Writing Up Expenses? The More Bizarre the Better

Sex, money and politics.

* One of the documents released to reporters chasing the $100,000 sex scandal is a June, 1990, memo from ex-Planning Director Robert Spaulding to the auditor’s office.

In it, he explains that the $50 ski lift ticket in his expenses for a four-day convention in Colorado is actually a $50 train ticket and thus reimbursable.

Spaulding says he bought a book of tickets from another conventioneer but had to return the train ticket stub to convention officials for unknown reasons.

At the bottom of the memo is a scrawled comment from one auditor to another: “This is so bizarre it must be true.”

* Newspapers sent a blizzard of requests to City Hall asking about travel records, Susan Bray’s claim, other sex harassment claims, other stress claims, etc. Each paper tried to outfox its competitors.

The Tribune tried to scoop everyone by requesting all information requested by its competitors, whatever it might be.

It didn’t work: All the papers got the same documents, regardless of what was requested.

* Sexist motto now circulating at City Hall: “Don’t get your honey where you make your money.”

* During her liaison with Spaulding, Susan Bray was seeing a psychiatrist. After her claim, city officials sent her to a city-selected psychiatrist.

Based on those reports, a decision was made to settle the claim rather than fight in court and risk losing even more money.

* Attorney Josiah Neeper’s report will contain disagreement with the advice given by City Atty. John Witt to then-City Manager John Lockwood on keeping the settlement secret from the City Council.

* Neeper may chide City Council members who leaked salacious details about Bray’s claim.

* City Manager Jack McGrory knew trouble when he saw it.

As assistant city manager, he was not part of the deal-making, but was asked to sign one of the documents when Lockwood had a day off.

He declined.

Talk About an Inflated Ego . . .

News. Taken totally out of context.

* Including the world’s largest white glove, no doubt.

Bigger Than Life Inc., a San Diego firm specializing in giant inflatables, has been contacted about maybe making a 30-foot replica of rock star Michael Jackson, for $25,000 or more.

Just in case Jackson decides to tour again.

* Can’t beat that for timing.

When brutality charges were dismissed last week against two Long Beach cops in the celebrated case caught by an undercover NBC camera, where was Assistant Deputy Chief David Dusenberry of the Long Beach P.D.?

In San Diego, talking to Chief Bob Burgreen about ways to curb police brutality.

* Twenty-five teachers will be honored today at an Excel (The Corp. for Excellence in Public Education) ceremony hosted by the Hyatt-Regency La Jolla.

Among other things, the teachers were chosen on the basis of student recommendations.

My favorite is a student recommendation for Elayne Johnson, third-grade teacher at San Diego’s Johnson Elementary School: “When she dresses in leather and jeans she reminds me of my mother and grandmother.”

* Sore loser.

The Wall Street Journal, grumping over the death of The Merger: “After a campaign marked by San Diego civic provincialism. . . .”

The paper lamented that Mexico, now with its pro-business President Carlos Salinas, no longer controls Alta California.

A joke, I think.

Shocking Verse

Utility poet.

Michael Shames, executive director of Utility Consumers Action Network, broke into verse when he heard Southern California Edison would not appeal the rejection of its merger grab at San Diego Gas & Electric.

Here lies the merger

Whose lengthy demise

Brings back the utility

We love to despise.

May this time around

Prove a more pleasant surprise.