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Oceanside councilwoman doesn't live at 815 North Pacific Street
"Dumpster fire" sums it all up. I cannot figure out why that city is so politically fouled up, but anyone who watches it for a few months has to realize that it is, fouled up, that is. As to whether our sad faced DA will actually do anything about this case of low-level political corruption is not obvious. She knows many things but nearly nothing about corruption and how it comes about. Rodriguez escaped recall when the pandemic shut down signature gathering. He should be toast in the next election, but then, this is Oceanside and you can never tell. A few years ago, I couldn't imagine ever agreeing with Esther Sanchez about anything, nowadays she's on the side of honesty and at least trying to take care of the residents of the city.— February 2, 2021 9:23 p.m.
Oceanside councilwoman doesn't live at 815 North Pacific Street
The Oceanside city clowncil blows it again, huh? What's new? They can be counted on to make a mess of the simplest things. Brain dead voters in that city should take a look at Weiss, Rodriguez, and Keim. All owe their seats to developer money, and wanted a like-minded person on the dais with them to rubber stamp all the developer requests.— February 2, 2021 8:31 a.m.
Pitfalls of San Diego's downtown jail – who wants 'em?
Correction: That jail was built by the substandard COUNTY government. Place blame where it belongs. Ain't it great to see the chief of the local PD, which is called in some circles the "world's largest hick town PD" wearing four stars on his collar? That is equivalent to the rank insignia of only about two dozen top military commanders in duty at any one time. It places him on the same perceived level as folks such as John Pershing, George Patton, Matt Ridgeway, Curtis LeMay, and Norman Schwartzkopf. The current slimy sheriff of LA county wears FIVE stars, same as Nimitz, Eisenhower, MacArthur, and Arnold in WWII. That joke of a cop in solbberin' LA allows his subordinates to wear four stars. But then, all the chiefs of police in SD county wear those four stars, as thought they commanded millions of subordinates, when they usually have a few hundred. What a crock!— January 27, 2021 8:02 p.m.
San Diego Unified revokes then reinstates benefits for Gompers Prep founders
There was a time when those SDUSD trustee seats were hotly contested, heavily reported, and most visible. Now, as you point out Barrera and others have had no opponents when up for re-election. Why is that? Could it be that nobody who has true public spirit thinks that serving on that board would make any sort of real difference? Frankly, I don't know, but I see similar things happening here in No County. Remember Vista back in the 90's? Those were some wild times for our district.— January 22, 2021 8:46 a.m.
San Diego Unified revokes then reinstates benefits for Gompers Prep founders
Forgive me, monaghan, if I'm a bit skeptical about Gompers. Over the years we heard wonderful things about it from time to time that were pure fabrications. During the "busing for racial balance" days, it was a magnet school for the white kids from north of I-8, and they were physically separated from the local kids who had not chosen to be bused to white neighborhoods. If it is as good as you--and it--proclaim, that would be a near miracle. But what is so bad about having a union there? Are you anti-union?— January 21, 2021 4:57 p.m.
San Diego Unified revokes then reinstates benefits for Gompers Prep founders
She, like every supe in the state, is paid far more than should be necessary to get a good person to run things. Then those same admin types complain about poor funding of the schools, all the while surrounding themselves with more overpaid drones. The pattern is so well established now that it is self-perpetuating.— January 21, 2021 4:47 p.m.
San Diego Unified revokes then reinstates benefits for Gompers Prep founders
This sort of fumbling and bumbling has characterized the district for years. Supes come and go but the ineptitude carries on. Now the current supe, who has many detractors, is joining the Biden team in DC. That's a perfect example of someone being "kicked upstairs." Just what has she done, other than survive her hot seat, while in charge? Ans: Nothing notable that I can identify. But now she can bring her limited competence to the national stage, and foul up there. Isn't it odd that Riveroll, with his gold-plated benefits package doesn't extend the same deal to his own teaching and classified staff? Claiming that Gompers Charter can't afford to do that rings hollow. If anyone ever wanted to know the payoff of setting up these quasi-independent charter schools, this tells it all. Pay the teachers less, no tenure protection, and less pay and benefits. Why would any teacher, administrator or classified employee want to work for a charter school?— January 19, 2021 9 a.m.
SDG&E covers Chris Cate's good works
While I know that the subject here wasn't Christmas trees, I guess a guy like Cate can play a sentimental thing like that to his political advantage. But I do wonder why it is that we carry the notion of military families being needy around with us. In other words, are military families unable to afford a tree? A generation or two ago, the assumption of poorly paid military people wasn't incorrect, especially for the junior enlisted ranks (and even the junior officer ranks.) But when the draft was abandoned in the early 70's, military pay started upward, and in many cases rivaled civilian life, especially with the benefits that are also provided. If you doubt that, just compare a city like Barstow (that has Fort Irwin close by) with Blythe that has no nearby military presence. The former is a bustling and generally prosperous town, the latter is anything but prosperous. Also take a look at Ridgecrest in the Mojave desert with its business district and many eateries patronized by Navy and Marine personnel along with civilian employees. But, hey, if Chris can make himself look like a hero in the Miramar/Mira Mesa area by giving away Christmas trees, let him do it. But don't forget who picked up the tab--think about it when you open your SDG&E bill.— January 14, 2021 3:31 p.m.
The devastation at Mission Valley East
While I don't mean to dismiss anything in the article, it was true that we had a Smashburger here in Vista for two to three years, but did little business. It folded before the lockdowns started. If I had to identify the problem it had it would have been location. In a corner of s shopping center hosting Target, it was not all that visible, nor was it going to benefit from foot traffic. I once went in and ordered a burger in the $7 range, and was asked, "Do you want beef or chicken"? Chicken??? Well it was a choice, but all the pre-opening hype had made a big to-do about their grilling technique that "caramelized" the beef patty, etc. The burger was good, but nothing exceptional, and nothing that called for such a fat price. It didn't bring me back. Could the same factors have been what killed this one? From my view, they just didn't have anything that compelling, especially for the price, and hence no reason to hurry back. That sort of thing kills businesses more than external events.— January 8, 2021 8:10 p.m.
Sempra's last-minute money fueled anti-Bry hit campaign
Now that it seems that no Republican can vie for local political office, one method to take down a candidate is to tie him or her to some odious national figure. Trump was a perfect target for that sort of thing. As to what Bry might have done differently than Glo has done already isn't at all clear, Kev-boy left this highly important matter for his successor to sort out, and there's not much reason to think he can handle it. We will all live with the effects of this license renewal for a long time. That is, if you reside in the city of San Diego. Other local cities are at least looking at alternative methods of delivering electrical service. It should alarm everyone in the county that SDGE can and does dump massive funding into these political races. There "oughta be law" that prohibits it, but there isn't one. So, what did SDGE figure to accomplish by electing Glo instead of Bry? Would she have taken a strong stance against another twenty years of SDGE monopoly? I can't say. But there's gotta be a darned good reason that our public "utility" wanted him in and her out. Figure out what that is, and you are the local journalist of the year.— December 21, 2020 8:21 p.m.