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Why do we keep building in Mission Valley?
Not so "good to go:" I thought some fancy cars were ruined in those watery garages built in the Mission Valley flood plain.— January 9, 2019 9:45 p.m.
Don't skip Rafael Payare, Michael Francis, or of course Matthew Aucoin
Resolve in this new year to proofread your copy.— January 9, 2019 9:23 p.m.
Darrell Issa: I was like a Pavlovian dog
That the City has chosen not to regulate the operation and storage of ubiquitous scooters is downright mysterious. I wish I had a dollar for every scooter I've seen dumped on corners, usually lying in a tangle and intruding on the public walkway; or zipping across an intersection without stopping; or weaving down a dark road at night with a light only in front; or speeding along a pedestrian-only sidewalk. Well, maybe the City was waiting for scooter companies to throw some business to the ethics commissioner's private enterprise.— January 9, 2019 6:09 p.m.
LimeBike greases San Diego palms
The audit of San Diego's neglected volunteer community planning associations will be useful only if the City will act now to shore them up with regular educational trainings and benign oversight and assistance. At present, community planning associations are toothless volunteer organizations of disparate elected members -- many of whom are realtors, architects, developers and lawyers with conflicts of interest. The City offers its community planning associations essentially no support. Community planning members who are well-meaning do-gooders are often at a disadvantage compared to the pros. All attend one required cursory meeting to learn requirements for the job. They are never tutored on city building codes or what their own community plan may require, if one exists. Few pros or novices understand the rules of parliamentary procedure needed to run orderly and fair monthly meetings. Few realize the importance of producing and maintaining adequate meeting minutes or keeping track of meeting attendance -- which itself is required for membership, election eligibility and voting. (The City Planning Commission, to which community associations must appeal in disputes, is appointed, but it is similarly heavy with professionals with vested interests in community development decisions.) Here's one example of the state of things: La Jolla Community Planning Association needs to fill more than half its seats in the spring election, due to resignations and term limits. In addition, the group's long-time chairperson, Cindy Greatrex, has finally stepped down after years of legal delays before finally pleading guilty to charges of embezzling $68,000 from another volunteer community organization. (CPAs have no funds to steal.) Meanwhile, there isn't a tear-down and re-build at thrice its original size that doesn't get approved by the CPA. Just recently a three-story windowless concrete fortress was unveiled from its shroud on the ocean side of Torrey Pines Road. It obstructs public views of the coastline.— January 7, 2019 4:55 p.m.
Get behind The Mule
All disturbing, bad and sad --probably because this day has the least light of any in the entire year. Is "Vice" funny? I am looking for funny. And where can one give away a small collection of wonderful movies on VHR? I have duplicate CDs now, but It hurts to throw the old tapes in the trash.— December 21, 2018 10:42 a.m.
Get behind The Mule
Oy, mea maxima culpa: I didn't mean to give anything away. But I have to add that it hurts to see killer-handsome Andy Garcia all portly and avuncular -- it's even worse than seeing Clint Eastwood in flood pants.— December 20, 2018 10:18 p.m.
Get behind The Mule
I share your affection for Eastwood movies and the way he operates."Mule" is brave in its depiction of an irascible selfish old codger who unsettlingly looks and seems truly old on screen. I also liked the character's easy relations with his Mexican farmworkers and later on with the Mexican partners in crime from the garage drop-off. But you are too kind, Scott. The film goes off the rails in Earl's night-in-paradise at cartel headquarters; in the unexpected demise of jefe Andy Garcia; in the interface of Bradley Cooper law enforcement scenes with the Just Being Earl story; in the sappy family estrangement ending with deathbed hand-holding and an invitation to Thanksgiving. I'm thinking C+/B-.— December 20, 2018 8:18 p.m.
Crossroads' last gun show at Del Mar Fairgrounds?
Any excuse to feel good about about our gun "problem" is a good excuse. Fewer gun shows in public venues means less less visibility for the gun industry.It may be a small step, but it's in the right direction. Apparently last week, on the sixth anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, there were many false alarms and school lockdowns across the country -- including at Newtown, CT, where Sandy Hook is located. A high school kid there texted his mother that he wanted to come home, that he was not up to handling another lockdown drill. San Diego Unified is planning to spend millions on fencing many of its sprawling California-style school campuses. Some high school kids call it "building the Wall" and express doubt it will keep them "safe."— December 18, 2018 11:32 a.m.
Crossroads' last gun show at Del Mar Fairgrounds?
Mirabile dictu, thanks to Ira and Rose Ann Sharp for their amazing work to bring gun shows at Del Mar Fairgrounds to an end and thanks to the ACLU for supporting the Sharps against possible litigation. A step forward for humankind.— December 14, 2018 6:22 p.m.
Lincoln High School was designed to fail
Superintendent Cindy (Stonewall) Marten is incompetent when it comes to properly administering high schools, about which she, an ex-elementary school teacher and principal, still knows nothing after five-plus years in this job. In this instance, Martin over-reacted and unsuccessfully tried to incarcerate a parent who complained publicly to find redress for the sexual assault of his special needs child in a Lincoln High School bathroom. In the face of this Lincoln disaster, Marten stonewalls, the Board stonewalls and they all hope their silence will starve the terrible story of oxygen. In fact, Superintendent Marten and this Board are no strangers to by-any-means-necessary draconian retaliation. Marten placated then-School Board member Marne Foster who had a vendetta against her wayward son's strict principal at the San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts. The principal was disappeared suddenly before commencement some years ago after having been demoted by Marten to a central office job. As a result, San Diego lost that excellent principal to a performing arts high school in Los Angeles and Marne Foster resigned from the Board for subsequent improprieties involving misuse of her office.— December 14, 2018 2:08 a.m.