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Who will win June's Congressional Primary here in the 5oth District?
Francine Busby
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Dave Roberts
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Tracy Emblem
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Lou Paulson
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Active Topics

Who will win June's Congressional Primary here in the 5oth District?
Solana Beach, Ca -- Solana Beach City Councilman Dave Roberts announced today that he will run for the 50th District Congressional seat held by Republican Congressman Brian Bilbray.

Dave Roberts will join Democrat candidates Francine Busby and Tracy Emblem.  The primary will be held in June of 2010 and the General Election against Mr. Bilbray will be the following November.

Who do you think will win the June primary?  Tell Solana Beach Focus what you think today.Read more
Should Councilman Dave Roberts run for congress?
Solana Beach, Ca --  According to word on the streets and recent reports, Solana Beach Councilman Dave Roberts is considering a run against Francine Busby in the 50th Congressional District Democratic Primary.

The seat is currently held by Republican Brian Bilbray. 

Busby has lost to Bilbray twice before and Congressman Bilbray was able to hold onto his seat in the Republican leaning district against Nick Liebham in 2008 by 5 percentage points.

Should Dave Roberts make the run for congress? 

Tell him and Solana Beach Focus what you think today.Read more
Should Solana Beach enact a Tourism Business Improvement District?
Solana Beach, Ca -- "Happy Happens!"  So goes the new ad campaign launched by San Diego in an attempt to reign in a greater amount of tourism commerce.

The San Diego campaign is becoming increasingly more common as local cities enact funding destination marketing known as Tourism Business Improvement Districts.

The movement largely began in 1992 when the city of West Hollywood began a 1.5% tax of gross room rental revenue to raise an annual $1.1. million for tourism promotion.

Cities including Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Diego have enacted such measures in order to compete with tourism destinations around the world.

The tax differs from the Tourism Occupancy Tax (TOT) Del Mar and other cities already has in place in that it gears specifically with promotion.  The TOT is created largely to help mitigate damage from tourism and protect local resources for local residents.  The TOT largely aids in the repair of transportation resources.

The San Diego TBID fee is estimated to bring in $29.2 million specifically for marketing and advertisement spending.
Read more
Can Del Mar's "Sidewalk Cafe," idea help retail and restaurants in Solana Beach? ...
The vision of the Sidewalk Cafe at 15th and Camino Del MarDel Mar -- Construction of a "Sidewalk Cafe," has begun at the Southwest corner of Camino Del Mar and 15th Street.

The concept is to expand the opportunities for businesses and visitors to take advantage of the scenic areas and shopping of Del Mar's downtown district.

A redesigned "Sidewalk Cafe," with seating and public leisure areas should be completed by June 1st, according to city officials.

At least two other sites are being looked at as possible spots for future sidewalk upgrades.

Full story here.Read more
Breaking Now!
Governor to sign Proposition 1A (2004) suspension today in order to borrow from cities
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 - 17:14
Sacramento, Ca --  Today, the Governor has planned a signing of a bill to suspend the 2004 Proposition 1A in order to borrow close to $1.9 billion from special districts, cities, and counties.

Proposition 1A was passed by voters in 2004 in order to severly hamper the state governments ability to borrow money from their local governments.

ABx4 14, the bill passed by both houses of the state legislature largely falling along party lines. 

The legislture has set up a loan securitization mechanism in an attempt to help local governments ability to recoup the loss in property tax revenue.  A joint powers authority (JPA) will issue notes backed by the state's repayment obligation and use the proceeds to replace the diverted property taxes of those local agencies that participate in the JPA. 

Local governments have been quick to point out that the state's very poor bond rating, may make this securitization mechanism meaningless.

San Diego will receive $1.77 billion in stimulus money -- Wonder where it will go?
Monday, July 27, 2009 - 09:33
California GarabaldiSan Diego County, Ca -- The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be sending $1.77 billion in economic stimulus to San Diego County.  By law, that money needs to be spent and spent quickly.

A long list of projects have been slated included new school cafeteria's, upgrading public transportation vehicles at the North County Transit District, and money for scientific research on fish populations.

Read more.
Del Mar races begin with massive crowds, ends with injured jockey
Thursday, July 23, 2009 - 14:34
Del Mar, Ca -- For the 70th time, the crowds descending on the city of Del Mar for Opening Day of the horse racing season.  Long lines at the gates and concession stands and heavy traffic along both sides of interstate 5 did little to diminish the revelry as gamblers and horse lovers rejoiced in a new racing season.

