For this week’s Q&A, I’ll be sitting down with Jerry Groomes, the new president of the Southeastern Economic Development Corp.
Groomes’ arrival earlier this month marked the end of a long period of leadership transition for the agency in charge of redeveloping blighted neighborhoods in southeastern San Diego.
A 2008 voiceofsandiego.org investigation that uncovered a series of clandestine bonuses at SEDC forced its president, Carolyn Y. Smith, from her post. Brian Trotier was hired to replace her on an interim basis. Now Groomes, the former city manager of Carson in Los Angeles County, takes the reins on a permanent basis.
Groomes has a history in southeastern San Diego: He was SEDC’s president in the early 1990s.
I plan to ask Groomes about the challenges of redevelopment in one of the city’s poorest areas, his vision for an agency that’s been rocked by scandal, and the agency’s uncertain future as Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed eliminating redevelopment to help balance the state’s budget. But I’d like to ask him your questions, too, so send them along.
Please contact Adrian Florido directly at adrian.florido@voiceofsandiego.org or at 619.325.0528 and follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/adrianflorido.