry Sanders; his lieutenant Graham; Development Services chief Broughton; deputy city attorney Shannon Thomas; Job Nelson, chief of staff to GOP city councilwoman Lorie Zapf; and two staffers for Councilman Carl DeMaio, Felipe Monroig and John Ly. Republican DeMaio, now running against Democratic congressman Bob Filner for mayor, has long backed the Molasky project and has previously received campaign contributions from the developer and his extended family. Robinson’s lobbyist filing revealed he added to that support by giving the DeMaio bid $250 on June 29.