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Mayor Sanders’s committees are almost wholly made up of downtown boosters
Response to Surf Puppy. My small neighborhood was nearly eliminated to make room for oversized apartment buildings. Our small community was declared blighted and subject to being condemned by some blind appraiser from the City Redevelopment Agency who drove by, stuck his thumb in the air and announced "we'll generate fat private profits off the backs of this blighted neighborhood." Well that fool didn't even check real estate transactions and appraisals. The City Redevelopment Agency declared $300-400K homes (this battle occurred ten years ago) blighted under the redevelopment statutes. The community confronted the outrage, revealed the truth of the issue, thereby publicly catching the City Redevelopment Agency, as we said in Sweet Home Alabama, plain buckass nekkid. We residents, acting alone, saved our homes from the wrecking ball. Real Estate Co. lobbyists showed up in substantial numbers at community meetings slithering about in their gecko grey suits, plying residents with unsupported (indeed, outrageous) claims of high purchase prices, and speaking in all manners of forked tongues but failed to turn the issue to benefit unlimited private greed. Perhaps other SD communities will be subjected to the same money machine which has grown exponentially since our tiny neighborhood was saved. The point is the merchants of private profit will say and do anything to rob San Diego homeowners and renters of their homes, income, indeed, absorb their very lives, to reap excessive private benefit. Greedy developers, if not stopped dead in their tracks, will cravenly gamble public funds, rather than risk corporate funds, to reward their avarice. Believe the truth.— December 16, 2009 7:41 p.m.
War at La Jolla Farms
Reply to Post 4: I meant to indicate the double edge to my "glory hole" comment. Both parties are motivated by greed in that type of scheme. I worked for 3 months at the "Imperial Hotel" in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Cripple Creek was the gold mining center of Colo post-Civil War to the turn of the century. Large rooms at the "Imperial Hotel" were wall papered in Mining Co. stock certificates. So much for getting rich quick. By the by, Cripple Creek in 1971 when I was there made a museum of the remaining leaping house from days of yore.— December 4, 2009 4:15 p.m.
War at La Jolla Farms
It sounds like folks have been victimized by "glory hole" greed.— December 3, 2009 1:08 p.m.
Obama taps Alan Bersin to oversee the border
To all: You might look at an article titled "A US DRUG FOE WHO WAS SEEN AS INCORRUPTIBLE" at the bottom of the first page of today's "Los Angeles Times", a story about a retired Arizona US Customs Official (who apparently worked outside Bersin's jurisdiction) recently indicted as a product of reports from some of his former informants. Who knows the truth of that contropversy, but the story indicates what a yawning black hole the Mexican Narco Wars are for US law enforcement offcials. The US Attorney for that jurisdiction certainly has a thankless task ahead, prosecuting a formerly high-reputation law officer because informants, who may be criminals, provided reports against him.— November 22, 2009 11:39 a.m.
Obama taps Alan Bersin to oversee the border
Fred-I certainly don't concur with Comment 67. I respect that you're giving out the straight stuff. I can see that Potter has written a lot of articles about local issues. He's a veteran of local wars, I agree. Thanks for showing me that. I would respectfully distinguish here that the subject article has implications that are both national and international in scope. The subject is does not involve a down home SD problem only. The stakes involve not only Alan Bersin, but also the direction of the fight against narco wars, policy on illegal immigration (which is vastly more than an SD issue only), the internal political and security struggles within Mexico, and critical developing relations between the US and Mexico. Potter has bitten off a huge chunk and made some rather pointed observations, findings and conclusions. In short, this time he plays where the big boys of journalism play. Nothing wrong with that, but readers are justified if they elect to await further developments before buying Potter's story on its own. Which is my choice. Not only is Bersin's public standing put in question, but many other public and private figures as well. That to me is high stakes play, worthy of skeptical analysis pending the reaction, if any, by the larger national press to the assertions of a small, pulp publisher in SD. You and other commenters have given me significnt points to consider. I appreciate your effort. I know how tempting it is for myself and other readers to play attack. I respectfully suggest that, when the issue is openly high stakes, more fruitful consideration is needed beyond the fun of quipping and attacking. This comment isn't for you, Fred. John— November 21, 2009 9:28 p.m.
Obama taps Alan Bersin to oversee the border
The notion that readers must conduct their own investigations and disprove the findings of any writer is utterly ridiculous.The writer, not readers, bears the burden of establishing the credibility of his writing. The writer in this instance apparently has spent a career writing for a pulp magazine, at least if comments above are accurate. That provides room to question his article barring independent substantiation of his claim and reputation by proven, credible journalists. The writer may be the intellectual heroe of some of you, but that doesn't bar others from being skeptical. I'll apologize humbly to all of you if the article wins Potter a Pulitzer Prize. In the meantime, I'll wait to learn if the mainstream press picks up his story and, if they do, see what they have to say on the subject. In the meantime, I don't accept Potter's word alone as dispositve on the subject. Have fun all. regardless of how you believe.— November 21, 2009 8:20 p.m.
Obama taps Alan Bersin to oversee the border
What's your specialty Surf Puppy? If you indeed are a lawyer, you undoubtedly believe in the presumption of innocence. Thus, you understand my objections to a one sided, undocumented investigative report, one that acts as prosecutor, judge and jury. I'm certainly relaxed, trust you are too. By the way, look closely and you'll find my name-and it's not Alan, surprise.I'm genuine in wishing you a good weekend.— November 21, 2009 7:48 a.m.
Obama taps Alan Bersin to oversee the border
Thanks, Pistop.— November 21, 2009 7:36 a.m.
Obama taps Alan Bersin to oversee the border
Surf Puppy-You want my name? It's RumplestiltskinPiedPiperLittleThreeBearsYellowbrickRoadWicked WitchoftheWestDon'tMessWithTejas IgnatiusXavierKennedy NixonBushTheElderReaganLBJBushTheFup, III. Be careful. If you say that name backwards, Giant Winged Gorillas will swoop down, snatch you up and deliver you to Lucifer at the Gates of Hades, whereupon you will be fed to the Hounds of Hell and you bones reduced to dust on burning rocks and brimstone.Your sould will then be cursed to serve as the right wing of Lucifer for eternity. Take care and have a good weekend.— November 20, 2009 7:46 p.m.
Obama taps Alan Bersin to oversee the border
Thanks Pistol. Refried: I appreciate your comments. I realize journalists generally don't document, which in all honesty is why I fundamentally distrust journalists of all types. A reader should not be expected to independently validate a sweeping story replete with manifold charges like the Bersin article. Historians cite and document but most journalists don't. That's why I consider the reputation of the publication and writer. Perhaps in retro my primary criticism is for taking on too much in one published article. Maybe he plans follow ups. As I told Visduh, I read the LA Times and UT, mostly for sports. Have a great weekend and I enjoyed exchanging with you. Best, John.— November 20, 2009 6:19 p.m.