Entries
Bauder Back, but Infirm; Expects to Resume Blog Posts, Write Columns Unless Condition Questionable
I am back after three weeks+ overseas, where I was incommunicado. Thanks to those who have written me messages inquiring about me. I returned with a physical affliction; I should find out Friday how serious it is. Many thanks to …
Platinum Equity Names New Union-Tribune Publisher with Reputation for Cuts
Beverly Hills-based Platinum Equity, which took over the Union Tribune last week, has announced that Ed Moss of L.A. will become publisher effective May 18. He's most recently been president and CEO of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, owned by …
Black Press's Red Ink Mounts
Yesterday brought yet another major debt downgrade of Black Press, Ltd., the Canadian-based outfit run by David Holmes Black, who is also a “senior advisor” and partner with Beverly Hills-based Platinum Equity in that firm's takeover of the Union-Tribune. The …
State's Professional Sports Teams Ante Up for May 19 Ballot Measures
Look who’s backing the May 19 ballot measures, specifically the Yes on 1A campaign being waged by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: The San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s, along with the Golden State Warriors, San Jose Sharks, L.A. Lakers and Los …
City Auditor Blasts Qualcomm Stadium Management Over Missing Files, Gross Mismanagement, Unverified Revenue
San Diego’s City Auditor is out with an audit report on Qualcomm Stadium concluding that if the Chargers leave town, as is widely expected, taxpayers will have to shoulder $21.4 million in remaining debt. The report also concludes that the …
End of Yet Another Era: Burl Stiff to depart the Union-Tribune June 4
On the heels of yesterdays’ announced layoff of 192 employees at the Union-Tribune, society writer Burl Stiff, who has covered the doings of San Diego’s upper crust for the paper since 1976, says he is departing the U-T on June …
Tracking the Takeover: Union-Tribune layoffs on schedule
TV and other websites are full of the news. Less than a week after the U-T takeover by Platinum Equity was first reported here, the Union Tribune is laying off workers. Back in March, Don Bauder reported that the move …
Tracking the Union-Tribune Deal: Five parcels sold for a total of $51.2 million
Just how much in a hurry was David Copley to unload the Union-Tribune? The close of the sale to a Delaware affiliate of Beverly Hills Platinum Equity was announced Monday. Deeds showing the transfer of five real estate parcels were …
Olympic Snowboarder Allegedly Hits Some San Diego Snow
The Vancouver Sun brings word of yet another San Diego cocaine connection. This one involves Ryan Wedding, a 27-year-old Olympic snowboarder who placed 24th at the Salt Lake City Games of 2002 and hoped to compete in 2010 in Vancouver. …
Early Word on U-T Transition: Hope Winner Stays
Platinum Equity's Mark Barnhill has told Editor & Publisher that the company hopes Union-Tribune editor Karin Winner stays on board now that the buyout firm is in control. Platinum has yet to announce a publisher, and the role of Canadian …
Countdown to the Union-Tribune takeover by Platinum Equity
We're still waiting for the official announcement, but a spokesman for Beverly Hills-based Platinum Equity, which put together the buyout of the Union-Tribune from the Copley Press, says that the close of the deal is "imminent, maybe as early as …
Copley Bell Rings No More: Union-Tribune Sale Closes Monday?
The end of the Copley-era at the Union-Tribune apparently arrived yesterday when workers at the Mission Valley plant were photographed preparing to pry the huge bronze Copley Press "Ring of Truth" logo from the building. Next to go, reportedly today, …
Bonnie Dumanis pays off her Bank of America loan
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has closed out her campaign committee, Bonnie Dumanis for District Attorney, but not before raising enough money from local fat cats to pay off the $6500 balance on a $20,000 loan at 9.5 percent from Bank …
Is the Union-Tribune deal about to close?
Is the close of the Union-Tribune sale to Beverly Hills-based Platinum Equity by the Copley Press near completion? So says one source at the U-T plant, who claims that documents including an offer of employment with the new company, to …
Who's Lurking Behind That Petition?
Call it non-disclosure politics. Chula Vista Citizens For Jobs And Fair Competition and its parent, the Associated Builders And Contractors of San Diego, have accused the City of Chula Vista of placing unconstitutional limits on how initiative petitions can be …
Tom Hayden vs. La Jolla's Institute of the Americas
Former Democratic state senator and 1960s radical Tom Hayden is still on the warpath against the evils of capitalism. Lately he’s been attacking Jeffrey Davidow, president of the La Jolla-based Institute of the Americas, who got time off to work …
Union-Tribune Circulation Drops 9.53 points
Monday through Friday average circulation numbers for the San Diego Union-Tribune have dropped 9.53 percent for the six months ending March 2009 from the same period the year before, according to numbers just released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, …
The San Diego Pot and Coke Connection at work
With the convention business squeezed by recession, ever wonder who’s filling all those airline seats to San Diego? Likely suspects: drug dealers. A lot of news coverage here highlights the Mexican side of the drug trade, but a recent report …
George Munger and the Golden Girl: Memories of J. David Dominelli's Ponzi Scheme
Wednesday's death of restaurateur George Munger at age 69 has brought back memories of his link to J. David Dominelli, San Diego’s most notorious Ponzi swindler. In the early 1980s, Piret’s was the place to be seen for up and …
New Padres ownership raises conflict of interest questions for a CCDC board member
As we reported last month, new Padres owner Jeff Moorad has yet to tell the city all the namesof his partners in the deal to buy the team from divorce-embattled John Moores. Ex-city councilman Bruce Henderson warned that keeping the …