Have you recovered yet from the bombshell details of Todd Bosnich’s sexual harassment accusations against Carl DeMaio? Take a breath.
ICYMI, Bosnich, a former policy director on DeMaio’s congressional campaign, spoke to CNN for a report that aired Friday. He said DeMaio had masturbated in front of him, and made unwanted sexual advances toward the staffer. We had some idea of these accusations Wednesday, but not the graphic details. DeMaio aggressively denies Bosnich’s claims, says he’s been cleared by police, and expects Bosnich to be punished for a break-in to the DeMaio campaign office.
There’s a lot to process – we’re right there with you. But VOSD’s Liam Dillon highlights a few points of context you’ll want to keep in mind as the scandal unfolds. First and foremost: This isn’t a Filner rerun. Also: DeMaio has a reputation for treating his staff badly.
‘The Mother’s Milk of Politics’
This week, candidates on the Nov. 4 ballot were required to file reports with the Secretary of State about how much money they’ve raised. From this, our Sacramento reporter Brian Joseph writes, we can “get a sense of who might have a shot at higher office. A good fundraiser always has hope.”
Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins clearly smoked the other members of the San Diego delegation with nearly $2 million raised. Sen. Joel Anderson in the 38th District was next up with $745,000.
Get more of the latest San Diego news from the capitol in this week’s Sacramento Report.
San Diego Leisure’s Biggest Bully: That Pesky Drought
Hope you didn’t like golfing or apple-picking much. The ongoing drought sucking San Diego dry is taking all the fun out of those and more.
VOSD intern Michelle Monroy rounds up some of the less catastrophic, but certainly depressing impacts of the drought on leisure activities around San Diego County.
One Julian apple orchard has been reduced to aisles of pebbles and sand, Carmel Highland Golf Course has had to shift what parts it can afford to water, and though San Diego city has been safe from strict pool restrictions, other California towns have stepped them up.
What We Learned This Week
• All those —berto’s taco shops descended from four stands opened by a man named Roberto Robledo, who made a delicious name for himself in the late ’60s and ’70s.
• Federal and state government workers in San Diego are making more cash-money than they did during the recession. Not so for local government workers.
• Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute is making moves to overhaul how the U.S. cultivates seafood, and “aquacowboy” is a thing we should all strive to tack onto our résumés.
• Parking is a divisive issue always, including when it comes to how to roll out more bike infrastructure in Hillcrest.
• San Diego Unified either ran into some formatting issues or really doesn’t understand how to explain in pictures its new plan for English-learning students.
• Talking about buildings and development in San Diego doesn’t have to revolve around the jargon-y and limiting term “density.”
Quick News Hits
• The NFL is once again dangling L.A. to goad one or two teams into moving. That means big trouble for the Chargers, which get about 30 percent of their revenue from the Angeleno market. According to ESPN, Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani was adamant about not “allowing” another team to move in on the team’s territory up north: “Especially if it’s a team that has voluntarily vacated that market in the past, such as the Rams or the Raiders — that would be particularly objectionable to the Chargers.”
• Jess Durfee, chair emeritus of the San Diego County Democratic Party and member of the Democratic National Committee, sent a letter to state Attorney General Kamala Harris asking her to take over the two investigations involving DeMaio because of DA Bonnie Dumanis’ conflicts.
• Land use consultant Joe LaCava tweeted a picture of a sweet, sad, sidewalk tribute to Melissa Ratcliff, the San Diego Chamber of Commerce executive who was killed by a car in La Jolla Tuesday.
• The city settled with another victim of former SDPD Officer Anthony Arevalos. (U-T San Diego)
Quote of the Week
“We don’t have anything to add other than what we said. That’s it. [Turns to SDPD Chief Shelley Zimmerman] Let’s go.” –District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, when approached by VOSD’s Liam Dillon Thursday evening.