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Aguirre on the Hill and the Charter

Published: Wednesday, October 3, 2007 2:33 PM PDT



Couple of things:

  • I just had a laugh with a friend about how upset Mayor Jerry Sanders must be that City Attorney Mike Aguirre was all over CNN and other media outlets talking about this road collapse in La Jolla.

    The mayor's probably stuck on an airplane. I can just picture the mayor and his staff cursing right now as it taxis to the runway in D.C. en route to San Diego.

    "We are now sixth in line for takeoff..."

    From the Reuters story going out worldwide:

    Fire officials said about 24 homes in the scenic beach town north of San Diego could be at risk if the slippage continues. But San Diego city attorney Michael Aguirre told reporters no-one was in immediate danger.

    "We do not believe there is an immediate threat to residents. There does not appear to be any additional cracking at this point," Aguirre said. "This is a dynamic situation so we are not able to say for certain it won't become more of a problem."



    They must have been crawling out of their skin.

  • I think this poll is very interesting. As always, the qualification: it was commissioned by Steve Francis' think tank, the San Diego Institute on Policy Research. And Francis is, of course, seriously considering a run for mayor. So anything he finds that brings the mayor's work into question, well, it's just unfortunate that we have to qualify it.

    But Competitive Edge, the firm that did the poll, does good work. The poll, of 505 San Diegans, found that 75 percent of them had heard almost nothing or nothing about the work of the Charter Review Committee. There are three ways people explain this and only three ways: One, that nobody cares about the process of crafting dramatic changes to the way the city is governed; or, two, that people do care but the committee is rushing its process, awkwardly stumbling through major recommendations and engendering skepticism from those who might otherwise be willing and able to communicate how big of a deal these things are; or, three, the media's doing a crappy job of covering it.

    I'm always an optimist about the collective intelligence and interest of the populace. Feel free to mock me. And we've tried to make it a big deal.

    The fact is the committee is trying to do in a matter of a few months what Los Angeles discussed over two years.

    As for the actual changes recommended to the charter:

    Among registered voters 49% would vote for a proposal to make the strong Mayor form of government permanent, but only 23% are firmly for it and 22% are firmly opposed. Overall, 36% oppose the proposal.


    My point has long been that by rushing the proposals like they are, members of the Charter Review Committee risk discrediting what are, in some cases, good ideas.

    Let me know what you think of the rest of the poll.

    -- SCOTT LEWIS




    19 Comments so far on this story...

    Mike should just run for Mayor, I mean let's face facts, who is running this City and who was on CNN this morning?> Mike was! Who was on CNN briefing the world?> Mike was! Who is the only person that can get this crazy pension scam mess cleaned up?> Mike can! I must admit, it was very cool seeing Mike brief the world on the landslide on mt. Soledad! Very cool Mike, keep up the good work and fight the good fight against the pension evils!

    Posted by Billy Bob Henry | reply to this comment
    October 3, 2007 1:56 pm

    It's good to see that Mayor Aguirre is on top of things. Maybe Mayor Sanders retired and forgot to tell us.

    Posted by Cheeky | reply to this comment
    October 3, 2007 2:16 pm

    Sainz, Aguirre, everybody is acting like a mayor except for Jerry Sanders.

    Posted by Larry | reply to this comment
    October 3, 2007 2:57 pm

    I really enjoyed seeing the mini-mayor try to suck the publicity from the incident. Typical Aguirre, he spoke with NO authority on aspects he had NO business addressing as City Atty. He wants to be Mayor, he should man-up and run for it. Otherwise, try and do the job he was elected to do.... for once. Al Haig Jr.

    Posted by Frank1 | reply to this comment
    October 3, 2007 3:14 pm

    Mayor Mickey Aguirre on the news as the savior of the City and all it's troubles. I love the way he promoted himself as the spokesperson for the City on all things. I heard him proclaim this was the result of a water leak and now subjecting the City to another lawsuit. I hope he is using his expertise as a geological consultant to solve this landslide mystery for all concerned San Diegans.

    Posted by BBH fan | reply to this comment
    October 3, 2007 3:29 pm

    Yeah...water leak. Way to go Mike...I didn't see any water there. If you look back at photos of the slide in 1961, they are identical. There have been four landslides here now. Three all within a block. Way to pander at the taxpayers expense Mike. Can you say outside council once again. Why are we paying you?

    Posted by Taxpayer | reply to this comment
    October 3, 2007 4:51 pm

    While Frances' poll is obviously slanted in verbage, it still does not bode well for Francis himself. By his own numbers, Sanders will get his other council seat, veto power and a permanent status for the strong mayor form of government. Someone should notify Aguirre that a strong city attorney form of government is not on the ballot. As Francis is defeated once again, his political aspirations for San Diego look dim well into the future. Maybe he can return to Vegas or find another city that will have him. With him and Aguirre soon gone, joining the likes of Carl DeMaio, maybe the city can finally return to the bond market and begin to turn things around.

    Posted by Caitlin | reply to this comment
    October 3, 2007 4:51 pm

    Who made tacit admissions of liability against the City for the fools who, despite warnings, built on an unstable slope? MIKE CAN! Who is friends and a political beneficiary of the Plaintiffs' attorneys that were at the scene? MIKE CAN! Who wants to subsidize all the homeowners on Soledad for their property damage? MIKE and BBH!

