Articles by dweisman

Ousting Hunter: Dem challengers debate

One way or another, to paraphrase Blondie, we’re gonna to find ya’, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-50th District), and we’re gonna get ya’, get ya’, get ya’, get ya’… Either you’re going to prison for campaign finance and bank fraud, or going to go, end of political story, period, courtesy of one of these Democratic challengers at the ballot box. Indivisible North County hosted a Democratic…


Move over Banksy, RSF is popping art

Rancho Santa Fe this summer is channeling Buffalo Springfield: “There’s something happening here. What is is ain’t exactly clear.” It’s anonymously placed mysteriously at night in the manner of English-based graffiti artist Banksy. Some call it the ultimate in pop-art. Unfortunately, as quickly as the art pops up, it tends to pop down. The Ranch can be an unforgiving place when it comes to anonymous…


Pala Casino gets $170 million makeover

Officials of Pala Casino Spa & Resort today announced plans for an expansion and complete renovation of its AAA Four Diamond award winning property. Construction of the $170 million project will begin in October 2017 and be completed in May 2019.  The renovation and expansion will include: the addition of a new 349 room hotel tower; the conversion of the existing resort pool into a multi-pool…


Vapidly vaping Hunter blows hard again

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the biggest congressional asshole of all? Move over Dana Rohrbacher, (R-48th District), the former gold standard for such a dubious honor, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-50th District) has got you beat by a vaporizing mile. As if air travel weren’t horrible enough, Hunter, the congressman from Alice’s Wonderland, would like to allow people to vaporize on airplanes, too. This didn’t…


RSF GOP gov hopeful polls in single digits

Rancho Santa Fe businessman and self-financed candidate for governor John Cox barely registered a blip in the first major statewide polling on the race. Cox came in as the third-rated candidate with 9 percent support among likely voters in the latest Berkeley IGS Poll released today, Thursday, June 8. His fellow Republican gubernatorial wannabe former California Assembly member David Hadley did even worse, attracting 7…


Add ‘Russian traitor’ to Hunter’s legacy

Aside from continuing to spend — illegally — campaign funds on personal expenses like donor trips to Las Vegas, add being a Russian stooge to the dubious legacy of Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-50th District). In a column posted on his congressional website, Hunter, who has repeatedly ducked another town hall following his disastrous Ramona affair in March, has put forth a hearty defense of his…


Hunter vamping vaping legislation

Fighting a campaign finance criminal investigation, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-50th District) still has time, apparently, to battle for a vice he loves: Vaping. Hunter introduced legislation Thursday to roll back current regulations treating electronic cigarettes the same as tobacco products. Titled the Cigarette Smoking Reduction & Electronic Vapor Alternatives Act, HR 2194, Hunter’s ode to vaping, would undo the Obama administration’s “Deeming Rule” that put…


‘Carbon Farming’ comes to Santa Ysabel

Flowers, avocados, citrus, tomatoes and strawberries are leading San Diego County crops. But carbon? Apparently so. Carbon Farming, a whole-farm approach implementing on-farm practices that increase the rate at which plants transfer carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere to the soil, is about to meet its maker at a Santa Ysabel farm. San Diego Food System Alliance (SDFSA) this week announced a grant that paves the…


Creative artist Jayne Spencer gets to teaching

Don’t tell award-winning watercolor, portrait and landscape artist Jayne Spencer that art is best executed and appreciated only by fellow artists. An award-winning creative artist and teacher, like TV’s father, knows best. “Anybody can be an artist,” Spencer said. “Anybody can learn to paint once they learn the skills and techniques. Find something that inspires you. Paint what you love. Art is subjective” Art is…


Turn Duncan Hunter over, he’s done

Step off Duncan Hunter, time to resign… You know the Monopoly card everybody dreads:  “Go directly to Jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.” Hello, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-50th District). Looks like you got served. Hunter wasn’t playing with Monopoly money, unfortunately, but with $62,000 — that we know of now, it definitely was more — of campaign donor money illegally used for…