SAN DIEGO (SDJW)– A group with the nickname of the “White Knights” has successfully raised $1 million to help save the San Diego Opera, with another $1 million campaign now spurred by a $500,000 matching grant offered by Gloria Rasmussen and Jay Merritt. The “White Knights” came into being after the Opera’s former General Director Ian Campbell, citing rising costs and lower revenues, said there was “no white knight” to save the opera, and persuaded his board to wind up the opera’s financial affairs and go out of business. This prompted an outcry leading to the resignations of Campbell and his former wife and development director Ann Spira Campbell, as well as a large percentage of the board. The remaining board members, led by newly elected president Carol Lazier, embarked upon the fundraising campaign. U-T reporter James Chute, in a front page story, said the $1 million was raised through an Internet crowdfunding campaign.
*
In her ever-popular column in the U-T’s local section, Diane Bell took another look at the fundraising party that brought President Barack Obama on Thursday, May 8, to the La Jolla home of Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs and his wife Joan Jacobs. Among the guests at the $10,000 per person event was Elaine Galinson, widow of banker/ attorney Murray Galinson, z”l. Elaine said that Joan Jacobs learned that she and Michelle Obama shared the same birthday, January 17th, albeit of different years. Joan suggested that perhaps the families should get together for a joint celebration – at the Obama’s house.
*
The staff of San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald were among a phalanx of volunteers who came to the aid of World War II Marine Corps veteran Jess Busco, 88, and his wife Essie who were victimized by a tenant who sublet the house at the front of their City Heights property, and refused to pay rent. The sub-letters meanwhile trashed their home. Authorities evicted the group, and then the volunteers repaired and repainted the property for the couple. U-T reporter Debbi Baker said police officers, Coast Guard reservists and others wanted to do something nice for the veteran who had served his country in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
*
Back in 2005, Steve Padilla was the mayor of Chula Vista, having been elected to that position by fellow members of the City Council. When there was a vacancy on the council to be filled, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis allegedly asked Padilla to appoint her employee Jesse Navarro. Padilla declined to do so, and sometime afterwards the district attorney’s office investigated Padilla’s attendance record on the council, with no action taken. As friends of election opponent Bob Brewer questioned whether Dumanis had abused her power, U-T writer Kristina Davis reported that the issue was brought before both federal and state authorities in 2007, and that both declined to prosecute. The state attorney general’s office at the time called the charges “nothing but innuendo.” … In an editorial on another page, the U-T made light of various allegations against Dumanis made by the Brewer campaign. “We are reminded why the final weeks of an election campaign are known as ‘the silly season,’” said the U-T editorial.
*
Preceding compiled from other news media by San Diego Jewish World