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City leaders don’t mention “convention center”
Marketing, is that what they call it these days? More like bait and switch if you ask me. With more than 50% of the funds going towards the Convention Center it’s bordering on criminal behavior not to clearly state to the voters where the majority of the funds will be spent. With the Mayor termed out and and ever dwindling chance of higher elected office, the taxpayers will be left with the debt and a vacant center. But, who knows, maybe waterfront property is where we need to house the homeless. Hoteliers deserve it!— August 9, 2018 1:26 p.m.
Julie Harper gets another chance
I hope Ms. Knott stays on top of this story and reports any changes in sentencing, which would be a result of this new hearing.— August 7, 2018 11:41 p.m.
Julie Harper gets another chance
Is Julie Harper another Betty Broderick? How does an appellate court retroactively apply a law? Is this a new standard of justice?— August 7, 2018 6:19 p.m.
Swerved into Oceanside bike lane with stolen Honda
Sadly as *Visduh* speculates who knows what deportations policies will be in place when this dirtbag get released. However, even today there are two things we know for certain, the victim will still be dead and his survivors will still be suffering.— August 7, 2018 11:09 a.m.
Swerved into Oceanside bike lane with stolen Honda
Kill someone by any other method, especially with premeditation and life behind bars is certainly in your future. However, do it with a motor vehicle and society somehow excuses 75% of the perpetrator’s punishments. If you ***criminally*** take a life, the rest of yours should be spent institutionalized or be forfeited. If they instituted a policy like that in Chicago, the homicide rate there would plummet and innocent children could have a chance at becoming something other than a horrendous statistic. I’m just wondering if Rahm Emanuel still believes he should never let a good crisis go to waste. He has an escalating crisis and the blood is all over his hands. He says that means, it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before. Sadly, there’s no new thinking, no leadership, no action by the Mayor as dead bodies pile up in Chicago.— August 7, 2018 11:03 a.m.
The city hall honesty test
Having a watchdog guarding the taxpayer’s treasury from the highly susceptible political hacks in office is too important not to an open and transparent hiring procedure. However any qualified person must come into the position with an independent steel plated backbone to stand up to the overwhelming political pressures. Don’t we already have such a person now? Why would the Mayor waste tax dollars on a phony “hunt” for a replacement. Mr. Luna may have upset the apple cart when comes to those who are well connected at City Hall and, it’s exactly what the taxpayers wanted. Someone to keep an eagle eye on the “books” and to proactively root out, fraud, waste and abuse. He and his team of investigators have done an excellent job not just finding the bad however. They have also provided feedback to departments regarding procedures, policies and efficiencies to improve the overall operations of the City. I don’t know if Mr. Luna wants another 10 year contract or not. But I do believe the offer should be made, even if the Mayor doesn’t like him. Being liked isn’t the hiring criteria, being effective in your job is.— August 1, 2018 7 a.m.
Study: county pension benefits soar
Don’t forget OPEB (other post employment benefits). The City clearly promised to pay for the cost of all health insurance in exchange for leaving Social Security in 1982. Of course by the early 2000 the City was reneging on the clearly written, and agreed to, promise. After employing a vile negotiating tactic of threatening to cut off all OPEBs the labor groups, on behalf of its members, agreed to a fifty percent cut in the health insurance benefit in many cases. Documentation here: http://www.lawconger.com/images/images/Ellis/Blai…— July 31, 2018 7:58 a.m.
Study: county pension benefits soar
No on Dirksen, but I do remember William F. Buckley, Jr. and have read some of his works which contained many multisyllabic words I had to look up.— July 30, 2018 5:55 p.m.
Downtown darling Kris Michell back in city government
Many of those who had “underpriced” contracts had those legally binding documents recinded/adjusted by the courts. They either made up the difference by paying the new rates, plus accrued interest, as determined by SDCERS. Or they had their service time adjusted thus lowering their pension benefit. In some very messy cases, DROP accounts were altered as well leading to more unsuccessful litigation against SDCERS. All in all the purchase of service credits was, and remains, a bad deal for the taxpayers.— July 30, 2018 4:08 p.m.
Downtown darling Kris Michell back in city government
Well that’s interesting. Wouldn’t be surprised by some sort of deal at all. But audits are suppose to shine the light on things like this. If a deal was made, and that’s big IF. If it violated the Charter, Ordinances and SDCERS Board rules would those PSC contracts be invalid? Many many PSC contracts were nullified by the Courts for being underpriced, but these were just regular City employees, not the ones in so called leadership positions. I believe SDCERS has a fiduciary responsibility to the system members to audit these two contracts to make sure they are incompliance with all Board Rules, City Ordinances and Charter Sections. An audit protects BOTH parties. If a contract was underpriced for whatever reason then the corrected funds or reduced service time can be applied now. If an audit discovered some error later, SDCERS charges the assumed rate of return interest on the underpayment along with the principal..— July 30, 2018 12:23 p.m.