Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed
Big Screen — Movie commentary
Blurt — Music's inside track
Booze News — San Diego spirits
Classical Music — Immortal beauty
Classifieds — Free and easy
Close to Home — What it’s like on the street where you live
Cover Stories — Front-page features
Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes
Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts
Feast! — Food & drink reviews
Feature Stories — Local news & stories
Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore
From the Archives — Spotlight on the past
Golden Dreams — Talk of the town
The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it
Letters — Our inbox
Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites
Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans
Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists
Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news
News Ticker — News & politics
Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated
Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna
Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated
Poetry — The old and the new
Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers
Reading — The hunt for intellectuals
Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails
San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds
SD on the QT — Almost factual news
Sheep and Goats — Places of worship
Special Issues — The best of
Street Style — San Diego streets have style
Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves
Theater — On stage in San Diego this week
Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative
Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work
Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego
Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads
Your Week — Daily event picks
John's Jowls
The authorities have reported these shameful unamerican postings not only to the vengeful and ruthless Reader Administrators but to the Secret Service of the United States of America(TM). You pig-lipsticking herpes-mongers shall be grabbed by the scruff of your unpatriotic necks and given a stern talking to by Mrs. Palin herself. When our specially trained SWAT team swarms the Reader office in Little Italy to apprehend the dangerous extremist known as "Ollie" (aka "Ali" Obama Hussein) they'll follow standard procedures, firing four warning shots into his back, and then yelling, "Halt!" America..!! F*** Yeah..!! As for this Dr Zayaz, (also suspiciously foreign sounding), we suspect he prescribes his "patients" with medical marijuana, a terrorism inducing drug so powerful and deadly that were Cindy McCain to sample some, it just might mellow out some of the effects of the Vicodin she's embezzled from war refugees. In closing, let me assure you both that our vigilant government is watching you filthy malcontents with your insipid television watching habits, and noting well your every tasteless joke for future reprisals. Reverend Dr. Fred Williams President and Founder Christian Alliance for Spiritual Hope C.A.S.H. (A subsidiary of Blackwater, Inc.) "United States of America(TM)" used by permission from the owners, Haliburton, KBR, Bank of America, Exon-Mobile, Sempra, et al.— September 16, 2008 8:30 p.m.
Gloria Signs Coming Down
Hi Stephen Davis from South Park, and Jake 92104. I'm very glad you are engaging in this civic discourse. It's important for the facts to come out before we vote. 1. Soliciting contributions from city employees violates the election statutes. Gloria didn't accept a contribution from Nancy Graham by mistake or oversight. He sent her at least 9 emails requesting money, and an unknown number of phone calls and letters. The emails are available for all to see at VOSD. He has also taken contributions from disgraced CCDC board members Jennifer LeSar, Fred Maas, and Kim Kilkenny. It's all right here: http://www.developeralert.org/INDEXGloria.html 2. The fact that Gloria betrayed Donna Frye for a labor endorsement is now well documented. Again, just have a look at VOSD to read all the dirty details. Everything I'm repeating here is verified. 3. San Diego political insiders like to push the notion that it's best when everyone is "nice" and "gets along together". Hogwash. Democracy is about disagreement, debating the facts, considering alternatives...if you want unanimous agreement, join the politboru. Without open discussion of the facts, democracy dies. That's why we're in such trouble in San Diego today. Too many promises broken with no consequences. Well, I don't want that to happen again. That's why I've chosen my candidates and I'm doing what I can to help them. If you disagree with me, I urge you to step up and take action. * Walk precincts and talk to the voters. * Make phone calls and talk to the voters. * Write articles and show them to the voters. At the moment, it is very easy to show voters what's going on with Gloria. He's very charming and likeable, but I don't believe he's going to work for the rest of us once he's in office. Look at who is paying for his campaign. Whitburn is out there fighting for us. Today, he called for dissolving SEDC and CCDC, something a lot of us think is important. Where is Todd? Taking money from CCDC and SEDC insiders. That's the truth about this election. I'm proud to get it out to the voters. They're listening, and they're not dumb. They understand the stakes, and they're voting for Stephen Whitburn.— September 16, 2008 3:32 p.m.
