San Francisco Political Fight Gives San Diego a Bad Name

Names and other things.

* It hasn’t reached the Stop San Diego-ization Now! level, but the name San Diego has become a swear word in a political fight in San Francisco over rent control.

It started when the Board of Supervisors there passed an ordinance extending that city’s rent-control law to cover even vacant apartments. Apartment owners want a referendum to repeal the vacancy ordinance.

A columnist for the San Francisco Examiner is decrying “clipboard mercenaries” shipped in from conservative San Diego to gather signatures for the rapacious landlords:

“When they ask if you’re a San Francisco voter, ask if they’re from San Diego. And don’t sign anything.”

He’s half-right (good enough for column-work). The petition passers (paid $2.25 per signature) are from American Petition Consultants, run by Bill Arno.

Arno and his outfit used to be based in Escondido but moved to Sacramento a couple of years ago.

* North County bumper sticker: “Sometimes You’re The Hydrant, Sometimes You’re The Dog.”

* The not-so-sweet smell of success.

The Grill on the Park restaurant in downtown San Diego presents its first Garlic Food Fest from July 15 to 31: garlic soup, garlic-baked salmon, mussels broiled with garlic pine nut butter, and more.

At an introductory party, guests got a sampling of garlic delights, topped with chocolate-covered garlic. And tiny bottles of mouthwash.

* The Bring Back Bates Committee has registered with the Federal Elections Commission (a requirement to seek contributions) and plans a barbecue fund-raiser in National City to restore Jim Bates to Congress.

* These are not good times for San Diego Assistant Police Chief Norm Stamper.

While on his first-ever vacation in Hawaii, his plan to reorganize the PD by offering early retirement to members of top brass was shot down as too expensive.

Now he’s back at work and complaining about getting bit by a fish with razor-sharp teeth while snorkeling off Kauai.

‘Hard Copy’ but Soft News

Great moments in journalism.

For two days a camera crew from “Hard Copy” was at the Del Mar Fair stalking Danielle Bennett, the Fairest of the Fair.

The television tabloid was interested in exploiting a small flap over the fact that Bennett, who is also Miss National City, received $500 from the National City Council to cover expenses so she can enter the Miss California USA Pageant.

Through the fair public relations department, Bennett had relayed word that she didn’t want to be interviewed.

So the “Hard Copy” crew paid its admission fee and, like any other fair-going family with a camera, went hunting for Bennett. Shadowed by fair employees intent on protecting Bennett.

When the crew finally moved in for an ambush interview, the fair employees helped Bennett escape in a golf cart down a restricted-access path.

The resulting film clip, shown nationally this week, was of the breathless type usually seen when the quarry is a billion-dollar crook fleeing from Mike Wallace.

“Danielle is a lovely young woman,” fumes fair publicist Diane Scholfield. “She absolutely did not deserve this garbage.”

Kolender Going Places?

A recurring political rumor has former San Diego Police Chief Bill Kolender, now an executive with the Union-Tribune Publishing Co., being named by Gov. Pete Wilson to run the California Youth Authority.

Three facts lend credence to the rumor.

One: CYA boss B.T. Collins just left to run for Assembly.

Two: The San Diego County Grand Jury just cleared Kolender of lingering accusations of misconduct during his tenure as chief (1975-88).

Three: Kolender’s rise to the top of the U-T management seems to have stalled with the hiring of a new general manager.

The governor’s people maintain that no decision will be made on a successor to Collins until after the special election this month. (Collins could return if he loses).

Says Kolender:

“Nothing has happened. I have not been offered anything. The governor’s office made some comments that they were interested in me.”