South Bayster

Chula Vista Councilman Castaneda Joins Democrat Party

By South Bayster | 08/14/08

As reported over and over in Red County San Diego, embattled Republican Chula Vista Councilman Steve Castaneda has been considering a change of partisan affiliation for some time. Most local people thought he would probably become a "Decline to State" sometime over the summer and run as independent. Not so. Recently Castaneda re-registered as a Democrat. Castaneda is being challanged for his council seat by local realtor Republican Scott Vinson.... read more »

Open Government, Anyone?

By South Bayster | 07/26/08

This morning's Union-Tribune carried an article "Cox Surprises Council With Alternative Tax Proposal" about a Chula Vista that was worth reading. In short, some members of the council and staff want to raise our taxes. Instead, how about we reduce their salaries and pensions? read more »

Reporter of the Summer: Will Carless of the Voice of San Diego

By South Bayster | 07/19/08

If you pay taxes and you have not been reading Will Carless' (Voice of San Diego) ongoing articles on happenings at the Southeastern Economic Development Corp (SEDC), then you need to. A brief summary with some links:   From re-reading his more recent articles Carless appears to have started looking at the SEDC over the topic of the Valencia Business Park, a questionable land deal they approved, which he details in an insightful... read more »

Chula Vista Election Review

By South Bayster | 06/10/08

With almost all the votes counted, I thought I'd take a minute to review what happened in Chula Vista's elections.   Proposition E, which would have limited the height of buildings, failed narrowly 51.4% to 48.%. This was an important test of political strength between Mayor Cox and local property owner Earl Jentz, who was pushing the measure, and another measure to make the City Attorney an elected rather than appointed position. Cox came... read more »

Castaneda v. Vinson gets R-O-U-G-H

By South Bayster | 05/30/08

I've been active in Chula Vista for quite some time, but I've never seen anything like what has been unloaded on embattled Councilman Steve Castaneda over the last few days. With nothing from Steve coming to me, I've been bombarded by at least five different mailers from the start of the week taking a bite out of him. I believe three of the mailers came from the San Diego Lincoln Club, focused on his record in office and his recent legal... read more »

Unions on the Move in Chula Vista Elections

By South Bayster | 05/27/08

UNITE HERE, a radical union based in New York City made up largely of latino janitors, is spending big bucks in the Chula Vista City Council races. We are talking $50,000. They already mailed on Spanish language mailer (below) and it looks like from the disclosures (forwarded to MIGHTY THOR) that they are out walking with flyers. They are supporting the pro-union and anti-Cox team of Steve Castaneda and Pam Bensousann. Remember those big... read more »

Chula Vista Mail

By South Bayster | 05/10/08

Four pieces of mail, at least, in Chula Vista over the last day or two. I'll send them over to Mighty Thor to post. 2 from Republican Russ Hall, 1 from Republican Scott Vinson, 1 from Democrat Pam Bensoussan there may also have been something from or against Prop E. read more »

Slate Card Hits Chula Vista

By South Bayster | 05/08/08

The California Voter Guide hit Chula Vista today Yes on candidates Scott Vinson and Russ Hall, Yes on Proposition E. read more »

"Let There Be Signs"

By South Bayster | 05/02/08

I had to run an errand Thursday evening up in one of the neighborhoods in Navajo, in the 7th San Diego City Council district. The number of April Boling signs in that area is breathtaking. I'm not talking about signs pasted to public areas like lamp-posts or right of ways, which are annoying. I'm talking about yard signs. I was off the College Road for maybe a mile through the other streets (I don't go to this area very often so I'm not exactly... read more »

Chula Vista Councilman Castaneda: Mostly Not Guilty

By South Bayster | 04/23/08

The jury is back. Chula Vista Councilman Steve Castenada is not guilty on six counts, with a hung jury on four counts. So will he be retried? Somehow I doubt it. read more »