Relocation notice!
Effective October 17, 2013, News Ticker has moved out of the blogs and into the News & Stories section.
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Entries
Ministry claims it was stiffed by City
San Diego refuses to pay over $43K owed for services provided related to gang prevention, group alleges in lawsuit
San Diego-based Metro United Methodist Urban Ministry, in operation since 1966, has an established track history of working with low-income youth, helping them avoid jail and achieve stable employment. Last week, the group celebrated the award of $7.5 million in …
Both City Attorney Goldsmith and Mayor Filner release public records at whim (or not at all)
Problems with the leaders' judgment indicated following closed-session incident in June
It's one for the record books: "The Quickest Response to a Public Records Request in San Diego's History: The U-T San Diego on June 20, with a time of under eight hours." [Sarcasm off.] The reporter was Trent Seibert. The …
Double whopper lobbyists want it their way with city hall
Big DeMaio backers with history of amending lobbying disclosure reports paid to turn up the heat on city over lagging burger project blocked by Filner
How many lobbying firms does it take to screw in a real estate development permit in San Diego? In the case of a controversial Jack in the Box currently blocked by besieged mayor Bob Filner, at least two, and those …
Bridgepoint stock bounces back up despite state suit
AG charged company refused to provide data, but stock had only hiccup yesterday
Stock of highly controversial Bridgepoint Education, which is under investigation by several state and federal bodies, is up 1.04% to $16.49 this morning (July 25). Yesterday, after the company was sued by California to turn over records about hits marketing …
Downtown retail property sold for $15M
Washington, D.C.-based ASB Real Estate Investments, which claims over $3.8 billion under management nationwide, has announced the purchase of three Gaslamp Quarter buildings on two parcels carrying a $15.25 million price tag. The units, at 643, 653, and 665 5th …
San Diego hotel business lagging coast rivals
All told, 2013 has not been a very good year for local hotels
The occupancy rate in San Diego hotels dropped slightly in June compared with June 2012, to 79.8% from 80.2%, according to Smith Travel Research. Average daily room rate rose slightly to $137.05 from $136.73 a year ago, but San Francisco's …
Filner may be the winner in last two accusations
Weak allegations could help the mayor, who faces huge odds
Mayor Filner may be ahead 2 to 1; the last two accusations (one made today, July 24) are weak. This doesn't mean people should put their money on Filner: as I have said repeatedly, with all Republicans, most Democrats, all …
Downtown San Diego Partnership threatened with lawsuit if it does not provide accounting of assessment district funds
San Diegans for Open Government demands any money spent on illegal activities is refunded to residents
Kris Michell, CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, is driven to make downtown a center of innovation and creativity, a well-oiled machine that runs San Diego's economy. She may also be driving the nonprofit straight to court, to defend …
Priest murdered in Ensenada during robbery
Home of Catholic priest was looted during homicide, authorities say
Father Ignacio Cortez Alvarez, parish priest of the María Auxiliadora Church in Ensenada, was found dead in his home on Monday, July 22. According to local authorities, the priest suffered multiple wounds to the chest. Investigators stated on Tuesday, July …
Would Filner's doom be a Peters boon?
GOP ex-city councilman Carl DeMaio, target of San Diego State University expose in race against freshman Democrat, reveals what he did with KPBS-questioned cash
Which way will he go? That's the burning question of the moment regarding former city councilman Carl DeMaio, who, following a brief interregnum after losing his mayoral battle with Bob Filner last year, announced in May he was running for …
Local home values to rise 9.3% in next year, says zillow.com
That will be almost double national rate, says forecaster
Zillow.com predicted today (July 23) that national home values will rise 5 percent between the second quarter of this year and the second quarter of next year. But San Diego County home values will zoom 9.3%, although that will lag …
State auditor says CPUC's intervenor compensation system OK
Says Shames, formerly of UCAN, might have been overcompensated
The California State Auditor came out with a report today (July 23) stating that despite administrative weaknesses, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has generally awarded compensation to intervenors -- individuals and groups representing ratepayer interests -- in accordance with …
Big three hotel moguls girding for Filner war?
Triumvirate gives $5000 a pop to lodging political action committee that insiders say could be used for recall or other forms of political engagement with mayor
Though most of the financial action took place before the current troubles of Bob Filner kicked into high gear, a look at recently filed campaign statements of his foes versus his own money raising prowess shows the uphill money battle …
Former Development Services Director ordered staff to delete comments to get large church project approved
In his final days at the City, Kelly Broughton demanded concerns over Saint John Garabed Church be deleted or revised.
Just how is it that a major development project at odds with the City's General Plan can slip through the cracks at City Hall? One way is if those cracks are tailor-made by a boss willing to open and close …
Questions about McCormack Jackson suit
And questions about the mayor's response to it.
The sexual harassment suit against Mayor Bob Filner filed today (July 22) by Irene McCormack Jackson raises many questions. First, the suit outlines extremely offensive statements allegedly made to her by the mayor in January, February, February/early March, April, late …