Manchester and Wal-Mart cash to GOP council races obscured by detour through federal campaign fund
C. Terry Brown, Richard Bartell and host of other special interests provided funding to Republican federal committee transferring $70,000 for Zapf, Cate
Given the shadow-financed Republican-led effort to recall embattled mayor Bob Filner, it's not always easy to track the torrents of cash being pumped into San Diego politics by the town's wealthy special interests. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/aug/21/51738/ The latest wrinkle in the art …
Mayor Bob Filner returns $21,676 in contributions from special political fund
The refunds were issued to unions, corporations, and big developers.
The hits keep coming for Mayor Bob Filner. As the Mayor ponders resignation in a legal mediation with the City and former Communications Director Irene McCormack-Jackson, a treasurer for his special political fund is zeroing out one of Filner's political …
Beyond the "smart meter"
SDG&E will test technology that monitors customers' energy use down to the individual device using it
Those who opposed the digital “smart meters” installed over the last few years by San Diego Gas & Electric may soon have a new technology to worry about: a real-time monitoring device that measures the power draw off every circuit …
Scenes from a snack hunt
The Street talks. Ed chomps
OK, so you caught me heading for Jack In the Box (1110 C Street at City College trolley stop). Yeah, sometimes I do. Quick bite before heading down to Broadway to catch the 210 for Mira Mesa. Alas and alack: …
Pirates pound Padres
In a game that got out of hand two-thirds if the way in, the Pirates ensured that they would take the series against the Padres
After splitting a four game series with the New York Mets and then dropping the first game of a three game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Padres needed a win on Tuesday to have a chance at taking the …
Padres introduce Mike Dee
After announcing the hiring of Mike Dee back in July, a formal introduction was made to media
On Tuesday afternoon, before the team photo was taken on the field, the Padres introduced Mike Dee as CEO and President of the ball club before a modest group of media at Petco Park. Padres Executive Chairman Ron Fowler and …
Mark Dresser: six bass hit!
Dresser will team with five other bass players to explore the low end possibilities.
Contrabassist Mark Dresser continues his Thursday evening residency at the San Diego Museum of Art on August 22, at 7 pm with a show featuring six bassists in various configurations, including bass legend Bert Turetzky, and Joe McNalley, who is …
Quintessential San Diego: tax fraud through a trust
And selling stock in a mine that didn't exist
Mark Twain defined a gold mine as a hole in the ground with a liar on the top. Today (Aug. 20) Douglas Ellingson pleaded guilty to investment fraud. He sold more than $2 million worth of stock that was secured …
Peace gets a chance with Sempra-bankrolled web design
The political action committee that won't die comes to life once more with Sempra work done by familiar sounding political outfit
When last we checked in on the Independent Voter PAC, the political fund run by David Takashima was helping to the advance the agenda of Proposition 30, the successful November 2012 tax hike by Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K9chLGt49Q&feature=player_embedded#t=0 It …
City Attorney's one-eighty on Sunroad. Office calls Sunroad lawsuit a "sham"
Recent court documents show City Attorney's office now defending Sunroad's land-grab
Giving away public park space to a developer? No big deal. Filing a lawsuit against the City for an apparent quid-pro-quo with said developer? A complete "sham." That is the latest opinion from the City Attorney's Office in the legal …
Forever Amber alert!
Cinephilia is a crime punishable in most states!
I was sitting in the basement last week watching a beautiful 16mm dye-transfer print of Otto Preminger's Forever Amber. It wasn't until I got up to change reels, that I noticed a crime had been committed. Reel 3 was missing …
Bad actor surfaces among top San Diego cops
Owner of uniform store and police museum commissioner faces sentencing in federal court here next month on kickback conspiracy count
San Diego being the kind of rough-and-tumble law enforcement, military and border intelligence town that many say it is, it may not be too surprising to find lots of interesting characters on the board of commissioners of its non-profit police …
Baja Attorney General: Arellano Félix Cártel has not disappeared
Statements made after DEA declares organization extinct
Rommel Moreno Manjarrez, the Baja California Attorney General, announced that despite claims made by the DEA, the Arellano Félix Cártel has not disappeared from the area. The statements came on Tuesday, August 20, a day after Eduardo Arellano Félix was …
Gold amid the dross
Why was I reading a listicle at Cracked.com? No idea. But I liked what I read there.
I mean, "13 Photos That Shatter Your Image of Famous People (Part 2)"? Really? Didn't I have something better to do, like blog here at The Big Screen? Yes, yes I did. But first, it's sharing time. Do you remember …
First look at BBQ 81
University Height's brand new barbecue spot breaks out the mesquite and gets it right with the tri-tip.
BBQ 81 is fully operational in University Heights. Big news for uptown San Diego, which has had nothing but Brazen Barbecue in recent years. There’s some clamor over whether BBQ 81 (2302 El Cajon Boulevard, 619-255-1958) is a “real” barbecue …
Sri Lankan man gets second chance at amnesty
Court reconsiders decision on advice of San Diego ACLU
A Sri Lankan man will get another shot at applying for asylum after the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties and the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic came to his aid, urging the federal Ninth Circuit …
City Attorney continues to chip away at San Diego's recall law
City Attorney now says anyone, regardless of place of residence can assist in recall efforts.
City Attorney Jan Goldsmith's Office is whittling away at the laws governing recall elections. In an August 16 memo, Deputy City Attorney Sharon Spivak found that a requirement that signature gatherers in recall elections be registered voters and San Diego …
Filner, Goldsmith met today: reports
Resignation on table, as expected. Secrecy also?
As predicted here yesterday (see my blog post on Sunday, Aug. 18), Mayor Bob Filner and City Attorney Jan Goldsmith met today, according to reports in mainstream media today (Aug. 19). Locally, such media outlets as Channel 10, KPBS, and …
South Park: Farewell, ma belle
Vagabond's in its last days. Ed is weeping
Maybe it's because they're closing. But I swear. These two unpretentious little happy hour tacos are thee most delicious I've had in a lo-ong time. Carne asada, queso fresco, a little avo, green onion, and that's it. Simple. They're really …