News Under the Radar
Landlords’ April 26 giving spree As post-pandemic controversy over eviction law still swirls in Sacramento, a political fund benefiting San Diego Democrat Toni Atkins, the state Senate’s Pro Tem, received a hefty contribution of $50,000 …
Border mortalities stable but rescues up Droves of undocumented immigrants may be dying as they try to make their way north in the deserts and mountains east of San Diego. But, per a team of …
Gay pride, marathon experience better for Balboa Park? After getting by as a car-confined, drive-by-only event for the past two years, Balboa Park’s traditional December Nights celebration is anticipating a full-scale reopening in 2022. But …
Juan’s easy path to power After years of coasting through easy re-election battles, House Democrat Juan Vargas — running in California’s newly redrawn 52nd District and facing a challenger from his party’s left — is …
Anti-cop ice cream What’s for dessert? San Diego politics, judging by a March 30 $1800 contribution by ice cream kingpin Ben Cohen of Williston, Vermont, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s. The out-of-town cash went to …
Vegas lawyer and a super gift giver SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, currently welshing on paying $10 million in back rent to the city, last year came up with a free ticket worth $80 for Ninth …
Dem-on-Dem race gets expensive Serious special interest money continues to pour into the Democrat-on-Democrat 80th District special election race to replace resigned Assembly Democrat Lorena Gonzalez on April 5. Georgette Gomez, an ex-member of the …
Toni’s kidney cash With another bitter initiative battle over the regulation of kidney dialysis coming up soon, the so-called ballot measure committee of state Senate Democratic honcho Toni Atkins picked up a hefty $62,000 from …
Pradeep’s new palace Will UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla have better luck the second time around building his botched behemoth Triton Pavilion, a pricey new office and alumni complex with posh space for university executives that …
Special election shuffle Fundraising in the April 5 special election battle to replace Democrat Lorena Gonzalez, who earlier this year quit her seat in the state Assembly, is underway, with ex-city councilman and mayoral candidate …
Sempra’s Peace piece When the city council voted 6-3 to approve a new decade-long power-providing franchise agreement with San Diego Gas & Electric back in June, Mayor Todd Gloria promised to study the idea of …
Biden’s free bollards and chains The state of Texas, reportedly gaining population at the expense of California, has received another gift by way of the Golden State: a February 15 Texas Tribune dispatch reports that …
Suicide by Navy Crew shortages, limited training, and exhaustion at the nation’s Naval bases — including San Diego’s — are responsible for both a service-wide maintenance meltdown and a mental health crisis, and at least …
Todd’s costly homeless binge Citizens wanting to know how San Diego mayor Todd Gloria will handle the homeless may find some of the answers in the pages of a potentially costly request for proposals put …
UCSD’s uncontrolled substances An audit completed last fall but just recently released to the public following a request to the university under the California Public Records Act calls out UCSD Health for being out of …
Hit piece late fees In what appears to be a much-belated post-election payoff, two Los Angeles-area Democrats forced from office amid sexual harassment scandals came up with big money in 2021 for a 2020 campaign …