Good morning from Hillcrest.
My apologies for the lack of an Agenda yesterday. I’ve doubled up to catch you up on news from the last two days.
- We’ll lead off with the budget. Our own Keegan Kyle writes about what police and fire cuts mean for the city of San Diego. I have a piece on a financial report that’s coming from a private task force of dozen of Mayor Jerry Sanders’ business backers. The task force’s chairman says it’s not going away until the deficit is solved. The U-T’s opinion page has an interview with Councilman Todd Gloria where it’s all budget talk, all the time.
- Other big news this week continues to be the Chargers stadium search. The city’s downtown redevelopment arm hired a financial consultant yesterday to evaluate a site in East Village. CityBeat reports that East Village’s character could be changed for the worse with a new stadium.
Meantime, the L.A. contender for the Chargers has interesting developments, too. The Los Angeles District Attorney is investigating conflict of interest allegations involving the business connections of the city of Industry’s mayor. The Minnesota Vikings, another possible L.A. target, are beyond angry at their stadium situation in Minneapolis.
- Another major building project in San Diego, the Convention Center expansion, received a boost this week with the $13.5 million purchase of a lease to the land the city needs. CityBeat blogs that San Diego could use more Comic-Con conventions.
- In water news, City Council hiked rates another 7.75 percent this week. Our own Rob Davis breaks down how the city’s water use continues to drop.
- Some quick city of San Diego hits. City Council is backing a bid for soccer’s World Cup in 2018 and 2022. The mayor will testify in a federal case seeking to overturn the state’s ban against gay marriage. More community activists are upset at Councilwoman Marti Emerald’s advisory board.
- The U-T is staying on the case of state Rep. Joel Anderson, R-La Mesa. A GOP official has resigned over questionable campaign contributions that have led to an investigation.
- Union leaders have turned in petitions for a term limits initiative for San Diego County Supervisors. Also in the county, a contractor for the public works department faces federal charges of falsifying his inspection work.
- In news from other cities around San Diego county, Poway Councilwoman Betty Rexford weathered another maelstrom at a meeting this week. Signatures on a petition for her recall are gaining steam. San Marcos’ mayor announced that he plans to seek re-election. A private contractor is offering more cost savings for Oceanside’s trash pickup in exchange for a contract extension. Also in Oceanside, the city voted against allowing rowhouses in a city neighborhood. El Cajon’s redevelopment saw some boosts this week.
- Last, this week we came across the KUSI interview with Councilman Carl DeMaio that prompted Sanders to compare the first-term councilman to former nemesis City Attorney Mike Aguirre. Comments are welcome in The Hall.