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San Diego's $2.27 billion pension hole
With the defined pension benefit plans and overtime rules many police and firefighters in SD are getting compensation equivalent to 150k - 200k (or even more) private sector jobs. (Of course you will likely dispute this number because you will grossly underestimate the equivalent value of the defined benefit pension). This is for jobs that don't require advanced degrees. From what I've read, it's very hard to get a job as a firefighter unless you know somebody. I suspect there are a lot of people who would want those police and fire jobs but they don't have the right connections. I suspect you could lower compensation for police and fire fighters A LOT and still have no problems finding qualified workers.— September 18, 2016 6:33 p.m.
San Diego's $2.27 billion pension hole
I'm still guessing at the Chargers' strategy? Do they know something we don't know? If I was in their shoes once the LA door (at least the one they wanted) got shut I would have either sold the team or negotiated a deal with Faulconer, Roberts and whoever else is actually making decisions. Faulconer / Roberts were willing to write a big fat 350M taxpayer check to Spanos - and probably would have been willing to go higher. Supposedly after the LA rejection Spanos asked for $650M not $350M and Faulconer / Roberts said no. I don't know if Faulconer and Roberts were being at least somewhat prudent and drawing a line or if their strings were being pulled by others - but at least they drew the line at how badly the taxpayer's pockets would get picked. And now Spanos wants $1.15B in tax money spent on his project?— September 18, 2016 1:58 p.m.
San Diego's $2.27 billion pension hole
I seem to be able to find The Reader at most supermarkets and mini-markets I frequent - which tend to be in PQ, 4S, and RB.— September 18, 2016 1:51 p.m.
Mira Mesa braces for mega population growth
I agree with Ponzi. I think the responsibility of the city's leaders is to act in the best interests of existing residents. I don't think they have a responsibility to somehow make San Diego an inexpensive place to live. For any development to benefit existing residents there needs to be infrastructure improvements to go along with the development. This means significant upgrades or additions to transportation networks, power networks, and water delivery (not just barely enough to possibly handle the new traffic). Are they expanding Mira Mesa blvd or Miramar Road or SR-56 or I-15? Are they adding power plants, solar power stations or desalination plants for water needs? For a development to actually benefit the rest of the public they better be paying for some big infrastructure improvements. That doesn't seem to be the case here. It seems like rather than putting many millions of dollars into infrastructure which would benefit the public they've decided it's more cost effective to put many thousands of dollars into politicians' pockets.— September 17, 2016 6:26 a.m.
Brother of ISIL fighter pleads guilty to lying to FBI
Unfortunately executives probably have plausible deniability. I'm guessing that the executives of WF never gave direct orders to commit any fraudulent acts. The executives put pressure on their underlings to sign up more new accounts and eventually that pressure makes it's way to the employees who end up committing fraud to meet unreasonable demands from their bosses. I think what's needed for this type of case is to have laws which hold the CEO and other very senior executives criminally liable and subject to prison sentences if their firm commits fraud that they should reasonably be expected to be aware of. Based on what I've read about this case it sounds to me like executives of WF should definitely have been aware this was going on and they looked the other way. So I doubt if anyone will get convicted of anything, although in my view the CEO should probably go to prison for this.— September 16, 2016 12:21 p.m.
"The Chargers are cheap and manipulative"
Hmmm. Your stat (great research BTW!) does show that the last couple of years were an aberation (sp?). This year in particular seems to be an aberation in that neither Wentz nor Goff seem to be considered (near) sure-fire elite QB's (e.g. Luck). They just seem to have a good chance to be good starting QB's and that alone is enough for a high draft pick. I think you're right. QB is such an important position that the teams are willing to take some chances to try for a good starting QB. I thought that maybe the CBA had something to do with the recent draft order but your stats clearly indicate that's not the case.— August 31, 2016 10:43 p.m.
"The Chargers are cheap and manipulative"
I think this may be part of the reason that you see QB's getting drafted so high now. With the older system if you drafted a QB at #2 then you would have pay him a lot more than if you drafted a linebacker at #2. With the new system they would get paid the same. Goff (#1 pick) and Wentz (#2 pick overall) aren't universally hailed as great NFL QB prospects and in prior years they might have gone lower in the first round than #1 and #2. Another factor is that there is more passing and the game even more strongly favors teams with great QB's.— August 30, 2016 5:46 p.m.
"The Chargers are cheap and manipulative"
http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/6/11604960/nfl-roo… Rookies get paid based on draft positioning and teams already have that money allocated against the salary cap for each draft class. Contract value and bonus amounts are predetermined, based on the pool and the league's salary cap, which is set at $155.27 million this season. The only negotiable items are the offset language (the ability for a team to get back guaranteed money if the player is released and finds a new team), terms for the payment of bonus money and small things of that nature.— August 30, 2016 5:40 p.m.
"The Chargers are cheap and manipulative"
My understanding is that the offset language means that if the Chargers release Bosa before the 4th year of his contract and Bosa signs with another team then the Chargers don't have to pay Bosa any amount paid by his new team. Say by contract he is supposed to get paid $2M by the Chargers in year 4, but he turns out to be a dud and the Chargers cut him before year 4. Then say Bosa signs with the Raiders and plays for the Raiders for $1M for the 4th year of his contract. If there is offset language then the Raiders' $1M offsets the Chargers' payment so for year 4 the Raiders pay him $1M and the Chargers pay him $1M. If there is no offset language then for Bosa's year 4 the Raiders pay him $1M for his new contract AND the Chargers still pay him $2M. I'd call that double-dipping.— August 29, 2016 7:20 a.m.
"The Chargers are cheap and manipulative"
The bonus and salary money are 100% pre-determined based on draft position. They are only haggling over the offset language and timing of the bonus payment. " Contract value and bonus amounts are predetermined, based on the pool and the league's salary cap, which is set at $155.27 million this season. The only negotiable items are the offset language (the ability for a team to get back guaranteed money if the player is released and finds a new team), terms for the payment of bonus money and small things of that nature." http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/6/11604960/nfl-roo…— August 29, 2016 7:07 a.m.