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Majority of Tourism Marketing District board didn't even vote to renew the Tourism Marketing District
Thank you for the study. Great reporting.— March 1, 2013 3:42 p.m.
San Diego's convention center expansion would build into a glut
Gaylord got out of Chula Vista because they could not find a financial solution to pay for the subsurface infrastructure for their proposed project on liquefiable State tidelands. http://blogofsandiego.com/Elections/Prop-G/Gaylor… http://blogofsandiego.com/Elections.htm#06/07/10 Of course local world class luxury Hotels can pay the City of San Diego living wage off $13+ and let everyone share the wealth created by our public lands. Or be like Manchester Grand Hyatt, and pay worker's minimum wage so that you can get rich off of publically owned land.— February 13, 2013 9:44 p.m.
San Diego's convention center expansion would build into a glut
City Attorney Goldsmith has been commenting on the new Hotel Tax on SDROSTRA. Goldsmith gave himself a legal loophole that moved legal responsibility to the City Council for increasing taxes without the required 2/3 voter approval. See Page 6. "Absent clear direction from the courts or legislature, this Office advises that the City should not impose a new business-based assessment without voter approval unless the program of improvements and activities to be funded by the assessment can be limited to benefits or services provided directly to the charged businesses and not to others who are not charged." http://sdrostra.com/?p=32766 "Please see our July 7, 2012 Memorandum of Law, which is published on our website. Read it carefully, particularly pages 6 and 9. http://docs.sandiego.gov/memooflaw/MS-2012-21.pdf Jan Goldsmith The July 27 memo I cite above summarizes the legal issues and specifically references the TMD. We have more reports and legal opinions published. The issue before the city council was whether to move forward despite the risks we outline. The hotels point out that other cities competing for tourism dollars have done so and the lawyer hired by the TMD believes strongly that they have structured the TMD to meet the legal standards discussed in our memo. The TMD and city decided to move forward, but with some protections for the city. The city is protected through an indemnity provision in the TMD operating agreement (which the mayor has not signed). In addition, the funds collected under the new TMD are frozen — not being spent — until expressly authorized by the city council."— February 13, 2013 10:33 a.m.
Filner ends pot dispensary crackdown; U.S. Attorney Duffy yet to respond
Laura Duffy and Bonnie Dumanis received Federal grants to combat the Mexican Drug Cartels. Instead of fighting organized crime and gangs, Duffy and Dumanis used the Federal grants to teamed with Mayor Sanders to go after the medical marijuana community in San Diego. The City of San Diego received millions in Federal grants for taking part in the Federal raids. The County of San Diego, Suprerior Court, and Federal Courts also received the Federal grant fund for the prosecution of the Mexican Drug Cartels and gangs. An audit should be done to see if Duffy and Dumanis used the Federal grant funds inappropriatedly, on their own personal vendetta.— January 10, 2013 6:47 p.m.
Democrats rule in lucrative Filner committee appointments
According to our City Charter Mayor Bob Filner has the ”SOLE AUTHORITY” to appoint City representatives to outside agencies. Gloria and Zapf conspired with the City Attorney’s office to challenge the City Charter authority, “rights, powers, and duties” of the voter-approved Strong Mayor form of government. Specifically our City Charter Sections 265(b)(11 and 12). Pages 2 and 3 state: http://docs.sandiego.gov/citycharter/Article%20XV… “Section 265: The Mayor (b) In addition to exercising the authority, power, and responsibilities formally conferred upon the City Manager as described in section 260, the Mayor shall have the following additional rights, powers, and duties: (11) As provided for in Charter sections 41 and 43, the authority to appoint members of City boards, commissions, and committees, subject to Council confirmation; (12) Sole authority to appoint City representatives to boards, commissions, committees and governmental agencies, unless controlling law vests the power of appointment with the City Council or a City Official other than the Mayor;” City Attorney Goldsmith’s December 21, 2009 Report to the City Council RC-2009-33 “Authority to Make Appointments to Outside Organizations under the Mayor-Council Form of Governance” stated 16 times that then-Mayor Sanders had the sole authority to appoint SANDAG representatives. http://docs.sandiego.gov/cityattorneyreports/RC-2… Video start time: 1 Hour 16 Minutes. http://t.co/fBos30lQ— January 9, 2013 9:39 a.m.
The 411 on San Diego's 311 "pothole" app
http://radar.oreilly.com/2010/04/crowdsourcing-th… http://seeclickfix.com/san-diego http://groksurf.com/2009/11/24/getting-things-fix…— December 19, 2012 9:22 p.m.
Did Sanders trade his DeMaio support for chamber job?
