Comments so far on this story:

1. La Playa Heritage wrote on May 5, 2008 7:17 AM:
"The campaign mailer for Scott Peter was NOT "Just a Thank You." The mailer shows all_the Democrats on the City Council, and implies that both Donna Frye and Tony Young have endorsed Scott Peters for City Attorney. Scott Peters' tried to get rid of the 30 foot Coastal Height Limit; let deviations from Environmentally Sensitive Land (ESL) regulations for Coastal Bluffs, Steep Slopes, and Wetlands, be used as incentives for Density Bonus; championed a_bridge through Rose_Canyon; tried to_get paid parking in La_Jolla for his buddies; opposed the placement of a rope barrier for the seals at Children's Beach during the puppy season, etc. Thank you Donna for clearing up_the false information on the flyer. Shame on the Labor Council for printing a deceptive mailer. This type of deception would never happen under the leadership of Jerry Butkiewicz. FYI, Progressive San Diego has endorse Mike Aguirre for City Attorney link"

2. Fred_Williams wrote on May 5, 2008 7:47 AM:
"What a load of MANURE! Lorena, you know better. It is an election advertisement for "Million Gallon Man" Peters where you unethically usurped the good name of Donna Frye. Everyone knows Peters has blocked good government, and far from being an environmentalist has wasted more fresh water than just about anyone else in town. Your fear is that just maybe Aguirre can prevail and get us out of the pension mess Peters perpetrated and protects. You stole Donna Frye's name. That's not a thank you, it's a slap in the face."

3. clp wrote on May 5, 2008 7:49 AM:
"I supported Lorena Gonzalez's District 2 candidacy in the last election and take her at her word re her intentions for the mailer. My immediate reaction was to ask to be taken off the mailing list. The mailer appeared to be intended to enhance his candidacy by promoting Scott Peters' "leadership" on the Council using photos, font size and even golden tones for Peters' name. It also implied to other mailer recipients besides Donna, that a united front of Council Democrats supports Peters. I think the golden tones proclaiming "Peters" got to me as much as the contradictions so clearly laid out by La Playa in the first comment. I am very concerned that a single-minded Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! obscession governing Labor Council positions will split the Progressive community, and undermine the credibility of the Council, Lorena Gonzalez and Evan McLaughlin."

4. Simon wrote on May 5, 2008 7:52 AM:
"La Playa Heritage: "Progressive San Diego has endorse Mike Aguirre for City Attorney" I consider myself liberal/progressive, maybe even more so. But this endorsement may be the symbol for why San Diego has no real functional progressive community. In fact progressives are so upside down here, that if a rally were called everyone would show up in a different place and at the end of the day they would congratulate each other for showing up at all."

5. Sparky wrote on May 5, 2008 8:02 AM:
"How could a group call themselves "Progressive" when they boast of endorsing Mike Aguirre? I'm a Republican (more RINO actually) but must thank the Labor Council for their efforts and for clearing up the intent of the mailer. I read it yesterday and did not feel it was slanted the way some have taken it. Progressive San Diego needs a blast of Vick's vapor rub to clear their heads."

6. Jack Griffiths wrote on May 5, 2008 8:07 AM:
"Let's take a moment and back up from the Blackboard and act as non-partisan clinicians. The mailer looks more to be,from this perspective,a call for PARTY UNITY based upon the things the Dems on the Council do correctly when they act together in the public's interest,such as,the General Plan update.Insofar as both Peters and Gonzalez are well reputed environmental attorneys with well documented positive histories in those multi-facited disciplines one may find the criticism of each to be politically motivated,especially when the critical posts are anonymous rants from polarized sources. McLaughlin's reputation as a high caliber journalist preceeded his appointment to the Labor Council and it seems unlikely that he's suffered any loss in judgement since.Certainly this mailer is a healthy departure from the constant rumors of a Labor Council-Francis alliance which would compel one to suggest that the Board of the Labor Council get literary and review Faust."

7. Peters' Leverage Factor wrote on May 5, 2008 9:18 AM:
"Peters is NOT a progressive anything, except maybe a progressively bad liar and politician. He thanks no one except those who boost his leveraging power within Sanders' government."

8. Al Davis wrote on May 5, 2008 9:27 AM:
"Oh c'mon La Playa. Does the mailer say anything about Scott Peters running for City Attorney? Didnt think so. Lorena: You are doing a great job...keep it up!"

