Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Nathan Fletcher's change of heart

Zoo defends treatment of elephants via Facebook

Nathan Fletcher picked up $10,000 for a seat on the county Democratic Committee.
Nathan Fletcher picked up $10,000 for a seat on the county Democratic Committee.

Nathan’s change of heart

While the high-profile races of California’s March primary in San Diego are already awash with special interest cash, some smaller contests are picking up sizable contributions here. County supervisor Nathan Fletcher, who deserted the ranks of Republicans, declaring independence from political parties before signing up with the Democrats, is a case in point. Married to controversial Assembly Democrat Lorena Gonzalez, Fletcher is running for a seat on the county Democratic Central Committee, which because of campaign spending law liberalization, has morphed from a once-sleepy bastion of party hacks into a powerful conduit of campaign cash for office seekers.

Lorena Gonzalez

On February 14, county disclosure records show, the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of San Diego Political Action Committee came up with $10,000 for Fletcher’s central committee campaign. The same day it backed Fletcher’s Democratic quest, the deputies association ponied up $25,000 for the Republican Party. It gave $1000 for a slate mailer favoring Republican supervisor Kristin Gaspar, currently facing off against Democratic rivals Terra Lawson-Remer and Olga Diaz, among others, in a heated reelection battle. Also, on February 14, San Diego city councilwoman Vivian Moreno, like Fletcher seeking a spot on the Democratic central committee, picked up a total of $2000 for that bid from Colin Sied and Graeme Gabriel, principals in the Colrich development group. The company is a longtime seeker of development permits at city hall. Two months ago, South Bay investor and fallen port commissioner David Malcolm, a Republican Lincoln Club stalwart, gave $5000 to Moreno’s county Democratic Central Committee bid.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Airbnb deja vu

Airbnb, a controversial participant in city short-term rental battles, has anted up $7500 for proponents of Measure C, the proposal to hike San Diego room taxes to pay for expanding the downtown convention center and homeless relief. The February 14 contribution came courtesy of an Airbnb-controlled political fund called the Committee to Expand the Middle Class. With Measure C still polling short of the two-thirds voter approval level required for passage, sponsors continue to scramble for cash to widen their commercial buys. The latest regulatory flap involving Airbnb involves short-term rentals of so-called granny flats, backyard units that allegedly are rented out for less than the city-required 30 days in violation of city restrictions, per a KFMB TV news account. Last March, Wired.com revealed that the same Airbnb fund laid out $300,000 to help pay for a signature drive that qualified an anti-regulatory referendum for the local ballot, forcing the city council to rescind the ordinance in October 2018.

The 2nd Amendment and gun lobby money make Noli Zosa smile.

Elephantine politics

AMR Holdco., the operator of the city’s paramedic service that is in a bitter dispute with Danish ambulance giant Falck over which company should get a new contract, gave $5000 February 17 to a committee calling itself San Diegans for Every Community in Support of Todd Gloria for Mayor... Under the gun for its poor treatment of elephants, the San Diego Zoo is running a campaign on Facebook to spruce up its image. “Your visit to the Safari Park directly supports our research and conservation efforts,” says the cutline above a pair of friendly-looking, nose-rubbing pachyderms. Facebook says the campaign is targeted to ages between 18 and 44. During the week beginning February 10, the organization behind the zoo spent $4975 on Facebook promotions, bringing its total tab to $73,893 since May of 2018, per Facebook’s online disclosure portal.... In other Facebook news, the San Diego Gunowners PAC is up with advertisements for San Diego Republican city councilman and mayoral candidate Scott Sherman. “San Diego County Gun Owners focuses on changing the face of gun ownership by getting volunteers involved in local level activism and outreach,” says an online note. During the week beginning February 11, the PAC spent $1373 on Sherman’s behalf, bringing its total spend on the social media site from May 2018 to February 17 to $16,803. The ad targets women 25 to 54, per the disclosure. The gun owners group also paid $1473 for a weeklong run of promotions for Dirty Birds bar and grill owner Noli Zosa, running for San Diego city council in District 7. “Your vote counts — gun owners need to vote and elect officials that will support the Second Amendment,” says the ad, which, like the Sherman missives, is aimed primarily at women from 25 to 54. Republican Zosa is facing off against outspoken Democratic gun control proponent Wendy Wheatcroft, among other hopefuls.

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Lane Field Park Market & Live Music, Windansea: Life. Death. Resurrection

Events January 5-January 8, 2024
Next Article

Oceanside toughens up Harbor Beach

Tighter hours on fire rings, more cops, maybe cameras
Nathan Fletcher picked up $10,000 for a seat on the county Democratic Committee.
Nathan Fletcher picked up $10,000 for a seat on the county Democratic Committee.

