Monday, March 14, 2005 | It’s time to stop the turmoil in San Diego. It seems that there are those who thrive and probably benefit from the uncertainty at City Hall and are therefore filling the city rumor mill with talk of recalling Mayor Dick Murphy. Let’s be clear, whatever the origins and agenda of this whisper campaign, this will hurt, not help, the city.
It seems they will do anything to discredit local government and keep in turmoil whatever the cost and regardless of impact. Never mind that the real impact is that we won’t be able to focus on the issues that matter most to people – like fixing the roads, cleaning the beaches, and keeping the libraries open.
Going back to the rumor mill, here’s the first group of likely suspects carrying out this “leave no one standing” strategy.
We all know that lots of people didn’t vote for Mayor Murphy. But so far the courts have ruled that he is the winner. The last thing this city needs is one more expensive, and contentious election that will only make the bond markets wonder if this city can ever get out of the mud, stop the finger-pointing and get back to work. We need, more than ever, for the city to come together, ramp down the hyperbole, roll up our sleeves, and just get back to the work of the city.
Donald Cohen is the co-founder and President of the Center on Policy Initiatives, a San Diego-based research and advocacy organization. Cohen is the former political director of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO. He also serves on the Mayor’s Smart Growth Task Force, the Downtown Community Plan Update Steering Committee and the Affordable Housing Task Force.