Welcome back, Scott. And coincident with an aviation advocate hosting Cafe San Diego, the new guy in charge of airports leaves. Rick Reynolds was the new high-level boss for the Airports Division after airports were "taken away from" Real Estate Assets Department. Keep us informed about what you can find out.

Posted by Rick Beach | reply to this comment
September 28, 2007 5:10 pm

So what else is new......Colonel Sanders is a loser and his staff is jumping ship...and voters aren't far behind....cannot wait until he is voted out of office..... he has been a disaster for the City.

Posted by Billy! Bob!! Henry!!! | reply to this comment
September 28, 2007 6:13 pm

Interesting. And regarding Airports -- not sure what difference it makes taking them away from Real Estate who had nothing to do with the Sunroad deal anyway. If Airports had reported to Development Services, then I could understand. But didn't get the change.

Posted by Ann | reply to this comment
September 28, 2007 6:22 pm

Have we noted that Rick Reynolds is a longtime Navy sidekick of Ronne Froman and worked for her at the San Diego Unified School District under Alan Bersin? Bersin now is head of the Airport Authority. Ronne's gone, Rick is gone, but Alan lingers on.

Posted by Francine Foraday | reply to this comment
September 28, 2007 7:04 pm

This is interesting indeed. If true, who is left of the mayor's original hand picked team that was going to improve city services? I've yet to see an improvement in the services nor stability in his team. How will he carry through with his political promises when those he trusted the most appear to be bailing before he gets re-elected? Do we look forward to yet a new team if he gets re-elected, another inadequately prepared group of people who leave before their ideas can be proved? Yet the mayor wants more power to himself? I will be fascinated to hear more.

Posted by Leanne | reply to this comment
September 28, 2007 7:09 pm

Even Susan Golding had less turnover.

Posted by Nothing has changed | reply to this comment
September 28, 2007 8:27 pm

When will Alan Bersin follow Escobar-Eck? I offer to buy the beer and wings!

Posted by Norman | reply to this comment
September 29, 2007 6:29 am

Well that is what happens when you are an efficiency guy right! You "efficienisize" your way out of a job.

Posted by Basic Civics | reply to this comment
September 29, 2007 6:30 am

The Mayor cried and betrayed his convictions on television. Who would want to be tied to this mess? In one shot he made himself look as ridiculous as the City Attorney!

Posted by Joe | reply to this comment
September 29, 2007 7:33 am

History tells us the intervention of the private sector into the procurement arena of the public sector breeds corruption. Its been true and fact since the days of Socrates! Pete Wilson tried it--spent hundreds of millions--and failed; same scenario for Schwarznegger--a fortune spent--failed. Now Sanders, wonder what else he has planned to reinvent dysfunction.

Posted by HearYee | reply to this comment
September 29, 2007 8:12 am

When the city has just committed at least 40 million dollars to replace its financial systems and the person in charge of technology leaves, you know you have a problem. Good job, Jerry!

Posted by Larry | reply to this comment
September 29, 2007 8:45 am

Take a look at the article in the UT. It doesn't take a bloodhound to sniff out another Sanders backroom deal. Now, yes, it appears Wade and Reynolds are scurrying like rats. See you later, rats. Aguirre may bang on a lot of pipes, but every now and then the exodus of vermin makes it worth it(?) Any past CA's tell city staff "this stinks" and go public? Ever think this political environment created Aguirre, and his over-zealousness is a reaction to everything he sees?

Posted by PBnJ | reply to this comment
September 29, 2007 9:39 am

When will Mayor Sanders note the defections from his regime and just give over to Fred Sainz who can speak the English language with panache and actually knows how things work at City Hall besides? Sainz was quoted in the U-T yesterday as having exclaimed "demagogues and charletans!" at the roguish suggestion that his mayor meet Mike Aguirre in a public forum to discuss some of the city's problems. We need a new deal downtown, and Jerry Sanders would do well to think about gracefully ceding his job to someone else at this political low point. As for Norman's offer, it defiinitely would be a fun party.

Posted by Francine Foraday | reply to this comment
September 29, 2007 1:54 pm

I wonder if he will take all of his high priced -hand picked managers with him.

