Convention-center expansion? Love it! How will we pay for it? Um, well, gosh. Here are some ideas. Knock yourself out!
That’s the message from the mayor’s task force on the proposed convention-center expansion, which yesterday voted 15-1 to approve a draft report that advises San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders to finish plans, raise money and build the expansion.
It doesn’t, however, tell him how to find the funds.
The one nay came from a panel member who can’t see “how anyone could support or oppose something without understanding the financing.”
- So who’s going to solve the money problem? Our ever-unimpressed columnist Scott Lewis has an idea: Another task force!
- Airport authority officials are considering tighter restrictions to prevent abuses of expense accounts, but — whoa there! — the authority chairman doesn’t want to “capitulate necessarily on everything that’s been brought up in various media.”
Our ears are burning. Last month, we revealed that airport authority officials weren’t following their rules regarding travel expenses and racked up huge charges on the public’s dime.
The authority paid $11,000 to send two board members to London in business class, boosting their fares from $950 each.
- Quick question: What kind of business is a place that sells medical marijuana?
Maybe it’s a pharmacy. A doctor’s office, perhaps? Or is it akin to a liquor store, tattoo parlor or strip joint?
The city is stopping the clock to figure this out. For the time being, no more medical pot shops will be allowed.
- We explain how a costly vehicular miscalculation led to our discovery of the tiny South Bay neighborhood of Lincoln Park, which we profiled this week. At least the series of events — which involved my car — wasn’t entirely unfortunate.
By the way, if the cemetery mentioned in the story sounds familiar, it may be because we visited it last spring.
- We’ve got more reader reports of local homes being flipped.
A couple of Rancho Bernardo houses have apparently each gained more than $150,000 in value over just 2-3 months this year.
In a word: Wow! Who are these fabulous flippers? We’ll have what they’re having.
- We check out a USA Today story that warns tourists about four local hospitals that have high death rates for some conditions. If you don’t want Aunt Phyllis to visit from Cleveland this year, maybe forward this along.
- Do you think there should be more public transit in your area? Where should the trolley go next?
One of our reporters is looking for story ideas about transportation and would like to hear from you. (Personally, I’m in favor of publicly funded hovercraft.)
- Elsewhere, the NCT reports that there are new restrictions on searches of computers, cell phones and digital cameras when people cross the border. But the ACLU says the rules don’t go far enough.
Finally, the trade journal Security Director News — yeah, who knew? — reports in a story from San Diego that security cameras are keeping an eye on chefs as they cook and servers as they serve at Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza locations.
In the kitchen, the chain uses its video-surveillance system to “monitor food preparation to make sure chefs are following protocol and maintaining food safety standards.” And on the floor, the cameras help resolve customer complaints.
Video surveillance of people working? Our bosses better not get any bright ideas.