9. Andy Berg wrote on May 5, 2008 9:51 AM:
"The role of City Attorney is to prosecute misdemeanors and provide dispassionate legal advice to the Mayor, City Council and City staff. There should be no place in the City Attorney's office for partisan politics and no reason for any partisan organization or political party to make an endorsement for City Attorney. I would certainly think twice about voting for any City Attorney candidate who is touting a partisan endorsement as if that somehow bolsters their credentials. Do we really want the fairness of our legal system dependent on whether the Labor Council can run a better campaign than the Lincoln Club?"

10. Edgar wrote on May 5, 2008 10:50 AM:
"Sparky, why don't you just make it official and say goodbye to the Republican Party? We really don't want people who associate with us in name only. It gums up the records and plays havoc with that little detail -- the truth. I realize liberals don't put much stock in the truth, but the rest of us prize it dearly."

11. Jack Griffiths wrote on May 5, 2008 11:11 AM:
"Here are again attacking posters without a hint of addressing the issues.Obviously they haven't seen the mailer. As to true republicanism? It is based upon an integrity and independence of an individual's thought not the lock step dogma of class hatred.Goldwater Republicanism would fit well with both Berg and Sparky's comments.Wasn't it Nixonian republicanism that courted the Teamsters? It's important to remember that the Labor Council's constituency is made up of a healthy conserative-minded minority,who also come under scurilous and unwarranted attack in these polarizing,mindless, rants.With these knuckleheads of class warfare truth is,indeed,the first casualty and ?empirical-objective criteria?..as inconvienient as Hell itself.They represent nothing but extreme FOX-noise and little else.Internet Pollution at best."

12. Rock On wrote on May 5, 2008 11:35 AM:
"La Playa, your link to Aguirre's campaign site had nothing to say about ANY endorsement, including PSD. In fact, I went to PSD's website, and it did not have Aguirre listed as an endorsed candidate. To be honest, I could care less about the endorsements of any special interest group for any candidtate. I'll just vote for the best candidate."

13. Ian Trowbridge wrote on May 5, 2008 12:12 PM:
"Al read the city's campaign ordinance before you blog about something you have no knowledge of. The piece was registered as a campaign mailer to avoid violating the law. It may not have violated theletterof law it violated the spirit of the law. As for Andy Berg, he is the kind of Union lackey who supports developers when he sees an advantage without ever thinking about what is in the interest of the San Diego public."

14. Sparky wrote on May 5, 2008 12:38 PM:
"I chose to stay a Republican Edgar because it pisses people like you off. My feeling is YOU need to be pissed off so you will get of that damned high horse you sit on and come back to reality. I am a very conservative person by nature and one of religious and ethical background. I find it highly offensive to sit and listen to a "Republican" espouse this or that only to investigate and find him/her to be a hypocrite. The Republicans and Democrats have lost touch with the main stream voter of which I am one. Until the Republicans can demonstrate their honest desire to make my life and the lives of every other American their priority by way of real action I will continue to vote my conscience and not my party. The Republiacan party leaders in San Diego are a joke to many today."

15. Sparky wrote on May 5, 2008 1:20 PM:
"Case in point Edgar; Doug Manchester endorses Francis over Sanders? The "Party" endorsed Sanders if memory serves me. Who does Doug Manchester think he is? Oh that's right; He's "Papa Doug" and will do as he pleases. He has money and no one including the "Republic Party" can tell him who to support or how to vote. I'm confused Edgar; what were you saying about the millions of us RINO'S??? I didn't hear you."

16. I Like Mike wrote on May 5, 2008 1:24 PM:
"Odd that the Labor Council sends out a peculiar mailer, covertly designed to promote the candidacy of termed-out City Councilman Scott Peters as he seeks to unseat San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre. That will never happen, but Peters doubtless welcomes kind words from somebody about now. Peters is despised by his constituents for repeatedly having sold out their interests to special interests; for his rudeness and arrogance to others on the dais and community people at Council meetings; for recently voting himself a 24% pay raise; for his "negligent" role in misrepresenting the status of city finances to bond markets; for taking taxpayer money to defend himself legally should the SEC sue him for that lapse; for refusing to support an independent City Auditor; and for ignoring our water emergency by using more H2O at his La Jolla home than all other members of City Council combined."

17. Jon B wrote on May 5, 2008 3:35 PM:
"I Like Mike please check your facts. Peter voted for a pay raise for future council members. He will not see a penny of that raise. I shouldn't be suprised that someone supporting Mike A. has their facts wrong. And regarding the mailer, Donna is grandstanding for attention that she feels she deserves at the expense of everyone else on or involved in the mailer. No wonder she could never create a census on the city council we she needed support about the cities budget issues."

18. Fact Checker wrote on May 5, 2008 4:13 PM:
"Jon: census on the council? Don't you mean consensus? "we she needed support"? Somewhere in a US high school, a principal wants the diploma back."

