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San Diego Symphony gives us messy Beethoven
It doesn't say who wrote this, but I can assume. Why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel about the music? And what does this portend for the ultra-well-financed symphony?— January 22, 2020 9:06 p.m.
Safe or not, crossing tracks in Del Mar isn't trespassing
This is an interesting notion. In recent decades, the federal government has taken close control of many railway operating issues, and it has precluded local matters. (As late as the 1960's some cities had ordinances that prohibited trains from blowing whistles and horns as warnings. Those are now unenforceable unless stringent conditions are met, usually at crossings.) The Federal Railway Administration (FRA) controls most of the regulations. So, I'm not sure that something in a deed from a century ago supersedes present-day regulatory law. This problem could have been simply solved years ago with two or three pedestrian overpasses at the popular crossing points. Del Mar or the county or the state could and should have constructed them back when governmental-paid structures didn't have to be gold plated monstrosities costing $ millions. Why wasn't that done? My speculation is that locals saw such overpasses as acquiescence to the presence of the rails, and that is something that many Del Martians will not do. They prefer to say that the rails are illegitimately placed there, and must be moved ASAP. To in any way accept the necessity of keeping the rails open and operating would undermine their case. And so the beat goes on. It will be most interesting to see how this plays out in court (if it ever gets there.) One thing is for certain and that is that it won't make hopping across the rails any safer or save a single life.— January 22, 2020 9:03 a.m.
Former San Diego Union-Tribune publisher unloading wife and La Jolla estate
Oh man, does this guy take it or what? And how did this divorce run below the radar for all the news media until it was done? So he hooks up with this Russian (excuse me, Siberian) maybe mail-order bride, newly divorced herself, and now it's over. Sigh. Only problem is the three kids, and the series of touching family portraits of him, her, and the babies. Well, the kids will be well-taken care of, 'cause he can afford the split. I've often wondered why he bought the former Copley estate, Foxhill. Anyone who wants to play amateur psychologist can analyze that move. Could it be that he always thought that the Copley family was the king or queen of the hill in San Diego. If so, and now that they were gone for good, he could claim the spot. Except that the newspaper is a mere shadow of what it was when it ruled the roost. The old guy just can't win can he? (But he's having an old guy's fantasy existence while he tries.)— January 16, 2020 8:45 p.m.
San Diego's auditor finds stolen water, mother supervising son, city cars parked in red zone
Then, besides getting her elected, what ARE they up to?— January 16, 2020 7:43 a.m.
San Diego's auditor finds stolen water, mother supervising son, city cars parked in red zone
It is said that money talks, and in the two examples mentioned, Jacobs money was talking out of two different mouthpieces, Voice and KPBS, at the same time. If anyone thinks that ol' Irwin and his sons are just local rich guys, examples of hard work and smarts paying off, and merely local philanthropists, think again. They are buying favorable news coverage in a way that newspaper advertisers in the old days could only dream of. It isn't obvious yet what the Jacobs clan is up to, but they are busy buying friends and the best of publicity. There is something sinister going on with them, probably along the lines of remaking the city into some example of what they think a 21st century city should be. If they want to do that, then by all means, why don't they unveil the plan? Or do they know that the folks who live here won't like it at all? Stay tuned.— January 15, 2020 5:27 p.m.
Chancing the Coaster’s Del Mar cliffs
If their current estimated cost of track realignment inland is $3 1/2 billion, the real cost will likely be three times that amount. BNSF, although it doesn't own the line south of Fullerton, still has the concession for hauling freight. Since the line is now publicly owned, don't look to BNSF to pick up any of the cost of the realignment. Our politicians, about a quarter century ago, concluded that to make the line to LA fully available for passenger service (Amtrak, Metrolink, Coaster) it had to be purchased, and so it was bought from Santa Fe. Now the taxpayers are, for better or worse, on the hook for keeping it open and in good repair. Whereas it was generally a single-track line in the late 20th century, it is rapidly being double-tracked, and that greatly increases its capacity to move trains in both directions. But just one brief single-track bottleneck can slow things down. That stretch of Del Mar bluffs just isn't going to accommodate a second track without massive earth sculpting. Politically, such a move is a non-starter. One thing that MIGHT help with freight traffic would be reopening the rail link to the east. There has been talk and more talk about that in recent years, but to date nothing has been done on the ground. MTA, owner of the line, has a tenant/operator paying rent on a railroad that does not run. Could that ever be reopened? Possibly, but I doubt I'll ever see it, and I surely won't hold my breath.— January 9, 2020 4:17 p.m.
San Diego Convention Center vote under-funded so far
So, if it would take $millions to pass the tax measure and its supporters can't raise more than a small fraction of that, it will fail. Great! The notion of expanding the convention center when attendance at such events is declining is madness. The only good reason given for that is to keep ComicCon from moving out of San Diego. Wasting hundreds of millions to keep that one show is madness on steroids. The proposal was an attempt by the tourism/lodging cabal in town to keep its business propped up, but there's no guarantee it would work. If they don't want to come, they won't come, regardless of a newer, bigger, shinier convention center floor. Faulconer is obviously in the thrall of the cabal, and has spent too much of his time and energy pushing that convention center, which is now so 1980's.— January 9, 2020 8:08 a.m.
Bloomberg and Jacobs open San Diego TV ad wars
Oh! Or do you mean that both are equally (un)qualified for the position?— January 4, 2020 8:32 p.m.
The life and death of Oceanside mobile homes
Well, that may be the situation today. But when those parks started up, the cost of a space lease was reasonable, and the overall package was about as cheap anything you could "own," Land prices are now out of sight in urban San Diego County, and anywhere else along the California coast. To own the land under a mobile home today means going rural, as in the back country, far from urban services.— January 4, 2020 9:10 a.m.
Bloomberg and Jacobs open San Diego TV ad wars
It will be most interesting to see if the Jacobs family can buy a House seat for this unqualified and inexperienced young woman. No matter how much backing Gomez has from organized labor, the Jacobs clan can, without drawing a deep breath, outspend her. In the San Diego area, money usually wins elections. Will this be the exception? It would be such a good thing if is. But don't count on it, and definitely don't hold your breath.— January 4, 2020 9:04 a.m.