“Before she joined MediaNews Group, she worked as people operations manager for the Washington Commanders,” says Hilary Fox’s online bio on the U-T website.

Fox news

MediaNews Group, the famously staff-slashing publishing outfit that took over the Union-Tribune from Los Angeles pharmaceutical billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong in July, is gradually putting its own people in charge of the San Diego daily. Latest to arrive is Hillary Fox, the paper’s recently anointed human resources manager, a key position for executing the widely expected array of further workforce and related expense cuts. “Before she joined MediaNews Group, she worked as people operations manager for the Washington Commanders,” says Fox’s online bio on the U-T website. The Commanders has been owned for 24 years by Dan Snyder, who purchased the NFL team, then called the Redskins, in 1999.

If you can work for Dan Snyder, you can work for anyone.

All Pro Reels/Flickr

He finally agreed to sell for a record $6 billion in May following years of turmoil, including 2018’s allegations from five former cheerleaders that they had been sexually harassed and 2020’s charge by front office female workers that they had been similarly treated for years. The NFL “concluded that for many years the workplace environment at the Washington Football Team, both generally and particularly for women, was highly unprofessional,” the New York Times reported in July of this year. Fox’s U-T online bio says, “Hillary joined MediaNews Group in 2022 as an HR manager supporting various groups and is now HR manager for The San Diego Union-Tribune.”

Back in July, before the MediaNews takeover was announced, Radvile Rinkeviciute was listed as holding the title of human resources director. “About six years ago she moved to San Diego and has loved living here ever since. As a human resources influence at our company, her goal is to align our company’s vision and encourage the team to continue illuminating this city with its passion, talent and love for journalism,” said Rinkeviciute’s online profile. On July 9, 2022, she appeared with since-departed U-T editor Jeff Light on the U-T’s now-defunct podcast, San Diego News Fix, to discuss the paper’s “peer support program” that “was developed by clinicians who specialize in working with journalists and it’s a confidential network to provide support to colleagues facing difficult times.”

Explained Rinkeviciute on the podcast: “In 2019, we were contacted by Panamerica, an organization that is really focused on the mental well-being of journalists.” She continued, “There was [sic] a lot of individuals who spoke up about their experiences, what type of harassment that goes on behind the scenes from readers, and it was mind-blowing.” Added Light: “First off I want to just recognize Radvile, who’s been working on this program for years and has really made an investment in the well-being of our employees, so good for her for making this happen.” Light declared, “Being a journalist is dangerous,” going on to say, “What is the Union-Tribune? It is the creative community of journalists. That is what we offer.” Nothing has been said about the uncertain fate of the peer support program under Fox. Kate Morrissey, a border reporter who related on the podcast how mental trauma led to her participation in the program, left the paper after MediaNews took over.

In related news, on Monday of last week, the U-T printing was shifted from Soon-Shiong’s Los Angeles Times printing plant to Riverside, where MediaNews prints several other of its papers, including the Orange County Register, L.A. Daily News, and Riverside Press-Enterprise, per an October 8 U-T account. As a result of what were said to be mechanical limitations at the new site, Section C was abolished, and business news was tucked into Section B, with games and comics migrating to Section A. But even given the obvious omission of Section C, the Sports section continued to be labeled Section D, and Food remained labeled Section E, per the paper’s online PDF facsimile.

General attorneys

Some strange political bedfellows are converging behind the Chula Vista City Attorney candidacy of Bart Miesfeld, who had the gig from 2008 until 2010 — before it was turned into an elected office. Not only has he been endorsed by state senate Democrat Steve Padilla and ex-Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas, also a Democrat, Miesfeld is now getting financial backing from the traditionally GOP Lincoln Club of San Diego County, which paid for $14,365 worth of pro-Miesfeld literature on October 3, according to an October 9 disclosure filing by the group. On September 19, the same document shows, San Diego developer Tom Sudberry kicked in $5000 for the club, in addition to the $10,000 he donated on July 24. On September 27, the Building Industry Association of San Diego County also gave $10,000.

Bart Miesfeld: bringing people together. Well, donors, anyway.

Miesfeld’s opponents in the race are Marco Verdugo, backed by Democratic San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott as well as the county Democatic party, and Dan Smith Diaz, endorsed by the county Republican Party. Simon Silva, who was chosen for the seat by Chula Vista voters in November 2022, died from cancer in September of last year, thus necessitating next month’s special election to fill the vacancy. A March runoff will be held if nobody gets a majority...Termed-out Assembly Democrat Brian Maienschein, currently running for both San Diego City Attorney next year and California Attorney General in 2030, picked up $5000 for the latter effort from fast-food giant McDonald’s Corporation on September 29. On July 26, he took in $9000 from the casino operator Viejas Tribal Account. During the first half of this year, Maienschein tapped the AG campaign for various expenses, including an $824 tab at Sacramento’s Tequila Museo Mayahuel and $579 at the Ella Dining Room, also in the state capital.

In January 2020 Sacramento TV station KTXL reported on a scandal involving a $5116.17 tab at the eatery. “State investigators say community activist Derrell Roberts and others ran up the tab in a single sitting at Ella Dining Room and Bar, which is in downtown Sacramento’s The Kay District. A now-settled 2017 lawsuit indicates Roberts footed the bill with public funds. The lawsuit indicates the public funds had been earmarked to pay for migrant farmworker housing through the Roberts Family Development Center.

Instead, Roberts is accused of pocketing it and overcharging them for rent. He admitted no guilt in the settlement but did make a promise to repay the state $400,000.” Meanwhile, termed out Assembly Democrat Toni Atkins got $5000 from insurance giant The Travelers Indemnity Company on October 4, and the same from Experian North America Inc. PAC two days earlier — both for her Toni Atkins for Lt. Governor 2026 fund

— Matt Potter

(@sdmattpotter)

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