Have Juan, will travel

A top staffer to border Democratic House member Juan Vargas has escaped the muggy summer heat of Washington DC with a summer getaway to the fresh breezes of San Francisco, courtesy of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. “I am Rep. Vargas’ Legislative Director and staff him for his Financial Services Committee work,” wrote Scott Hinkle on his post-travel disclosure form, dated August 18. “The trip will discuss the role of the [Federal Home Loan Bank] system in homeownership, which is the jurisdiction of the committee.”

Departing Wednesday, August 3, and returning Friday, August 5, Hinkle and his fellow congressional staffers were treated to a Thursday-morning continental breakfast and a “lunch and discussion” entitled “The Future of U.S. Housing Finance and Housing Policy: Lessons from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks.” Following an afternoon tour of the bank’s affordable housing project, it was off to “dinner and discussion,” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. regarding “How does the mission of universal access to mortgage credit remain a core component of the future U.S. Housing Finance System.” Location was listed as “to be determined.” The lucky travelers were put up at the Cartwright Hotel, Union Square, described on its website as “situated a few blocks from the theater district, it’s easy to pop around the corner and catch some of the West Coast’s finest performances or — better yet — enjoy local music and art shows outside the front door on Union Square’s central stage.” The additional night’s stay at the hotel was justified by Hinkle, who wrote, “Given the length of travel and the full program of activities on August 4th, a second night of lodging is warranted.”

The grand total picked up for Hinkle by the home-loan bank added up to $1044 in travel costs, $533 for lodging, and meals of $74.38. Hinkle is one of the San Diego Democratic delegation’s most-traveled aides, thanks to private donors, having gone gratis to Boston in April of last year on a $1153 jaunt sponsored by the security studies program of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a $678 overnight in Manhattan last December paid for by the Progressive Policy Institute, a Bill Clinton–tied Washington think tank.

San Diego’s bad-boy hotline The County of San Diego is looking for someone to run a new ethics hotline, according to a recently posted solicitation for services. “The program will be used for County employees, vendors, their employees, or members of the public to anonymously report allegations of fraud, theft of assets, misuse of assets, embezzlement, kickbacks or other undesirable behavior that causes loss or harm to the County, its employees or public. Case Management services will also be provided to help manage uncovered incidents found within the program.” The phones will be answered in “a variety of languages frequently spoken within San Diego County; including English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Arabic.” Privacy will be assured, says the notice. “Complainants shall be given the option to remain anonymous. Where this option is selected, the anonymity of online complainants shall be protected. IP addresses will not be tracked for complaints submitted via the website.” Costs are yet to be determined.