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The Busby Affair
Fundraisers are dull affairs. They serve a bit of wine, people mingle, the politician asks for contributions amidst polite chit-chat. Josh, you'd be bored out of your mind. Let's picture what happened... According to press accounts I've read, they had a microphone and probably one of those small speakers you've seen, and when the candidate started giving her stump speech a heckler hidden in the trees shouted anti-gay and anti-liberal slurs. The small audience, wearing rather formal clothes, didn't chase the guy down and beat him to a pulp. They shouted back a bit, and probably turned up the volume so they could hear the candidate and drown out the heckler. She finished her speech. The heckler seemed to have disappeared, and they began wrapping things up. A bit later, up pulls a sheriff. He probably just wants to tell some party to quiet down. Instead he sees well dressed older women who immediately begin shouting at him about the heckler. He doesn't want to hear it. He says he's there for the noise complaint and they'd better quiet down. "Who's the owner here? Show me ID." He gets angry (using steroids? been tested?) and demands identification. They refuse indignantly, and tell him there's something called the 4th Amendment. Remember, there's another observer we've heard nothing from. A member of the "Psychiatric Emergency Response Team" is there...doing what? The cop should have backed off and called a supervisor, or he ought to have used the Emergency Response person, sitting or standing right there, to defuse the situation, get more information and cool down. He attempts to take the belligerent woman into custody, and as a former professional athlete, knowing she's broken no law, surrounded by indignant friends...well, she's not going to come easily. They protect her, quickly turning the tables on the cop and he calls for assistance. Thinking he's being overwhelmed by an angry mob, the cops come rolling in with as much force as they've got nearby. This cop escalated the situation, didn't listen to the home owners or recognize that he'd been pranked in the first place. Josh, he didn't sit outside and listen for noise to see if there's actually a problem. Instead, he lost his cool and embarrassed himself. He also revealed a dangerous mind-set that cops are apart from and superior to "civilians". Challenging a cop is not tolerated, even when the cop is clearly wrong. Charges will be fabricated to ensure that anyone who challenges a cop will be punished, in addition to whatever physical abuse the cop can deliver personally while you are "resisting arrest". When older women at fundraisers are put under false arrest, made the subject of national news reports, and then attacked by political rivals as somehow attacking the cop... ...our country is in trouble, my friends.— September 1, 2009 1:35 a.m.
Scholar Says He Is "Misrepresented" in Convention Task Force Report
It's amazing that in San Diego, after all we've been through, the exact same jokers with phoney numbers are appointed to yet another task force to falsify data supporting a preordained conclusion. http://www.conventioncentertaskforce.org/taskforc… Back in the sad-old UT days, Don Bauder gave sound advice to the ballpark task force: http://userpages.umbc.edu/~coates/news_1b4.htm They didn't follow the advice, and now we've got the ballpork district, an economic albatross around the neck of San Diego for the rest of our lifetimes. Professor Sanders testifies to today's task force, "Your numbers are so weird they cause a conundrum." Task force reports to the mayor, "San Diego is so unique and wonderful that our numbers are a delightful conundrum, and besides that anyone who disagrees...is just a whack job." Professor Sanders, renowned nationally as an expert on convention centers economic performance, is scoffed at by the task force during his testimony: * Gonzales: "Have you actually been in a convention center?" * Maas: "I’m curious, have you ever been wrong? Share it please." Eighth-grade level insults coming from Maas, the alleged head of CCDC, the notorious redevelopment agency that is mired in fraud and blatant misuse of federal, state, and local tax funds...and Lorena Gonzales, the labor boss who is best known for blocking Donna Frye for council president. (Lorena's been quite plumply rewarded by her political masters since that election.) The other board members, Cushman, Evans, Nelson, Steele...look them up online and find that behind every bad idea in this city, you'll find these guys standing in a row with pom poms, high kicking and flashing their panties while the rubes get robbed yet again... San Diego ought to be sharpening pitchforks for these jerks...not appointing them to yet another sham task force to shame our once proud city.— August 30, 2009 12:42 a.m.
Serial Office-Holder
Hey, J.W. If we look at how and why societies collapse, one of the recurring patterns is the political elite becoming completely separate from the rest of the citizens. Would you agree that seat jumping like this is a symptom of that pattern in our time? At least Kehoe sponsored one good law...SB 93, clarifying that what is happening to Grantville, with redevelopment money being siphoned downtown by the City and County and notorious CCDC, is plainly illegal. ...but her bill is NOT undoing the harm to Grantville. Grantville Action Group is having to fund an expensive (but likely victorious) lawsuit for that. Visit them at http://www.grantvilleactiongroup.com ...they deserve your support. Best, Fred— August 25, 2009 11:48 p.m.
Pedicab Crackdown
"Follow that Ewok!" "Traffic again. Vader's gonna kill me..." "Staying on target. Gotta...hold...on...tight!"— August 25, 2009 11:42 p.m.
