June 14, 2012– Mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio’s scheme to tie his November campaign to yet another ‘reform’ initiative ran into a brick wall yesterday as a San Diego City Council committee voted 5-0 against referring it to the full council for a vote. DeMaio’s “Road Repair Initiative” would have required the city government to exclusively allocate any surplus revenues for the next five years towards infrastructure repairs. Councilwoman Marti Emerald asked why the city should spend monies to support an initiative that was clearly designed to support a mayoral campaign. Mayoral challenger Bob Filner appeared before the committee, calling the proposed measure “an aspiration for mediocrity.”
DeMaio plans to re-introduce the measure as part of a revised budget should he win the mayoral contest. If the City Council refuses to go along with his plan at that point he pledged to go through the initiative signature gathering process. One has to wonder if his plan for governance is simply government by initiative.
Editorials for sale? You can’t blame labor leader Lorena Gonzalez for wondering via twitter “if a large donation to Republican Party now comes w/ one UT editorial of your choosing”. Today’s missive in the daily fishwrap calls out the United Food and Commercial Workers radio advertising campaign against Chesapeake Fish Company during Padres game broadcasts on XX 1090 radio. The union is deadlocked in negotiations with the company over pay and benefits; the advertising campaign urges consumers to not buy fish at several outlets supplied byChesapeake fish.
This somehow qualifies the UT to use the right’s new favorite adjective in describing unions—yes indeed, the editorial says the ads constitute “bullying”. Funny how that word hasn’t come up in connection with the paper’s ham handed “investigations” against the Port Commission for their lack of support for publisher Doug Manchester’s grand plan for downtown redevelopment…. just saying…
It’s so bad, you just have to watch it…. while we’re picking on the paper, we may as well call attention to the pilot for UT-TV’s newest feature program, “Style with Kyle”. (UPDATE: Sadly, this post has now been ‘removed’, according to YouTube.) I thought that Manchester’s Golden Arches or UT-SD Twin Peaks might have been better names, but this probably doesn’t make sense unless you got to see the now removed video. It was a piece of work. Via twitter, CityBeat’s Kelly Davis gave us something else to chortle about: at about the 1:07 mark on this video you’ll get to hear UT TVs knowledgeable morning host ask a photographer “how much film do you use in a day?”.
Saldana’s not a quitter… Although she trails Scott Peters by 773 votes in the race for the runoff against incumbent Brian Bilbray for the 52nd Congressional seat it ain’t over ‘til it’s over. San Diego County Democratic Party Chair Jess Durfee had to walk back an earlier claim that Saldana had conceded yesterday, saying:
“Based on an incorrect headline in the UT and erroneous information from other sources, earlier this evening I issued a statement that incorrectly said that Lori Saldaña had conceded the primary election in the 52nd Congressional District.
“I fully respect the decision made by the Saldaña campaign to allow the vote count to continue before making any announcement about the outcome of the election.”
On this day…In 1777, The Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the U.S. In 1893, Philadelphia observed the first Flag Day. In 1970, The Grateful Dead released their “Workingman’s Dead” LP.
Eat Fresh! Today’s Farmer’s Markets: Carmel Valley (Canyon Crest Academy 5951 Village Center Loop Road) 3:30 – 7:00 pm, Chula Vista(Downtown, Center St. & Third Ave.) 3 –7 pm, Linda Vista (6900 Linda Vista Road Between Comstock & Ulric) 2 – 7 pm, North Park (CVSPharmacy parking lot 3151 University & 32nd St.) 3 – 7 pm, Oceanside Market & Faire (Pier View Way & Coast Hwy. 101) 9 am – 1 pm,Oceanside Sunset (Tremont & Pier View Way) 5 –9 pm, San Carlos (Pershing Middle School 8204 San Carlos Drive) 4 – 7 pm, SDSU Farmers’ Market (Campanile Walkway btw Hepner Hall & Love Library) 10 – 3 pm, University Town Center (Genesee Ave. at UTC Westfield Shopping Plaza) 3 – 7 pm.
Get a Life! The newly re-modeled Lafayette Hotel (2223 El Cajon Blvd, University Heights) continues their totally fun poolside beach party movie series with How to Stuff a Wild Bikini tonight starting at 8pm. Entry is $3 per person, $5 for couples, and free for hotel and restaurant guests.
I read the Daily Fishwrap(s) so you don’t have to… Catch “the Starting Line” Monday thru Friday right here at San Diego Free Press (dot) org. Send your hate mail and ideas to DougPorter@SanDiegoFreePress.
Doug Porter
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Just a minor bump in the road on DeMaio’s wet dream of privatizing San Diego. On the bright side, if we elect Carl DeMaio Mayor, we won’t need the City Council anymore since he apparently intends to circumvent them on everything and start a petition for all legislation……’cause, you know, it’s worked so well at the state level. It will surely save this city a helluva lot of money on salaries and benefits for the city councilmembers and their staff since we’ll no longer have to employ any of them. Good ‘ol Carl can do everything by himself, which I’m sure is the way he’d prefer it. No one to get in his way.