By Tanja Winter, La JollaThursday, July 24, 2008
Hurray for Aguirre!
By Flo Samuels, HaywardThursday, July 24, 2008 | I am helping my son buy a house in San Diego. He's lived in San Diego 36 years, I lived there for 20 and someday I will move back. So what happens in its economy concerns me.
No matter what a person did in the past, if they are robbing the bank now, they must be terminated. Carolyn Smith lied about the bonuses, she lied about the things she did for Chip Owen to further his goals (for which she is being rightfully sued), she refused to provide budget information, the list goes on. How anyone of any race, creed, or sex can defend someone just because they are the same race, creed or sex is beyond my comprehension.
The first time the Board didn't receive budget information, the first time Smith was sued, the first time questions weren't answered, she should have been terminated. When you work for the public, as I have, you are required to be honest and serve the public. She wasn't and didn't.
By Susan Drury, EncantoThursday, July 24, 2008 | When Southeastern Economic Development Corp. was created, I was scared to death that the community would be handed over to developers to evict us from our property and make quick profits by bulldozing homes and creating a slum. East San Diego, which used to be a nice place, was the model I thought of. Instead SEDC did what they promised! They brought in retail stores and condos and actually made the area much better. They did not harm the residents. I wonder now if the ouster of Carolyn Smith and the board opens up the area for developer rape. SEDC cared about the residents. What will the next leadership care about? Now who will protect us from wanton capitalism? Is this a power play to open up the residents to irreparable harm? I think all of the community has a reason to worry about the future of land use in the area. By Mel Shapiro, HillcrestThursday, July 24, 2008 | After reading about Carolyn Smith's $100,000 termination pay, I understand the saying "cried all the way to the bank." By William L. Weeks, Mission HillsSunday, July 20, 2008 | Based on the recent allegations of impropriety on the part of Carolyn Smith, it seems appropriate that a formal investigation is the next step. I hope the City Attorney Mike Aguirre will pursue such an investigation with all the zeal he has demonstrated since becoming City Attorney. By Toni Michael, City HeightsMonday, July 21, 2008 | The article about a potential cure for juvenile diabetes immediately caught my eye, because I have had the disease for more than 46 years. However, the details disappointed me. The article said, "In Baetge's laboratory, the insulin-making cells kept blood sugar in check in mice after the mice's own insulin-making cells were destroyed by scientists."
In other words, the mice did not have a naturally occurring form of juvenile diabetes. In the disease I have, the body continues to produce beta cells, but the immune system keeps attacking them. So I don't have much hope for Novocell's approach to a cure.
Also, the article quotes the doctor as saying, "the converted cells weren't fully mature and behaved more like beta cells in a human fetus, which also don't respond to glucose until after the baby is born."
That's not true. I almost died of insulin shock when I was about three months pregnant with my second child because he started secreting insulin, more than enough for an adult. I this company is on the wrong track, unfortunately. Otherwise, I'd be first in line to sign up for the clinical trials. By Jin Han Hong, ClarksburgMonday, July 21, 2008 | The induced pluripotent stem cells is the greatest breakthrough yet in this industry. The biggest drawback, however, is the viral component in that technology. Recently, Professor Sheng Ding from Scripps Research Institute developed two chemical cocktails, replacing viral vectors targeting four genes.
I think your article should be updated.
By Christopher Hall, ShingletownMonday, July 21, 2008 | If the city-controlled non-profit redevelopment organizations are coming under such scrutiny lately, then what is the citywide business process re-engineering/privatization push that Mayor Sanders and Carl DeMaio are advocating going to be like? The city will have so many for-profit contractors to look after that ensuring that the public good is served will be an industry unto itself. Furthermore, this added layer of quality control bureaucracy will allow corruption to leak in, and the cost of buying off a city inspector will be passed on to the city as an added expense incurred by the contractor. I would recommend against privatizing city functions until the City can control the non-profits it runs.
By Sally Smith, Serra MesaFriday, July 18, 2008 | San Diego Unified School District legal counsel Jose Gonzales must have been in a hurry to start his vacation when he advised the Board of Education trustees about meeting in a closed door session about Luis Acle.
