"Something has to change at the track. We need new energy. We need to excite new people, and this new betting system is going to do that,” says Carl Hilliard in a soft voice. He’s …

For years, North Park neighbors of the Bluefoot Lounge have complained about excessive noise coming from the bar and noise and litter from patrons walking through the neighborhood to their cars late at night. Tensions …

In July 2008, in response to objections from Uptown residents about a proposal to build a 12-story residential and commercial tower on the corner of University and Fourth Avenue, councilmembers imposed temporary height restrictions on …

"The City needs to stop using the general fund to subsidize services that are funded by user fees in most other cities," said Bob Nelson, chair of the Citizens Revenue Review and Economic Competitiveness Commission. …

“Bands are fun but I’m not really a leader or a follower, so I get along better by myself,” writes Doug Barker, lead man — only man, for that matter — for San Diego band …

"I have reluctantly decided that it is in the best interests of the community that I resign my position as general manager and allow the board of directors and the community an opportunity for a …

Solana Beach city councilmembers gathered in council chambers on Thanksgiving eve expecting to review the response from Del Mar councilmembers about their proposal for both cities to combine efforts and buy the Del Mar Fairgrounds …

"In the code now, for a Planned Development Permit, there is a statement that the proposed development, considered s a whole, would be beneficial to the community. But the city proposes to strike that out," …

For San Diego pop-rock band Flight to Athena, most of the summer was spent alternating its course. In June, guitarists Pat Alcoke and Stephen Colbertson disembarked to stay closer to home. In July, the remaining …

Anné Josefson walks toward a table outside the Starbucks in La Mesa’s Grossmont Center, carrying a black three-ring binder. Clasped inside are two 11-by-24-inch pictures of her son, Nathan Manning. She opens the binder, displaying …

In October, San Diego's City Planning and Community Investment Department introduced electronic polling stations at public workshops for the community-plan updates in North Park, Uptown, and Golden Hill. The polling stations are used to collect …

On Tuesday, November 16, owners of Bluefoot Bar & Lounge in North Park, Cuong Nguyen and Adam Cook, and dozens of supporters appeared before the North Park Planning Committee looking to amend their Neighborhood Use …

Not long after the March 2009 breakup of Wild Weekend, guitarist Kelly Alvarez and bassist Cara Bowman recruited drummer Mikey Peterson and got started on their new band, the Ramones-influenced garage-rock band Jungle Fever. Since …

Ed Kravitz, webmaster for political watchdog site saveib.com, wants to see some action from Imperial Beach political candidates whose campaign signs were pulled by city employees and thrown into a city hall closet days before …

Bill Warrren sounds as if he has seen too many Dos Equis' commercials when he says that he is the "most interesting man in San Diego...if not the world." Warren talks of Navassa, the Guano-filled …

Last week, before city councilmembers adopted the Small and Neighborhood Business Ordinance, a law that makes it more difficult for big-box retailers to open stores in San Diego, several citizens, including city councilmember Sherri Lightner, …

“There were a lot of extenuating circumstances that led to the death of Nautical Disaster, both private and public,” writes Berkeley Kent Austin, singer-guitarist for San Diego psych-rockers Heart Beat Trail. In April of this …

Tom Lochtefeld stood before San Diego city councilmembers Tuesday, November 9, and urged them to direct the city's Real Estate Assets Department to restart negotiations on Belmont Park's land lease and rethink the 700 percent …

"The Uptown Partnership voted to take the suicide pill," reported one Hillcrest denizen in an email after returning from the parking agency's November 4 meeting. According to several area residents who attended the meeting, Uptown …

On Wednesday, November 3, city councilmembers met to discuss a city ordinance that would deter big-box superstores from opening in San Diego's neighborhoods. The Small and Neighborhood Businesses Ordinance, proposed by councilmember Todd Gloria, requires …

"We don't need the harassment anymore," said Jonathon Rosita at Wednesday's city council meeting. "Why don't you just put it at Newton, huh? Stop playing with Golden Hall, and stop playing games with us." Rosita …

San Diego's Development Services Department wants to tear down some of the restrictions built into the City's Land Development Code. Among the bundle of changes included in the department's update are regulations dealing with “companion …

"It is not this council's policy to keep anything hidden from the people," said San Marcos’ Mayor Jim Desmond to fire chief Todd Newman during the city council's October 26 meeting. "The first time I …

Mark Martin's alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. The alarm is an air horn on the Sprinter rail line one mile from his Vista home. That sound has been the wake-up call …

Michelle Gannon, spokesperson for city council president Ben Hueso, phoned this correspondent Thursday evening to set the record straight; the email sent by Stephen Hill stating that it was Hueso's decision to include Balboa Park's …

