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GERRY BRAUN

Gerry Braun has left the U-T to work for
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders.
Read the story here.


Have you associated with, well, anyone?

“Joe McCarthy Lives!”

So claims Scott Barnett, who was born five years after the wildly accusatory Commie hunter left this Earth.

More Gerry Braun Columns

N.Y. paper writes of Aguirre as a 'garden': Michael Aguirre has been called many things since he became city attorney, quite a few of them memorable, some not printable.

Billboards on wheels new signs of the times: The best way to get rich these days, I'm convinced, is to come up with an idea that increases efficiency.

Gentlemen, play nice at any and all debates: By agreement of the candidates, these Ground Rules for Future City Attorney Debates shall be read aloud by a neutral party at the start of each joint appearance by Michael Aguirre and Jan Goldsmith.

Gathering of crows is murder (to) most fowl: Of all the names we give animal groups, the most authentic are the ones that describe a distinguishing trait or behavior.

Longtime map seller gets routed to the exit: Not that long ago, a well-provisioned life required a few good maps. More than just a crumb-covered zoo map and a dog-eared Thomas Guide. More than those accordion-style road maps that turn into an IQ test when you fold them.

Suit over; bully gets booted out of her life: “Gerry Congratulations!” the e-mail began. “You accomplished what you wanted.”

United full of excuses, but family gets relief: Someone at United Airlines has a heart after all. But don't go looking for it at the corporate offices.

Waterfront proposal is taken to next level: San Diego's leaders are often accused of thinking small. That's never been Richard Chase's problem.

Bad airline stories are nothing like this: As I watch the Olympics this week, my thoughts keep turning to Anita Cabral of Spring Valley, though she is not an Olympian, or even an athlete.

Booze ban at beaches offers up two images: It's a paradox that's been applied to a glass of water, to a keg of beer, and now to San Diego's beaches.

Outsource initiative has morbid first outing: Robert Richeson does a job most people wouldn't care to watch. Yesterday, for instance, he drove into University City, grabbed a pitchfork and plastic bag from his truck, and carried away a dead possum. Then he was off to Ocean Beach, in search of skunk.

Motorcycle risks may outweigh the reward: As gas prices soar, so does the allure of the motorcycle. And why not?

Starbucks' exit from complex a step back: These are sad times, I'm sure, at each of the 600 Starbucks stores that will be closed in the coming year.

Taking note of parade and suit by firefighters: Mark Tonai arrived for work on Saturday ready to have a good time. And why not? How tough can it be to drive a fire engine in a parade?

Trickling drinking fountains are all wet: Maybe it's because I'm three-fifths water myself, but lately I've been thinking a lot about the wet stuff.

Mayoral sidekick a dogged defender: Every day for the past 32 months, Fred Sainz has woken up with this singular thought: “What can I do today to make Mayor Jerry Sanders look good?”

Perhaps an explanation for unused golf tickets: Once again, controversy surrounds the San Diego City Council and its cavalier attitude toward the free tickets it receives to taxpayer-subsidized sports events.

Fair gets a dressing down for icon's outfit: An old editor of mine telephoned last month with one last assignment. “Go check out the statue,” Gary Mortenson told me. “See if they haven't dressed it up again.”

Take down campaign signs, you scofflaws: I'm worried about Garry Haehnle, who was just elected to the Superior Court bench. My fear is that, come January, once Haehnle is sworn in, he'll be assigned a big case – say, a murder trial – and won't be able to seat a jury.

Fisherman goes up the food chain for answer: Growing up in Ukraine, back when it was a part of the Soviet Union, Valeriy Vernik learned to dread his encounters with obstinate bureaucracies.

18 holes (miniature ones) with the mayor: A tourist from Arizona stopped me as I left the golf course last week, wanting to know who I'd been playing against.

Aguirre's chances of winning? Let's count: Nobody wants to be a party pooper, but hear me out, folks: It's way too early to be dancing on the grave of City Attorney Michael Aguirre.

The lows and highs of latest election: I watched the ads, I read the mail, I stayed awake through the debates (most of them anyway) and, undeterred, I voted.

Election's conclusion deserves big sign-off: “What do we do now?” The terrific election movie “The Candidate” closes on that question from Robert Redford, playing a novice politician who's just won a U.S. Senate race. He and his campaign manager are in a hotel room, with a pack of journalists waiting outside.

About Gerry Braun

Gerry Braun's column appears Wednesdays and Sundays. Call (619) 542-4563; e-mail to gerry.braun@uniontrib.com; or mail to The San Diego Union-Tribune, Box 120191, San Diego, CA 92112-0191.

Diane Bell

Woman, 83, who always helped others now in need: An e-mail plea is making the rounds to local animal rescue groups with the story of an 83-year-old Ramona widow who is losing her home of more than 25 years to foreclosure.

San Diego Weblogs

:: Newsblog ::
Rolando police search ends: Police have called off an intensive search in Rolando for a man who had a pistol in his car when an officer pulled him over for a traffic violation. The...

:: Out There ::
Academic freedom stolen?: A Cuyamaca College English instructor told police that someone entered his office last week without his permission and removed an "Obama 08" sticker from his window. Tim Pagaard brought attention...


:: America's Finest Blog ::
By Chris Reed
Earth to Karen Bass, Earth to Karen Bass: A colleague pointed out that the Assembly speaker had endorsed a "half and half" approach to balancing the budget. OK, that sounds semi-reasonable -- she would actually agree to $5...


North County

City looks at more cutbacks in budget: Escondido officials are proposing steep budget cuts, in everything from library services and recreation to police and fire protection, that will have wide-ranging effects throughout the city.

Temecula/Riverside

Fire damage tallied at almost $150 million: Preliminary estimates of property losses resulting from the Triangle Fire stood at between $125 million and $135 million in Yorba Linda, $17.4 million in Anaheim and $3.5 million in Brea, officials said in remarks published Thursday.

Traffic


Just Fix It

School bus idling for more than 5 minutes draws concern in City Heights: THE PROBLEM: Even with soundproof windows, Katt Eaton of City Heights could hear a diesel school bus outside her Poplar Street residence every morning at 6:30, idling 10 minutes or more.

Continuing Stories


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350 Camino de la Reina
San Diego, CA 92108

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P.O. Box 120191
San Diego, CA 92112-0191


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