A breakdown of California’s Big 5 budget agreement

This story was reported for San Diego News Network on July 21, 2009. Part of California’s golden plan to close the state’s $25.3 billion budget deficit includes dipping into the reserve, taking money from three sectors of local government, cuts to education and health care, an oil drilling plan and shoving debt off until next year. And that’s just the… Read more →

California controller addresses budget crisis in San Diego

This story was reported for San Diego News Network on July 17, 2009. California Controller John Chiang visited San Diego Friday, the 16th day of the state’s budget impasse. Chiang, who initially urged state leaders to worked as quickly as possible to reach an agreement, spoke at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s “Good Government” series, highlighting the state’s… Read more →

Stand Down event for homeless veterans begins anew

This story was reported for San Diego News Network on July 15, 2009. Jobless with an addiction to meth and no where to go, Sandy Borum found herself on the streets of San Diego. A Catholic school graduate, she served in the Air Force for four years after the Vietnam War. Years after being honorably discharged though, she found herself… Read more →

Jack’s La Jolla is an out-of-the-box establishment

This story was reported for San Diego News Network on July 10, 2009. Some restaurants stick to one theme: Italian, Japanese and what not. Some lounges become the spot for after-work hours, the perfect date fix or the cheap drinks joint. Some nightclubs stick to the same philosophy — one DJ, spinning records with one type of beat. But at… Read more →

California Budget Crisis Diaries: Day Nine of the budget impasse

This story was reported for San Diego News Network on July 10, 2009. Legislators will spend yet another weekend at their chambers squabbling over how to balance the California budget. Since Day Seven, a former MIA assemblymember is back, IOUs are seeing (possibly) their last day of redemption, a couple of long-established battles have gotten hotter, California is transforming into… Read more →