As Mexico continues its democratic journey, the role of independent agencies, also known as autonomous constitutional bodies, cannot be overstated.
Politics
The back-and-forth seemed normal before Fletcher called it a "threat".
Pictured: Ammar Campa-Najjar. Photograph by Ariana Drehsler / Redux
By Arturo Castañares
Editor-at-Large
A local city councilman who also holds an administrative position at San Diego State University helped secure a titular position for a political ally who was looking for consolation after losing his third election in a row.
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<p>A new poll conducted in the last month suggests that a majority of San Diegans are looking for new leadership at City Hall just as first-term Mayor Todd Gloria starts gearing up his re-election campaign for next year's election.</p>
<p>"Nearly six-in-ten voters (59 percent) think the city has gotten off on the wrong track," the poll analysis states. "Only 36 percent say it is heading in the right direction."</p>
By Arturo Castañares
Editor-at-Large
A local City Councilwoman who runs a political consulting firm has never reported her employer's clients which could pose conflicts-of-interest as she serves on the City Council.
Andrea Cardenas, who was elected to the Chula Vista City Council in November 2020, lists her employment as “Director of Community Engagement” for Grassroots Resources Inc. on her annual Form 700 Economic Interests disclosure forms filed with the City of Chula Vista in 2021 and 2022.
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<p>A San Diego power couple lobbied for the approval of a development team to rebuild the Sports Arena property but failed to file public disclosure forms until after the City Council selected their team from among three bidders. </p>
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<p>Federal funds allocated to help deal with sewage coming into the US from Mexico along the San Diego border may finally be spent to keep pollution from closing local beaches.</p>
<p>Two separate federal funding mechanism are now in place that could bring more than $400 million to build projects aimed at controlling raw sewage that flows into San Diego from Tijuana.</p>
By Arturo Castañares
Editor-at-Large
San Diego State University suddenly removed references to a new position created for a well-connected perennial political candidate after media requests for information, and the school now has posted an application process to fill the position that seems custom tailored with one person in mind.
By Arturo Castañares
Editor-at-Large
The process to fill a vacancy on a local City Council has revealed an interconnected web of financial relationships between powerful political figures involved in steering the selection process.
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