I recently got a letter from him myself. As a child protection advocate, I wrote to Superintendent Terry Grier about my concerns about the "closed practice" policy by Serra High School coaches. Recent reports of teachers and coaches victimizing the students that they are supposed to protect made me question this dangerous policy. Legal counsel Jose Gonzalez answered for Dr. Terry Grier. The "district does not have any specific policies concerning closed practices. Generally, it is at the coach's discretion whether practices are to be opened or closed." Prohibiting parents from practices removes a vital child protection measure.
Teenagers are no match for a manipulative, experienced adult with harmful intentions. The safety and welfare of our children should be a top priority for Dr. Grier. By Myron Shelley, San CarlosThursday, July 17, 2008| Regarding CCDC President Nancy Graham, one wonders if this will ever end. If one is going to engage in self-dealing, it appears that having an appointee's position in the City of San Diego is equivalent to striking the mother lode. Is there no one down on C Street with enough interest in their job to guard against such violations of the public trust? CCDC, SEDC, how many more alphabetical agencies are there and what's going on therein? By Frances O'Neill Zimmerman, La JollaThursday, July 17, 2008 | Too bad the notion of a parcel tax for financially pressed local public schools has died prematurely, with the only result being recriminations flying between new Superintendent Terry Grier, San Diego Education Agency President Camille Zombro and members of the Board of Education. And what was yet-to-be-elected Richard Barrera doing in the mix? He went to San Francisco to explore how the parcel tax there is structured along with some other Board members and the superintendent? Aren't there rules prohibiting this? Luis Acle is a disaster, but he is the Board member of record, not Board candidate Barrera. Maybe it's one of those too-common instances where they say, "It's all about the kids," and gloss over procedural niceties. It sounds to me like it's all about things falling apart. Nancy Martin-Padilla, San Diego
July 17, 2008 I am always enlightened by your reporting. I heard your interview on KPBS and despite the personal attacks you kept your cool and defended your position with poise and grace. As a taxpayer of our fair city I am perpetually astonished by all of the behind-the-scenes shenanigans that go on. Thank you for shedding some light. By Tom Clements, North EncantoWednesday, July 16, 2008| Excellent investigative journalism. Keep up the great work! By John Roberts, KensingtonJuly 16, 2008| I listened to Will Carless' interview on KPBS and I can't help but wonder if the first two people who called in weren't put up to it by the very people he investigated. Good God, I think the majority of us feel grateful to have a journalist such as him in San Diego. With so much corruption in government today, the only way to keep 'em honest is through a vigilant press. Thank you and keep up the good work. By Kathleen MacLeod, EncantoWednesday, July 16, 2008|I want to commend the few members (though sadly not yet the majority) on the current Southeastern Economic Development board who take their fiduciary duty seriously by asking questions to make informed and responsible decisions. I experienced the same non-response to legitimate budget questions when I addressed the SEDC Board two years ago.
Here is a condensed version of a few highlights of my written statement on April 26, 2006:
The first obstacle was getting a copy of the budget. SEDC's apparent policy is to release nothing until information is made public at the Board meeting. I protested, got it two days before the meeting and reminded the Board of its fiduciary duty to assure staff doesn't unintentionally violate the public's rights to open government.
SEDC's 2006-07 budget isn't transparent or explanatory. It's woefully inadequate, thereby inviting suspicion and inquiry. Important back-up schedules are omitted altogether and accountability is not apparent with respect to loans, re-loans, transfers among funds, tax allocation bonds and other schemes to pay off debt. Staff insisted that the culprit for this obfuscation is the Redevelopment Agency, which mandates the format.
Each real estate project should stand alone (full disclosure of expenses, revenues, debt, staff-years, etc.) so taxpayers can weigh in on their Tax Increment Fund (TIF) investments like private investors in real estate investment products can.
