Total defeat to District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, as Chula Vista Coucil member Steve Castaneda is acquitted on 6 of 10 perjury charges, with the other 4 declared a mistrial. UT
Mayor Sanders appointment of former State Senator Steve Peace to the Airport Regional Policy Committee cause SANDAG chairwomen Mary Sessom to walk out in protest. UT
La Mesa police officers didn't violate department rules in the Art Madrid case back in February according to a consultant. UT
City Attorney Mike Aguirre will not sign off on city's $103 million bond sale. UT
City of Escondido, decides to pay developer additional $2 million for a Marriott hotel in downtown Escondido. UT
Showing posts with label Councilmember Steve Castaneda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Councilmember Steve Castaneda. Show all posts
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Wednesday - Quick Hits
Peace activist Cindy Sheehan to speak at CSUSM on Thursday. NCTimes
District-3 candidate John Hartley explains his arrest in campaign mailer. UT
With pay raise vote, council also increased their pensions. UT
Council decides not to hire special prosecutor to look into Sunroad Building, instead kicks the can over the the ethics commission. UT
Witnesses testified for the prosecution in the Castaneda perjury trial. UT
Sign of worsening budget crisis, school districts considering closing schools in an attempt to save money. UT
District-3 candidate John Hartley explains his arrest in campaign mailer. UT
With pay raise vote, council also increased their pensions. UT
Council decides not to hire special prosecutor to look into Sunroad Building, instead kicks the can over the the ethics commission. UT
Witnesses testified for the prosecution in the Castaneda perjury trial. UT
Sign of worsening budget crisis, school districts considering closing schools in an attempt to save money. UT
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Thursday - Quick Hits
Must be an election year, mayor Sanders moves to close controversial pension program. UT
Police officers agree to a 6% pay raise. UT
Chula Vista councilman Steve Castaneda to testify in his trial. UT
Mayor Sanders steals an idea from Steve Francis, and wants the CCDC to help pay for the bonds that built Petco Park. UT
Carlsbad Desal plant gets a conditional go-ahead from San Diego County Water Resources Board. UT
Ports seeks to fight developer sponsored ballot proposal aimed at turning 10th Ave. Terminal into a stadium. VOSD
Police officers agree to a 6% pay raise. UT
Chula Vista councilman Steve Castaneda to testify in his trial. UT
Mayor Sanders steals an idea from Steve Francis, and wants the CCDC to help pay for the bonds that built Petco Park. UT
Carlsbad Desal plant gets a conditional go-ahead from San Diego County Water Resources Board. UT
Ports seeks to fight developer sponsored ballot proposal aimed at turning 10th Ave. Terminal into a stadium. VOSD
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Wednesday - Quick Hits
City Attorney Aguirre skips last night's debate, doubtful for tonight's debate. UT
Mayor Sanders seeks council approval of $574 million in capital upgrades to the city. UT
Chula Vista councilman Steve Castaneda perjury trial begins today. UT
Sen. Ducheny's attempt to gut the California Coastal Commission fails in State Senate. UT
Councilman Scott Peters seeks to table parking meters proposal for La Jolla. UT
PUC heard testimony yesterday regarding the fire danger that Sunrise Powerlink poses. UT
Housing crisis continues as March was the worst month yet for home sales in county. NCTimes
Mayor Sanders seeks council approval of $574 million in capital upgrades to the city. UT
Chula Vista councilman Steve Castaneda perjury trial begins today. UT
Sen. Ducheny's attempt to gut the California Coastal Commission fails in State Senate. UT
Councilman Scott Peters seeks to table parking meters proposal for La Jolla. UT
PUC heard testimony yesterday regarding the fire danger that Sunrise Powerlink poses. UT
Housing crisis continues as March was the worst month yet for home sales in county. NCTimes
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Thursday - Quick Hits
Coastal Commission makes the right decision, votes against proposed toll road. UT NCTimes
Sucks being to be disenfranchised, Republicans complain they didn't recieve the proper ballots to vote. UT NCTimes
Non-lethal grenades and rocket launcher tubes stolen from Marine base. UT
Despite being indicted, Steve Castaneda will seek re-election to Chula Vista city council. UT
Filing period begins for San Diego city candidates. UT
Sucks being to be disenfranchised, Republicans complain they didn't recieve the proper ballots to vote. UT NCTimes
Non-lethal grenades and rocket launcher tubes stolen from Marine base. UT
Despite being indicted, Steve Castaneda will seek re-election to Chula Vista city council. UT
Filing period begins for San Diego city candidates. UT
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Chula Vista Budget Deficit Part II
Okay, the City Council had two "workshops" to talk about the $8.4 million budget shortfall. Oh, wait it went up another $800,000 last week, so make that a $9.2 million shortfall.
