Entries
Why I live as an un-hyphenated American
Seven years ago, I woke up around 6 AM for no good reason, turned on the television in the living room, and said "OH MY GOD" as I saw a replay of a jet smashing into one tower of the …
County Grand Jury recommends consolidation of CCDC, SEDC into single redevelopment agency
In its June 2, 2008, report CCDC: WHAT DOES IT DEVELOP AND WITH WHOSE MONEY?, the San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that both the functions of the Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) and the Southeastern Economic Development Coporation (SEDC) …
US v. SDG&E defendant loses new trial appeal?
At least one federal crime victim confirms receiving email information from the US Department of Justice regarding United States v. San Diego Gas and Electric defendant David Joseph "Willy" Williamson, where an appeal was decided "favorable to U.S." US v. …
Slippery SEDC bonus requests underneath City Council radar
In our distinguished daily paper today (Sept. 6), a letter by Mel Shapiro points out several facts regarding the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) self-dealing bonus approvals by outgoing president Carolyn Smith for herself and other staffers. From Shapiro's letter: …
Juror confirms SDG&E liability to Marines' families for millions
On a chance meeting with an English professor for whom I once worked as a classroom instructional aide, I was informed that she had just left jury service where she and fellow jurors had just awarded "millions" to the families …
SEDC to be sued if not paying for outgoing prez' legal fees?
With the City of San Diego now suing outgoing Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) president Carolyn Smith to recover off-budget bonuses, there is now the possibility being bandied about that Ms. Smith will sue SEDC if that redevelopment agency withdraws …
Analysis: SEDC president's desire for lack of accountability
The recent interview of Carolyn Smith, outgoing president of the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) as a city redevelopment agency, is incredibly revealing as to the nature and quality of leadership during the last decade and a half that she …
SEDC president to board in 2006: give up affordable housing monitoring and enforcement?
Around the time the city's Independent Budget Analyst was wondering why bonuses were being paid out during an employee pay freeze last year, the president of the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) was requesting that SEDC transfer its affordable housing …
Lack of budget standardization at redevelopment agencies an on-going city concern
In at least two Independent Budget Analyst Reports dating back to mid-2006, city staffers had expressed concerns that the city's redevelopment agencies adopt standards to more clearly state what their budgets contained, as well as to make clearer how those …
SEDC Saga Continues: ex-presidents and opening moves
Three former presidents of the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) have been cited in this city's great metropolitan daily paper, all seeming to contradict the previous published interview statements of outgoing SEDC president Carolyn Smith. (See http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080821-9999-1m21sedc.html) In her interview, …
Encanto Steet Fair means finding a driving alternative to Imperial Avenue!
This year's Encanto Street Fair and Cultural Arts Festival promises to be an interesting affair both for the entertainment and for its political ramifications (which could prove to be even more entertaining). The steet fair is the first major public …
SEDC board member: "It's all about perception"
From this city's daily newspaper this morning (Aug. 14), a quote from a Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) board member on why the board chairman was not ousted three weeks after the same board fired its outgoing president, Carolyn Smith, …
The Voluntary Cleanup Agreement and the cleanup that never happened
After the demolition of the old Encanto Gas Holder facility in Lemon Grove, after the initial complaints by residents of Lemon Grove anad Encanto about the odor, asbestos dust, and eventual storm runoff deposits being left in the Encanto Branch …
Ethical Public Leadership as a rare quality around the old gas holder site.
Without getting into a lengthy philosophical discussion, let us agree that a reasonable minimum standard for the ethics of a government official, any government official, is to follow the law as it is written in the law and then understood …
For In-coming SEDC president: Having your interview printed in the paper may not be a good thing...
In the San Diego Union-Tribune this morning, excerpts from an interview with outgoing Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) president Carolyn Smith left me with a lot more questions than answers. The story on the interview excerpts: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/sedc/20080812-9999-1m12sedc.html The entire interview …
What is the sound of one SEDC shredder shredding?
In the City's call for the resignation of Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) President Carolyn Smith, one kind of got the idea that this meant now, pronto, mach schnell, IMMEDIATELY... What Ms. Smith got was 90 days to clean house …
Recalling Tony Young?
The word has been out since this morning that there will be an attempted recall of 4th District councilmember Tony Young for supporting the mayor in his call for Carolyn Smith's resignation as head of the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation …
The start of demolition: Smell You Later
Almost as soon as the first of the buried underground pipe was being uncovered at the old Encanto Gas Holder facility, the complaints started coming in about the noise and dust. The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) …
The start of demolition: Who's Who
In 2000, San Diego Gas and Electric began the process of tearing down the old Encanto Gas Holder facility just inside Lemon Grove, east of the old San Diego annex Encanto Heights, next to Chollas Creek and the tracks of …