The politician finally backed down. “My warehouseman was ready to punch him in the nose.”

Photo by Robert Burroughs

The vote is in the mail

“Willie Brown is my number-one customer in politics, but I’m a Republican through and through. I’m also a businessman with 45 families to feed, and I think that anyone has a right to buy my services. But when [white supremacist] Tom Metzger called when he was running for Congress, I didn’t get involved in a big argument with him, I just said, ‘Gee, I don’t have time.’ So I do think there are things you don’t do for money.”

By Matt Potter, Jan. 31, 1991 Read full article

The San Diego Union describes the current library building as a "disgrace," "derelict," "dilapidated," and a "civic embarrassment."

Photo by Robert Burroughs

Now where's the worst place we can put a library?

"I tried to engage Mayor O'Connor in conversation, ask her questions, get her involved, but she just sat impassively, listening. Finally I asked her to give me some idea what fault she found with Sears. Suddenly her face turned crimson and she said, almost hands-on-hips, 'Because I'm mayor and I don't want it there!'"

By Neal Matthews, Dec. 12, 1991 Read full article

The Copley papers were faithful editorial supporters of the mayor.

John Workman

Pete Wilson was here

Wilson press secretary Larry Thomas frequently dined and drank with members of the press, with the city picking up the tab. Thomas took a Tribune reporter to a pizza parlor. But Jeanie Kasindorf, who wrote a flattering profile of Wilson for New West magazine in February of 1977, was taken to an expensive French restaurant, where Thomas racked up a $72 tab. Another out-of-town reporter merited $56 at Lubach’s.

By Matt Potter, July 26, 1990 Read full article

Ernie Hahn

Whatever Ernie wants

"I call it economic feudalism,” she says. Mondot contends that the successful redevelopment of the western portion of downtown, with Hahn’s Horton Plaza shopping mall as its crown jewel, was accomplished at the expense of the social stability of the east side. “They have turned a residential area into a de facto refugee camp,”

By Matt Potter, Aug. 17, 1989 Read full article

Red Scott: "I believe in the free-enterprise system. I do not believe in golden parachutes and management contracts."

Barbara Martin

Merger most foul

"Edison had sweetened the offer to the shareholders, had agreed to — to provide civic and charitable contributions for a set period of time to the communities in which San Diego served; that there were going to be certain directors elected to Edison’s board."

April 27, 1989 Read full article

Stirling opposed the creation of the UCSD law school (“We’ve got enough lawyers already without using public money to train more”).

Photo by Robert Burroughs

Larry Stirling may be the most self-righteous, impatient, indignant state senator in California history

Stirling, a devout Presbyterian, has officially parted ways with the church because its national leadership decided to disinvest in corporations doing business with the Department of Defense. Also, the Presbyterians went on record as opposing the death penalty. Stirling, fired off a letter to the church. “I hate to see the Presbyterian church play junior congressman.”

By Neal Matthews, Feb. 23, 1989 Read full article