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Kurt Donsbach Sentenced to a Year in Jail
Jim Cartmill, the Sweetwater School Board member who owns stock in the nutritional supplements company that supplied "Dr." Donsbach should be investigated for his involvement in this crime. The phony doctor Donsbach defends himself by blaming the maker of the supplements claiming that his only mistake was "vouching for their purity without first testing them". Shouldn't the company that makes these pills be held accountable? According to the California Education Code, immoral conduct is cause for dismissal. Doesn't the Education Code apply to school board members? As the public's trustees, the Sweetwater school board should order an independent investigation of Mr. Cartmill's ties to Mr Donsbach's scam. If implicated, he should be removed from the board for moral interpitude.— April 17, 2011 9:03 a.m.
Four Bakery Outlets Close in San Diego County
I think Woodchuck might have nailed it. Could this company be closing its doors now and reopen later with new non-union employees? If so, not only have they hurt those who have needed the price break on baked goods, but our economy in general suffers. Union workers generally earn better wages and benefits than non-union. A higher salary often means spending more on goods and services at the marketplace and a better standard of living which benefits the entire community.— April 4, 2011 9:14 a.m.
David Malcolm a Negotiator for South Bay Power Plant Cleanup?
If David Malcolm is simply sharing his ideas "..on his own initiative", then why isn't he doing this on the record through written or oral communications with the city council like the rest of the public does. Also, since when has the city offered individuals attorney's services to help them shape their personal, unauthorized thoughts? If, on the other hand Mr. Malcolm is negotiating for the city, shouldn't he be required to disclose any conflicts of interest he might have regarding what's on the table? The Chula Vista city council must get this process straightened out if they ever expect to have the public's trust and support.— March 22, 2011 10:32 a.m.
What Can Chula Vista Do with the South Bay Power Plant?
In the last paragraph, David Malcom says: " …what I don’t want is the Chula Vista City Council deciding it, and I don’t want the port commissioners deciding it. I want these world-class brains to get together and tell us what they think, and you know what — something’s gonna resonate out of it.” How can anyone, especially in these times, put forth such oligarchal type thinking. The members of the Chula Vista City Council that went along with this unacceptable model of government should be called down for their undemocratic behavior. Hopefully the public hearing on this matter, called for March 22, will be the beginning of the end of this elitist (and illegal?) way of doing the public's business.— March 17, 2011 9:29 a.m.
South Bay Community Services Looks Good on Paper
This article seems to have struck a sensitive nerve with “elgy”. For me, hearing another side of SBCS’s story is necessary and appreciated. All we've ever heard about this privatized PUBLICLY FUNDED agency are glorified reports. I guess with their well placed, well connected administrators and political hacks on their governing board, we shouldn’t expect to be seeing their dirty laundry hung out in public. Elgy, most public agencies do good work, but that doesn’t mean the public shouldn’t know ALL that is going on. You have insulted readers by insinuating that we are easily swayed by the stroke of a pen. When I read an article I look at the facts, and this article was very well documented and informative. I would like the READER to go one step further and publish the salaries of SBCS's management/administration like the press has done with other publicly funded agencies. What are we spending on these people? I've heard of other stories about SBCS similar to this, and hopefully all will be told eventually. Finally, those mentioned in this aricle must be very upset with "elgy" accusing them of perjury, (of course that's just elgy's opinion!!)— February 25, 2011 7:29 p.m.
South Bay Community Services Looks Good on Paper
Since this organization is funded primarily by taxpayers’ dollars, aren’t they essentially public employees. Shouldn’t the public have input about the amount of money WE give to SBCS and how it is spent. Apparently the workers who actually provide services at SBCS make far less than their managers. Do we know what the other administrators are paid? With all the recent scrutiny of public expenditures why has this privatized “public” agency been allowed to operate under the radar? Pancho may have hit the nail on the head when he commented that he never understood why so many influential Chula Vistans have sat on their Board of Directors.— February 18, 2011 8:42 a.m.
Personnel Changes at Southwestern College
I’m in total agreement with Manny 1234. However, not only should Alioto be fired, but the administration’s spin master, Chris Bender should go too. Attempting to appease the public by simply throwing Mr. Amigable under the bus ignores the illegal actions of the college administration. Maybe a grand jury should look into this.— January 27, 2011 9:03 a.m.
Is Chula Vista Budgetary Rainstorm That Bad?
Maybe you’ve seen those counters online that show how much taxpayers’ money is being spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan “wars” everyday. Some mayors have placed the counters in public squares for all to see what it’s costing the taxpayers in their particular communities. I think it would be interesting to see what San Diego County taxpayers are spending on a daily basis. No doubt our cities are financially strapped, but to blame the average salaried public employees' pension costs is ignoring the bigger issues. Note that I say the average salaried worker, not the manager/administrator class whose salaries as well as pensions should be questioned. How about a discussion about national spending priorities and the greediness of a small class of higher-ups instead of all the recent bashing of rank and file workers who have spent all their lives working with the hopes of earning a financially secure existence when they retire.— January 2, 2011 12:23 p.m.
Southwestern College Superintendent Raj Chopra Resigns
Chopra is gone and hopefully more “resignations” will follow, finally putting an end to ALL of the corruption at the school. The new school board now has the opportunity to make some necessary changes. Here are a few to consider: Giving the college president $14,000 for “entertainment” invites corruption. All college business should be conducted at the college, not at restaurants, bars or wherever. As far as the $12,000 automobile allowance goes, do away with it. The IRS already allows a tax break for legitimate business related travel. Giving $28,000 towards the president’s rent is ridiculous. Housing allowances for military personnel who don’t make much money might be appropriate, but for someone making more than most of the country’s state governors, it isn’t. It’s time to reform the role and the salaries of community college presidents. I would suggest they earn what the highest paid teacher at the college does, and like everyone else, figure out how to survive. It just might make for a more community-minded college president.— December 2, 2010 6:39 p.m.
Southwestern College School Board Calls Special Meeting
The good news in this article is the chance that tonight's agenda item "public employee dismissal/release" might be Mr. Chopra, but the thought of offering him a buyout is disgusting and would be an unfair public expense. Mr. Aguilar is right. The evaluation of the superintendent should take place after and be contingent on the accreditation progress report. Also, waiting for the newly elected board to be seated would be giving the public what they voted for. Then again , when has this board ever cared about the public's interest?— November 10, 2010 1:50 p.m.