SEDC leases space from Pacific Development Partners LLC at its Imperial Marketplace project site, which removes office space from the tax rolls that a for-profit business would otherwise pay. The proposed office space line item of $196,000 was not justified in terms of area and rate per square foot so who knows whether the developer charges the Redevelopment Agency more than market rate (to reap yet another subsidy). I wondered how its $15,000 cost per budgeted position compared with the City’s and Centre City Development Corp.'s office space costs that year.
The City's expenses on behalf of the Redevelopment Agency are not identified, totaled or itemized by project. For example, PDP sued the Redevelopment Agency but the City Attorney's litigation costs were not charged to the Imperial Marketplace budget.
The budget narrative claimed, "all of the housing proposed or under construction in SEDC's area of influence has provided its affordable housing on-site". This is not consistent with developer response to the community planning group or feedback from professionals who collect in-lieu fees.
There are no deliverables for the economic development component of Redevelopment. The quarterly jobs report lacks criteria to measure the extent to which Redevelopment is moving folks into a sustainable or living wage.
The public's return on investment (TIF) is not reported by project. For instance, County tax collector records show that about $342,000 was spent by PDP/Home Depot in property taxes, while the TIF budget at Imperial Marketplace shows a mere $52,000 for the 2007 fiscal year. A prudent citizen is likely to question why its $10 million in public investment is generating only $52,000 per year! Instead of budgeting the amount reported by the County Treasurer/Tax Collector, TIF is allocated based on an undefined formula.
There is no Schedule of Disposition and Development Agreements (DDAs) that discloses the costs and benefits of Redevelopment projects over time. For example, PDP negotiated for the City to lease a City sales-tax funded Park and Ride lot at Imperial Marketplace. This additional subsidy is not reported as a cost on the Imperial Marketplace project budget.
Since I never received a reply to my statement, I wonder if the reason the current SEDC Board members haven't gotten responses to their requests for information is because Artie Owen chairs the SEDC Budget subcommittee? By Charles Kaminski, TalmadgeTuesday, July 15, 2008 |Something smells here. I just don't get how Grantville redevelopment can pay for the North Embarcadero improvements in front of the County Administration Building and improvements to the C Street corridor. I'm not a fan of the Grantville redevelopment area anyway and this "deal" smells funny. Some creative attorneys must have gotten in a closed door backroom and "negotiated" this to CCDC's benefit. And how come they (downtown interests) get the funds? Aren't there more citywide redevelopment areas that could use this type of "sweetheart" arrangement?
What's going on here? The public needs to know more before this "deal" is approved. The CCDC board votes this Wednesday, July 15, at a special meeting. That along with the City sitting as the Redevelopment agency may be the only two times the public get to weigh in. By Jack Key, OceansideMonday, July 14, 2008 | Why just pick on SEDC? Look at CCDC, MTS, NCTD and SANDAG. Lots of bonus overload in this recession.
By Terry McClain, JamulFriday, July 11, 2008 | Lepine's support of Michael Aguirre for City Attorney says it all about what is wrong with the City of San Diego, and local politicians.
For Lepine to support a local candidate for public office based only on their political affiliation is a joke. The local city offices are supposed to be non-partisan. Her switch is even more bizarre when you take into consideration the fact she was suing Michael Aguirre for some very humiliating and debasing activity.
My questions to Ms. Lepine now are: Were all of the allegations you made against against Mr. Aguirre false? If the allegations were true, do you want Mr. Aguirre to remain City Attorney, because the misconduct you alleged in your suit is now acceptable for a City Attorney? Was your change of heart based on the fact that the "New Clinton Democrats" believe that elected officials are exempt from any moral or ethical standards of conduct?
I hope someone will answer my questions? Politicians at every level are truly a joke, including former candidates. By Brian T. Peterson, BirdlandFriday, July 11, 2008 | Sometimes an extra layer of bureaucracy is good. This is the case with the small, school-within-a-school philosophy at Kearny, Crawford, and San Diego High.
