The Morning Report
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We’re trying out something new: A look at some of the stories VOSD staffers (and hopefully soon, readers) are reading.
Why? We’re all busy people but it’d be a shame to let intriguing stories about our region — or related to the issues we care about as a community — slip past us. So think of this like a mix tape of interesting reads.
Here’s what we’ve been perusing recently:
• Andrew Donohue, editor, on “The Man Who Owns L.A.“:
Ever since reading a 2006 profile of (A.E.G chairman Philip) Anschutz, he’s fascinated me because of his personal anonymity, his wide influence on a town that he doesn’t even call home and the possibility that he could be the one that lures the Chargers to LA.
(You can read that Los Angeles Times profile here.)
• Rob Davis, senior writer, on “Sweetwater withholds report on P.R. bills“:
I read and re-read this story while reporting my recent story on Sweetwater schools. It’s the type of public records issue that often gets covered up without the type of attention the U-T San Diego reporter is giving it.
• Liam Dillon, City Hall reporter, who tweeted about “San Jose council moves to end its pensions“:
San Jose pension reform continues. Council members look to eliminate politician pension plan. vosd.org/Acko2B
— Liam Dillon (@dillonliam) January 25, 2012
More from Dillon: “Context is that SJ continues to make steps toward what appears to be major pension reforms.”
• Sandy Coronilla, investigative intern, on “The Caging of America“:
Since taking my first sociology course about crime last semester, I’ve been fascinated by its evolution in our country over the past century. State funding on prisons has risen at six times the rate of spending on higher education. According to the Pew Center on the States, California, which has the nation’s largest corrections system, spent more than $8.8 billion on corrections in 2008. These stats have implications not only on the criminal justice system but also on local politics and education. An example: Last Friday Will (Carless) and I were in court for the sentencing of former Southeastern Economic Development Corp. president Carolyn Y. Smith. Judge Allard pointed out that part of his reasoning behind not sentencing Smith to prison time was due to the recent Supreme Court decision to decrease prison population. California is accomplishing this by releasing prisoners to probation officer’s oversight (the judge’s choice for Smith) or moving them to county jails.
• Me, on “The Missionary“:
This New Yorker piece on chef Javier Plascencia in Tijuana involves two things that intrigue me: a city trying to change its reputation and a growing food scene.
Readers, how about you? What’re you reading about San Diego or issues that matter to this community? Send me your links and a line about why you bothered to read/recommend it and I’ll feature some in my next post.
Dagny Salas is the web editor at voiceofsandiego.org. You can contact her directly at dagny.salas@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.550.5669.
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