One issue to keep an eye on at San Diego City Hall in the new year is Mayor Jerry Sanders’ efforts to privatize certain city services.
KPBS reporter Allison St. John had an interesting story this morning on how the effort called “managed competition” might fare under the new City Council. Three of the four new members — with the exception of Carl DeMaio — say they’re opposed to outsourcing city services.
Councilman Todd Gloria told St. John:
I have seen efforts in the past to try to privatize a lot of the work of local government and I’ve never been that impressed. It seems to me there are grand promises made that are rarely met.
Voters approved Sanders’ outsourcing measure — a linchpin of his mayoral campaign — in 2006. But implementation of the program has been stalled by, among other things, a questionable contract with a consulting firm hired to design the program.