Good morning from Hillcrest.
- We’ll be wrapping up our week-long guest blog series on the city’s $179 million budget deficit today with a collection of comments from readers. Yesterday’s guest blogger was Joan Raymond, president of the city’s blue-collar union, Local 127. She argues that management reductions should come before worker or service cuts. She also calls on Mayor Jerry Sanders to announce publicly what she says he’s been saying privately: “San Diego lacks sufficient revenues to pay for its services.”
- There’s a holdup in the state Senate about plans to refund state grabs of local revenues. Without a deal, it could cost county agencies $150 million, the U-T reports. Sanders sent a letter of concern to Senate leaders.
- The city received a fire helicopter nicknamed “The Incredible Hulk” courtesy of San Diego Gas & Electric. One critic wondered in the U-T if the gift was in exchange for the city’s support of the company’s failed rural power shutoff plan.
- A leading homeless advocacy coalition urged San Diego’s City Council to place its temporary homeless shelter downtown. Council will vote on the measure next week.
- Some reaction to a county-wide pension report issued by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association on Wednesday. CityBeat’s Carl Luna argues the report’s ultimate conclusion is that defined-benefit plans are bad. The Reader’s Don Bauder highlighted the report’s finding that cities with the largest pension burdens are the ones raising taxes.
- Chargers fans can participate in a live online chat this morning at 11:30 with team special counsel Mark Fabiani. Fabiani will address the latest in stadium talks. Here’s the link (registration is required to participate).
- Finally, check out Public Comment, our weekly preview of the San Diego City Council meeting.