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San Diego plays big role in Field of schemes
(cont.) Yet, as Darren points out, the local media, including the allegedly independent VOSD keep spinning the lie that hosting professional ball players is somehow profitable. It is NOT profitable to us, and they know this. So what is their motivation? Could it be the free press passes to the games? Could it be the marketing and advertising partnerships? Could it be simple stupidity? After all, when I attended college I noticed that the journalism students were uniformly dim-witted. To be a newsreader requires little more than a deep voice and a full head of hair. Thank goodness for Don Bauder. What he lacks in good looks, he more than makes up in good sense. Unfortunately, our television addled society seems unable to do basic math, and will instead mindlessly repeat the simplistic slogans of the cheerleaders. "Keep the Faith," indeed. Unfortunately, it was bad faith. The "pump and dump" history of John Moores with the Peregrine fraud should have landed him in jail. His bribery (oh, wait, "illegal gifts") of Stallings should have put him in the slammer. The ballpork rip-off should have seen him doing hard time. Now he's got political prostitute Steve Peace working on ways to put the airport into his greedy hands, and I'm sure the privatization of Balboa Park will be yet another fraud where Moores will stiff us all. One wonders how much longer San Diego will tolerate all of this. My number one criteria for the next mayor, council, and city attorney is if they will have the cajones to prosecute John Moores and get our money back. Best, Fred Williams— April 5, 2008 7:09 a.m.
San Diego plays big role in Field of schemes
Hey, Darren and Techboy2000, Let's get together and serenade the city. If you're able to take off some time from work, (notice how they schedule these things so most people cannot attend), we can go to the next city council meeting and sing the ballpork song. I live and work downtown. The condo towers are empty. Even on the days when the boys are playing ball, it's clear that the only place they are spending their money is inside the Moores money making stadium...if you leave during the game, you cannot go back in. We also neglect to calculate the amount of money spent policing the rowdy drunks. I counted at least two dozen uniformed officers surrounding the sports fortress for the game. What about the litter? These ball-obsessed fans don't seem able to hit a trash can, so we all pay for cleaning up their mess. As Gerry Braun pointed out in his recent article, even restaurants that got steady custom from the ball-fans have gone out of business. So where is the benefit to San Diego's economy? It doesn't come from hotel room taxes, since almost all the people attending the game are locals within driving distance. It doesn't come from increased local restaurant or bar revenues, since that is captured within the stadium (where Moores keeps the profit...$8 for a beer). It doesn't come from rent, since Moores pays only $500k rent, while we pay a minimum of $17 MILLION for the bonds alone. (cont.)— April 5, 2008 7:08 a.m.
Another La Jolla Ponzi Scheme: This One Engineered by an Attorney Now Headed to Prison
Yet John Moores, who has stolen somewhere around $500 million from us all in the Petco fraud alone remains free. When we add the $650 million from investors with Peregrine, it's clear that the primary mistake Mr. Campbell had was lack of ambition. If you steal ENOUGH you become immune to prosecution, it seems. The Spanos crime family's history in San Diego seems to confirm this theory. You would think sports-fans would be outraged at how their teams have been used as a cover for illegal activities. Fred— April 5, 2008 6:34 a.m.
San Diego plays big role in Field of schemes
San Diego's Song: Rip me off with a ballpark Give me corporate pork Buy me a mayor and council seat After the vote our team always gets beat Cause it's fraud, fraud, fraud economics Taxpayers lose, it's a shame But it's one, two, three billion lost In this big shell game Time to sue John Moores for our money back. Time to put Susan Golding, Jack McGrory, and Casey Gwinn in jail for corruption. Then we'll go after the Spanos crime family too. Our pension deficit is a direct result of these stadium/ballpark frauds. If it's not the case, then John Moores and Alex Spanos ought to be suing me for libel. Fred Williams— April 3, 2008 6:52 a.m.
SDG&E to install 2-way meter readers
The most corrupt? Here are my nominees...but there is room for more. 1. Jack McGrory 2. Casey Gwinn 3. Susan Golding 4. John Moores 5. Alex/Dean Spanos 6. Scott Peters 7. Byron Wear 8. Ron Roberts 9. Brian Bilbray— April 2, 2008 6:09 a.m.
Why plummeting dollar hurts you
Stagflation, where economic stagnation is coupled with high inflation seems to be our immediate fate. Let's face it...we've got to pay back what we've squandered. We don't seem to manufacture much, we've lived far beyond our means, and instead of investing we've wasted our money on wars and sports stadiums, the specialties of George W. Bush. Meanwhile, our educational institutions continue to fail, while we teach our children to pray and complain rather than work hard and save. Our best students come from overseas, as do our most clever technologists. When our system provided a free and level playing field under the rule of law, we could still attract the best from elsewhere. But, as Don has documented, we've skewed the system so much in favor of the plutocrats that only a fool would invest here now. Look at John Moores and his unpunished Peregrine fraud, half-billion dollar handout from the city, and now his grab for our airport and Balboa Park. Steve Peace, Jack McGrory, Ron Roberts, Scott Peters and other political prostitutes have all sold themselves to this crook, but no one seems to notice. We've got a long way yet to drop in our housing prices, and wages cannot rise to meet inflation with the wage depressing effects of outsourcing. This means the vast majority will see rapid declines in their quality of life. Food, housing, and transport costs will continue to rise dramatically. Only the hyper-wealthy will be able to escape this spiral. Honestly, I fear the worst. Social instability combined with frustration at the way we've all been screwed may lead to social violence on an unprecedented scale. This is why the very rich are retreating into private fortifications like Rancho Santa Fe and investing in Blackwater type private guards. Is it too late? I hope not, and will work all I can this election year to get better people into positions of public responsibility. I'm afraid this may be our last chance. Best, Fred Williams— April 1, 2008 5:29 p.m.