Property tax revenues up, but short of blistering recent sales numbers
While recent reports from the real estate industry indicate that property values are skyrocketing, in many areas across the county posting double digit year-over-year increases, San Diego County Assessor Ernest Dronenberg’s office reported more modest numbers for the year last …
Old Town jerky: Cheap, cheerful Inca-chew
Chomp on jerky and taste, uh, ancestors' gastronomy
Jerky for lunch? I was walking up through Old Town Plaza when I noticed this freshly whitewashed adobe place down by the Fiesta de Reyes part. Next to a silversmith joint. The Old Town House of Jerky & Root Beer …
4th row center: King Kong
By the time I was old enough to take the elevated train to Chicago's Loop, The Clark Theatre had all but died. Under the leadership of legendary Chicago movie theatre impresario, Bruce Trinz, the Clark was the forerunner of what …
Best events in San Diego: July 9-10
Tuesday | 9 TWILIGHT IN THE PARK SUMMER CONCERT Featuring Real Jazz Big Band. Dine from carts or bring your own picnic dinner. WHEN: 6:15 to 7:15 p.m WHERE: Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park. balboapark.org/calendar Wednesday | …
U.S. Federal program spent $2.44 million for UCSD study on prostitute use in Tijuana
Ongoing project intends to help with HIV prevention on Mexico border
A research project, which is being conducted by the University of California San Diego, has amassed $2,440,150 in federal funds to research female sex workers and the men who visit them in Tijuana, Mexico. On July 1, CNSNews detailed the …
Tribes at La Jolla Playhouse
Billy was born deaf. His family are "hearing." Without giving him the choice, his parents refused to have him learn sign language. Why? His father, Christopher, fears that signing would identify him with a "minority," even a cult (i.e. a …
Port and council staff load up on free banquet tickets from super lobbyists
Port commissioner Merrifield joins in merriment, courtesy of hotel mogul-backed business lobbying group attacking Filner; later reimburses, filing shows
Back in May, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association – a bastion of high-powered San Diego influence peddlers, including city hall lobbyists Paul Robinson; Al Ziegaus's Southwest Strategies; and Tom Shepard's Public Policy Strategies; as well as, according to the …
Did Emperor Filnero purge staff of disloyal traitors?
Former Deputy Chief of Staff Allen Jones dies shortly after consuming "foraged mushroom tart" at The Linkery.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/02/48461/ Filnero: "You want humiliation? I crucified St. Peter upside down!" Emperor Filnero's longtime aide and counsel Allen Jones died just days after resigning his post over charges of "ritual humiliation" perpetrated by Filnero on his staff, SD on the …
Emperor Bobigula appoints his horse as new communications director
In wake of Irene McCormack's resignation, Mayor-turned-Emperor appoints someone he can trust to deliver his messages to the masses.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/02/48443/ A Sunroad for the Sun God - when you think about it, it's only fitting. First statement from Communications Director Incitatus: "As the Sunroad scandal threatens to distract the people from the glory of Emperor Bobigula's, His Divine Lordship …
"Feast" to debut at New Children's Museum in the fall
New exhibition will teach "the art of playing with your food" and offer hungry patrons a chance to dine like *Le Roi Soleil* (for a price, of course).
The New Children’s Museum changes exhibits once every two years. New exhibits spend over a year in development and it takes more than a month of full work days--during which the museum has to close--to put up a new installation, …
U-T San Diego says it will have 24-hour national streaming TV network
But shouldn't it spend the money shaping up its bumbling local online operation?
U-T San Diego expects to take its local online television operation national, according to the publications NetNewsCheck and Editor & Publisher. John Lynch, U-T's chief executive, says that in 90 days the U-T plans to begin courting newspapers in America's …
Lawsuit coming over City Attorney's refusal to release complete record of Filner and Jones exchange
City Attorney says closed session transcripts may not be released without city council authority. That begs the question: Did the City Council vote to release those transcripts to the press on June 20?
It took the City Attorney less than two days to give the press carefully redacted notes from the closed-session meeting where Mayor Bob Filner booted Deputy City Attorney Andrew Jones for disrupting the meeting. Nearly two weeks later, Goldsmith is …
Fletcher, Peters join veterans to raise awareness of sole U.S. POW in Afghanistan/Iraq wars
Former state Assemblyman, mayoral candidate, and Marine Nathan Fletcher joined Representative Scott Peters and a group of veterans outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park yesterday afternoon (July 1), calling for greater public recognition of the plight …
"Longest driver in golf"? Nope, says regulator
Callaway, TaylorMade challenge each other's ad claims
The National Advertising Division (NAD), administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, has concluded that Callaway Golf's claims for one of its clubs was misleading. In print, Internet, and Twitter promotions, Callaway said its Razr Fit Xtreme driver was …
Acquitted on all 13 counts of vandalism, jury says Jeff Olson should be free
A review of the plea-deal offers deputy city attorney Hazard said were fair
With each of the 13 "not guilty" verdicts, defense attorney Tom Tosdal grabbed Jeff Olson's shoulder in a sign of support and relief. On Monday, jurors rejected all 13-counts of vandalism charges filed against Olson for scribbling anti-Bank of America …
Double features from hell: What Ever Happened to the Music Man?
Oh, we got trouble!
"But you are, Harold. You are in River City!" http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/01/48390/
He gets 37 months for cheating government on trade
He said imported goods would be sold in other countries. They weren't.
Gerardo Chavez was sentenced today (July 1) to 37 months in prison for violating customs rules. He has to forfeit real estate in Tecate where he has his office, and must attend a future restitution hearing at which he could …
The touch of a master: Mike Wofford live in La Jolla
Everything Wofford plays has a purity of expression.
Piano master Mike Wofford has lived such a storybook career that it's easy to get lost in the long maze of his past accomplishments and forget about what a vital force he is right now. Fortunately, Dan Atkinson and the …
New comedy club inside Grauman's Chinese is no laughing matter
The once-mighty Grauman's Chinese Theatre has fallen on hard times. The big Chinese was closed for renovation when I paid a visit last week. They're installing an IMAX screen -- the first ever on Hollywood Boulevard -- in hope of …