MISSION PUBLISHING SELLS LA MESA COURIER, 2 OTHER NEWSPAPERS

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July 1, 2014 (La Mesa)--The Mission Times Courier, Mission Valley News and La Mesa Courier are joining the San Diego Community News Network (SDCNN) and its group of award-winning community newspapers, strengthening SDCNN’s community news voice in San Diego.

SDCNN’s purchase of the trio of newspapers from Jim Madaffer’s Mission Publishing Group takes effect July 1. The acquisition also includes Mission Publishing Group’s online news site, ScoopSanDiego.com, a press release issued yesterday by Mission Publishing announced.

“San Diego Community News Network Publisher David Mannis has a long history devoted to offering top-flight community news in San Diego County, and we look forward to that continuing with his acquisition of these Mission Publishing Group newspapers,” Madaffer said.

SDCNN publishes the San Diego Uptown News, San Diego Downtown News and Gay San Diego in providing in-depth, hyper-local community news that has been increasingly ignored by larger media companies in the region.

Mannis, a native San Diegan, has been in the publishing industry for more than 30 years. He previously published the La Jolla Village News, Beach & Bay Press and The Peninsula Beacon, and just celebrated the five-year anniversary of SDCNN in June.

The combined 68,000 circulation of the newly acquired newspapers will give SDCNN a total circulation of 130,000, with a distribution that expands its current reach of Uptown and Downtown neighborhoods into those of eastern and central San Diego, including Mission Valley, San Carlos, Allied Gardens, Grantville, Del Cerro, the College Area, La Mesa and others.

“Jim has done a terrific job over the last two decades and these papers have truly become staples of the neighborhoods they serve,” Mannis said. “The SDCNN team is excited to add these quality newspapers to our family of community papers and we look forward to serving the people and businesses of these vibrant areas.”

A former San Diego City Councilmember, Madaffer is president of Madaffer Enterprises, Inc., a government affairs consulting firm located in Downtown San Diego. He serves on the board of directors of the San Diego County Water Authority and was appointed to the California Transportation Commission earlier this year by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The award-winning Mission Times Courier has become among the most beloved community newspapers in the region since its founding in 1995. Madaffer’s former wife, Sally Ortega, served as editor and publisher from 1995-2010. Jim Madaffer took over operations in 2010, adding the Mission Valley News and the La Mesa Courier since then. Advertising revenues have nearly quadrupled during his tenure as full-time writers, graphic artists, and web staff were hired.

Not included in the sale is the Seaside Courier, which launched in late 2013 and covers the coastal communities of Del Mar north through Oceanside. The monthly newspaper is mailed to 28,000 homes and businesses in Encinitas and its daily website, SeasideCourier.com, regularly beats larger media outlets on stories of importance in the area it covers.

Madaffer will remain busy with his government affairs consulting firm, serial entrepreneurship and volunteer activities.

 

 


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Comments

No Water Shortage but Rates continue to increase 56%

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Governor Brown has announced the California drought is over but you are still getting a five year 56 % increase. Why? Overhead costs are out of control at all 24 San Diego County Water Districts. Mark Weston, the San Diego County Water Authority’s Board Chairman wanted a 62 % 5 yr. price increase. You may want to ask where all the money is going. At Helix Water the median salary is $80,556.00 and median benefits $47,150.00 per year and growing. Compare this to US Dept. of Labor median salary of $52,000 in the US. Health care at Helix is almost FREE to the age of 67, 70, or life, depending on hire date. Paid days start at 36 per year and increase with tenure. Long time employees can sell back unused PTO time for cash. All employees have annual cost of living increases and many other PERKS. You may have read in the San Diego Union Tribune last week that San Diego wanted to temporally rehire a few retired fireman back each making more than $500.000 / yr. in retirement benefits. We are facing a similar predicament with all 24 San Diego County Water Authority Companies. At Helix Water Ratepayers pay $15,273.00, pension, and $6041.00, Social Security, per median employee this year. Pension is guaranteed to grow at 7.5 percent per year. Compounded over the next 20 years you the rate payer will pay more than $600,000.00 per median employee towards their retirement benefits and this does not include any factor for merit increases. Who is responsible for this at Helix Water? John Linden (Division 1), Charles Muse (Division 3), and DeAna Verbekeare (Division 2) are responsible for these rate increases. In the past year they have not denied any Helix Water increase expense. During their tenure, last 10 years plus, the Helix Water budget has increased 345 % and they have fewer employees (150-144) and only 651 (1%) new customers out of a total of 55,357 customers. This is a very heavy price for rate payers to pay for a free commodity supplied by Mother Nature. Unfunded Liabilities are out of sight indicating future generations will have to bear most of the costs these three individuals have created. Last year in order to reduce costs, I recommended subbing out the billing function to SDG&E. California Dept. of Water which controls the electrical grid in California and has a working relationship with SDG&E. Just look at the back of your SDG&E Bill. Notice any similarity between Helix Water and SDG&E invoices. This too fell onto deaf ears. The only way to stop this trend is to elect responsible individuals who will represent the rate payers. These three Linden, Muse, and Verbekeare, have demonstrated over the past 10 years they are not capable nor willing to do the job. All 24 Water Districts in San Diego County face this out of control overhead cost spending. Only you the voters can intervene and elect responsible individuals to stop this continued thievery. Do not reelect John Linden (Division 1), Charles Muse (Division 3) for Helix Water Board this November.

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