Beware the Simple Answers

Friday, Dec. 1, 2006 | Brilliant, Jon Dunchack! Exactly what I’ve been preaching (an I’m a current city employee -20 years) Why we do not have a critical press in San Diego that helps citizens find out facts and make good decisions is because our paper is too close to those moneyed and powerful people who (for example) create developments that put burdens upon the sewer system and do not provide money for the Pump Station that is now needed to handle the increased flows. So the city’s picking that up, and passing the cost along to us all. This happens over and over with all kinds of construction in San Diego. (Where’s the two missing hotels? One at the Ballpark, one at NTC, that were to give the city revenue?) The city employee points out the Code or the Standards and the hired engineers and architects in the private sector whine, and go over their heads to get approvals – we love the “I’ve contacted my councilperson’s office…”(And these will be who enforce the code when you outsource? Nice deal! Yea, let’s not even go through this sham).

Jim Madaffer sounded like he knew the problem of codes not being enforced in his KPBS interview yesterday, but whose responsibility is that? Aren’t the council and mayor our bosses? The message starts at the top. Don’t go out there and tell the public half the truth, and blame us faceless bureaucrats. We take direction from you elected folks who bend to your constituent’s demands. You must do you homework and find out what these people actually are doing. Any local paper could interview, investigate and find out these things. Including what actual wage increases have been for employees the last 20 years. I was actually chortling at Richard Rider’s assumption of 3 percent a year. I’d like some of that – instead of the furloughs I have had and pay cut I now have. Why can’t you use the real facts in your argument? Maybe you wouldn’t have one.

This question begs asking: When the city becomes run as a private business, who do they go to for the subsidies they are so busy giving business? Some business people greatly benefit from government assistance of varying forms. This is shortsighted on their part to privatize government. Their subsidies will come from…where? Government is not business and business is not government. When government is private, who will you go to to get protection from business’ excesses? Think about it.

Yes, these are hard questions, no simple answers, and anyone who gives you quick, simple answers should be confronted.