Entries
Ballpark Study Confesses: "We Hastened and Greatly Worsened the Glut"
It's amazing how perpetual fudgers and fabricators sometimes let the truth slip out. So it is with the purported analysis of the economic impact of Petco Park, arranged by the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. The so-called study claims …
Consultants Deliver What Those Paying the Bills Want
"It's very cozy in San Diego," chuckles Heywood Sanders, professor of public administration at the University of Texas at San Antonio and the nation's leading expert on convention centers. Sanders points out that when the San Diego convention center wanted …
U-T Doesn't Identify Paid Consultant
The Union-Tribune is up to its old tricks. On today's front page (July 14) is a rave review, claiming that Petco Park has returned far more on the investment than expected. The study was done by a firm that specializes …
Hmmm. Lucchino Lauds Private Ballpark Financing
Hypocrisy, thy name is Larry Lucchino. A column in the Tuesday (July 13) Wall Street Journal lauds the Boston Red Sox for bringing fans to its 100-year-old stadium without taking "a dime of taxpayer money." The Red Sox have shown …
Furlough Program to Knock 4.6% from Port Workers' Pay
The San Diego Unified Port District announced a work furlough program today (July 12) to begin Friday and last through next June. The program, which should save $1.3 million, should help close a $10 million budget shortfall. Most port employees …
Little Italy Association Recommended for Parking Contract
The Budget/Finance & Administration Committee of Centre City Development Corp. (CCDC) yesterday (July 9) recommended that Little Italy Association get a $240,000 contract to enhance parking in the neighborhood. Among other things, the association will be responsible for enhancing on-street …
Judge Confirms Ruling; Sanders Must Give Deposition
Superior Court Judge John S. Meyer confirmed today (July 9) his tentative ruling of yesterday. In the matter of Kessler vs. San Diego, Mayor Jerry Sanders must give a deposition. The City argued that the mayor should be exempted, but …
How Lobbyist Tried to Sway Pat Kruer
The Los Angeles Times today (July 9) tells how Los Angeles area lobbyist Susan McCabe aggressively tried to get San Diegan Pat Kruer, a longtime member of the California Coastal Commission, to vote in favor of the waterfront redevelopment project. …
Tentative Ruling: Sanders Must Give Deposition
Judge John S. Meyer ruled tentatively today (July 8) that Mayor Jerry Sanders can be deposed in the case of Kessler vs. City of San Diego. The City was trying to protect the mayor from the deposition. The City will …
Sense and Nonsense
One reason San Diego is technically insolvent is that nonsensical arguments have dominated decision-making for years. In the Union-Tribune the last two days (July 6 and July 7) there was one story about good sense creeping into public discourse -- …
Law Firm Giving Financial Advice Taking No New Cases
Kerry Steigerwalt's Pacific Law Center, a heavily-advertised law firm, as of today (June 30) is taking few if any new cases, although it will finish cases it is now working on, according to two knowledgeable employees at the firm. It …
Gin's Lead Indicators Rise in May
The lead indicators of the San Diego economy, compiled by economist Alan Gin of the University of San Diego, continued rising in May to 109.4 from 109.2 in April. The number was 102.0 in May of last year.The index has …
SEC Pays Gary Aguirre Big Sum, but More Cleansing Needed
The Securities and Exchange Commission today (June 29) agreed to pay $755,000 to San Diego attorney Gary Aguirre. The sum represents four years and ten months of his salary since the agency fired him in 2005, plus his attorney fees. …
San Diego Still Shines in Case-Shiller Numbers, but....
Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller homes values data for the period ended April 30 came out this morning (June 29), showing continued price gains by major metro areas. However, S&P economist David Blitzer says, "Many of the gains are modest and somewhat …
Former Dentist Who Battled IRS Found Guilty of Tax Fraud
Former San Diego dentist L. Donald Guess has been found guilty of two felony counts of filing false income tax returns following a trial in federal court. He will be sentenced Sept. 16 at 9 a.m. in the chambers of …
Despite $32.5 Million Funding Gap, City to Go Ahead with Library
"This is the most irresponsible funding I have seen -- committing the City to building a library" even though there is $32.5 million left to be raised from private sources. That's the assessment of former City Attorney Mike Aguirre, who …
Se San Diego Hotel Owner Goes Bankrupt
According to the Wall Street Journal today (June 28), 5th Avenue Partners LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It owns and operates the tony Se San Diego Hotel and an adjacent building that houses the House of Blues. The …
Two More Con Men Headed to Prison
Two county cozeners who had previously pleaded guilty to bilking investors were sentenced today in cases brought by the U.S. Attorney's office. Richard M. Hersch was sentenced to 110 months. More than 150 investors had plunked $25 million in the …
He Knowingly Sold Defective Parts to Military; Gets Two Years
Joel H. Potter was sentenced to two years in prison today (June 28) for selling defective aircraft parts to the Navy and Marine Corps. The case was brought by the U.S. Attorney. Potter worked for Mackenzie Aircraft Parts in Vista. …
Weakening of "Honest Services" Could Affect SD Cases
The Supreme Court today (June 24) dealt a major blow to "honest services fraud," a prosecutorial technique that has been used in some high-profile corruption cases in San Diego. It is too early to tell whether those specific cases will …