Mayoral hopefuls Alvarez, Fletcher speak at labor-organized immigration reform event
Labor leaders yesterday afternoon (September 9) organized “a coalition of local business, faith, civil rights, community, and labor groups” Downtown to again demand action from Congress on passing an immigration reform bill. The event was also attended by a handful …
Burger for Breakfast
At Vigilucci's in Coronado, breakfast is all about style
Thank goodness for Jan. Carla's old flatmate is across from Florida for a couple of weeks. I'm mostly sitting watching a tennis match as these two have at it. Gabfest! Who had whose boyfriend. Who stole whose blouse. Who did …
Group of 15 immigrants stranded at sea off the coast of Baja California rescued
Immigrants had paid to be taken to the U.S. by sea, but were left at sea for over 12 hours
A group of 15 immigrants were rescued by the Mexican navy after being left at sea for over 12 hours on Monday, September 9. The group had paid for travel to the United States, but was abandoned after the small …
Former customs officer gets 78 months for taking bribes
His Jaguar seized; accomplices also sentenced
Former Customs and Border Protection Officer Hector Rodriguez was sentenced today (Sept. 9) to 78 months in prison for taking bribes for bringing in aliens for financial gain. Among the items seized were a 2009 Jaguar and 12 luxury watches. …
Shames loses libel lawsuit against Aguirre
He previously lost in his suit against UCAN
Michael Shames, former executive director of watchdog Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN), lost a libel suit today (Sept. 9) against attorney Mike Aguirre. Aguirre represented two whistleblowers whose revelations about Shames led indirectly to his dismissal as executive director. Shames …
Bob White's California Strategies partners agree to $40,000 covert lobbying fines
Employees of San Diego marijuana lobbying firm founded by Bob White, aide to Pete Wilson from San Diego mayor through California governor, admit trying to influence state government without registering as lobbyists
Partners in California Strategies - the prosperous lobbying outfit founded by Bob White, who started his adult life working for fraternities at San Diego State and ended up as Pete Wilson's ultimate insider before going on to make a sizable …
Owner of Oggi's Pizza and Brewing files class action lawsuit over 2011 blackout
Owner filed class action complaint in federal court
Remember when the lights went out throughout Southern California back in September 2011? The owner of Oggi's Pizza sure does. On Friday, September 6, Robert Waldon filed a class action lawsuit in federal court against Pinnacle West Capital, the parent …
Open registration for SANDAG Rideshare Challenge
The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has opened online signups for its annual Rideshare Corporate Challenge, in which companies spend the month of October competing against one another to log the most use by employees of alternative transportation to …
Dig a hole: Cal Worthington
Never so much as a rank and file member of the motion picture industry, Calvin Coolidge "Cal" Worthington's presence was felt in practically every film produced during Hollywood's golden era. At one point or another, his crass commercial spiels and …
Fletcher gets cash from city leaseholder also backing Faulconer
Pay for play campaign of epic proportions shaping up as well-financed influence seekers and long time city power brokers, including ex-con, line up with open checkbooks
The two big Fs in San Diego's money race for mayor, Nathan Fletcher and Kevin Faulconer, appear locked in a tight battle over who can corral the most special interest campaign money from tony Rancho Santa Fe, one of America's …
Trailer Park: The Art of the Steal
I can remember when people read books instead of stealing them.
No, it doesn't look great, but everybody loves Kurt Russell, right? All I know is, I've been away from this blog for a while - the doctors say the scarring should be minimal, thanks for asking - and I need …
Burglar caught in El Cajon
Neighbors saw man jump out window of victim's house
Sheriff’s deputies were able to track down a man suspected of several residential burglaries in eastern El Cajon Sunday afternoon with the assistance of several neighbors and a law enforcement helicopter. Shortly after 3 p.m., a burglary call was received …
Lorraine Castellanos salutes Eydie at 98 Bottles
Lorraine Castellanos is a vocal natural.
Lorraine Castellanos, fronting an ad hoc group featuring guitarist Joey Carano, bassist Rob Thorsen, drummer Fernando Gomez and her trumpet-master husband Gilbert Castellanos, celebrated the career of the recently departed Eydie Gorme at 98 Bottles on Sept. 7. There is …
OliverMcMillan's foreclosed shopping center goes up for sale
Chicago area apartment/shopping compound couldn't service debt
According to Chicago area media, the Glen Town Center of north suburban Glenview is now up for sale. The residential/retail property went up on land that was formerly the Naval Air Station Glenview, which closed in 1995. The village got …
Rebecca Jade Quartet live at 98 Bottles
Jade has power, nuance and a red-hot band.
Soulful songbird Rebecca Jade's well-oiled quartet made their 98 Bottles debut on Sept. 6, laying it down before a packed-house of devoted listeners. Obviously well-rehearsed, the Jade group sounds much larger than a vocalist plus instrumental trio -- each musician …
Activists rally for, against military action in Syria
Several dozen activists gathered outside Congresswoman Susan Davis’s office yesterday afternoon (September 6), arguing both against and in favor of United States military action in Syria. Ray Lutz, a common fixture at such events representing Citizens Oversight Projects, called into …
Feast! Pier-end party people chow down
Sunset's the magic moment for the annual moment to chew the fat, and just, well, chew
Whew. Just come from the Feast! party at the cruise terminal... Stuffed with burgers, truffle fries, wines, beers, including hey hey! Arrogant Bastard from Stone. And all of it free - after gettin' in, of course. I mean yes, we're …
Qualcomm's Jacobs fishing for funds for Fletcher
What will Fletcher's wife, Karl Rove apprentice, say about that?
Paul Jacobs, chief executive of Qualcomm, has sent out a letter asking donations for Nathan Fletcher in the upcoming mayoral race. Fletcher's rapid conversion from Republican to Independent to Democrat was probably tied to his Qualcomm affiliation. He went to …
4th row center: Triumph of the Will
The long-awaited demise of Hitler's bodyguard, Rochus Misch, had finally arrived. His death at age 96 brings to mind my one and only dust-up with Bund-lovin' brown shirts. It was one of the first films I remember driving to after …
Bond rating shows why Wall Street loves CPUC
Fitch lauds regulator as it gives SDG&E bonds good rating
Fitch Ratings has given an AA-minus rating to the proposed San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) $450 million issue of 3.6% first mortgage bonds due 2023. Fitch positively gushes over "the constructive regulatory environment" -- a euphemistic way of saying …