Business community reveals it plans to pick your pockets

A story in the Aug. 1 Union-Tribune tells all that has to be known about the Filner slaughter. First, the city attorney's office issued two dubious opinions to smooth the way for a recall. City Attorney Goldsmith, a toady for …

Feds say they caused insurance companies to issue policies to the unqualified

Insurance brokers Byron Frisch and Kristian Giordano, along with attorneys Kasra Sadr and Brenda Barrera Merriles, were arraigned today (Aug. 1) for fraudulently inducing insurance companies to issue more than $50 million in policies to unqualified people who had no …

He submitted fraudulent reimbursements for events he never attended

Richard Mendoza, former chief executive of Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District in Brawley, pleaded guilty today (July 31) to embezzling more than $90,000 from the Imperial Valley hospital. According to court documents, he submitted false reimbursement requests for trainings, seminars and …

Filner denies her accusations, which lawyer says are unverified

In his thus far unsuccessful attempt to have the City pay for defense of the suit against Mayor Robert Filner, his attorney Harvey Berger has made some interesting points. Berger wrote a letter to City Attorney Jan Goldsmith dated July …

Still, values down 28% from late 2005 high

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller real estate price index, published this morning (July 30) shows San Diego values rising 3.1% in May from April, outperforming the 2.4% gain of the top 20 metro areas. For the year to date through May, …

But instead of confronting his methods, detractors took surefire route: sex scandal

Let's cut to the chase on this Bob Filner matter. He intelligently analyzed San Diego's festering problem: the neighborhoods and infrastructure are being ignored while the money is being hogged downtown for corporate welfare projects that should be financed with …

But could sell great art from museum to help support city

Detroit seems to have swept away legal impediments to a Chapter 9 bankruptcy, but it hasn't swept the cobwebs out of leadership's brains. Despite the bankruptcy, the city is going ahead with subsidizing a hockey arena for the Detroit Red …

Apologizes to women, City; but not ceding power

Mayor Bob Filner said at a press conference shortly after noon today (July 26) that he will enter two weeks of intensive therapy Aug. 5. But he will continue to run the City; there will be no transfer of power, …

Questions: didn't her allies vet her? Did the local press?

Several people who contribute to this blog have mentioned the relationship of Laura Fink, the second woman to claim Bob Filner harassed her, and Todd Gloria, council president who desperately wants Filner's job and loudly says he should resign. One …

AG charged company refused to provide data, but stock had only hiccup yesterday

Stock of highly controversial Bridgepoint Education, which is under investigation by several state and federal bodies, is up 1.04% to $16.49 this morning (July 25). Yesterday, after the company was sued by California to turn over records about hits marketing …

All told, 2013 has not been a very good year for local hotels

The occupancy rate in San Diego hotels dropped slightly in June compared with June 2012, to 79.8% from 80.2%, according to Smith Travel Research. Average daily room rate rose slightly to $137.05 from $136.73 a year ago, but San Francisco's …

Weak allegations could help the mayor, who faces huge odds

Mayor Filner may be ahead 2 to 1; the last two accusations (one made today, July 24) are weak. This doesn't mean people should put their money on Filner: as I have said repeatedly, with all Republicans, most Democrats, all …

That will be almost double national rate, says forecaster

Zillow.com predicted today (July 23) that national home values will rise 5 percent between the second quarter of this year and the second quarter of next year. But San Diego County home values will zoom 9.3%, although that will lag …

Says Shames, formerly of UCAN, might have been overcompensated

The California State Auditor came out with a report today (July 23) stating that despite administrative weaknesses, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has generally awarded compensation to intervenors -- individuals and groups representing ratepayer interests -- in accordance with …

And questions about the mayor's response to it.

The sexual harassment suit against Mayor Bob Filner filed today (July 22) by Irene McCormack Jackson raises many questions. First, the suit outlines extremely offensive statements allegedly made to her by the mayor in January, February, February/early March, April, late …

But the price is less than legal fees

According to assessor records, another Copley property has been sold. The buyer is the family of entrepreneur Tom Fetter, a neighbor of the late Helen Copley's Foxhill estate since 1960. Fetter, of T. Fetter & Co., explains that Helen Copley …

Burnham, Torrey Pines, Amylin make more inclusive welfare list

Good Jobs First, which is doing yeoman work showing the economic damage of big corporate welfare projects, is out with a new study, "Megadeals: the largest economic development subsidy packages ever awarded by state and local governments in the United …

San Bruno again calls for firing of CPUC head Peevey

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will audit the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to judge its ability to carry out pipeline safety, according to the City of San Bruno, which has …

Sadly for San Diego, corporate mendicants appear back in the saddle

A news release came out last night from Mayor Bob Filner's office. The headline: "Mayor Bob Filner Welcomes Comic-Con to San Diego and Backs Convention Center Expansion!!!" (The mayor's office has a grotesque habit of putting exclamation marks in its …

California Coastal Commission also named in suit by environmental groups

Courthouse News Service reported today (July 18) that San Diegans for Open Government and the San Diego Navy Broadway Complex Coalition have filed a suit charging that a planned waterfront restaurant in San Diego Bay violates environmental laws. Defendants include …