Anchor ads are not supported on this page.
Archives
Classifieds
Stories
Events
Contests
Music
Movies
Theater
Food
Life Events
Cannabis
January 15, 2025
January 8, 2025
January 1, 2025
December 25, 2024
December 18, 2024
December 11, 2024
December 4, 2024
November 27, 2024
November 20, 2024
November 13, 2024
November 6, 2024
October 30, 2024
Close
January 15, 2025
January 8, 2025
January 1, 2025
December 25, 2024
December 18, 2024
December 11, 2024
December 4, 2024
November 27, 2024
November 20, 2024
November 13, 2024
November 6, 2024
October 30, 2024
January 15, 2025
January 8, 2025
January 1, 2025
December 25, 2024
December 18, 2024
December 11, 2024
December 4, 2024
November 27, 2024
November 20, 2024
November 13, 2024
November 6, 2024
October 30, 2024
Close
Anchor ads are not supported on this page.
Was Filner's office bugged by long distance microphone?
Monaghan - thank you for the historical summary of Prop. D, the coastal 30' height limit. I had the same negative reaction to the VoSD stories on this that you recount. There was an effort by the City a few years ago to ignore the 30' height limit. City staff had actually drafted language for the Municipal Code regarding bringing the City's ordinances into conformance with State law regarding offering density bonuses and waivers of some zoning ordinances to developers who incorporated affordable housing into their projects. Among the bonuses listed in the draft ordinance was a waiver to the 30' height limit. It took some effort but they backed off once it was made clear to them that the State legislature cannot override a citizens initiative and that there would be a serious fight by those in the coastal communities to ensure that everyone understood that a citizens initiative can be modified only by a public vote and not legislatively.— August 11, 2013 11:02 p.m.
Was Filner's office bugged by long distance microphone?
Developers would absolutely love to bust the coastal 30' height limit but can't do it without a majority of city voters to change it. This was a citizens' initiative in 1972 that has had exactly two exceptions approved - the Sea World height limit that passed by a fraction of a percent due to misinformation and a free day at Sea World just before election day, and the chimney & wind vane on the Mission Brewery building at Washington St. & Kettner Blvd. Voters might approve a specific exception in the future but I seriously doubt that voters would approve a blanket removal of the coastal height limit.— August 11, 2013 10:44 p.m.
Was Filner's office bugged by long distance microphone?
historymatters: Lee Burdick is not on the board of the Balboa Park Conservancy - it is one of the accusers, Joyce Gattas, who is on the board. Also, the Port Authority is in New York City. Here in San Diego, it's the Port District and/or the Port Commission, depending on whether you're referring to the agency or the governing board. Corrections aside, I am mostly in agreement with all that you have posted on this hideous situation, and continue to support Bob Filner as mayor even though I believe he does need serious behavior therapy, for his temper and rudeness as well as for his excessive attentions to women. Most of those attentions have been little different than behaviors I've encountered and shrugged off during my 50+ years as an adult woman.— August 11, 2013 10:37 p.m.
Let’s Build an Even Bigger Jack in the Box in North Park
"If the city "overlooked" the designation, who signed off on it?" The answer is Kelly Broughton, director of Development Services (DSD) under Jerry Sanders. He left the employ of the city after signing permits for several other developments that did not meet existing regulations (although he would probably claim he got a better offer in Chula Vista).— August 5, 2013 1:43 p.m.
Filner did all the right things the wrong way
Sexual harassment *laws* apply only to the workplace. Note that the DFEH page you reference refers explicitly to employers and employees. So far, the only woman who falls into the category is Irene Jackson. http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/sexual_harassment.… http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/sex… http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/sex…— July 31, 2013 11:08 a.m.
Jan Goldsmith scrambling to change City Charter to make recalling Filner easier back in early May
I read that muni code sentence regarding voting ON a recall measure then voting for a replacement as stating that the voter had to have voted ON the recall ballot measure but see nothing there to limit the second vote only to those who vote yes on the first.— July 30, 2013 6:40 p.m.
A closer look at Filner's accusers
Yankeedoodle: thanks for pointing out it's vs. its - the former seems to have totally supplanted the possessive w/o apostrophe. However, I'll admit that I am constantly correcting my own typing because my fingers persist in inserting that pesky apostrophe into the possessive its. The other use of apostrophe that seems to be spreading like kudzu is making plural nouns into possessive singular nouns by inserting an apostrophe before the plural s.— July 29, 2013 9:12 p.m.
Former Development Services Director ordered staff to delete comments to get large church project approved
I was particularly taken aback by the statement in a memo from a DSD Deputy Director (under orders from the Director of DSD) that "Encroachment into the open space is minimal, reasonable, and necessary to fulfill the cultural and operational requirements of the church....". Since when did we, the public, offer to turn public open space over to a private development in order to assist them in fulfilling their requirements?! Furthermore, this open space and - if I read this correctly - at least part of the property in question - is in the Future Urbanizing Area, therefore must go before the voters before it can receive final approval. This project would be unlikely to achieve that approval by voters given the quoted staff comments that were censored, especially the stated expectation that it would be okay to encroach into public open space. A point of information: Since voter approval of the Managed Growth Initiative in 1985, 10 projects have come to the ballot. Of these, 7 were approved, the most recent in 2010.— July 23, 2013 6:19 p.m.
Former Development Services Director ordered staff to delete comments to get large church project approved
Diogenes - you're completely off base in pointing at the current mayor on this. Development Services (DSD) has existed for years; it's not a new department. However, a couple of years ago, Jerry Sanders basically eliminated the Planning Dept. and put the few remaining planners under the director of DSD. This put the Director of DSD in a perfect position to censor staff comments and, with an EIR, manipulate conclusions in ways that would benefit the proposed development or building project. The Cycle Reports, based on details of the development plan submitted by the proposer of the plan, are written by staff members in each City department that has a role in elements of a project; they would have been in process well before Filner was elected Mayor. Mayor Filner, once he focused on reconstituting a real Planning Dept., let Broughton go, possibly because he learned of this manipulation to slip a non-conforming plan through the system. Keep in mind, it was this same DSD Director who cooperated with Sunroad on at least two (that we know of) projects that also were not allowable, undoubtedly with the encouragement or at the direction of Jerry Sanders. The details in this story are much like other projects that DSD, in recent years and with the support of Sanders, tried to slip through despite major conflicts with the San Diego General Plan, the applicable Community Plan and numerous City ordinances. The 1985 Managed Growth Initiative, a citizens' initiative approved by 56+% of voters, requires that any development planned in the Future Urbanizing Area be submitted to voters. This ensures that each project is carefully planned in detail, including ensuring that the cumulative impacts from multiple projects do not adversely affect neighboring communities and public open space, and ensuring that public facilities (fire stations, libraries, schools, parks....) are provided within the development.— July 23, 2013 6:13 p.m.
Douglas Manchester loses Texas bank battle
Interesting. So, 21st Century did the work but Manchester is refusing to pay for that work? I see nothing in the story to indicate that the agreement between the two companies was contingent on gaining approval by FDIC for establishing the bank. This seems to be Manchester's post facto decision that payment to 21st Century was contingent on gaining approval for the bank.— July 7, 2013 1:53 p.m.