However, now that it appears the blue-collar union is going to make a big expenditure in opposition to it, we may actually have a race. And it's all because of this public safety argument. By being able to claim the mayor or future mayors will have the legal ability to outsource police and fire services, the opponents have seized on an argument that they think works. How crazy is it that the lack of one sentence clearly put into Proposition C that expressly exempted police and fire from outsourcing may have been all that was needed to ensure this thing's easy passage.

Perhaps proponents for the measure will stop running away from the public-safety argument and embrace the fact that maybe police and fire shouldn't be exempted from the threat of outsourcing. Denying that it could happen isn't getting them anywhere.

San Diego City Council members considered a possible settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission behind closed doors yesterday, then were as tight-lipped as they have ever been about the nearly three-year investigation.

Here was the voiceofsandiego.org:

A source close to the city of San Diego's negotiations with the Securities and Exchange Commission said the City Council agreed to settle with the federal regulators Tuesday that would not include fines for the embattled municipality.

The agreement, pending approval by the SEC board, would require the city to hire -- at its own expense -- an expert to supervise the city's bookkeeping practices for three years, the source said. The city would also not be fined under the terms of the pending agreement, according to the source.

In a move rarely seen in politics, U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter bought a full-page ad in yesterday's editions of The San Diego Union-Tribune to rebut what he said were false impressions created by the newspaper regarding his East County home.

That'll show 'em.

-- SCOTT LEWIS