Newsource Blog

Alvarez to DeMaio: You missed the meeting

In San Diego

By Kelly Thornton
Investigative Newsource

A day after San Diego Councilman Carl DeMaio requested a public hearing on problems with the city’s new water billing system, he was informed that such a meeting has already taken place.
DeMaio addressed… MORE

Councilman wants public hearing on water billing problems

In San Diego

By Kelly Thornton
Investigative Newsource
San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio on Tuesday called for a public meeting to discuss the new $24 million water billing system, which has been plagued with problems and has prompted thousands of calls from… MORE

About the Special Pay Data

In San Diego

Investigative Newsource, formerly the Watchdog Institute, obtained San Diego County payroll information for calendar year 2010 through a request under the California Public Records Act. This year, the county provided the records at no cost.
Newsource also obtained… MORE

San Diego County Special Pay

In San Diego

Read more about special pay
In the past four years, San Diego County has paid more than $100 million in special pay to its employees. County workers get extra pay for hazardous assignments, holding a position that demands… MORE

Featured Stories

Billing system still confounds customers; San Diego details plans for relief

By Kelly Thornton
Investigative Newsource
San Diego’s Public Utilities Department is hiring a dozen temporary customer service representatives, adding dozens of phone lines, opening 25 walk-in payment centers and installing a pay-by-phone with credit card option in hopes of providing… MORE

Filner’s legislative machine: Scores of bills benefit veterans, private individuals; Money flows from lobbyists and beneficiaries

By Brooke Williams
Investigative Newsource
Congressman Bob Filner is one of the most prolific sponsors of new laws in the House of Representatives. His legislation has advocated for veterans, health care professionals and government employees. Those who like his bills… MORE

Some private bills benefit larger interests

By Roxana Popescu
Investigative Newsource
Shigeru Yamada knows he’s lucky. Of millions of illegal immigrants, he got a green card through a rare legislative feat known as a private bill.
The beginning of Yamada’s story is as extraordinary as its… MORE

San Diegans are blowing a gasket over new water-sewer billing system

By Kelly Thornton
Investigative Newsource
Since San Diego launched a new $24 million water and sewer billing system in July, thousands of ratepayers have flooded the city with complaints that their service has been cut off, they’ve been overcharged, or… MORE