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Talk about #FilnerEverywhere.
New San Diego Mayor Bob Filner touched on just about every issue you could think of at his first State of the City address Tuesday night.
We heard him talk about the city’s financial condition, homelessness, a new Chargers stadium, the Convention Center expansion, cross-border relations with Mexico, climate change, labor relations, solar, neighborhood development, transit, job growth, water policy, open government and pensions. And he gave out on-stage awards to Padres great Tony Gwynn, homeless advocate Father Joe Carroll and other prominent San Diegans.
Filner continues to improve at giving lucid speeches that outline his vision for San Diego’s future. The difficulty will come because the city’s still-precarious financial situation makes it hard to finance the kind of large-scale change he’s seeking.
Here are some of the highlights, context and best reactions from the speech as captured on Twitter.
Filner compares city to patient who survived a deadly disease and is cautiously optimistic, but knows relapse could come. #sdsoc
— KPBS Evening Edition (@KPBSEvening) January 16, 2013
Filner says city submitted to radical surgery, meaning fiscal reform and strong mayor form of government. #sdsoc
— KPBS Evening Edition (@KPBSEvening) January 16, 2013
Context: Maureen O’Connor, who was Mayor when Filner was on the City Council, also gave out awards at her State of City speeches #sdsoc
— Gerry Braun (@GerryBraun) January 16, 2013
O’Connor called them the Seahorse awards. #sdsoc
— Gerry Braun (@GerryBraun) January 16, 2013
Light rail to the airport!?! Awesome if he can do it. #SDSOC
— Benjamin Katz (@MeanestBossEver) January 16, 2013
The inclusiveness of this speech is impressive/refreshing. #sdsoc
— Anthony G. Manolatos (@tonymanolatos) January 16, 2013
Filner: Chargers won’t take advantage of annual option to exit lease, won’t file application with league to explore relocation. #sdsoc
— Andrew Keatts (@andy_keatts) January 16, 2013
#sdsoc best bits! More priority to liveable neighborhoods looking at transit, bike friendly walkable communities! @movesd
— Marcela Escobar-Eck (@SanDiegoLandUse) January 16, 2013
“We in San Diego can embrace the border as a unique asset.” – @bobfilnermayor #sdsoc
— Monica Montano (@MonicaMontanoSD) January 16, 2013
@dillonliam “Let’s all get to work.” #bossofyear #sdsoc
— Randy Dotinga (@rdotinga) January 16, 2013
Liam Dillon is a news reporter for Voice of San Diego. He covers how regular people interact with local government. What should he write about next?
Please contact him directly at liam.dillon@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.550.5663.
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