19. nelson wrote on May 5, 2008 4:33 PM:
"Jon B--Who cares about the pay raise, really, give it a break--how about focusing on the Kroll Report and Peter's involvement. That's important. And talk about grandstanding for attention, why do you think Peter's needed to be Council President, so he could grandstand, so he could control the process, so he could insult community members, etc. And the only way Peters could ever create a census on the council would be to make deals behind closed doors and then show up at Council with typed up motions--I have personally witnessed this a couple of times now. And of course he votes with the community but the majority (except Donna) vote the way he really wants. Peters is a charlatan and he would be the worst City Attorney in the history of San Diego."

20. Jon B wrote on May 5, 2008 4:41 PM:
"Fact Checker..Yeah I got my degree from a private school to. Thanks for being so up on things that don't matter. No wonder the big picture keeps geting lost in this town."

21. Jon B wrote on May 5, 2008 5:04 PM:
"nelson..I Like Mike cares about the pay raise since he reported it wrong. Fact Checker cares about grammar and typos, and I care about allowing people to promote the good things the Dems on the council did with out us attacking each other over who deserves more credit. It's like operation chaos on the voice today. Rush would be happy with dems in San Diego."

22. Black Sabbath wrote on May 5, 2008 5:06 PM:
"I believe that Emily Post might call Donna Frye rude."

23. Billy Bob Henry wrote on May 5, 2008 5:43 PM:
"12. Rock On wrote on May 5, 2008 11:35 AM: To be honest, I could care less about the endorsements of any special interest group for any candidtate. I'll just vote for the best candidate."......YES I agree, and that best candidate would be Mike Aguirre! June 3 baby, and it is all over for the overpaid over pensioned City workers."

24. Ralph of San Diego wrote on May 5, 2008 5:58 PM:
"Edgar, when has a politician from either party told the truth? To even mention the word truth in a sentence with Democrat, Republican or Politician, is an improper use of the word. So please kiss and make up to Sparky."

25. Christopher Hall wrote on May 5, 2008 6:02 PM:
"I just never thought the folks managing the most important civic organization -- the unionized labor of San Diego and Imperial Counties -- would play politics.I believe Lorena Gonzalez is a pivotal and historic leader who's marking our time as the moment when the Nobles, Lords and Kings once again regained control of the sweat equity of the people.//Ms. Gonzales said:'I wish we could afford to alert the voters every time our Council accomplishes something as visionary as the general plan update, but unfortunately, we just can't possibly do that.'//How many big deals are council members involved in that fly under the radar and need additional PR?The General Plan is anesthetizing to 99% of people, so I can't believe there's a market for such an expensive mail piece. Pleading ignorance makes everyone take a nod over their shoulder to pity the truth left behind in the ditch."

26. I Like Mike wrote on May 5, 2008 6:24 PM:
"Jon B: You expect me to say to Scott Peters, "Oh thank you, sir , god bless you sir, for voting a 24% pay raise for your surviving Council chums like Ben Hueso and the incoming four horsemen!" What about the other demerits I mentioned? They ALL matter; they ALL fly in the face of District 1 voters who thought they were getting in Peters an environmental lawyer who wanted to represent the community. The disappointment and disaffection run very deep. And by the way, I think it's understandable that Donna Frye feels co-opted by the Labor Council's strategically indirect mailer of endorsement for Peters, using her and other Councilmembers' names without permission, ostensibly to say "thanks." It's an expensive campaign dirty trick, too clever by half and entirely legal -- but it makes Labor look sleazy and doesn't help Scott one iota."

27. jorgeelgato wrote on May 5, 2008 6:40 PM:
"So Lorena you didn't think anybody would interpret your flyer as implying an endorsement by Donna . . . hmmm; next thing your going to tell me is that you were on the tarmac in Bosnia with Hilary that day when both of you took sniper fire . . ."

28. Lorena wrote on May 5, 2008 8:03 PM:
"Can you really tell us you are not working for Scott Petter's campaign with a straight face? This kind of underhanded and deceitful propoganda is exactly why I hate politics."

29. Theresa Quiroz wrote on May 5, 2008 8:15 PM:
"For the record, Progressive San Diego has not yet officially endorsed any candidate for City Attorney."

30. Cory Briggs wrote on May 5, 2008 8:53 PM:
"La Playa Heritage's post is mistaken. Progressive San Diego endorsed Mike Aguirre in the 2004 election (perhaps that's what the post meant to indicate). A few weeks ago PSD held a "meet and greet" for all the City Attorney candidates. So far, however, PSD has not taken a position one way or the other on any candidate for City Attorney in the upcoming election. PSD's current list of endorsees is available at link (scroll down toward the bottom of the screen)."

31. Jack Griffiths wrote on May 5, 2008 9:32 PM:
"Mr Trowbridge has fallen into the trap that he himself warns us of:speaking about that which he knows very little or on which he has failed to do his homework.Mr Berg is the head of a contractor's association: National Electrical Contractor's Association,which is not a trade union.NECA's Govt Relations Specialist,Karen Prescott,is a former Darrell Issa staffer and neither she nor Berg could hardly be called lackeys of anyone,except perhaps,their membership.That membership does hi-tech work that requires the most sophisticated in electrical applications for water plants,power facilities and other very sensitive work.The training center they operate is one of the best in the West and placement there is highly sought after within the industry.Berg's advocacy on behalf of his NECA members,their families and us,the end users,represents the best of our industrial contractor associations.Imagine being in an elevator on the 40th floor during an earthquake and you'll appreciate their quality work much better."

32. Peters' Leverage Factor wrote on May 6, 2008 7:33 AM:
"Ms. Gonzales, 'I wish we could afford to alert the voters every time our Council accomplishes something unvisionary and self-serving. Now that would be beneficial but awfully time consuming. Peters just met with Heart of Kensington people, puportedly to address his blind support of Kensington Terrace and to get HoK people to be quiet and go away. His explanation boils down to: each Councilmember votes the wishes of the Councilmember in the district where the issue is being contested or championed. Because they do no research on anything outside their district, Councilmembers are not in a position to know who is correct about any issue, and so they vote blindly. Brilliant. Really, really earning your money, Councilmembers. Why bother having issue votes? Just let the neighborhood citizens duke it out with their own Councilmember. And let only the district vote on the Councilmember's reelection."

33. Andy Berg wrote on May 6, 2008 9:22 AM:
"Ian, I thought you had too much integrity to resort to name calling. As for the claim that I am a "Union lackey," the fact is that I am not even a union member. I represent contractors, the guys that provide the jobs, or in NECA's case, careers that allow our employees to support their families, take care of them when their sick and take care of themselves in retirement. I will not apologize for caring for workers or for having a great relationship with the union that represents our employees. I certainly won't apologize for working with the union to help our contractors provide a better product for our customers. I suggest that other businesses would also be well-served if they worked with, rather than against, their employees. Finally, I suggest you pay careful attention to the endorsement we will announce later today."

34. Peters' Leverage Factor wrote on May 6, 2008 10:13 AM:
"I meant to say, "And let only the district voter donate to the Councilmember's reelection.""

35. Ian Trowbridge wrote on May 6, 2008 11:33 AM:
"Andy, Jack Griffiths pointed out my mistake so sorry for getting that wrong. The fact is I have heard you testify many times at City council and I guess I was misled by that experience. However, my worst fault is that I think the solution to the city's problems is for unions and business to work together and my comment didn't help that goal. So, mea culpa."

36. Andy Berg wrote on May 6, 2008 1:17 PM:
"Ian, apology accepted and I agree with you. When employers and employees work together everyone wins. It is simple common-sense: Without successful businesses, there are no jobs and without productive workers, there are no successful businesses. Back to the topic at hand - The faster we can remove partisan politics and the "us vs. them" mentality, the faster this City will start living up to its potential."

37. Jack Griffiths wrote on May 6, 2008 2:09 PM:
"What I think Ian and Andy are hitting on is exemplified in the public-private initiatives that resulted in the building of the new Fire Station 47 in District One. Here the City partnered with Pardee Homes to bring this much neeed public safety facility to fruition and, just in time, it seems given the fire last week in Sorrento Valley. Another would be the 05-09 opening of the new Ocean Air Park,Torrey Hills and Carmel Valley, four years ahead of schedule.Once again with the City cooperating with contractor Park West Landscaping. Cooperation works for us all. Anyone interested in the details should call the great staff working the District One offices."

38. La Playa Heritage wrote on May 6, 2008 3:51 PM:
"Hi Theresa and Cory. Our mistake. Thank you for the correction."

39. Ed Strunk wrote on May 6, 2008 6:16 PM:
"Jon B - (last post: it's too, not to) One big pikture item you loose is if u write sometihng riddled with simpl grammer errors; why do you think anyone shuld consider your higher thought processes - like logic - reasonible? (and they're not, either)."

40. Al wrote on May 6, 2008 9:54 PM:
"Much ado about nothing. Nothing illegal has been done. Groups endorse who they will endorse. It is allowed and it's ok to do so. Send a flyer? I don't care. It was legal. I looked at it like a party line deal -- rah rah rah for Democrats! Decide for yourself you will vote for. Mike has been unsuccessful in every promise he campaigned on. He's not getting my vote this time. (I hope I didn't make any typos as it will invalidate my opinion, apparently.)"

41. I Like Mike wrote on May 7, 2008 9:23 AM:
"Strunk: Probably Jon B. went to San Diego State. We try to decipher meaning from his posts, but the effort dilutes the point of his messages. Al: That mailer was NOT simple "rah rah rah for Democrats," most of whom, like Labor itself, have strategically collaborated with GOP establishment projects. It highlighted Scott Peters in the Sky -- a vague, indirect and unfortunately legal communication with voters (and a message to other Clowncilmembers about the power of Labor to effect their political futures, should they step out of line on Labor issues.) Also, even though Aguirre is being punished by Labor for his principled position on the City's scandalous and ruinous employee pension arrangement, Mike Aguirre has historically always been a friend to working men and women and is the only competent and honest City Attorney we've had in years. I'm voting for him."

42. Charlie Pratt wrote on May 7, 2008 1:44 PM:
"Peters Leverage Factor's comment was more insightful than all the rest of this "mailergate" insider back and forth. PLF described exactly how the City Council operates and why it fails people in the communities. Council members from other Districts, Donna- a notable exception- mechanically rubberstamp any initiative from the District's Council member. This is particularly pernicious in a District targeted for development, as is University City where I live. Here, Scott Peters, an obvious captive of development interests, pushed through ill-considered projects like Regents Road bridge and Monte Verde (Westfield waits at the trough) with willing compliance by a Council majority. This despite rejection by the UC Planning Group, Planning Commission and our politely-listened-to lobbying of other Council members. This cost-efficient, corrupt system produces results for developers who capture a single key pol like Peters and leaves residents no choice but to litigate."

43. I Like Mike wrote on May 7, 2008 2:41 PM:
"It's not written down anywhere that Council representatives from other districts have to defer to the wishes of a Councilmember (such as the ambitious Scott Peters) who is hell-bent on pushing through a project against the wishes of his own constituents. Council people are elected by district, but they are still supposed to weigh the merits of every matter concerning the City and vote fairly and independently. That is the kind of person we need to join Donna Frye on City Council in this next round -- someone who votes without fear or favor. Let's try George, Emerald, Whitburn and Lightner for a change."

44. Jack Griffiths wrote on May 7, 2008 2:49 PM:
"Are we to suppose that any cooperation between those that build things like Fire Station 47 or Ocean Air Park and elected City officials from those districts is automatically a sign of developer collusion and therefore corruption?If that's the predicate of this arguement perhaps the Luddites have a chance at a come back,or even the Yippies:Vote for NOBODY cuz NOBODY's Perfect.If this concern in UTC is as universal as it seems I'd suggest a very hard look at the 3 candidates running for the District One Council seat.One a liberal minded nice lady in way over her head,the other a Wall Street trained corporate foot-soldier of the vested elite and the third a local guy made good beholding to no one.SD Tax Fighters,Richard Rider's crew,known for their integrity and disciplined independence has endorsed the latter,Phil Thalheimer.UTC needs integrity and independence in leadership for reasonable and planned growth."

45. I Like Mike wrote on May 7, 2008 4:35 PM:
"Jack Griffiths (aka Friend of Scott Peters) -- I think you are mean to call Marshall Merrifield "a liberal-minded nice lady." Also, I didn't think anyone was faulting developers for doing what they do best -- pay off Council people by making strategic campaign contributions. The beef is about Councilmen (like Scott Peters) who get a pass from their colleagues on in-district matters that need a majority of votes to pass. Good City Council reps pay attention to the needs of the entire city and vote according to best information and what seems appropriate, not according to the wishes of the cacique. It's the district Council person's obligation to convince his colleagues of the rightness of a course of action to gain their votes."

46. Jack Griffiths wrote on May 8, 2008 6:14 AM:
"Excuse me but I don't see the vast conspiracy you allude to in the use of the word cacique. No one addresses the Council President as Excellency or Your Majesty.That's just a tad over the top. What I do see is a man playing the game to the fullest extent possible within the rules.That's always been an American virtue.Attacking a politican for taking campaign contributions is akin to passing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500.Or demanding that a basketball be used in a football game.Granted Council persons should be concerned about generic policies that effect the entire City even if their genesis is in but one district,however,I think it's commity and a unified Council policy commitment statement not an abuse of prerogative or ignorance that drives the efforts for a majority vote.Certainly that's been the case on several contentious issues between the Executive and Legislative branches."