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U-T's Bungled Buyout Will Probably Lead to Best People Leaving
As a citizen of America's Finest City, it has always seemed to me that the Union-Tribune serves best the interests of our region's downtown real estate Mafia. The Union-Tribune's continuing clash with a city attorney, who at least tries to shine a spotlight on the spendthrift ways of our local elected officials, is as good a reason as any to doubt that David Copley cares about anyone but the very rich. As artificially high real estate prices crash around our ears, and Copley's net worth tumbles, it seems only fitting that Copley's newspaper would become irrelevant. The U-T serves too few people, and the vast majority of San Diegans it fails to serve deserve better. It is no surprise that they are turning their backs on the Union-Tribune and circulation is slipping precipitously. Our best hope is that another entity will arise to take its place, one with our best interests at heart, one willing to serve its duty as a watchdog for the people. Good riddance.— December 6, 2007 11:42 a.m.
U-T's Bungled Buyout Will Probably Lead to Best People Leaving
The yacht likely has a lot to do with UT's current financial situation. Copley had to get the $33 million from somewhere, and he probably pulled $33 million out of the company to buy the yacht. This probably put the UT in a financial bind, particularly in light of the huge estate tax liability the UT faces from Helen Copley's passing. The UT not only has to generate enough cash to pay for the yacht, it also has to generate enough cash to pay off the estate taxes. This situation is the likely cause of the financial crisis, not the plummeting circulation/advertising revenue.— December 5, 2007 8:11 p.m.
U-T's Bungled Buyout Will Probably Lead to Best People Leaving
Copley doesn't care if the paper is run into the ground. He's going to cash out big time regardless of whether circulation and profits continue to plunge. There are plenty of wealthy guys like John Moores with big egos and wallets who would pay almost any price to own a newspaper like the UT, even if means having to underwrite millions in yearly operating losses.— December 5, 2007 7:59 p.m.
U-T's Bungled Buyout Will Probably Lead to Best People Leaving
Don: I take it in your response to NO 3, you feel the future of the printed version of the UT is somehow tied to its making a better presence on the Internet? Can you explain, I enjoy reading a printed newspaper, just not the current version of the UT and don't see reading news online the same as reading a REAL printed newspaper. Thanks! Best— December 5, 2007 6:31 p.m.
U-T's Bungled Buyout Will Probably Lead to Best People Leaving
If you're a U-T employee, the facts are plain. Neither the U-T's owners nor senior U-T management care about you. They may say they care about their employees, but you should reject these empty words. Instead, analyze the U-T owners and senior executives by their actions. I say again, the owners' and executives' actions are what matter, not their empty words. The piddling, insulting severance you are being offered shows neither compassion nor caring. Asking employees to decide their futures within two days shows neither compassion nor caring. This rushed, sloppily handled employee "separation" shows neither compassion nor caring. Failing to undertake big-ticket expense reductions at the top, to help employees at the bottom, shows neither compassion nor caring. And failing to reorganize management, who have failed to stem the red ink at the U-T, shows neither compassion nor caring, and instead confirms bad business sense will doom the paper to failure. U-T employees, your bosses don't care. Their actions confirm this. You will be kicked to the curb because of their repeated failures. You have been warned.— December 5, 2007 2:48 p.m.
Charger Fans are Idiots
I think all that dancing stuff should be reserved until after winning the game. Then you deserve a little dance.. but not simply for a sack, tackle or even a touchdown. I liked Barry Sanders of the Lions. He just tossed the ball to the officials and headed to the sidelines every time he scored. That's sportsmanship.— December 5, 2007 11:15 a.m.
U-T Announces Massive Buyout Plan
The biggest problem with the U-T is that it's out of touch with the needs and interests of the bulk of the population, resulting in a paper is neither timely nor interesting. (Does San Diego really need a dance critic to give you a Friday morning review about something that happened Tuesday or Wednesday?) I disagree with Bauder on the readership value of watchdogging city government: If anything, the U-T devotes too much attention to the arcane day-to-day goings on of San Diego City Hall and the various fat-cat boards and commissions without explaining what anything means. Doing more would serve the public, which is good, but wouldn't necessarily build circulation. Internally, the U-T has two speeds for adjusting to the outside world -- either study something to death and never make a decision (the production system dates back to the 1980s, at best) or make a snap decision to do something that will draw little audience or advertising support.— December 5, 2007 9:12 a.m.
U-T Announces Massive Buyout Plan
I'm curious, has there every been a study on the economic benefits of gov't pension plans? We've all read the endless bashing. In other words, this money goes somewhere, is it recirculating in San Diego County? It might be interesting to get the zipcodes of the retirement check sent out monthly from SDCERS. If the vast majority are in SD County then the money is all part of our macro economy.— December 4, 2007 2:23 p.m.
Aguirre Backs Off Request for Information from KPBS
I just heard about this on the radio!! Ebay is auctioning off lunch with Mike Aguirre! You can also post a question you'd like to ask Mike right on Ebay... some of them are pretty funny. Just google aguirre lunch to find it— December 4, 2007 1:29 p.m.
City's Outside Accounting Firm Told to Restate 2005 Financial Results
Nonsense! There is no such thing as pension overpayments! These monies were earned pension benefits that are in "excess" of an artificial ceiling set by the Internal Revenue Code. Is there risk because once again SDCERS screwed up? No, SDCERS did not screw up, because they only administer the benefits, APRROVED and SET BY THE CITY LEADERS. That's your ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. In addtion these benefits are being paid to high ranking city executives not rank and file members. 102 people out of approximatly 11,000, what's that 1/10 of one percent? These payments are not going to folks who work the front lines, who keep your water and sewer running, who repair your sidewalks and streets, who cutting the grass and maintaining your parks. So if you're upset because the City refused to pay its share get mad at five city council members who still sit there today. They approved this plan knowing terms limits would shield them from the responsibilty of finding ways to pay for it. Now the bill is PAST due, no, way past due and it time to pay for the services you wanted!— December 4, 2007 12:57 p.m.