A bill by Assemblymember David Alvarez, D-San Diego, aims to tackle ethics issues at the Port of San Diego and increase public access to the waterfront.
Alvarez introduced AB 2783 last week to set ethics standards for the Port Commission, which has faced a series of embarrassing conflicts. Last fall it censured its own Commissioner Sandy Naranjo in a dispute over alleged conflicts of interest and retaliation that then Chair Rafael Castellanos called “an awkward situation.” Then in January, port CEO Joe Stuyvesant resigned, six months after being placed on administrative leave. Days later, Castellanos himself resigned, saying he needed to focus on family health matters and his work as a commercial real estate attorney.
“There’s a lack of clarity surrounding a lot of what happened around the port over the last year,” Alvarez said.
His bill would require the board to adopt a code of ethics, limit commissioners to three terms and prevent them from serving multiple terms as chair or vice chair. It would ban commissioners from lobbying, contracts or jobs with the board or the port district for two years after their terms end. And if the board censures a member, it would have to notify the city that appointed the commissioner, and publicly release all investigative documents.
He also calls for dedicating 1 percent of the port’s “nontax revenue,” including leases and fees, to convert industrial port properties in disadvantaged communities into “parks, plazas and promenades.”
His bill defines these communities as census tracts flagged by CalEPA for air pollution and other environmental hazards. A map marking those areas in red covers nearly all of the San Diego waterfront, from Barrio Logan through National City, where residential neighborhoods border docks and shipyards.
The Port says Alvarez’s bill would kill maritime jobs and businesses.
The port declined my request to discuss the bill, but their public information officer Brianne Mundy Page, sent me a statement.
“The Port of San Diego is concerned about the unintended consequences of AB 2783 and the many negative impacts it would have on the people and businesses of our region. This proposed legislation threatens good local jobs on the waterfront and essential maritime and industrial uses that are critical to the regional economy,” she wrote.
Maritime industrial businesses including shipyards, boatyards, cargo handling and fish processing employ about 8,400 workers, she said. Some of those could be forced to close or cut jobs under Alvarez’ proposal, Page said.
Alvarez disputed that reading of his bill. He said it would create an option for the Port to replace some maritime businesses with open space when leases expire. But it would not require it to convert any industrial properties to public facilities.
“This is not an intent to eliminate maritime industrial uses,” he said. “This would encourage the port to look at public access to the waterfront, potentially through some of these sites that are currently industrial use.”
State Senate Republicans Take Aim at Income-Based Utility Fee
State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego, is trying to revoke a controversial income-based utility fee that would cut costs for low-income ratepayers, but charge a steep fee to those in higher tiers.
Last week Jones introduced the Cost of Living Reduction Act, SB 1326, which would repeal the law authorizing a graduated charge on electrical bills. His seven Republic Senate colleagues signed on as co-sponsors.
Jones called the new fee a “socialist billing scheme,” and said in a press release that “customers should be charged based on usage, not income.”
Passed in a kind of “oops” moment as a trailer to a larger budget package two years ago, the original bill, AB205 calls for an “income-graduated” utility fee.
Some lawmakers have tried to walk back that vote after the cost became clear. The California Public Utilities Commission hasn’t set rates yet, but proposed fee structures submitted by SDG&E and the Sierra Club would top out at $73 to $136 per month. That drew backlash in light of skyrocketing electric bills.
Earlier this month we wrote about a group of Assembly Democrats including Chris Ward, D-San Diego, and Akilah Weber, D-La Mesa, who introduced a similar bill to replace sharply tiered fees with more modest charges of $5 to $10 per month.
Jones said he was encouraged by the Assembly bill and called on colleagues to “work across the aisle” to reverse the fee mandate. He noted that his bill contains an “urgency clause” which would halt the fee effort immediately.
How the Governor’s Blockbuster Mental Health Initiative Would Raise New Cash But Cut Some Funding Back
If you’re confused about Proposition 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s behavioral health initiative, you’re not alone. The ballot measure would authorize a $6.4 billion bond to fund mental health and addiction treatment, but also take some control – and funding – away from counties.
Voice of San Diego’s Lisa Halverstadt breaks down the measure’s provisions, explaining how the bond would generate money for 6,800 new behavioral health beds statewide and thousands of outpatient spaces, but could limit money for county prevention programs and crisis stabilization units.
In the San Diego Union-Tribune, reporter Paul Sisson also explores how the ballot measure would boost county spending on housing for people with mental illness, but divert money from clinical programs.
Curious how California got here? In this timeline, CalMatters shows the history of mental health laws from the rise and fall of state mental hospitals to the current homelessness crisis.
Coastal Train Could Be Back in Operation Soon, Maybe?
We’ve written about efforts to repair the coastal rail line, which has been beset by landslides and erosion. Last month lawmakers announced $53.9 million for a new train bridge at Del Mar, days after mudslides caused by a historic storm shut down tracks at San Clemente.
Last week we learned that the California Transportation Commission awarded $7.2 million to repair the broken link. Yesterday authorities reported that work has begun to fix a catchment wall along the tracks at San Clemente… weather permitting.
Several readers wrote to me with opinions on the projects. One said he thinks there should be no spending on quick fixes; all rail money should go toward long-term renovation of the line. Another said authorities should abandon trains and put that money toward projects such as bus routes and bike lanes. What do you think?
The Sacramento Report runs every Friday and is part of a partnership with CalMatters. Do you have tips, ideas or questions? Send them to me at deborah@voiceofsandiego.org.
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In addition to port commission members, Alvarez should amend his bill to include port district staff. Board members and staff should be prohibited from working for the port or any port tenants for five years after leaving port employment, not just two.