With just the approval of the State, Mayor Bob Filner can Reallocate the annual $200 million in former Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Tax Increment (TI) from the Downtown Power Brokers to local neighborhoods, including ending homelessness, investing in economic development citywide, and Mayor Filner's planned 6-to-6 program for children's programs before and after school. Previously the $200 million could only be used in Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Project Areas (PA). Instead of just staying downtown, the taxpayer money can now be used as the City sees fit. Mayor-Elect Bob Filner promised to END Homelessness using a portion of the annual $200 million in former Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Tax Increment (TI) and and the $100s of million in Reserves balances siting in the bank. The annual $200 million has been hidden in numerous Civic San Diego Reserve account by the former CCDC, with the help of Mayor Sanders and City Attorney Goldsmith. Due to Strong Mayor Sanders' power over the City Council, the new Civic San Diego now hoards the Tax Increment, and the other Non-Tax-Increment revenue including the downtown Parking and Lease Revenue for the sole benefit of the Downtown Elite. Their taxpayer-funded gravy train is ending and there is nothing the Chamber of Commerce or the Downtown San Diego Partnership can do except complain about the injustice of it all. Mayor Filner and the new City Council Democratic majority (5 to 4) can reallocate the $200 million including the County of San Diego's Tax Sharing Payments by themselves with just the help of Governor Jerry Brown, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Kamala Harris, and State Controllor John Chiang who all endorsed Congressman Bob Filner for Mayor of San Diego. Proposition 13 Requires all Property Taxes to stay local. However the State of California is in charge of Allocating the Tax Increment between the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, local schools (San Diego Unified School District, the Board of Education, and the Community Colleges) and Special Districts, such as the San Diego County Water Authority and SANDAG. The annual @ $200 million in Tax Increment is still separated from regular property taxes and is divided according to the 1992 Agreement for Cooperation between the City's RDA and the County of San Diego. However the City and County have never Enforced the 1992 Agreement to spend the TI money on Children, Mentally Ill, Seniors, and Handicapped San Diegans. Then there is also another @ $20 Million in Non-Tax-Increment Revenue from City-owned Leases and Parking Revenue that Civic San Diego took from the General Fund along with Affordable Housing funds. Civic San Diego is an Enterprise Funds and has to be self-supporting through user fees on Developers, and in theory cannot be subsized.— November 11, 2012 9:03 a.m.
The San Diego County Prosperity Institute raises $316,000 for slate mailers targeting Bob Filner
Funny Bob Filner for Strong Mayor of San Diego Video. Stay Classy San Diego. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuuBkbFtCVw Bob Filner Freedom Rider. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79-v3v3fnZU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmxPr-2alMQ— October 29, 2012 5:46 p.m.
Legitimacy of new pro-DeMaio LGBT political committee questioned
There are 2 Mayoral Debate today Saturday, October 13, 2012. 1. 12:15 PM. 6792 Tiffin Ave San Diego 92114 http://scoopsandiego.com/news/elections/mayoral_r… Who: Bob Filner, Carl DeMaio, Broadway Heights Community Council, San Diego Future For Tomorrow Collaborative, United African America Ministerial Action Council, East Village Community Development Corporation, and CSA San Diego County. Why: A community engagement Mayoral Round Table, to understand the candidates’ positions, on sustainable living through natural resources, public safety, jobs, affordable housing, neighborhood development project, street repairs, neighborhood policing, water rates, city commissions, CIP projects and youth programs. So when we go to the poles to vote we will be more informed how to vote. 2. Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 2:45pm - 4:00pm UC San Diego Price Center East Ballroom! http://maps.ucsd.edu/mapping/viewer/default.htm— October 13, 2012 8:08 a.m.
Faith leaders rally in support of ballot measures
There are 2 Mayoral Debate today Saturday, October 13, 2012. 1. 12:15 PM. 6792 Tiffin Ave San Diego 92114 http://scoopsandiego.com/news/elections/mayoral_r… Who: Bob Filner, Carl DeMaio, Broadway Heights Community Council, San Diego Future For Tomorrow Collaborative, United African America Ministerial Action Council, East Village Community Development Corporation, and CSA San Diego County. Why: A community engagement Mayoral Round Table, to understand the candidates’ positions, on sustainable living through natural resources, public safety, jobs, affordable housing, neighborhood development project, street repairs, neighborhood policing, water rates, city commissions, CIP projects and youth programs. So when we go to the poles to vote we will be more informed how to vote. 2. Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 2:45pm - 4:00pm UC San Diego Price Center East Ballroom! http://maps.ucsd.edu/mapping/viewer/default.htm— October 13, 2012 8:05 a.m.