San Diego home values keep rising
Again, SD prices top those of top 20 markets
San Diego home values rose 0.4% in December from November, topping the 0.2% rise of the top 20 markets, according to Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller numbers posted this morning (Feb. 26). Over the last year, local home values have risen 9.2%, …
Radio investment adviser charged with fraud
La Jolla's George Charles Cody Price touted expertise on "The Wealth Weekend Hour"
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged La Jolla investment adviser George Charles Cody Price, and his company, ABS Manager LLC, with fraudulent misrepresentation and other violations of securities laws. Price, who until early 2011 co-hosted a KFMB San …
SDGE, SCE must justify charging customers for idle San Onofre
You have paid $115 to $140 yearly as nuclear plant has been closed
An administrative law judge of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has ruled that Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE), co-owners of the now-closed San Onofre nuclear plant, must justify customer charges at meetings in …
La Jolla likely to keep "Christmas" in parade name
Talk of name change surfaces, but movement does not appear strong enough
La Jolla has 40,000 people, and about 12,000 are Jewish, according to the San Diego Jewish Journal, using figures from the United Jewish Federation. Many other La Jolla residents belong to non-Christian faiths and assorted ethnic groups. But La Jolla …
Former Marines charged for false travel, lodging claims
This one even tops phony corporate expense accounts
Two former Reserve Marine Sergeants, Luis Gilbert Menchaca and Manuel Ramos Padilla, have pleaded not guilty to federal bribery and fraud charges for alleged offenses occurring at Marine Corp Air Station Miramar. According to the U.S. Attorney's office, the indictment …
The fix may be in on Pio Pico power plant
Clearly conflicted CPUC commissioner changes her mind, decides to vote
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) is pushing for three gas-fired power plants: Quail Brush, near Mission Trails Regional Park; Pio Pico in the Otay area, and the Wellhead Escondido Energy Center. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) delayed two …
Gambling hypocrisy: Padres protested wagering facility near Petco
But racing board approved Tilted Kilt Pub and Restaurant
On January 17, the California Racing Board unanimously approved a new mini-satellite gambling facility near the right field bleachers of Petco Park, the Tilted Kilt Pub and Restaurant, over the objections of the San Diego Padres. According to several racing …
Physicians: heal thyselves, says state medical board
Kickbacks, sexual advances, drunken rampage allegedly involved in charges
The Medical Board of California has made charges against three San Diego County physicians. M. Tarek Kady is charged with referring patients to White Cross Pharmacy and in return getting kickbacks of $90,000. In 2009, Dr. Kady allegedly prescribed a …
"Mayor Mo" stole $2 million from late husband's foundation
She made, then lost $1 billion in gambling, lost even more, and plundered funds
Maureen O'Connor, mayor of San Diego from 1986 to 1992, entered into a "deferred prosecution" agreement today (Feb. 14) for plundering $2.088 million from a foundation set up by her late husband, Robert O. Peterson. She was a trustee of …
Oops! NFL team official slips up and tells the truth
"Unwise investments [subsidized stadiums] are strictly for the taxpayer saps."
The Miami Dolphins football team is seeking a $200 million subsidy for renovation of its stadium -- at a time when enraged taxpayers are paying 80% of the cost of a ballpark for the horrible Miami Marlins baseball team. There …
FINRA disciplines two brokers
Also charges unauthorized use of customer's credit card
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has announced discipline against two San Diego County brokers, both of whom neither confirmed nor denied the charges. Jon Herbert Green of Escondido was suspended for two years for obtaining a $6,000 loan from …
So is Manchester negotiating to buy LA Times?
La Jolla Patch says that Manchester misunderstood a question
The La Jolla Patch reported at almost midnight Monday (Feb. 11) that U-T San Diego publisher Papa Doug Manchester mistakenly told a Republican women's group yesterday that he was in negotiations to buy the Tribune Co., owner of the Los …
Lawyer Stocker disbarred over child pornography
He met probation requirements and his conviction was expunged.
San Diego lawyer Frederick John Stocker was disbarred Dec. 19, 2012, according to the February California Bar Journal. He had been convicted of misdemeanor child pornography after his law firm discovered he had downloaded a large number of pornographic images …
CPUC to hold public hearings on San Onofre in Costa Mesa
Later, there will be a second set of hearings in San Diego County
On February 21, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold public hearings on the mess at the San Onofre nuclear plant. They will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Costa …
San Diego a hot singles market
According to Zillow, SD ranks high for those seeking love
In honor of Valentine's Day, Zillow.com programmed its computers to search for the best markets for people under 35 seeking love. Among the variables taken into account were disposable income, size of the dating pool, ratio of single men to …
How to get a drivers license: pay a bribe
DMV office supervisor one of those charged in bribery conspiracy
Jesse Mario Bryan, who supervised licensing examiners at the Department of Motor Vehicles in El Cajon, was criminally charged today (Feb. 11) for his involvement in a bribery scheme in which drivers who had failed tests, or not taken them, …
Watchdog report shows how Wall Street law firms manipulate SEC
Villain is "revolving door" -- securities agency lawyers getting hired by white shoe firms
The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) released this morning (Feb. 11) another report on how Wall Street law firms influence the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by hiring its lawyers for fat compensation. The quid pro quo is Wall Street …
San Diego retiree healthcare 3% funded
That compares with 55% in Los Angeles, according to Pew Center study
According to the publication PublicCEO.com, Pew Center on the States has issues a
How TaylorMade drove past neighbor Callaway
Golf market shares completely changed as Callaway management blundered
The Wall Street Journal has a comprehensive story in the weekend edition (dated Feb. 9) on how Carlsbad's TaylorMade left Carlsbad's Callaway weeping at the tee in the golf equipment business. TaylorMade now has 47% of the market for woods, …
One way to negotiate: threaten to blow up the plant
Platinum Equity owns French company hit with layoff unrest
A French plant owned by Beverly Hills-based Platinum Equity, former owner of the Union-Tribune, is experiencing real labor unrest: the workers are threatening to blow up the place, according to the publication Testosterone Pit. Tuesday (Feb. 5) the 168 remaining …