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Drip Dry
In Rainbows is awesome.— February 13, 2008 11:16 a.m.
Liarless in Seattle
When I campaigned against Prop. C. in '98, I was threatened with baseball bat beatings three times, including once in city council chambers. Jack McGrory called me an "urban terrorist" in the UT. KOGO refused to sell us advertising time. The media outlets all settled on our least articulate spokesperson, and put her up against professional liars for hire. We still got 40% of the vote. Remember, just a few days prior, the Padres put meth-snorting steroid-injecting ringers on the field to float and buzz all the way to the World Series. Judgment thus befuddled, voters mistakenly passed Prop. C. Within months, the ringers were off the team, the revenues were diverted, Moores was let off the hook for his responsibilities, and all opposition was batted away. All while Stallings was being slipped out of office and John Moores' blatant bribery was classified as an "improper gift". A few years, a few mayors, and a few convictions later, we're bankrupt. I think we now have 80% of San Diegans who are mightily irked at how this has turned out. Our leaders did not "Keep the Faith". So let's make sure that this is a major 2008 issue. Ask every candidate: Will or won't they give any city money, land, loan guarantees, or any other assistance to professional sports teams? Is accommodating the Chargers or Padres in their top ten list of priorities? If so, why? Do they support the privatization of Balboa Park? If so, why and how? Maybe I'm just a wild-eyed idealist, but in a democratic society with elections and the rule of law, theoretically, we can actually change things by participating in the process in an open and rational manner. We can choose candidates who agree with us and help to get them elected. We can also identify candidates we disagree with and persuade others to vote against them. When we win a majority on the council this year, as I'm confident we shall, then I believe they will be able to initiate a civil/criminal lawsuit against Moores and the Spanos family, not forgetting Golding, Gwinn, McGrory, et al. Is there anything wrong with my theory, Don? As the injured party, the city should be able to sue, especially with so much evidence of fraud and corruption. A new council could finally open up the books and allow investigators to expose the details. We really need that money back. By my calculations, taxpayers have laid out at least $500 million in the last decade on stadiums, ballparks, direct and indirect subsidies. This doesn't even include the use of eminent domain to enrich Moores and JMI, nor the tremendous opportunity costs...but it's a start at paying down our $3 billion debt. I'd welcome feedback on this. (yet another sdblogger)— February 12, 2008 10:18 p.m.
1,000 Downtown Condos for Sale; Another 1,300 Coming on Line in Two Years; Prices Plunging
If the city council wants to be paid like other cities they need to bring us better government like other cities. Those crazy raises they want should go up for a vote because I don't think the majority of their constituents agree they're deserving of anythingthing like they're proposing. Whatever happened to public service? Half of them are already wealthy and they want to turn their elected positions into high paying careers with pensions after 5 years of service? No wonder this city is heading for bankruptcy.— February 12, 2008 7:32 p.m.
Drip Dry
Josh, you have all the hook ups.. when/where is Radiohead going to play in San Diego? Do you think Coors or Bayside? Do they announce it on the 14th when tickets go on sale?— February 12, 2008 6:45 p.m.
1,000 Downtown Condos for Sale; Another 1,300 Coming on Line in Two Years; Prices Plunging
Response to DON on #12 I'm sending mine to the City Council - it'll be spent before it gets there... Best.— February 12, 2008 6:42 p.m.
Drip Dry
Ther are DJ's, doctors, lawyers, grad students and even rock stars on Yelp.com Come join us! It's free.— February 12, 2008 8:41 a.m.
Drip Dry
You should write reviews on Yelp.com since you eat out so much and know the local scene so well.— February 12, 2008 8:40 a.m.
Liarless in Seattle
Don, So if I understand your reasoning, it's "If we go after this pair of crooks, then all the other crooks would have to be prosecuted too." Yep. I'm okay with that. But that's a political, not legal, reason, and a flimsy one at that. What ignited the trust busters of a century years ago? Wasn't it a similar situation of finally going after the robber barons that everyone thought untouchable? Are we less courageous than our great grandfathers? Have we forgotten how to stand up to bullies? I agree one hundred percent on your analysis of the current situation, but I'm asking where we should be going next, and how to get there. Don, I guess you're agreeing that there's probably no legal barrier to prosecuting these crooks and the public officials they corrupted. So who has the responsibility to bring cases against them? Thank you, (yet another sdblogger)— February 11, 2008 9:11 p.m.
1,000 Downtown Condos for Sale; Another 1,300 Coming on Line in Two Years; Prices Plunging
I know one thing, I doubt if I'll be able to retire. It's hard to save moeny for retirement AND a $100,000 down payment.— February 11, 2008 4:33 p.m.
1,000 Downtown Condos for Sale; Another 1,300 Coming on Line in Two Years; Prices Plunging
Mortgage interest can go to 0% and it still will not help make homes affordable. When my parents bought their home in San Diego in the 70's, they paid $39,000 with a household income of $20,000. They tell me the multiplier was usually two and a half times income-to-mortgage ratio. Now obviously wages have gone up, but not 20X like the homes. Given a similar scenario today, my parents would be earning $400,000 to buy their $790,000 home. But their jobs today, one of which is basically gone offshore, would pay perhaps $80,000 combined income. I think everyone is inheriting money from their parents or are spening more than 70% of their income on housing. Where are people getting the money to live here, drive fancy gas guzzlers, eat out, travel, and so on? I can hardly pay my rent and I have a masters degree.— February 11, 2008 4:30 p.m.