Steve Peace for Congress?
Could a well-known independent candidate be preparing to enter North County's already hotly-contested race for the 52nd District congressional seat? That's one intriguing possibility suggested to political insiders by poll results posted yesterday on IVN.us, a website operated by the …
Democrat Atkins Raised $292,960 in 2011
The reelection fund of San Diego Democratic assemblywoman Toni Atkins took in a total of $292,960 in contributions during 2011, according to her end-of-year filing posted yesterday by the state Secretary of State's office. After spending $199,841, the Atkins cause …
Taxpayers Association's Political War Chest Grows
The San Diego County Taxpayers Association, a business lobbying and advocacy group whose board includes many prominent local Republicans, raised $15,690 for its political action committee in the final six months of 2011. According to the group's campaign report, filed …
Manchester Resort Cited for Land Use, Environmental Violations
While a public controversy rages around Sunday's waterfront stadium proposal by the U-T San Diego, another major project by the paper's owner has been facing difficulties with city planners. According to a September 20, 2011 "Notice of Violation," provided by …
Roski Plays Political Football with Campaign Cash
Ed Roski's plan to build an NFL stadium in the City of Industry has been largely eclipsed by rival Phil Anchutz's proposal for a downtown Los Angeles venue, where many expect the San Diego Chargers to eventually play, but Roski …
The Many Faces of Bob Filner
Life is not all dreary debates and political fundraising for Democratic congressman and San Diego mayoral candidate Bob Filner, based on online accounts of various charity events and performances he's been showing up at around the county. "Accompanying Congressman Filner …
Private Education and Gambling Interests Back Anderson
A controversial private education outfit and the home of the Kentucky Derby were two of the December donors to the 2010 campaign committee of GOP state Sen. Joel Anderson. On December 17, San Diego's Bridgepoint Education, Inc. gave Anderson $2,900; …
Credit Union PAC Spends Big on Nancy Chase
The San Diego Credit Unions' PAC paid $12,000 to Solana Beach political consultant Nancy Chase last year, a longtime city hall insider and widow of Gregory Canyon landfill developer Richard Chase. According to its semi-annual disclosure filed in Sacramento earlier …
San Diego Realtors Gave $50,000 to Pension Measure
The San Diego Association of Realtors IMPAC committee contributed $50,000 to last year's successful effort to qualify a ballot measure that would change the city's defined benefit retirement plan. The measure, to be considered by voters this coming June, is …
City Attorney Says Snapdragon Deal Void
As we first reported January 5, Mayor Jerry Sanders proceeded with Qualcomm, Inc.'s December "Snapdragon Stadium" promotional gambit despite a memo by San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith stating that the plan was illegal. The saga started back on December …
Ex-Sempra President Among Few Local Huntsman Backers
Jon Huntsman, the former Utah governor who pulled out of the GOP presidential race yesterday and endorsed fellow Mormon and part-time La Jollan Mitt Romney, didn't collect much campaign cash from San Diego donors. A major exception was Neal A. …
Bill Lerach Hosting Sherri Lightner Fundraiser
La Jolla Democrats like Bill Lerach. And he likes them. That's at least one conclusion to be drawn from an email sent to supporters by the camapign committee for District One city councilwoman Sheri Lightner. "SAVE THE DATE for a …
VA Hospital Audit Finds Fire Risks, Cancer Test Delays
There have been big troubles with colorectal cancer tests and many fire extinguishers, including those in an operating room, have gone without safety checks at San Diego's Veterans Administration hospital, accordng to a critical report released Friday by the Inspector …
Otay Mesa Power Plant Tops Greenhouse Gas List
Just who is the biggest yearly greenhouse gas emitter in San Diego? According to an interactive map posted online by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, that honor goes to the Otay Mesa Energy Center, a power plant on the border …
Probation Department Shopping for Pepper Spray
San Diego county's Probation Department wants to stock up on a big inventory of "assorted tactical gear," including 100 cans of "MK-4 OC Spray--First Defense" pepper spray from Defense Technologies of Casper, Wyoming, according to a December 29 request for …
Surfing for Dollars with Brian Bilbray and Fred Hemmings
Next up on 2012's calendar of local GOP fundraisers is congressman Brian Bilbray's "Birthday Celebration Reception and Dinner" at Shelter Island's Bali Hai restaurant. Featured guests at the January 26 event are "surfing legends Hawaii Senator Fred Hemmings (ret) & …
Solar Trains Hired Guns on Loft Project
It's no secret that Solar Turbines has been doing everything it can to stop the 232-unit Fat City Lofts from being built across Pacific Highway from the firm's bayfront industrial plant, leased from the port district. Yesterday brought an editorial …
Sanders Responds to Snapdragon Records Request
The office of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders today responded to our public records act request, made December 12, for documents regarding the city's deal with Qualcomm Inc. to stage its "Snapdragon Stadium" promotion at Qualcomm Stadium last month. The …
"Snapdragon Stadium" Was Illegal, City Attorney Memo Says
It was an unprecedented marketing coup, according to advertising experts. Ten days of free advertising for Qualcomm's new Snapdragon wireless chip, broadcast to the world by TV coverage of major pro and college football games played here last month. Qualcomm …
Controversial "Love Hormone" Trial Conducted at UCSD
Is Oxytocin, called by some the "hormone of love," good for anxiety? That's what a new clincal study by UCSD Professor David Feifel aims to discover, according to a notice on the site ClinicalTrials.Gov, run by the U.S. National Insitutes …