Lux Art director out after staff and artist complaints

San Diego CityBeat:

The million-dollar-budget arts organization and residency (whose vision statement was to redefine “the museum experience to make art more accessible and personally meaningful”) would prefer not to talk about the troubling reputation of recently departed executive director and founder Reesey Shaw. [...]

“I described it as an abusive relationship,” says former Deputy Director of Lux Dan Buryj in reference to working with Shaw. “I think every single person who worked there cried at least once in front of her. But at the same time you loved the mission, and you loved the people you were working with. I think that’s what kept a lot of people there. You felt camaraderie with your coworkers.”

Speaking to Buryj was the first time I was able to get anyone to openly talk about what I’ve heard among many peers in the art scene—stories of verbal abuse, high staff turnover and more. As I’ve talked about in the previous columns in this series, arts and non-profit professionals often fear for their careers if they speak about unfair working conditions and toxic leadership.

But if Shaw was making people cry, why was she allowed to lead for so long?

Unions waste no time capitalizing on bogus Graham story

Graham cleared by witnesses and video

Coast News:

Assembly candidate Phil Graham has been cleared of any wrongdoing after the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department announced that allegations that he forcibly kissed a woman at an Encinitas bar were unfounded.

The Sheriff’s Department disclosed its findings in a news release Tuesday night, one week before the June 5 primary election.

“After conducting a thorough investigation, interviewing several witnesses and reviewing video surveillance from both inside and outside of the business, detectives disproved the allegations made against Mr. Graham,” the department said in a news release. “As a result, this case is being closed as unfounded, pending any new or additional information.”

Shortly after the accusation surfaced, the Coast News found the accuser to have a long history of dubious claims.

5/23/18 City Council meeting open thread

Please use the comments to record your observations.

Beavis & Butt-Head kidnappers get 7 years, 1 year

Times of San Diego:

A man who tried to kidnap a 15-year-old girl as she waxed her surfboard in front of an Encinitas home was sentenced Monday to seven years in state prison.

Jeremiah Owens, 28, was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life. He pleaded guilty in April to attempted kidnap for rape of a minor.

[... Accomplice Christopher] White, also 28, pleaded guilty to being an accessory to kidnapping and will be sentenced to a year in custody on June 19.

Where dolphins and surfers come to play

Leading Republican Assembly candidate accused of drunken, unwelcome bar kiss

10 News:

Niki Burgan filed the battery case with the Sheriff's Office Sunday, May 20. She accuses Graham of forcibly kissing her at an Encinitas Bar. Burgan told 10News that it happened at 1st Street Bar on S. Coast Hwy 101 on the evening of Sunday, May 13, into the early morning of Monday, May 14 as the bar was closing.

She said that Graham had initially been flirting, even mentioning that he was running for office and asked whether she would vote for him. After finding out that he was a Republican candidate she said, no she was a Democrat.

At some point, she says his talk turned into aggression and Graham grabbed her hair, pulled her in, and started to kiss her. She said she had to push him off.

Burgan also said she remembers that Graham had so much to drink that night that she had to help him sign his tab.

Graham, who previously ran a half-hearted campaign for city council, appears to be the leading Republican in the Assembly race with many mail ballots already having been voted.

UPDATE: Accuser has serious credibility problems.

UPDATE: Sheriff clears Graham.