Oprah Winfrey Picks Up Bob Filner's Freedom Riders Tab
Democratic congressman Bob Filner, who appears to be inching closer toward a mayoral run, made a splash last month when he appeared on one of Oprah Winfrey's final shows to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders, of which …
Allied Waste hikes in Oregon a harbinger?
Albany, Oregon is a long way from San Diego. But does prolonged haggling between the city council there and trash behemoth Allied Waste, which also operates here, offer a preview of what's in store if Mayor Jerry Sanders and allies …
Navy Shrink Warns of Synthetic Marijuana Horrors
It's not quite the Manchurian Candidate, but a staff psychiatrist at the Naval Medical Center here has gone public with graphic accounts of local sailors and Marines who've blown their minds on "spice," otherwise known as synthetic cannabis. Third-year resident …
Sheriff Looking To Order Some Heavy Iron
Sheriff Bill Gore has been talking up his plans for high-tech intelligence-driven crime fighting, but he's also quietly hedging his bets by looking to acquire some heavy shooting iron. The sheriff just hired Dr. Noah Fritz to be the department's …
Global Commission on Drug Policy Calls for Legalized Cannabis
A commission made up of establishment figures including ex-Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, ex-GOP secretary of state George Shultz, and Virgin Group's Richard Branson has just issued a report declaring the nation's war on drugs, especially as it applies to …
Juan Vargas Banks Big Labor Dollars on the Same Day His Labor-favored Bill Is Passed
It's not unusual for Democrats and Republicans in the state legislature to accept big contributions from special interests, including both corporate and labor money, but sometimes the timing gets a bit too coincidental. Democratic Sen. Juan Vargas is leading the …
Free Parking Passes for Media, City Officials at Qualcomm Revealed
The city of San Diego will have the right to hand out free Qualcomm Stadium parking passes to members of the media and city officials, according to terms of a contract released to vendors now vying for lucrative rights to …
Ban on Lobbyist Gifts to Lawmakers Dies in Kehoe-led Appropriations Committee
A bill proposed by state Sen. Sam Blakeslee, Republican of San Luis Obispo, to ban personal gifts made by lobbyists and their clients to state legislators died a not-so-quiet death yesterday in the Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by San Diego …
One Step Closer: Lifting the Veil of Secrecy from San Diego State University's Non-Profit Foundations
Photo: State Senator Yee Taxpayers are one step nearer to finding out more about wheeling and dealing inside the highly-secretive San Diego State University Research Foundation and its sister group, the Campanile Foundation, as a result of a compromise reached …
On the Road Again: Congresswoman Susan Davis Hits Vienna
Just two months after traveling to Japan, courtesy of the Japan Center for International Exchange, Democratic Congresswoman Susan Davis took off for Vienna, Austria, on yet another week-long junket arranged for by the Aspen Institute. As we've previously noted, Davis …
San Diego's Alvarez May Be Barred from Dells Redevelopment Votes, Or Not
San Diego city councilman David Alvarez has been advised by the city's ethics commission he may not be able to participate in decisions regarding the so-called Dells Imperial project of the city's Southeastern Economic Development Corporation, because he owns a …
Taxpayers Association Hires Ex-EdVoice Hand to Draw "Non-Partisan" Redistricting Maps
San Diego's city council redistricting free-for-all has been joined by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, long a stalwart of the city's big business establishment. “To date there has been plenty of partisan bickering and seemingly little progress in coming …
Port to Pay $195,000 to New York City Event Booker to Gin Up Broadway Pavilion Business
As we reported earlier today in our column Under the Radar, the fall-off in cruise business has forced the Port of San Diego to fill its brand-new cruise ship terminal on Broadway Pier with what critics say is a motley …
New Landslide Disaster Map Predicts Peril
This morning the California Geological Survey released a new map of potential landslide areas across the state. According to an accompanying news release, about 57,000 so-called deep landslides are shown on the map, and more can be expected due to …
State Releases New Landslide Disaster Map
This morning the California Geological Survey released a new map of potential landslide areas across the state. According to an accompanying news release, about 57,000 so-called deep landslides are shown on the map, and more can be expected due to …
Tom Gores Takeover of Detroit Pistons Inches Closer; Terms Still Secret
As the deal for Tom Gores and his Beverly Hills-based Platinum Equity to buy the Detroit Pistons basketball team creeps closer to closing, the Detroit News is reporting today that seller Karen Davidson may retain some kind of interest in …
Appeals Court Rules Sacramento County Must Reveal Pension Names and Numbers; Is San Diego Next?
California's 3rd District Court of Appeal has ruled that the county of Sacramento must disclose the names and benefits of 8500 retirees. The court ruled in favor of the Sacramento Bee, which last April sued the Sacramento retirement system under …
San Diego Airport Authority Gives Free Parking to Legislators
Anyone who's had trouble parking at Lindbergh Field during the latest construction binge there will no doubt envy local state legislators. A lobbying disclosure statement filed April 29 by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, covering the first quarter …
Palomar Mountain State Park on Closure Hit-List
The California Department of Parks and Recreation announced this morning it is planning to close "up to" 70 of its 278 parks, including Palomar Mountain and Salton Sea state recreation area, due to budget cuts. “We regret closing any park,” …
Plescia, Ducheny, and Garcia to Lose $128,109 Taxpayer-funded Jobs Under Brown Proposal
Gov. Jerry Brown will propose eliminating the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board as part of his continuing effort to close the state's yawning $15.4 billion deficit, the Associated Press is reporting. That means the GOP's George Plescia and Democrat Denise …