    Posted by Tucker | reply to this comment
    October 3, 2007 5:29 pm

    I am so very pleased that Aguirre's invesigators will be present in La Jolla Wed. evening to answer questions. I am sure they are all experts on geologic formations and engineering conditions, as well as fully informed as to the historic conditions of this area. Because that what attorney investigators do, right? Mikey, step away from the podium and leave it to the true experts.

    Posted by Posted | reply to this comment
    October 3, 2007 6:15 pm

    Michael Aguirre used to be somewhat amusing to watch. His antics today, Wednesday, are inexcusable. He all but acknowledged that the City may be responsible for the landslide which will simply encourage homewoners to sue the City. I wish someone would tell him that he is the City Attorney, not the Mayor, and most citizens don't want to see him hold so many press conferences, picture ops, and TV-Radio interviews. If he want to be Mayor, then he should run. My fear is that he will take Mayor Sanders down with him. I would sign a petition to recall Michael Aguirre in a heartbeat. I'm tired of his embarrassing my City.

    Posted by Jim | reply to this comment
    October 3, 2007 6:15 pm

    I agree with Frank1, Mike needs to run for Mayor!

    Posted by Billy Bob Henry | reply to this comment
    October 3, 2007 6:38 pm

    The La Jolla collapse attracted media interest as a rare tragedy that happens to affluent people. But, let's not miss the point that this collapse resulted from the corrupt pact between developers, Development Services Department, the Mayor, and City Council (except Donna). They ignore local planning groups, the San Diego Planning Commission, the law and common sense and plunge ahead to approve every major development project, no matter how destructive. In University City where I live, the Council recently approved 560 units of Million dollar condos. Does anyone doubt they will approve a proposed Billion dollar development project at UTC, despite the developers' own estimates of freeway ramp delays of 5-6 hours, and queues of vehicles 6-7 miles long? We have to reform this mess by supporting Mike Aguirre and suing the City for enabling it.

    Posted by charlespratt@hotmail.com | reply to this comment
    October 4, 2007 9:59 am

    Two things: One, at least Aguirre was there, not schmoozing in D.C. And two, the December 1961 slide occurred after an early winter rain storm. It seems more curious that city officials were quick to discount any culpability before the experts have spoken.

    Posted by TY | reply to this comment
    October 4, 2007 10:35 am

    The heck with Sanders, Aguirre, et al - Dr. Pat Abbott for Mayor!

    Posted by Mass Movement | reply to this comment
    October 4, 2007 12:16 pm

    Hey Mr. Pratt - according to my 1995 SD City "Geologic Hazrds and Faults" map, Your home sits on the SAME FORMATION as those homes on Mt. Slipidad. (In case you're wondering - it's "Ardath Formation") By the way, you and I are, as U.C. residents, on the same literal " slippery slope". With the water shortage looming, and land sliding, NOW is he time for all of us to stop wasting water on our lawns and at the same time protect our most valuable investment - our homes.

    Posted by Geologists Rock!! | reply to this comment
    October 4, 2007 12:57 pm

    Yeah Pratt the sky is falling because they want to build a bridge near your community. Now, you're blaming Sanders and the city council for a natual disaster that occurred involving houses built in 1961? Get a life.

    Posted by Pratt falls | reply to this comment
    October 4, 2007 2:53 pm

    Scott, you're right about two things: 1. The mayor & Faulconer were 'stuck on an airplane,' a hint of future problems in and out of this city,in any 'emergency.' 2. "people do care but the committee is rushing its process, awkwardly stumbling through major recommendations and engendering skepticism from those who might otherwise be willing and able to communicate how big of a deal these things are." This administration is a joke, still trying to cover up problems that 'diverting of general funds' has done for several administrations, instead of looking for what's really 'lacking' in San Diego. Why?

    Posted by Wake Up San Diego | reply to this comment
    October 5, 2007 7:41 am

    Scott thanks for trying to be the voice of reason in a political maelstrom. But you might as well whisper because nobody is listening. The people who work with the Charter, daily, the city staff, have virtually no input or informatin about the process. As with everything else at the city these days, its all about re-election, not much about real positive change. I like Jerry Sanders and I hope he is reelected, but we need to get on with the real work, rebuilding infrastructure, establishing workable policies, focusing on city priorities.

    Posted by Dimples | reply to this comment
    October 5, 2007 11:41 am

    Hey! This commentator called out "MIKE FOR Mayor" in this space months ago! Does this mean everyone isn't reading these comments? Shocking. MC also warned against "mischief in the making" re. the charter rewrite/ strong executive power grab here ages ago. A little credit, people lol PS if Mike A. is afflicting the comfortable so efffectively, he must be doing SOMETHING right! Must I repeat myself endlessly? sigh

    Posted by MC | reply to this comment
    October 5, 2007 12:50 pm


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  • Scott Lewis on Politics

    The Scott Lewis on Politics blog, abbreviated cleverly as SLOP, is a collection of observations, insights and the occasional scoop on public affairs in San Diego. Please feel free to e-mail Scott at scott.lewis@voiceofsandiego.org.

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