“There is a loophole that would allow [a winter shelter for the homeless] in Balboa Park,” wrote Stephen Hill, policy advisor for councilmember Todd Gloria and consultant for the Land Use and Housing Committee in …

"We just want the uncertainty to end,” says Donna Fenter. “We’ve been living in limbo for years. It’s torture. It feels like a damn internment camp. We can’t make any plans. We can’t do anything …

Justin Fornelli, Chief Rail Engineer for the North County Transit District, appeared before the transit system's board of directors on October 19 at NCTD’s headquarters in Oceanside to report on the status of the temporary …

Several Del Mar residents and members of the press surrounded a table in Nancy Fisher's Del Mar living room. At the table sat the executive director for North County Transit Matt Tucker, chief rail engineer …

"I am keenly aware that I have been accused by some people in the community of sensationalizing this, as has Chief [William] Lansdowne," said San Diego Fire Chief Javier Mainar during a presentation before the …

“Whenever we enter the political season, it is important to make sure that certain processes of government stay out of politics entirely,” said councilmember Carl DeMaio at the outset of Monday's meeting of the Audit …

Richard Rachel steps out of the front lobby of the Egyptian residential mid-rise where he owns a condominium and walks ten feet to the bus stop at Park Boulevard and University Avenue. Buses stop at …

Councilmember Todd Gloria appeared before San Diego's planning commissioners on Thursday on behalf of a new city ordinance that would protect small neighborhood markets by making it more difficult for mega-retail stores exceeding 90,000 square …

"On July 1, 2011, we have a budget gap of $12.5 million, which depending on the outcome of Proposition H, could grow to $18 million," said Chula Vista City Manager Jim Sandoval during Tuesday's city …

Two years ago, Thomas Weller, San Diego's "Highwayman," decided not to get behind the wheel at night because he was worried he'd pose a danger on the road. Weller, who has spent the past 40 …

Chula Vista Deputy Mayor Rudy Ramirez is opening his office doors on Monday, October 4, inviting Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to ride shotgun in a discussion about the high rate of underage, under-the-influence drivers …

During a city revenues update to the Budget and Finance Committee on Wednesday morning, chair Anthony Young asked for a date when committee members could view the City's revenue receipts for fiscal year 2010 to …

Compared to her cramped apartment in L.A.’s trendy Silver Lake neighborhood, the Mission Valley condo that Lorelei Plotczyk (bassist-vocalist for indie band Film School) moved into is a welcome change. “It’s in Mission Valley — …

In a September 22 letter addressed to Chief William Lansdowne, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis indicated that the prescription drug Carbamazepine could have been to blame for the violent behavior of 31-year-old Nathan Gable Manning, who …

"We need to get as many people as possible to attend meetings and write letters. We need to drive the City nuts to get them on our side. Wherever they want to put it is …

At Wednesday's Imperial Beach City Council meeting, councilmembers will address the city's adult-entertainment establishments by proposing a new ordinance. City staff, according to a report from City Manager Gary Brown's office, first conceived of the …

“On July 1, 2011, we have a $72 million budget deficit that we have to fill,” District 3 council representative Todd Gloria said to 50 people at a September 14 forum on Prop D, the …

It’s a story out of a comic book: two decades after losing a high-profile court battle, a lawyer steps from the shadows to avenge his past failure. In late August, Los Angeles–based attorney Kenneth Feinswog …

"You all are fascists," yelled 53-year-old Carlsbad resident Richard Shapiro during his three-minutes of public comment to the Carlsbad City Council on September 14. "Because of a word I was removed from this hall. That's …

El Cajon Boulevard Maintenance Assessment District is teaming up with the North Park Maintenance Assessment District to spruce up the stretch of El Cajon Boulevard between the 805 and 54th Street. As part of the …

City officials in Oceanside are on the offensive and are searching for ways to save money in its Parks and Recreation budget. One way the city looked to score cash is by raising the fees …

Dennis Dickinson takes his dogs for a hike off Borrego Valley Road in Borrego Springs at 6:30 in the morning to avoid the heat. From the trail, Dickinson looks west toward San Ysidro Mountain. In …

"We've produced a video about a mega-church invasion," said Bonnie Mann from the dais at Tuesday morning's city council meeting. Ms. Mann is a member of Concerned Citizens of Point Loma. The Point Loma resident …

"All three approaches lead to concession. It is the mindset of the board to take this to concession and that is something that I am not in favor of," said San Diego cabbie Edris Wahab …

Summer is a hot time for tourism at Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo, even hotter for thieves prowling the cars along Zoo Drive. From January 1 to July 31, there were 64 reports …