In the days since the election, our commenters have had a lot to say about the close mayor’s race eventually won by Bob Filner. They also weighed in on the statewide Proposition 30 tax hike and raises for some city managers.
Check out these five comments from the week:
• Jeff Jordon, vice president of the San Diego Police Officers Association, on “City Gives Out Raises Despite Pay Freeze“:
Hey Jerry, not too long ago we used to have 2100 cops. Now we are down to about 1800 not including the recruits. They are taking on significant risks, handling many collateral duties and we frequently can’t even make our minimum patrol staffing numbers in the field. Three hundred less cops means a whole lot of savings, but instead of giving them any type of incentive for their increased work load you cut the pay for many of them by about 12% in 2009 and they have not had any increase since. So much for shared sacrifices for the good of the city. This type of hypocrisy sickens employees, whether they see it in the public or private sector.
• Dale Peterson on “DeMaio Never Had a Shot“:
I disagree with some of this. I think that DeMaio had more than a legitimate shot at mayor.
The “I’m going to appeal to the Republican Party hard right in the primary and then move to the middle in the general” was a hand that was overplayed. He and much of his staff alienated the moderate R types, early on. The Fletcher, Dumanis, and unattached Independents didn’t march lockstep (in the general) with Carl “because they had nowhere else to go.” Some concluded, “To hell with it, I’ll vote for Filner, or I’ll leave it blank.” And, that did happen that way for many activist centrists.
The DeMaio playbook had council member candidates who couldn’t/wouldn’t articulate a vision beyond “I’m for Prop. B and I’m against city pensions.” Well, where was the vision/interest beyond those concerns? They paid the price for assuming that the pathway to a majority was wrapped around petition signature gathering and essentially ignoring real neighborhood issues.
Yes, the demographics of San Diego favored Mr. Filner. And, sure, those realities made it more of challenge for Carl than for recent Republican candidates. But, my point remains, in the neighborhood trenches Filner’s people helped Bob look more appealing and curb knowledgeable. While, DeMaio’s people helped Carl look like a single issue candidate who had the warmth of a college term paper in a Statistics class.
• Andy Kopp on “A Hopeful Glimpse at the Filner Era“:
The livable/bike-able/walkable city seems at least in small part, in contrast with Filner’s rhetoric against the Downtown-centric view of San Diego. Downtown and Uptown only bookend Balboa in theory. The 5 running between Downtown and the park is at a minimum, a psychological barrier to the idea of a unified city and definitely gives a sense of sprawl, even in the immediate vicinity north of Downtown. And the parking accessibility (with proposals for expansion) are a minor disaster in my opinion, screaming for adequate and varied public transit options.
I’m sure residents of Uptown might disagree, but the answer seems to be to zone for more vertical development to provide the type of density that can support the types of local everyday businesses that people will bike to and also warrant running a trolley line on both sides of the park (6th Ave and Park Blvd) — I’m not a huge fan of the trolley car/buses the Mr. Filner mentioned today (according to CityBeat’s, Kelly Davis @citybeatkelly).
In my view, all of this means exactly the opposite of what Mr. Filner has campaigned against — more Downtown (and Uptown) development, both business and residential. I hope he’ll see the necessity.
• Robert Cohen on “San Diego’s Top Prosecutors Don’t Like the New Mayor“:
Prosecutors that are elected always walk that fine line of prejudicial conduct because they have to play the political game to get elected. That means making friends with influential people. It’s tougher to prosecute someone that may be an ally rather than a foe. Dumanis and Goldsmith have burdened themselves by their active opposition to Filner. Any investigation of Filner will always have that taint. Duffy, while not elected, became actively involved in the mayor’s race and made her displeasure of Filner known. Very problematical.
• Stella Lopez on “Education Leaders Warn: Prop. 30 Is No Schools Cure-All“:
Freeman and Evans already talking pink slips ?!? Are they on the same team now?
Its only November! We just passed Prop. 30 and school bond Z, we all worked hard to help make sure schools stay funded and they still expect pink slips.
No wonder, Freeman and half the board are facing a RECALL. I know I am NOW signing the petitions. Obviously, Freeman (and his board) are unable to properly lead and fight back.
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Dagny Salas is the web editor at Voice of San Diego. You can contact her directly at dagny.salas@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.550.5669.
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