Nathan’s change of heart

While the high-profile races of California’s March primary in San Diego are already awash with special interest cash, some smaller contests are picking up sizable contributions here. County supervisor Nathan Fletcher, who deserted the ranks of Republicans, declaring independence from political parties before signing up with the Democrats, is a case in point. Married to controversial Assembly Democrat Lorena Gonzalez, Fletcher is running for a seat on the county Democratic Central Committee, which because of campaign spending law liberalization, has morphed from a once-sleepy bastion of party hacks into a powerful conduit of campaign cash for office seekers.

Lorena Gonzalez

On February 14, county disclosure records show, the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of San Diego Political Action Committee came up with $10,000 for Fletcher’s central committee campaign. The same day it backed Fletcher’s Democratic quest, the deputies association ponied up $25,000 for the Republican Party. It gave $1000 for a slate mailer favoring Republican supervisor Kristin Gaspar, currently facing off against Democratic rivals Terra Lawson-Remer and Olga Diaz, among others, in a heated reelection battle. Also, on February 14, San Diego city councilwoman Vivian Moreno, like Fletcher seeking a spot on the Democratic central committee, picked up a total of $2000 for that bid from Colin Sied and Graeme Gabriel, principals in the Colrich development group. The company is a longtime seeker of development permits at city hall. Two months ago, South Bay investor and fallen port commissioner David Malcolm, a Republican Lincoln Club stalwart, gave $5000 to Moreno’s county Democratic Central Committee bid.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Airbnb deja vu

Airbnb, a controversial participant in city short-term rental battles, has anted up $7500 for proponents of Measure C, the proposal to hike San Diego room taxes to pay for expanding the downtown convention center and homeless relief. The February 14 contribution came courtesy of an Airbnb-controlled political fund called the Committee to Expand the Middle Class. With Measure C still polling short of the two-thirds voter approval level required for passage, sponsors continue to scramble for cash to widen their commercial buys. The latest regulatory flap involving Airbnb involves short-term rentals of so-called granny flats, backyard units that allegedly are rented out for less than the city-required 30 days in violation of city restrictions, per a KFMB TV news account. Last March, Wired.com revealed that the same Airbnb fund laid out $300,000 to help pay for a signature drive that qualified an anti-regulatory referendum for the local ballot, forcing the city council to rescind the ordinance in October 2018.

The 2nd Amendment and gun lobby money make Noli Zosa smile.

Elephantine politics

AMR Holdco., the operator of the city’s paramedic service that is in a bitter dispute with Danish ambulance giant Falck over which company should get a new contract, gave $5000 February 17 to a committee calling itself San Diegans for Every Community in Support of Todd Gloria for Mayor... Under the gun for its poor treatment of elephants, the San Diego Zoo is running a campaign on Facebook to spruce up its image. “Your visit to the Safari Park directly supports our research and conservation efforts,” says the cutline above a pair of friendly-looking, nose-rubbing pachyderms. Facebook says the campaign is targeted to ages between 18 and 44. During the week beginning February 10, the organization behind the zoo spent $4975 on Facebook promotions, bringing its total tab to $73,893 since May of 2018, per Facebook’s online disclosure portal.... In other Facebook news, the San Diego Gunowners PAC is up with advertisements for San Diego Republican city councilman and mayoral candidate Scott Sherman. “San Diego County Gun Owners focuses on changing the face of gun ownership by getting volunteers involved in local level activism and outreach,” says an online note. During the week beginning February 11, the PAC spent $1373 on Sherman’s behalf, bringing its total spend on the social media site from May 2018 to February 17 to $16,803. The ad targets women 25 to 54, per the disclosure. The gun owners group also paid $1473 for a weeklong run of promotions for Dirty Birds bar and grill owner Noli Zosa, running for San Diego city council in District 7. “Your vote counts — gun owners need to vote and elect officials that will support the Second Amendment,” says the ad, which, like the Sherman missives, is aimed primarily at women from 25 to 54. Republican Zosa is facing off against outspoken Democratic gun control proponent Wendy Wheatcroft, among other hopefuls.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

THEIR Lady of Guadalupe?

Racist attack in North Park after dark
Next Article

Ben Benavente, Karl Denson, Schizophonics, Matt Heinecke, Frankie & the Witch Fingers

Troubadours, ensembles, and Kosmic Konvergences in Mission Beach, Del Mar, Little Italy, La Jolla, City Heights
Comments
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
March 7, 2020
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader