The departures of two top staffers have doomed — at least temporarily — Mayor Bob Filner’s vision for an open government department. The department was central to Filner’s promises of openness and transparency at City Hall.
The Broad Prize Patrol
A team of reviewers is in town to weigh San Diego Unified’s place among four semi-finalists for the elite Broad Prize for Urban Education. Our new Active Voice blogger Christie Ritter gives a rundown of what the Broad team is looking for in San Diego: “The committee has a list of 72 indicators to look for when making their determinations” that includes teaching, district leadership and organization.
The Te’o Blackout
A Denver Post sports blogger is wary of the Chargers’ decision to shield Manti Te’o from the media John Gennaro writes in this week’s Sports Report. The writer, Mike Klis, “speaks from experience, as part of the local media that covered Tim Tebow’s rookie season and he makes an excellent point about the media blackout affecting Te’o’s teammates.”
What We Learned This Week
Arbitration is private, secretive and ubiquitous: Will Carless peels the curtain back on arbitration, a private form of justice that corporations can force consumers into whenever they sign a contract. Part one in our series: The long, frustrating process of finding an impartial arbitrator. Part two: Arbitration companies regularly flout a law meant to hold them accountable. Next up: The war on class actions.
We have a new Council member:: Myrtle Cole claimed victory in District 4 Tuesday night, beating out Dwayne Crenshaw in a close race. Observers were almost universally thankful to see what became a dirty, negative race come to an end.
Jim Jones is real: The prolific VOSD commenter revealed some details about himself in a series of emails.
Filner’s schedulers move through a revolving door: The mayor has cycled through at least three schedulers, including two who left their jobs after just 33 days.
Quick News Hits
• The website 24/7 Wall St.predicts San Diego-based Leap Wireless will be among 10 big brands that will disappear in 2014.
• The Center for Investigative Reporting has a great infographic-heavy look at who is being arrested at the border.
• A statewide homeless “bill of rights” failed in an Assembly committee Friday. We examined the ways in which the bill might trip up San Diego’s homeless policies. (Sacramento Bee)
• The Stumblr post of the day comes from Dale Street.
Quote of the Week
“It should’ve been ready. And if it wasn’t, we shouldn’t have opened the doors.” — Merideth Spriggs, a former PATH employee, expressing wariness over Connections Housing’s decision to open before the project’s service depot was up to speed.
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