Tuesday - Quicks Hits

Mayor Sanders trying desperately to cover his rear in Blackwater fiasco. UT


Steve Francis nets Sierra Club and union endorsement. UT


Humanitarian group claims Enrique Morales is wrongly taking credit for their work. UT


Supervisor Bill Horn and environmentalists seek Federal help in purchasing Rancho Guejito. NCTimes

Federal agency rolls over and says proposed toll road won't cause any wildlife extinctions. NCTimes

Monday - Quick Hits

Pipe bomb damages Federal Courthouse early Sunday morning. UT

Southbay toll road is meeting its expectations since opening. UT

County Board of Supervisors set to debate the leasing of three firefighting aircraft tomorrow. Debate more lead to broader firefighting policy? UT

City of Carlsbad to consider a smoking ban at all city parks and beaches. NCTimes

Friday - Quick Hits

Tri-city Hospital workers agree to unionize. NCTimes

I wonder if Carl DeMaio with be attending? Sanders praised as he give opening remarks at national Log Cabin Republicans meeting here in San Diego. UT

Will council vote to cut off legal fees for ex-city officials? UT

Coastal Commission gave approval for redevelopment of Imperial Beach hotel. UT

State commission approves spending $400 million on transit project in the Otay/ San Ysidro border crossing region. UT

Toll road agency mislead Feds regarding Army Corps of Engineers support of project. UT

Friday - Quick Hits

Supporters of Toll Road plan to appeal Coastal Commission decision to Federal Government. UT

Mayor want airport authority to take a look at John Moores reconfiguration plans for Lindbergh Field. UT

Danger Will Robinson! Engineer's report claims that Lake Wohlford Dam could liquefy during a major earthquake. UT

Local conservatives are beside themselves after Romney leaves presidential race. UT

State threatens Mira Costa College with accreditation if the board of trustees don't get their act together. UT

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

Don't Forget Trestles!

With all of the excitement surrounding tomorrow's presidential primary here in California. I wanted to remind people that a public meeting regarding the toll road through San Onofre State Park is scheduled for Wednesday.

The California Coastal Commission will be holding a public hearing regarding the application for the proposed 241 Foothills South tollway extension.

Date: Wednesday, February 6th
Time: 9:00 am
Location: Wyland Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
Del Mar, CA 92014

Friday - Quick Hits

Mingei Museum in Balboa Park one of five museums in California targeted by FBI regarding stolen artifacts. UT

Chula Vista and PUC clash over bay front power plant. UT

Nanny State at work, Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges to ban smoking on campuses. UT

The UT give too much space to crazy anti-tax activist in Rancho Penasquitos. UT

Next month's Coastal Commission meeting on toll road move to Del Mar Fairgrounds to accommodate anticipated high attendance for meeting. NCTimes

Schwarzenegger Says: Toll Road Good for the Environment

Today, Governor Schwarzenegger has decided to end his neutral stance regarding the controversial Foothills South tollway project. In a letter to the Coastal Commission the governor states, "I have concluded that this project is essential to protect our environment and the quality of life for everyone in California,." he further claims, "[t]he project can be built in a manner that will enhance and foster use of the coast and protect coastal resources."[Link]

Schwarzenegger's position regarding the protection of San Onofre State Beach should come as no surprise here. It was just last week the governor proposed closing 48 state parks as part of his plan to balance the state budget.[Link] This governor like to talk about the environment, but it actually comes to action his ring hollow.

Cross-posted at Calitics

Thursday - Quick Hits

The pro-toll road Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency, fired back a response to the California Coastal Commission Report regarding the environmental impact of the proposed project. NC Times

Federal Prosecutors in City Pension case seek removal of presiding judge over violations of the Political Reform Act over 10 years ago. UT

California Regional Water Quality Board has requested NCTD to present plan to show how it will deal with pollution runoff pertaining to Sprinter rail line. UT

Chargers want Chula Vista consent before they move forward with a team-funded study on how the new stadium will be paid for. UT

Santee expected to see huge changes in Fanita Ranch development takes place. UT

Ordinance to restrict mini-dorms advances for City Council. UT

Supporters of OC Toll Road Dealt Major Blow

Congresswoman Susan Davis, has inserted a "rider" in the upcoming defense authorization bill. The rider "would require the Foothill/South Toll Road project to adhere to state environmental laws."[Link] This requirement would mean that the project would have to obtain a permit from the state Coastal Commission. In September, the commission issued a report that recommended the project be denied a permit.[Link]

Davis' rider has passed the last of the procedural hurdles and is now part of the full defense authorization bill that is head to the full House for consideration probably next week. The rider effectively reverses another rider from 2000 "by three Republican Congressmen – Duncan Hunter, Darrell Issa and Ken Calvert – who used the same mechanism to specifically exempt the toll road project from state and federal environmental laws."[Link]

Props go out to the Congresswoman for taking this important step in trying to save Trestles.

Tuesday - Quick Hits

City Council passes one ordinance directed at "Mini-dorms" but doesn't pass a second ordinance aimed at limiting the number of tenants. UT

Gentrification of roadway deemed a success after first day being open. UT

As the only major city in California that doesn't charge single family residences for garbage and recycling pickup, city faces revenue short fall as it implements new recycling ordinances. UT

The I.R.S. may have some money for you. UT

Severe water shortages loom on the horizon. NCTimes

Goal-setting divides school board. VOSD

Another Blow to The Proposed O.C. Toll Roll

The onslaught of bad news for the proposed 241 toll road extension through San Onofre State Park continues. This afternoon the California Parks Foundation released a poll they commissioned of Orange County residents. According to the findings from the poll, a majority of O.C. residents favor toll roads, however, 66% of them don't favor the construction of the toll road extension across San Onofre State Park.[Link] This news comes just days after the release of a report from the California Coastal Commission claiming that the proposed toll road "would cause widespread violations of state environmental laws by threatening endangered species, marring natural resources and compromising recreational opportunities." [Link] It will be interesting to see what new P.R. attempts the advocates of the toll road try now.

Cross posted to Calitics

No to the Toll Road

The San Diego City Council voted 6-2 to oppose the toll road proposed through San Onofre State Park. Councilmembers Scott Peters, Kevin Faulconer, Toni Atkins, Tony Young, Brian Maienschein and Donna Frye voted for the resolution. Ben Hueso said he only voted against endorsing the council's resolution so that he didn't taint his position prior to voting at the Coastal Commission. Pretty good actions by our Councilmembers lately - and signs that San Diego is moving to the left-center where it belongs.