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Ugliest man-made structure in Vista
I've lived in Vista for a very long time and wondered why that hill had nothing built on it except at the very top. While I would not call the hill beautiful, it sure looked better than this graded, mangled mess. As to why developers and builders are unable to build on existing terrain, I don't know. But since they don't, every development has to be graded flat, or graded into flat pads, before anything is built. In growth areas like this one, it seems almost impossible for a parcel of land to be left alone. Even if the city or county or state or feds buy it, it will usually be built on for some purpose. This one will look really great in a few years when those groomed slopes start to erode and the weeds take over.— October 30, 2018 4:28 p.m.
Oceanside's middle managers want a raise
There were two causes for the loss of good defined benefit plans in the private sector. One is the decline of unions, and that came in part from an attitude of the younger generations that they didn't need to "belong" to anything. But the other factor was, ironically, passage of ERISA in 1974. For those who don't know what that stands for, it is The Employee Retirement Income SECURITY Act of 1974. (Emphasis mine.) There were many abuses in retirement plans over the years, and a federal law was seen as necessary to avoid situations where promises of pensions were not kept. I say that instead of income security, the Act brought more income insecurity, because corporate America found that they had to fund the plans more generously than they had ever contemplated, and that the funding was cutting into earnings. Gradually but inexorably the plans were dropped or converted to 401(k) plans. Sadly the 401(k)'s were poor due to being designed to be cheap, and too many employees didn't use them, sometimes not getting the match made by the employers ("free" money in the trade.) I doubt that private sector unions will come back to any large degree. Today we see them getting militant only in some of the lower paid occupations, such as hotel workers and on occasion, fast food. Anyone employed in the private sector today needs to understand that his or her retirement is in his or her hands, and that the employer feels no obligation to provide a living retirement benefit. And that's sad.— October 29, 2018 4:01 p.m.
Second District hit pieces leave murky money trail
District-only elections were supposed to make the city council work better and better represent the voters. Since the city cut over to that approach, the city council has declined in its quality and its ability to govern. But, Matt, if you keep reporting these shady fund transfers and fund sources, how are they going to keep them secret? Sadly the answer is that nobody else in the local media takes the time and effort to watch this stuff. If they did, and it got reported to a wider audience it might make a difference at the ballot box. As it stands many San Diegans have no idea who their councilperson is and no idea of what she or he stands for.— October 27, 2018 6:23 p.m.
Oceanside's middle managers want a raise
That reversal is a scandal. The old-time picture of a civil servant toiling for a pittance just doesn't fit today. There was a time when civil-service job protections and security made up for sub-standard pay and benefits. But now these government employees enjoy pay levels that exceed those of the private sector, have much better benefits, and still get a defined benefit retirement, which is just about gone from private employment. How sweet it is for them!— October 26, 2018 8:22 p.m.
A tearful confession in Oceanside
Oh, the cops did that for sure, and have it video-recorded. That is standard procedure nowadays. But that doesn't mean that the defense cannot challenge it on any number of grounds. Defense attorneys get such self-incriminating evidence tossed on a daily basis. That is just part of the game that they play.— October 26, 2018 8:06 p.m.
A tearful confession in Oceanside
Once he gets a defense attorney on the case, the confession will be challenged as in-admissible. And that might just stick. But it appears as if there's more evidence of his involvement, notably the soda can, than just his confession.— October 26, 2018 4:30 p.m.
Intruder took shotgun away and assaulted homeowner
Having and using firearms for self-protection and to protect property can work against you. This sort of outcome is a frequent one, where the firearm is turned against the person trying to use it. It requires a certain ruthlessness that many of us just don't have to threaten to shoot a thief or attacker and then do it. There are some writers who tell homeowners that if they have an intruder in the home they should just shoot with no warning. That's scary because too often the "intruder" is a family member. This incident could have had a tragic outcome for Fred Weston.— October 26, 2018 12:25 p.m.
San Diego judge upholds Julie Harper’s 40-year sentence
When this rehearing was first reported, I called it right. She has a hell of a lot of nerve asking for mercy when she showed none to Jason. The grandparents are calling it just about right when they say she left the three kids orphans. Nobody the age of those grandparents should ever have to undertake parenting kids as young as they were. Yep, it was a true tragedy.— October 25, 2018 3:48 p.m.
Oceanside's middle managers want a raise
What you say is just what I thought was the case, but I didn't have enough details to say it myself. And I am unfamiliar with a union of management types, even in the public sector.— October 25, 2018 3:24 p.m.
Oceanside's middle managers want a raise
Isn't it interesting that this comes up just prior to a vote in Oceanside to boost the sales tax by 1/2%? Vista pulled off such an increase several years ago, and other than building two new fire stations and a showy city hall, we got little for it. The parks in Vista are humble compared to neighboring San Marcos, and street maintenance is barely adequate. If Oceanside manages to pass the tax boost, the extra revenue will not necessarily make things better there; a more likely outcome will be pay boosts for this group and others on the payroll. Municipal employees are well-paid and have excellent benefits and can look forward to a generous retirement. I'd be more convinced of their cause if I could see just what the salaries are for this group along with their job descriptions.— October 25, 2018 8:43 a.m.