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club broke its 1996 single day attendance record by almost 700.  The official attendance was 44,907 besting the previous record of 44,181 set in 1996 when Dare and Go upset Cigar in the Pacific Classic.  The previous Opening Day record was set last year at 43,459.

Much of the pre-race media coverage was devoted to the three year old synthetic surface that was installed to limit horse injuries and fatalities.  In its first year of use, the Polytrack, reduced horse fatalities from 26 the previous year to only 2.  However, in the first day of 2009 racing, a crash in the third race sent a jockey to the hospital and caused the death of a horse.
Summer "Concert at the Cove," tonight!
Thursday, July 23, 2009 - 13:44
Solana Beach, Ca -- Summer "Concerts at the Cove" continues this Thursday, July 23, 6pm at Fletcher Cove Park.

The City of Solana Beach and Shop Solana Beach First, produced in association with The Belly Up Tavern, is very excited about this year's summer concert series at Fletcher Cove Park. "Concerts at the Cove" is a FREE community-oriented eleven-week outdoor concert series, happening Thursday evenings at 6pm from June 11 through August 20. Whether it's a family evening out, a get-together for co-workers, or just relaxing with friends, "Concerts at the Cove" draws the community together to enjoy great musical entertainment at one of our City's most gorgeous natural settings. For more information, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 858-720-2453.
Solana Beach road closures Sunday, July 25
Thursday, July 23, 2009 - 13:34
Solana Beach, Ca -- On Saturday, July 25, South Acacia will be closed from 8:00am-4:00pm. There will be a pre-race expo on the street that will consist of 15 exhibit booths.

On Sunday, July 26, the Triathlon and Duathlon events will take place.

Roads that will be affected on Sunday are:
Plaza St. south parking lot-between 5:00am-11:00am
Plaza St. at Sierra closed from 6:00am-11:00am
Acacia St. south parking lot between 4:00am-noon
Hwy. 101 southbound closed from Plaza to Via de la Valle between 6:30am-10:30am
Hwy. 101 northbound closed from Via de la Valle to Las Olas between 6:30am-10:00am.
Dahlia will be closed 6:30am-10:30am

Cedros is open.

Access to northbound traffic through Solana Beach, use Sierra.

The triathlon and duathlon events start on Sunday at approximately 7:00am at Fletcher Cove.
Budget deal nearly in place -- Will include borrowing from cities
Monday, July 20, 2009 - 11:12
Sacramento, Ca -- Even though the Governor has canceled a evening legislative budget session, the big 5 in Sacramento appear to be edging towards agreement on the now $23B budget deficit.  As new details on the deal emerge, this budget will look to close the deficit completely.

It is now all but certain that Sacramento will take $5B from cities to help balance the budget.  The theft of local funds will hit municipal services such as fire, police and local services below the belt.  The Governor's promise that "the road stops here" means after it runs over local government.

The Governor and Republican members of the Legislature have repeatedly promised "not to push the problem down the road by borrowing."  However, the budget deal includes taking almost $5 million away from cities by borrowing $2 billion Prop 1A (passed in 2004 by 83% of voters), taking of $1.75 billion HUTA (Highway Users Tax Account), and taking of $1 billion from RDA (Annual Redevelopment Agency.)
 
Del Mar resident George Mullen discusses the idea of moving the Chargers to the fairgrounds property
Friday, July 17, 2009 - 14:20
By George Mullen -- The San Diego Chargers are in need of a new home. Coincidentally, an out-of-town distressed real estate owner (the state of California) is suddenly looking to sell the Del Mar Fairgrounds in order to raise desperately needed cash.

A golden opportunity is before us. A marriage made in heaven, if you will.

Steve Danon announces race against SD Supervisor Pam Slater-Price
Thursday, July 16, 2009 - 10:57
Del Mar, Ca -- Former Bilbray Chief of Staff and longtime San Diegan, Steve Danon has announced his bid to challenge San Diego County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price.  Mr. Danon lives in Carmel Valley with his wife and two children.

Mr. Danon has worked in San Diego politics for nearly twenty years as an activist and a political consultant.  His website highlights his work to fight the closure of the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest and his efforts to secure funds for the Teaching, Education and Research Institute, a school for autistic children.

Defeating sitting supervisors has proved historically difficult and particularly impossible since 1992.  Since San Diego Supervisors were given what critics call a "slush fund" of two million dollars annually to spend on local community projects within their districts, no incumbent Supervisor has lost an election.  Supervisor Slater-Price was elected to the position in 1992.  She lives in Del Mar with her husband.