Toni Atkins plays the NFL

Toni Atkins plays the NFL

A political committee run by state Senate Democrat Toni Atkins has been spending lavishly on what is named by its semi-annual state disclosure report as fundraising. The fund, formerly known as California Works, was renamed in June as the Protect Constitutional Abortion Rights, supported by health care organizations, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and Senator Toni Atkins Ballot Measure Committee.

So far, the group’s biggest expenditures of the year came in February, per the July 28 disclosure, which covered the first half of 2022. Admission for an unknown number of people to the Super Bowl in Los Angeles, along with concert tickets and unspecified “concessions” at Crypto.com Arena ran a total of $121,556, on top of a $19,772 “management fee” paid to a New York City outfit called One Sixty/Ninety.

Among other projects, per its website, One Sixty/Ninety has promoted birth control vending machines for Manhattan: “On Sunday, September 26th, New Yorkers were surprised to find a uterus-adorned vending machine in the heart of the city in celebration of World Contraception Day. With many forms of birth control still requiring a prescription, Favor (formerly The Pill Club) showed the country how easy it should be,” according to the company’s website. Superbowl lodging at the posh downtown L.A. Hotel Indigo cost the Atkins committee $28,000.

Then, on June 24 it was off for another round of overnight money-getting, this time in Napa Valley at the Harvest Inn and Charter Oak restaurant in St. Helena. A 20-person fundraising dinner at the eatery cost $4340; paying a “balance due” at the inn for “2 Nights Lodging for 6 Guests” set the fund back an additional $2,228. Reimbursement for a “Guest Treatment” at the hotel’s health spa was said to be $183. In addition, $3750 was listed as a deposit to the Lodge at Torrey Pines in San Diego for an “October event” apparently coming this fall.

Along with those entertainment expenses, the lobbying firm Axiom Advisors of Sacramento was awaiting payment for $15,000 from the committee. “We work closely with legislative leaders, the Executive Branch, rank-and-file members in the Senate and Assembly, and high-ranking members of virtually every department, agency, commission, and board in California’s government,” says Axiom’s website.

The top lobbyist at Axiom, partner Jason Kinney, found himself at the center of a Covid-19 related storm in December 2020 when his close friend and longtime associate Gavin Newsom turned up at Kinney’s now infamous 50th birthday bash at Napa Valley’s French Laundry restaurant. “I think it certainly can cause the public to question whether any advice the governor is getting is in the public interest or in the interest of the companies that have paid Kinney’s firm to lobby,” Emily Rusch, executive director of the California Public Interest Research Group, told the Los Angeles Times.

San Diego housing’s headhunter heaven

As a shortage of homeless housing acts as one of the biggest bugaboos facing San Diego city hall, the city’s Housing Commission, which has been regularly plagued by embarrassing missteps, will be spending big to come up with a new president and executive director.

Rick Gentry, the previous permanent occupant of the position, decamped in February when a city council committee began probing charges of overpayment and conflicts of interest regarding the purchase of hotels for the homeless.

Gentry’s second-in-command Jeff Davis was appointed to succeed him as acting chief in March. “The Commission is soliciting proposals from businesses to provide Executive Recruitment Services for the hiring of a President & Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Housing Authority of San Diego,” says a July 28 notice posted on the city’s website. But with a term of one year, the agency appears to be prepared to take its time waiting for a candidate and the anticipated cost may be high. “Any contract(s) awarded by the Commission pursuant to this RFP that exceeds $250,000.00 must be approved by the Board of Commissioners of the San Diego Housing Commission. Additionally, any contract awarded with an amount that exceeds the sum of $250,000.00 may also be approved by the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego.”

A sample job description says the new president is expected to regularly hit the road. “While in the office, the employee works under typical office conditions, and the noise level is usually quiet. Responsibilities of the position entail frequent travel and representation of the Commission at meetings, conferences and events attended by high-ranking officials.” No prospective salary is provided. Gentry got pay and benefits of $456,714 in 2021, according to the website TransparentCalifornia.com. As Deputy Chief Executive Officer under Gentry, Jeff Davis wasn’t far behind, with total compensation of $415,413 in 2021.

— Matt Potter (@sdmattpotter)

The Reader offers $25 for news tips published in this column. Call our voice mail at 619-235-3000, ext. 440, or sandiegoreader.com/staff/matt-potter/contact/.