Pedicab Crackdown
Pete, San Diego is special. Not for its sporting events. It's never been known for sports, though misguided politicians corrupted by sports moguls' campaign contributions have wasted tons of our money trying, and failing, to be some sports big shot. That's NOT San Diego. Yes, San Diego's infrastructure is a disgrace. While shoveling money into Moores' and Spanos' pockets, we've NOT kept up with basic maintenance. Our water supply is perilous. The pension disaster, steroid abusing cops out of control, unresponsive and arrogant government by professional political hacks...all these things are an embarrassment. But that's not what makes San Diego special. Any number of cities have the same problems, or worse. What makes San Diego special has always been its location. With a natural harbor, sea and hills, rising to mountains in the east, this was one of the largest settlements of native americans before the Spaniards arrived. People lived in San Diego for a long time, taking advantage of its climate and resources. Apart from the occasional earthquake (don't get me started on what geologists say is going to happen to Mission Valley, Downtown, or Mission Beach when the next big one strikes) we've got nearly perfect weather. The ocean wind keeps the coast cool and fresh, with better air quality than most cities. Proximity to Mexico is another huge economic advantage, and part of what makes San Diego special. Balboa Park makes San Diego special. Our canyons, and island-like communities where very decent, kind and friendly people live and work together...San Diegans are not so harsh as other city dwellers. Our universities, colleges, artists and musicians make us special. San Diego is a special and beautiful city, Pete. Not because of sports events, but in spite of money wasted on sports events. Best, Fred— August 25, 2009 11:37 p.m.
Party Time?
I tried. I really tried. I posted a cogent argument, with persuasive links, detailing some of the reasons why Mexico's legislative innovation on drug policy is to be applauded. Then along comes my good friend fumber, and he steals all the attention. I'm jealous. I need attention too, you know. Here I am just standing in the corner, while every points and smirks and laughs along with fumbers antics. Well, if you can't beat em...I admit it. I love fumber too! We all look forward to his fumbling fulminations filled with felonious fancies and fatwas. This goes without saying, primarily because saying it would sound funny... What makes fumber so unique, and beloved, is his uncanny depictions of us all. Consider how he pegged me (get it? heh, heh. "pegged me"? heh, heh, Okay, google it up SDaniels) as a humongous lard addicted slobbering source of defilement and destruction, intent on the fall of the world, pawn of satan. Look how incisively he describes Antigeekess' enormous posterior...not to mention his exposure of Surfpuppy's notorious membership in the international outdoor humping conspiracy. Indeed, fumber's unerring accuracy and attention to detail is a source of pride for the entire Reader online community. Even the elusive, exclusive, reclusive, Russl begs for his attention. Let's all give fumber the respect and attention he so clearly deserves. It's impossible not to agree with him. I'm happy to be a humongous basket of lard, as PistolPete is undoubtedly proud of his brainstem-genitalia connection. Therefore, let me be the first to welcome fumber back from his stay in the hospital. We're all glad you're back at home in your mother's basement. Hey, fumber. If you ever venture outside, be sure to let us know. I'm confident that all of us would love to meet you face to face so we could show you just how much you mean to us. I'm sure that Pete and Josh, for example, would join me in welcoming you in a most appropriate way, finally giving you ALL the deeply personal attention you so richly have earned. Fumber, you're the best. We love you! (Oh yeah, and this Mexican legislation is really important, really encouraging, and hopefully a turning point in drug policies in the rest of North America.)— August 25, 2009 11:22 p.m.
Scripps Ranch fight over eucalyptus
Joe, District 7's Marti Emerald ought to also be asked her views, considering that swath of East Miramar (Camp Elliott?) south of Scripps Ranch with all the growth is in her district... ...thanks for the article. I'd always taken it for fact that eucalyptus is especially hazardous. Is there truly a scientific consensus on this? Best, Fred— August 24, 2009 11:44 p.m.
Scripps Ranch fight over eucalyptus
What's DeMaio's take on this? It's his district. He should have been interviewed for this story to get his view on the record. Anyone from City Council District 5 staff read this? Any comments?— August 24, 2009 11:39 p.m.
Pedicab Crackdown
"Resistance is futile, the rebel walkers cannot defeat the force of the pedicab army. My storm troopers will crush your puny rebelion! Now, how much is the bill?" "Sorry? My English is not so good. I'm just here for some summer cash, you know?" "The Empire demands to know the price for this ride!" "Oh, yes sir mister comic book man." "I'm a STORM TROOPER!" "Oh, yes. Begging your pardon, sir. That's fifty dollars." "Fifty dollars? That's an outrage!" "Well, with your costume and everything, you're kinda heavy..."— August 24, 2009 11:19 p.m.
Party Time?
Good for Mexico. This legislation (vetoed two years ago under pressure from our previous administration) allows police to focus resources on more urgent issues. It also would reduce the risk premium, perhaps lowering prices for consumers, hitting drug cartel profits. Portugal has shown that the worst fears promulgated by cops and others with a self-interest in continuing the disastrous drug war are baseless. All drugs have been decriminalized there, and usage and violence both dropped dramatically while treatment and recovery for real addicts increased. See: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,18… http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=… http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10080 Portugal, and now Mexico are indeed making us look, "retarded" (which means slower than normal) in our punitive approach to illicit recreational intoxicants. We are behind the rest of the industrial world in our attitudes, laws, and policies. Good for Mexico.— August 24, 2009 11:11 p.m.