Month: March 2024

James Soriano is accused of taking bribes from two defense contractors

Here’s 2 Sources:

From US Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California

A former civilian employee of San Diego-based Naval Information Warfare Center and a former executive with a South Carolina defense contractor were charged in an indictment unsealed today with participating in a bribery scheme to trade expensive meals, jobs and a ticket to a premiere sporting event for help obtaining more than $100 million in government contracts.

From SOHO March-April 2024 Newsletter

Preservation isn’t just a coat of paint or a nostalgic sentiment; it’s the very fabric of our city’s identity. At SOHO, we know firsthand the immense value historic preservation brings to San Diego.

The benefits of preservation are manifold, spanning aesthetics, culture, society, education, and economics. Despite SOHO’s relentless advocacy and educational endeavors, historic preservation is clearly under siege in our city.

Often, the critics are well-intentioned but misguided community activists, who erroneously argue without substance that preservation fuels gentrification and racism and impedes necessary new housing and urban density. Their arguments lack in-depth research to stand against the facts.

A man was arrested Sunday night [March 10] after he was seen scaling the locked gates to walk along the length of the Ocean Beach Pier’s railings.

Around 6:45 p.m., officers were flagged down by beachgoers near the pier who spotted the man climbing the pier’s fence, San Diego police said. Officers gained access to the pier with the help of lifeguards and took him into custody without incident.

The man was seen walking along the pier’s railing and appeared to be well-balanced. OB-related photog Jim Grant took some amazing pics of the incident.

By Eva Knott / San Diego Reader / March 5, 2024

San Francisco attorney Curtis Briggs asked for the names of all policemen who were embedded in the Antifa mob during an assault in San Diego on January 9, 2021.

The demand was heard Friday, March 1, by Judge Daniel Goldstein. This judge, who will hear the trial, was hearing motions before jury selection, which is expected to begin in two weeks.

Three alleged Antifa rioters have pled not-guilty to multiple felonies: Brian Cortez Lightfoot Jr., 27, Luis Francisco Mora, 32, and Jeremy Jonathan White, 41. Eleven people were originally charged, eight already made plea deals, and of those eight, two were sentenced to state prison. Erich Yach, now 40, was the first one to make a deal and could be released from prison as early as April 1, 2024, according to a prison spokesperson. Jesse Cannon was sentenced to five years state prison last month, but so far remains in local custody.

By Colleen O’Connor

Disappointed in the Oscars?  Unhappy your football team lost the Super Bowl. Or that your candidates lost in the primary.  You are not alone.

Americans are overwhelmingly unhappy.

Why?  Let me count the ways.  Maybe count just the first among the heap of reasons.

The majority of voters do not want what is coming, in the 2.0 Presidential rematch of Biden v. Trump with the cruelty, debased language, hallow promises and dumb-downed promises that are mostly head fakes.

No trust of either candidate.

A new ABC News/Ipsos poll finds 36% of Americans trust Donald Trump to do a better job leading the country as president, while 33% trust Joe Biden and 30% trust neither.

Over half are appalled by the death and destruction in the Israel/Hamas war. And want a permanent “cease fire.”

By Marta Vidal / Washington Post / February 5, 2024

CORUCHE, Portugal — The rhythmic noise of axes whacking trees echoes in the depths of the cork oak forest. But in Coruche, a rural area south of the Tagus River known as Portugal’s “cork capital,” the bang of trees falling to the ground doesn’t follow the sound of the ax strokes. Instead, experienced workers carefully peel away the bark from the tree trunks.

This annual rite of extracting cork in the summer months has been around for thousands of years in the western Mediterranean. Egyptians, Persians, Greeks and Romans used the material to make fishing gear and sandals and to seal jugs, jars and barrels. As glass bottles gained popularity in the 18th century, cork became the preferred sealant because it is durable, waterproof, light and pliable.

By Geoff Page

The Ocean Beach Planning Board wants to see some serious changes to the very flawed Short Term Residential Occupancy, or STVRO, ordinance. To that end, the OBPB, in conjunction with other beach areas suffering under this hastily crafted and poorly thought-out law, will send a letter with recommendations for changes to the City.

The OBPB discussed and approved the letter at the OBPB’s regularly monthly meeting, Tuesday, March 5 at the OB Rec Center. The OBPB recently changed its meeting day from the first Wednesday of each month to the first Tuesday instead. The board changed the night to avoid parking problems on Wednesday’s the Farmer’s Market crowd.

Kevin Hastings, OBPB vice-chair is leading the effort. Hastings probably knows more about the subject than anyone else. Hastings gave a presentation that contained history, information, and recommendations.

It’s been nearly a week since San Diego voted in the California Primary and here, in brief, are some of the changes or noteworthy developments from our last report:

Mayor — No Substantial Change

The newest results show Gloria has come down a percentage point, as has Larry Turner to 23.3%, and Genevieve Jones-Wright has notched up a point and half. With the suit challenging Turner’s residency qualifications dismissed, and only 54,000 ballots to be yet tallied, it will be Turner, the “Protest” candidate against Gloria, the incumbent mayor who barely got half the Primary votes.

Gloria’s poor showing could really make him vulnerable come the fall battle, especially if everybody who doesn’t like Gloria rallies around Turner, who then becomes the “anti-Gloria” candidate. That could be a tall order

SOHO / March-April 2024 Newsletter

San Diego is at serious risk of losing the irreplaceable authenticity, architectural evolution, and unique character embodied in our historic homes, neighborhoods, heritage sites, and cultural landscapes.

Not only is the City of San Diego starting to overhaul its Heritage Preservation Program, with some officials fallaciously assuming that preservation curtails affordable housing creation, City officials are also acting on these important issues without a clear economic picture to guide them.

Editordude: I voted for Katie Porter on Tuesday but now I’m pissed off at her for falsely claiming California’s Senate primary was “rigged” – echoing Trump’s election denials and bogus claims of “rigged elections.”

Here’s Jeremy B. White, reporter for Politico, late yesterday:

A lawsuit challenging San Diego mayoral candidate and second-place winner Larry Turner’s residential status in the city may be dropped as soon as today, March 8, Friday.

A lawsuit filed in February by Helen VanDiver against the City of San Diego, the City Clerk, and the County Registrar of Voters alleged Turner did not meet residential requirements to run for mayor of San Diego.

The Peninsula Community Planning Board (PCPB) will be holding elections this month – March 2024 — to fill seven (7) vacancies. Five (5) seats have 3 year terms and Two (2) seats are One (1) year partial terms. 3 year seats go to the 5 candidates with the most votes.

The election will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 4:00pm – 8:00pm, at the Point Loma / Hervey Branch Library located at 3701 Voltaire Street, San Diego, CA 92107.