It seems there was a plan from the start to lay-off people and open union contracts, then really find possible waste, duplication of services, non-priority projects, obsolete programs or cuts to unneeded spending in addressing the budget shortfall.
If you disagree, then look at what recently happen:
The Council put on two "workshops" and I use the term workshop very lightly. The public had very little comment, was never provided much information (just look at the City's website), not all the department directors placed realistic cost savings on the chopping block and most of the deep cuts were coming from bodies. There was not one request to delay a single improvement project for 6 months to close the shortfall and no large budget item was proposed in cuts, except in laying off people. Interesting, the business community made no stink of any cuts, except for the City not cutting its party planner???
During the middle of the last "workshop" the Council had voted to eliminate almost enough spending to address the shortfall and could have gone a little further to not lay-off real people. However, the NEW city manager jumped from his chair, like someone lite a match under his foot, to ask the Council to stop anymore from talks of more budget cuts. Here comes the best part - Deputy Mayor Jerry Rindone asked to continue with cuts, but Mayor Cheryl Cox asked for a recess. During the recess the Mayor and Deputy Mayor huddles. Coming back from the recess, both Councilmembers Rudy Ramirez and Steve Castaneda voted to continue, but strangely Deputy Mayor Rindone voted with the Mayor not to continue on with the workshop. Remember, these workshops were only to help the Council learn more about the cuts and not to make the cuts. I guess Deputy Mayor Rindone wasn't given the whole playbook from the start.
Lastly, it seems to me the only councilmembers to get what is going on and asked questions of the city managers were Rudy Ramirez and Steve Castaneda.
I think the City and the City Council needs to step back, address this shortfall and include everyone in the process having an open mind and without a playbook.
It seems there was a plan from the start to lay-off people and open union contracts, then really find possible waste, duplication of services, non-priority projects, obsolete programs or cuts to unneeded spending in addressing the budget shortfall.
If you disagree, then look at what recently happen:
The Council put on two "workshops" and I use the term workshop very lightly. The public had very little comment, was never provided much information (just look at the City's website), not all the department directors placed realistic cost savings on the chopping block and most of the deep cuts were coming from bodies. There was not one request to delay a single improvement project for 6 months to close the shortfall and no large budget item was proposed in cuts, except in laying off people. Interesting, the business community made no stink of any cuts, except for the City not cutting its party planner???
During the middle of the last "workshop" the Council had voted to eliminate almost enough spending to address the shortfall and could have gone a little further to not lay-off real people. However, the NEW city manager jumped from his chair, like someone lite a match under his foot, to ask the Council to stop anymore from talks of more budget cuts. Here comes the best part - Deputy Mayor Jerry Rindone asked to continue with cuts, but Mayor Cheryl Cox asked for a recess. During the recess the Mayor and Deputy Mayor huddles. Coming back from the recess, both Councilmembers Rudy Ramirez and Steve Castaneda voted to continue, but strangely Deputy Mayor Rindone voted with the Mayor not to continue on with the workshop. Remember, these workshops were only to help the Council learn more about the cuts and not to make the cuts. I guess Deputy Mayor Rindone wasn't given the whole playbook from the start.
Lastly, it seems to me the only councilmembers to get what is going on and asked questions of the city managers were Rudy Ramirez and Steve Castaneda.
I think the City and the City Council needs to step back, address this shortfall and include everyone in the process having an open mind and without a playbook.
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