Month: December 2012

by Mark Gabrish Conlan / Zenger’s Newsmagazine

First, the good news: the United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear the constitutional challenge to Proposition 8, the voter-approved initiative that abruptly stopped California’s four and one-half month experience of marriage equality in November 2008.

Now, the bad news: the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the constitutional challenge to Proposition 8.

By Blake Bunch / IVN San Diego / Dec. 20, 2012

The recent spike in domestic surveillance could represent an increase of police force “militarization” to some, an argument which is primarily defended through public safety measures. In San Diego, CA, the County Sheriff Department’s interest in a Scout unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has remained shrouded from public knowledge.

By Miriam Raftery / East County Mag / December 20, 2012

In a unanimous decision, the California Public Uitlities Commission (CPUC) denied SDG&E and Southern Califiornia Gas Company’s proposed plan which had sought to charge ratepayers for its uninsured liability costs for wildfires caused by the utility’s lines, both for future fires and the 2007 firestorms that ravaged San Diego County. (Go inside for link to the formal decision.)

IROC recommends hold on San Diego water rate increases

It’s true, the oversight committee on San Diego’s water rates recommends no increases in rates either water or sewer until their own study is completed. The committee is currently conducting a cost of service study including a “review of the revenue, expenditures, and sales volume assumptions underlying the study.”

George Janczyn, over at GrokSurf’s San Diego, has conveniently provided us a link to a copy of their report,

Former Congressman out of prison after 8 years

By Greg Moran / Enron by the Sea

Former Republican Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who has been in federal prison since admitting to taking bribes, has been transferred to a halfway house in New Orleans for the final few months of his prison term.

Cunningham, 71, was transferred from the federal prison in Tucson, Ariz., on Dec. 5, according to Edmond Ross, a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

America cannot truly address gun violence unless it is prepared to address the root causes of gun violence.

by Nadin Abbott / San Diego Free Press

Since the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Connecticut, we have had many discussions on the sources of gun violence in our country. We were all shocked.

Receipt of Give-Aways by Other firms in San Diego Prove We’re No Exception

By John Lawrence / San Diego Free Press

States, counties and cities are in a race to the bottom because they are giving away taxpayer dollars to provide incentives for corporations to locate withing their boundaries. There’s a fierce competition going on and corporations are playing one region off against another.

By David Helvarg / Blue Notes / December 17, 2012

We just had an election in which the public seemed to see the need for larger changes in society. And of course changes of any kind tend to come in waves. Along with the emergence of a new demographic profile of the U.S. electorate we saw people in a number of states voting for Gay marriage equality, legalized use of marijuana and in California, a tax increase to help save public education.

Finding it a little tough to feel warm and chirpy about the birth of the baby Jesus?

By Valerie Tarico / AlterNet

After an autumn of Bible-based gay bashing, and Religious Right candidates with “rape Tourette’s,” and End Times aficionados gunning for Armageddon rather than peace in the Middle East, some nontheists may be finding it a little tough to feel warm and chirpy about the birth of the baby Jesus.

Lots going on this Christmas season on ol’ Newport Avenue, the main street of the Ocean Beach village. We do an occasional newsy review of the comings and goings among the shops, stores, and merchants on the avenue, so here then, is our latest Newport News from Tuesday, December 18th.

Christmas Tree Lights Need A-Fixin’

Mike Colpo, a volunteer with the OB Town Council, and chief OB Christmas Tree decorator, was having troubles with the lights on Tuesday.

Police Trailer Application for Permanent Placement in OB Pier Parking Lot on Agenda

Here is the official agenda for the Ocean Beach Planning Board’s Project Review Committee, for Wednesday, December 19th.

On the agenda are two important items, the Sprint Wireless antennae upgrade and renewal at the Masonic Lodge at 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, and the application for a coastal permit to allow the San Diego police trailer to permanently remain in the OB Pier Parking lot.

Both issues have been contentious ones in the past.

Did you ever wonder what ever happened to OB Rag blogger Anna Daniels? Anna had been writing for us since early 2009, and as a feminist and San Diego civic activist for years, she has graced our publication with her thoughts and razor sharp insights on the workings (or non-workings) of local government, especially libraries and infrastructure.

Well, Anna moved over to the San Diego Free Press …