Union-Tribune Employees Camp Out All Night in Lobby To Be First in Line To Get Buyout Forms
Gerry Braun took the buyout...see: http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2008/09/1…— September 15, 2008 4:20 p.m.
District Three Doppelgangers
Thank you Mr. Davis for using your real name. I'll respond point by point to your allegations: 1. Gloria finances his campaign with the help of disgraced CCDC head Nancy Graham, CCDC Board Chairman Fred Maas, and other well-connected individuals now facing corruption probes downtown. 1.5 Whitburn has been forced to dip into his life savings to help make up the difference. The insiders, led by folks like indicted firefighters union boss Ron Saathoff are expected to dump a huge sum just before the election, and Stephen Whitburn is backing up the courage of his convictions with his own money. 2. Gloria is a political staffer with no real world experience. Other than working as a political hack, he has held no job in San Diego or anywhere else. His lifelong ambition is to be elected, not to serve the public. 2.5 In just seven years Stephen has served as the Red Cross spokesman and Chair of the San Diego Democratic Club. Because he's an outsider, he can clearly see the corruption in San Diego that rewards political staffers with cushy back-scratching jobs. 3. An example of Gloria's pay-offs is his appointment to the do-nothing Housing Commission. Where is the affordable housing? Can you name even one example? He's spent millions in taxpayer money to absolutely no effect, and now he's resisting an independent audit to find out where that money disappeared. Whitburn is standing up and demanding independent audits for all these agencies that have become mired in corruption and scandal. 3.5 Whitburn is an award winning investigative journalist. He uncovers the truth. Gloria is a political hack...he covers up the truth, like his secret deal with the union bosses to betray Donna Frye. 4. Gloria got the Labor Council endorsement because he promised to betray Donna Frye. That's a fact. It's well-documented. You cannot deny it. Meanwhile, the council's members are abandoning ship over this back-room deal and breaking ranks to publicly endorse Whitburn. 4.5 Whitburn is a courageous truth-teller, and that's why the Labor Council insiders turned on him. He won't keep secrets from the public...that's leadership. 5. Gloria is being pushed by the self-interested union bosses...NOT the rank and file. All you have to do is look at who's endorsing Gloria. It's the same folks who have been milking San Diego dry for the last decade. * Donna Frye endorses Stephen Whitburn. * The Democratic Party endorses Stephen Whitburn. * The Sierra Club endorses Stephen Whitburn. Everyone who wants to change San Diego is behind Whitburn, while the ones who want to continue the corrupt status quo are pouring money into the Gloria camp. It's an easy choice to make...Stephen Whitburn for City Council. Best, Fred Williams Normal Heights— September 15, 2008 12:50 p.m.
County Grand Jury recommends consolidation of CCDC, SEDC into single redevelopment agency
It's time to abolish CCDC and SEDC, and probably the Housing Commission too. They aren't doing the job they were created to do. They've become slush funds for corruption. Worst of all, they've become an mechanism for avoiding responsibility. When something goes wrong, CCDC and SEDC point their fingers at the council, while the council points fingers back at the agencies. The end result is that no one is ever held accountable. Think of the never-ending "Housing Emergency" that is declared every month without fail...what exactly is the Housing Commission doing about this? Anything? Where? When? I've heard we'll have an announcement within the next few days that some city council candidates want to abolish these sham agencies and return accountability to the elected council. This can't happen soon enough. The voters of San Diego are tired of being ripped-off. Best, Fred Williams— September 15, 2008 11:55 a.m.