Posted by WOW!! | reply to this comment
September 29, 2007 5:21 pm

I was just thinking that Mike Aguirre might think about running for Mayor. Sanders is NOT up to the job, and Mike is the ONLY real person that has steppped up to the plate and taken some swings at trying to fix the financial mess the City is in. You hate Mike or love him, there is no in between, but one thing is for sure, he will not be a mouthpiece for special interests. I am willing to bet that the MAJORITY of voters would elect him Mayor..... How about it Mike, will you consider a run at Sanders job?

Posted by Billy Bob Henry | reply to this comment
October 1, 2007 6:26 am

I think Billy Bob is finally onto something with this whole idea of Mike running for Mayor. With Mike as Mayor he could finally influence policy the way he would like to. Also, it should be noted that Lance Wade was one of the "Navy" folks over there as well. By my count the only one left is Rich Haas. If he leaves, it will simply be Susan Golding staff, 10 years later. Maybe there should be a sitcom?! Any pilot writers out there?

Posted by Capitol | reply to this comment
October 1, 2007 9:16 am

BillyBoop have you forgotten so quickly the special interests Mikey has been pandering to? It was just a month or two ago he was caught taking contributions from people suing the city. Sanders takes a contribution, then gives the contributor a city contract. Mikey takes a contribution, then works with the contributor to write out a settlement to the contributor for city funds.

Posted by D | reply to this comment
October 1, 2007 10:56 am

I think the Ethics Department with its bloated budget should be fired...since it has been in place, ethics in the City Management have continued to go downhill. It doesn't matter if it is the Mayor or Aguirre or the greedy union leaders or the hypocrites on the City Council, ethics has never been less important to the leadership of this town than it is now. Let's save money and spend it on something the city really needs.

Posted by Leanne | reply to this comment
October 1, 2007 11:44 am

Poor old Jerry. His entire hand-picked staff is nearly gone. So much for campaigning on the credibility of Froman. And to PBnJ, Wade and Reynolds were fired by Goldstone, who apparently wants his own set of cronies, despite whatever depended on these two guys. One has to wonder how long he'll stay, once people really start questioning his results.

Posted by Larry | reply to this comment
October 1, 2007 12:23 pm

All the honest ones are gone. This is sad, unfortunate news for San Diego. Make sure to keep all the crooks out or we'll be back to square one - bankrupt and looking for someone to fix the problem. Vote out Sanders and his crew - it's what's best for San Diego.

Posted by B/W | reply to this comment
October 1, 2007 12:31 pm

I think the 'new guard' didn't work out because they had no real city experience. They couldn't do the job. The new leadership, if Sanders is smart, and I think he is, will be people with 20, 25, 30 and more years with the city ... welcome back 'old guard'. They know how to do the job. Its about time.If Sander's wins the election his first political decision will be to say bye-bye to Mikeee. He has already begun his long list of reasons why Mikeee is a drain on the city. Don't you love political campaigns.

Posted by Dimples | reply to this comment
October 1, 2007 3:10 pm

The Tribune says that Reynolds and Wade left over a Purchasing Department bidding scandal..something about Sanders contributor Ace Parking complaining about a contract they were not awarded? You said you would tell us more when you found out....what have you heard? Reynolds was not a "minor" player but in charge of a huge hunk of the city. BPR was supposed to SAVE the city but has been a frustrating and futile waste of employee time and taxpayer money. Reynolds and Froman are gone. Now what?

Posted by Hey Scott | reply to this comment
October 1, 2007 7:01 pm

According to the follow-up story in the U-T today, Reynolds and Wade don't know why they were fired. Rick Reynolds: "...[Jay Goldstone] told me that I didn't fit the mold of leadership that the mayor wanted for his next four years in office. There were no details. I guess I did something wrong, but I don't know what it was." Lance Wade: "I've been 100 percent loyal and done everything they've wanted me to do. I had a lot of respect and admiration for the mayor, but I've lost it all now." Somehow, to me, this shows a lack of respect for staff that the Mayor's office has shown for all City employees, classified and unclassified, which is now extended to his own inner circle of hand picked team members. What does this say about the mayor? For me, it says don't trust him.

Posted by Leanne | reply to this comment
October 2, 2007 4:50 am

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