At Kearny (I'm a Kearny parent and a member of the School of Science, Connections & Technology advisory committee, we've seen a resurgence of discipline, a regression of gang activity, and a dramatic increase in the number of kids going on to college and university after graduation. With strong leadership from Principal Vincent Morris, SCT teachers and students are focused on achieving the best education by following the school's mission statement and core principles. These are posted on the wall in every SCT classroom, in case anyone should lose focus. Frankly, this is a better educational environment than I remember from Point Loma High thirty years prior.
And sometimes an extra layer of bureaucracy is not so good. Just look at SEDC.
The concept of having an executive director and a board of directors between the City Council and redevelopment on the ground has only led to further opportunities for cronyism and corruption. Can anyone doubt that a more open and honest approach would be to have the City Council and city staff directly oversee redevelopment activities in that part of San Diego? At least those making the decisions would be directly accountable to the public.
In the end, accountability is what it is all about. Small schools, such as Kearny's SCT, make teachers and students more accountable. Situations like SEDC--and remember, the Redevelopment Agency as a whole is going to restructure based on this model--further remove redevelopment from accountability. History suggests it is best to support the small-school concept, and recent events reemphasize that it is best to not move forward with Redevelopment Agency restructuring. By Rob Hall, El CajonThursday, July 10, 2008 | Come on, folks, let's get real.
The lack of parking downtown is the worst thing about Petco Park. Proposing a stadium--especially one large enough for football crowds--on the waterfront is just plain goofy.
A multi-use facility? How many pro sports teams have to go belly-up in San Diego before our decision makers get wise? People live in San Diego because the weather is phenomenal, and we can play outdoors 365 days a year. That should be the focus of our tourism effort; get the outdoor people to come and play here.
There's only a limited number of San Diegans who will pay to watch someone else play ball-and-stick sports; it doesn't seem like much of an engine to drive our local economy.
Back on topic:
It seems like tourism and traditional waterfront uses can go hand-in-hand. I've only visited Seattle a couple of times, but that city's huge tourist/shopping complex fits in quite nicely between the shipping industry and the commercial fishing concerns.
San Diego should be the busiest shipping port on the west coast, with the good-paying jobs that entails. With our access to maquiladora manufacturers, we should be the shipping hub of the entire Pacific Rim.
Instead, we push for more tourism-oriented development, and the plethora of minimum-wage jobs it creates. More hotels make money for developers, generate a few pennies, and of course create more demand for skilled labor like housekeepers.
Seaport Village? Please. We installed a tacky strip mall in the form of a New England fishing town, right smack dab on our waterfront, just to milk a few pennies from tourists and to create a few sales clerk jobs.
Keep building those hotels, and using cookie-cutter concepts to separate tourists from their dollars. How many amphibious tour buses can crawl around our streets and bob across the bay, with guides pointing out points of interest? ("Look, there's a seal. Look, a big gray boat. Look, a building with green lights on top.")
Eventually, tourists will just bypass us for Anaheim. At least there, visitors can pretend to have a unique experience by visiting the California Adventures theme park.
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Her exit from a redevelopment post in West Palm Beach similar.
Thursday, July 24 -- 7:15 pm
Nancy Graham explains her resignation.
Thursday, July 24 -- 4:53 pm
In addition to auditing SEDC, the city will also look at three other city agencies.
Thursday, July 24 -- 4:47 pm
SURVIVAL IN SAN DIEGO
She's getting some deserved vacation, but will be back soon.
Wednesday, July 23 -- 4:13 pm
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Aguirre shows them who's boss.
Thursday, July 24 -- 4:18 pm
CAFÉ SAN DIEGO
Thirty years after Blackout Pete implemented his redevelopment model for San Diego, it's time for a major overhaul.
Thursday, July 24 -- 7:56 pm
COMMENTARY: SLOP
This isn't a job. It's a mission. And we're eating up every moment of it. Join us.
Wednesday, July 23 -- 3:57 pm
COMMENTARY: RICH TOSCANO
June made for another record-setting month in San Diego foreclosure activity.
Tuesday, July 22 -- 12:34 pm
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Letters may be edited for length -- we prefer they not be longer than 350 words. And they may be edited for style and libelous content.