You may have noticed Peter Q. Davis, the former mayoral candidate and prominent local banker, is hosting Café San Diego today. His introduction is sympathetic to, if not downright supportive of, Proposition B — the measure that would completely revise the thinking about the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and the waterfront activities of San Diego’s harbor.
It’s the first in a series of pieces we’re posting this week about Proposition B. It’s a huge issue and one that, if passed, has the possibility of changing San Diego’s landscape and economy forever. Some local leaders like Davis have long supported the idea that Tenth Avenue would be better if people could access it — people as in tourists, sports fans and just strolling San Diegans. The views from the property are impressive. The proximity to downtown is so attractive, developers would die for the chance to put condos, hotels or anything there.
On the other hand, it’s one of only two major cargo facilities in San Diego. Depending on who you talk to, there are a number of well-paying jobs connected to the facility that unions and the port’s current leadership are committed to protecting. And they warn that no matter what the initiative’s backers say, those jobs would be threatened if Proposition B passes.
It’s a very consequential debate and this week we’ll present a number of different takes on it.
Stay tuned and participate in today’s discussion with Davis.