The folks at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce fired off a press release about this morning’s vote to support the Miramar airport ballot initiative.
It noted “a close vote” (but didn’t expressly say it was 19-18), and gave some insight into what has been an obviously divisive issue among a business community in a city where the defense industry is the second-largest industry (behind manufacturing).
Scott Alevy, the chamber’s vice president of public policy said this in the release:
This was a very close vote but it is an informed position taken by leaders in our community who think the measure balances the region’s economic health and national security interests. … Make no mistake: This Chamber will always stand in partnership with our military neighbors. There is an unbreakable tie between the military and business communities in San Diego, and that allegiance was obvious during the board discussion.
The chamber is endorsing the Miramar airport. The organization doesn’t anticipate taking an active role in the ballot measure campaign, the release said.
Also, the 19-18 vote means that 37 people of the 51-member board voted. That also means that 14 either abstained or were absent from the vote.