Good morning from Hillcrest.
- There was some ruckus brought and barnyard epithets thrown due to city of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders’ decision not to rule out privatization of city services without a city department bid. The option came because of a city attorney opinion that allows the city to do so, but contradicts three years of public debate on the issue. Some City Council members are not amused.
- San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald has a citizens’ advisory council that likes libraries and city halls. That’s about all we knew until last week’s People’s Reporter, Keegan Kyle, pushed Emerald’s office to reveal some details. Conservative blog San Diego Rostra was and remains all over this issue.
- There was solid opinion news and commentary over the weekend. The U-T runs a point/counterpoint on San Diego’s downtown homeless shelter. The newspaper also praises a decision to study creating a nonprofit to fundraise for Balboa Park and decries the salary of San Diego County’s new pension administrator.
Both the U-T and the North County Times address the latest in Chargers stadium talks. The U-T blasts the deal to exempt an L.A. stadium from state environmental rules and the NCT says if Escondido is to be the site for the new stadium, then it must be a regional effort.
- Here’s a similarity between the San Diego Mayor’s Office and voiceofsandiego.org: We’re both looking for suggestions. The mayor would like to know how you would solve the city’s $179 million budget deficit. We’d like you to talk about this week’s City Council agenda and add your thoughts on old San Diego development and tourism vs. new San Diego biotech.
- Finally, the U-T writes about how National City is dealing with a loss of commercial retail. Hint: It involves help from the city.