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33% of the profit? No problem — hey!
Susan, focusing in on your last sentence, what does it take to call a halt to all of this? How can we get an injunction? Anyone?— August 1, 2014 8:19 a.m.
Who made these errors?
Wow, this really lets us know that people running things know what they are doing... Why is it always preschool playtime here in San Diego? No accountability, massive problems, no one owns up, and the taxpayers get to pay, over and over. Shouldn't the NRC get on these people, even though it is a bit late in the game? Make sure they know who is responsible for what, and make sure they aren't making the same mistakes somewhere else, to the great detriment of the citizenry? Thank goodness this problem is being brought forward. It is unacceptable. Were people being paid for jobs they were completely unequipped to do? Would that be because they were friends, or because they lied on the applications, or what? How does a situation get this dire? It doesn't happen overnight--it takes years of selfishly wasteful non-work to achieve this level of colossal mess-up. Good thing that earthquake was in Japan, or we would have been in real trouble, right, guys?— July 31, 2014 8:20 p.m.
33% of the profit? No problem — hey!
So, let's be perfectly clear--Sweetwater, under Ed Brand, but without Brand's signature, decided to give 1/3 of profits to E2ManageTech. Excuse me, that is public money!! This is not the way things should be done, especially with this district still in a massive mess: class sizes too high, all sorts of questionable physical plant situations, eliminating bus routes so that 12 year-olds will need to walk to school in the dark, funding numerous charter schools when the regular Sweetwater schools are going begging??? Who operates in this manner--people without conscience, that's who. This cannot go on. Yes, this is what Dr. Glover inherited, and it is no picnic, but it is definitely time to shut down all the Brand schemes. No more housing projects...no more charter schools! Bring back safe and sensible bus routes!! Give us the forensic audit we have been requesting for years now, and let the tracing of funds begin! I suspect Ed Brand will have some explaining to do. Great stars in the sky! Now would be a pretty good time for Cartmill to start telling us everything he knows. It won't be pretty, but it might save all sorts of grief. What will we find out regarding complicity. Looks like there is plenty of that to go around. What kind of money are we talking about with that 1/3 of "savings"--don't you just love the doublespeak--what's a few million between friends? Oh--maybe the difference between a school district that functions and one that is a fiasco. We definitely have the fiasco right here. The Ed Brand created, and Cartmill, Ricasa and McCann seconded and voted through FIASCO!— July 31, 2014 8:09 p.m.
Doing the Doug Manchester dodge
Can anyone explain to me the usage of the "failed bank" as money shield/laundry/stash? Apparently "failed banks" can exist and still contain assets?— July 30, 2014 7:06 p.m.
“Unforgettable” Outtakes
Just makes one love the English language, and those that write it!— July 29, 2014 10:30 a.m.
San Diego recovers poorly
Question for you, Mr. Bauder, The Atlantic (via facebook) referenced a ProPublica article on a company called USA Discounters. Apparently they target military personnel with offers of furniture and appliance as well as computer "deals" whereby people make payments over a time period. They are located all over the US -- but if one of their clients stops making payments, they sue them in the state of Virginia. So that most of the time, the individual does not show up, and the verdict is rendered in favor of USA Discounters. Apparently there is a loophole in some legislation that allows this. I was just wondering if you had heard of any of this. Looks like just one more way that young military personnel are being taken advantage of.— July 28, 2014 4:50 p.m.
Cartmill for Sweetwater board — get real
Still waiting, I guess? Will Espana rule that Cartmill can return to the Sweetwater board so that Cartmill can then claim that all is well with the world? That he has repaid his debt to society? Ha! Sweetwater does not need a Brand-loyal henchman hanging around...Sweetwater needs people who will actually look into issues, answer questions, and not sell out to the highest bidder. Or any bidder.— July 28, 2014 9:40 a.m.
Sweetwater land deals — the beef goes on
I am hoping that if regular public input will not cause these read estate deals to go into hiatus, then injunctions can be brought forward. There is no reason to continue with the schemes of the departed Brand--unless someone is getting a payoff somewhere down the line. But even that is hardly a good reason. Let us please have that forensic accounting report before we continue with any of this; there are far too many questions regarding the decision-making of Ed Brand, and the lock-step voting of Cartmill, Ricasa and McCann that allowed all sorts of nonsense. McCann can try and change the public record, but his votes are all recorded. Brand's bosom buddy, every time.— July 28, 2014 9:34 a.m.
An attorney for the city attorney
Between Bonnie Dumanis and Jan Goldsmith, one wonders about the judgment of these San Diego leading 'legal minds'. Aren't things getting a bit sticky for them? Isn't it about time for these two to announce that they need to spend more time with family, or pursue other interests? Cover-ups generally mean that people know they have not done what they were supposed to do, or have done what they should not have done. I guess there must be some wiggle room for Goldsmith and Dumanis, wiggle room that they wouldn't necessarily allow anyone else.— July 28, 2014 9:28 a.m.
Bridgepoint's troubles continue
Don, does the SD business establishment adore Bridgepoint because Ashford is the name underwriting events here, such as the Symphony's Summer Pops series and some bowl games? Would there be any lingering respect if the cash outlays were to stop?— July 27, 2014 2:39 p.m.