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Recycling robbers
It's better to let the homeless take the bottles and cans from the recycle bins. The reason is that most of the recyled trash the garbage man picks up is not recycled but tossed in the landfill like regular trash. The costs of recycling are greater than the value of the recycled materials. It's the same thing with the containers at grocery stores to recycle plastic shopping bags. When the bins fill up the bins are dumped in the regular trash and the bags are not recycled. Most retail stores with recycle bins for the public throw the recyled materials in the regular trash because they don't want to pay a recylcer to pick it up.— April 5, 2014 9:14 a.m.
Opera board still looking for donors
I think the Opera is contractually obligated to pay the Campbells about $4 million, based on my calculations. The opera will almost certainly run out of money in 2015. If the opera is not shut down now, the opera won't have enough money to pay the Campbells their due under the contract. They will take a substantial haircut if the opera goes forward with the 2015 season and might lose all. That's why there's a behind the scenes effort to shutter the opera now rather than later when remaining assets are depleted. Karen Cohn is probably expressing her opinion that the opera does not have to pay Ian, but this does not appear to be correct. If the Cambells are due money under the contracts, then the contracts should be enforced. That is the law. In a situation like this it might be better if the opera filed bankruptcy so a judge can decide who should be paid in accordance with the law.— April 1, 2014 12:13 a.m.
Who told the feds about Azano? Bob Brewer, that’s who.
I think Dumanis is going to be indicted. She had to know the money was dirty. She might be better off at this point just retiring and locking her pension in before she does the perp walk. She may be facing three hots and a cot at Lompoc for a very long time. Dumanis is washed up.— March 31, 2014 10 p.m.
Letter sent by San Diego Opera board members today
Paying a talented artistic man $683k does not appear excessive in relation to the $300k Jerry ("El Chapo") Sanders earns at the Chamber. I just hope the opera's closure does not result in the Castrati losing their H1-B visas and having to return to Italy.— March 29, 2014 5:17 p.m.
San Diego water: You will pay
People who buy into water conservation are suckers and saps. The water Simson thinks he's saving is going to be used as justification to continue the densification of the neighborhoods with apartment buildings and condos. What Simson will receive for his efforts is no overall reduction in water usage city-wide and a neighborhood overrun with cracker box apartments and $12 an hour Starbuck and microbrewery workers from the midwest. Steve Erie says lawns should be banned. Does that apply to him? He lives in a $3 million house in Dr. Suess' neighborhood in La Jolla. His street looks like a tropical rain forest. If he can sucker Simson and others to use less water, then La Jollans will be able to maintain their lush landscaping and property values. A an individual like Simson living on a postage stamp size lot is about the last person who should be conserving water. It's in everyone's self-interest to consume as much water as they can afford.— March 27, 2014 7:52 a.m.
San Diego water: You will pay
I have no intention of replacing my lawn with artificial turf or conserving water. I was born here. My right to the water is a birthright. Scott Peters uses two million gallons a year at the La Jolla estate his father-in-law bought him. Peters is from Ohio. Cut his water off. He knew there was a water shortage when he moved here. He has no right to the water. He can truck his water in from Ohio where he belongs. Water should be allocated based on the length of time you've lived here.— March 26, 2014 8:15 p.m.
Court to San Diego: hands off Travelocity
If travelers dodge the TOT by buying rooms over the internet, TOT revenue will plummet. There won't be enough TOT revenue to fund the convention center expansion and CONVIS. The bonds will have to be paid out of the general fund, strapping the City's finances.— March 25, 2014 11:38 p.m.
The inside story of San Diego Opera's demise
I think most ticket buyers had no real interest in opera and were only trying to come into contact with wealthy prospects. Financial planners, stock brokers, real estate agents etc. descended on the opera like maggots on a carcass hungry for clients to fleece. When these hucksters encountered diminishing returns due to the economy, they stopped buying tickets and went elsewhere for clients. There's no real interest in opera apart from business promotion. There's no real interest in the symphony either. Less than one out of five symphony goers are interested in the music. Most symphony tickets are purchased by hucksters looking for prospective clients.— March 23, 2014 10:46 a.m.
Lindbergh Field drug smugglers busted
It's unfortunate the authorities could not find an Anglo to charge in this crime. I am sure they tried. Hopefully Carl DeMaio didn't use the restroom while it was under surveillance. If Carl was caught on video flagrante delicto erecto his career would be finito.— March 18, 2014 8:20 p.m.
Todd Gloria ordered to round up e-messages
This appears to be a tremendous victory for Gloria. The judge should have ordered Gloria's private internet service provider to turn over all of Gloria's emails and text messages to a special master. The special master would go through 100% of the messages and identify those covered by Briggs' request. As it stands now, Gloria is on the honor system as to what messages he ultimately provides. He could fail to provide hundreds of messages and if caught, merely say he made a mistake or relied on a staff member who tripped up.— March 18, 2014 6:49 p.m.