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Giving $28 Million to Unions: Fact Check
Statement: “Councilmember Sherri Lightner voted to hand government employee unions $28 million in bonuses,” say mailers distributed by Ray Ellis, her opponent in the District 1 City Council election,...
View ArticleA Loss for Region if Murdoch Buys L.A. Times
Regarding letters you’ve posted from readers who canceled their U-T San Diego subscription, have those that have now signed up for the L.A. Times seen this gem? “Rupert Murdoch, other potential buyers...
View Article‘Who Are the Special Holders of These Special Bonds?’
Poway schools’ Proposition C Series B, $105 million capital appreciation bond is unconscionable and illegal — illegal in that it materially exceeds both term limits and borrowing limits. As such it...
View Article5 Oddities Surrounding the Bahia Resort’s Lease Extension
The Bahia Resort Hotel’s lease wasn’t set to run out for another 19 years, but the City Council recently OK’d an extension for 21 additional years anyway. That alone isn’t entirely uncommon. The city...
View ArticleThe City Council’s Cart-Before-The-Horse Lease Explanation
The city of San Diego recently gave a lease extension to prominent hotelier Bill Evans for the land underneath his Bahia Resort Hotel on Mission Bay. The agreement was curious in a number of ways,...
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Looking at Small Businesses and Employers in San Diego
Small businesses reportedly create most new jobs and are the engines of the nation’s economic growth. Statistics showing this are not always clearly presented or understood and largely depend upon how...
View ArticleWhat Brown’s Big Budget Speech Means for SD Schools
California’s budget deficit is gone after years of fiscal woes, Gov. Jerry Brown announced Thursday morning. Though a significant “wall of debt” amounting to more than $40 billion remains, Brown...
View Article‘We Want CaliBaja to Thrive’
I’m writing in response to “Mayors on Both Sides of the Border Want to Break Down Barriers.” The San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation is encouraged by the collaboration between San...
View ArticleProtect San Diego’s Economy From Looming Cuts
When it comes to the economy, most of the talk lately has focused on the fiscal cliff and debt ceiling. Sequestration — billions of dollars in scheduled federal spending cuts that could eliminate...
View ArticleThe Latest Budget Blow: Managed Competition Delays
The city’s budget deficit appears to be steadily climbing. The city’s budget analyst said Monday delays in implementing managed competition could translate into an additional $3.9 million shortage in...
View ArticleThe Basic Disagreement at the Heart of the Hotels Standoff
Sounds like it was quite a scene Wednesday when Mayor Bob Filner crashed City Attorney Jan Goldsmith’s press conference. Goldsmith had wanted to put Filner’s demands in his standoff with hotel owners...
View ArticleMoney Makes the Monkey Dance
The data correlation between campaign contributions and lease-leaseback contract awards summarized in Will Carless’ recent article reminds us of the adage from the organ grinder era, “money makes the...
View ArticleLease-Leasebacks Offer Much-Needed Flexibility
Last week, Voice of San Diego ran an investigative story on school bond financing. But the article doesn’t offer any proof of a pay-to-play system; it just points out overlap between the contractors...
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Fact Check: Fixing San Diego’s Streets
Statement: “Council has already approved lease revenue bonds, which don’t involve tax increase & don’t require voter approval. Has a plan for $500 mil.” Mark Kersey, a San Diego City Councilman,...
View ArticleCost of Farm Bill Important to Note
Regarding “Why the Farm Bill Matters to San Diego“: Funny. This booster article (is it an op-ed or an article?) touting the joys of farm subsidies never mentions the cost of the “farm bill.” It...
View ArticleCity ‘Not Necessarily in Favor’ of Lowering Pension Return Rate
A few clarifications to “The City Attorney’s Big Gamble on Pensions Heads Toward a Climax“: • “The city’s pension system expects to earn 7.5 percent every year.” The San Diego City Employees’...
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Filner’s Budget in Three Charts
San Diego’s mayor makes tweaks to the budget with every iteration but some of its basic elements don’t change much from year to year. What’s different draws the most attention in local debate and...
View ArticleMost Popular: April 29-May 5
These were the most-read stories for the week of April 29-May 5. 1. Why Lights Out Is the Norm in Some SD Neighborhoods Voice of San Diego begins an exploration into city street light policies. 2. New...
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Taxi Industry Needs Your Help
In San Diego’s ever changing political landscape, reform of the taxi industry is now inevitable. The taxi industry is an integral part of our public transportation network, and its health and viability...
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How Much the City Really Saved on Its New Lease Deal
We have a running joke about Mayor Bob Filner’s press releases. Every one comes with exclamation points. Monday we got a doozy. Exclamation points. All caps. Excitement pours from the page. Most...
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