Eight-Year Saga of Port's Phantom $21 Million for Ballpark Finally Ends. It's a Tale of Typical San Diego Deceit
Yet we are still saddled with the ugly ballpork and the ghost-town of empty condo boxes surrounding it. It costs the city tens of millions in bond payments, plus all the extra money for police and traffic control overtime every game. The net effect is a huge drain on our general fund to pay for the entertainment of a billionaire from Texas. Then our bone-tired police go home and leave the K9 in the car, or post deranged public threats against Aguirre supporters. John Moores, corrupt mastermind of the Peregrine fraud, sits fat and happy on the beach in the Caribbean, chortling about how he hoodwinked the rubes. Fabiani, Peace and McGrory hover nearby, waiting to lick up the spittle, ever eager to fork their tongues out and tell another whopper for their boss-man. It takes wealthy and tenacious public-minded San Diegans to even bring this to light, and then most media outlets ignore the story of blatant corruption and greed. Instead, the headlines are about another losing football game. Thanks, Don, for bringing this to the public's attention. The more we know about the ballpork, the more we understand how badly we were ripped-off. Best, Fred Williams— September 15, 2008 11:30 a.m.
District Three Doppelgangers
"2muchsense", like most Gloria supporters, is an anonymous coward. Stephen Whitburn's supporters aren't afraid to use their real names. But it's secretive insiders who are rooting for rent boy Gloria. Here's why: 1. Gloria is in the pocket of developers. He even took illegal contributions from disgraced CCDC head Nancy Graham. It's all public record. Whitburn has been forced to tap out his own savings to attempt to match Gloria's big-money backers. 2. Gloria has done NOTHING on the Housing Commission. He spends our money, but I defy anyone to show me where it has gone. Whitburn is demanding open and independent audits of all of these shady agencies. Gloria is part of the cover-up. 3. Gloria takes contributions from "Papa" Manchester's cronies. While claiming to be for equality for all, Gloria shamelessly takes dirty cash from the same bigots funding Proposition 8. 4. Todd Gloria already betrayed Donna Frye. He's already sold his vote on the council to the Labor Council, just to get their campaign endorsement. Stephen Whitburn stood up and told San Diego what happened behind closed doors, and the voters are outraged. Gloria's sell-out to the labor bosses is disgusting. 5. Stephen Whitburn is endorsed by the Sierra Club, the Democratic Party, and progressive Council Member Donna Frye. Gloria, although he allegedly works for an incumbent congresswoman, was rejected by his own party. Only the insider labor union bosses are backing him, along with the developers who have been robbing San Diego blind. No wonder Gloria's supporters are ashamed to use their real names. Win or lose, Whitburn can hold his head high. He tells the truth and stands up for San Diego. Vote for Stephen Whitburn. Best, Fred Williams Normal Heights— September 15, 2008 10:43 a.m.
CCDC Kills 7th and Market Project; Chairman Maas Says Related Group May Be Victim, Attacks Local Developer
Council Candidate Todd Gloria solicited Nancy Graham for campaign contributions...nine times! See: http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/election/ Also have a look at the inside story of how the Labor Council tried to blackmail Whitburn into betraying Donna Frye. http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2008/09/1… This contest is really heating up. Fascinating...— September 12, 2008 1:05 p.m.
La Jolla Now Has Nation's Most Expensive Homes, According to New Study
What's that old line? "The rich get richer, the poor get children..."— September 11, 2008 11:26 a.m.
CCDC Kills 7th and Market Project; Chairman Maas Says Related Group May Be Victim, Attacks Local Developer
Last week, the City Council, led by Scott "Million Gallon Man" Peters, voted to reappoint Fred Maas to the CCDC Board. Before the vote, I took the microphone and sang a little song for them: *** Today's reappointment Is a disappointment Please don't renew these men's terms The stench at CCDC Is enough to make me queasy Please don't renew these men's terms CCDC, SEDC Both have got a board Do they work for San Diego? Or are we being ignored? Renewed to Twenty Eleven Well that just stinks to heaven Please don't renew these men's terms Todays reappointment Is a disappointment Please don't renew these men's terms *** Jim Madaffer spoke after the public comments, and glaring directly at me said that what the public had to say was "sickening". He then went on to repeat the lie that everything at CCDC is just fine, and the public is just too stupid to appreciate their wonderful work. Donna Frye disagreed, pointing out that the reappointments would further erode the public trust in our government. But she was alone in this, and was defeated in her opposition 7-1. The good ole boys, led by Maas, are still in charge of CCDC, and San Diego hangs its head in shame.— September 11, 2008 11:25 a.m.