Enough is Enough

Published: Monday, April 28, 2008 7:08 PM PDT

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I have known Robert for some time now, and have worked with him on a number of community issues. I have also shared his frustration over unsolved problems facing our city. I agree with Robert when he says: “Enough is enough!”

As he campaigns around District 3, San Diego City Council candidate, Robert E. Lee, reminds taxpayers and voters of these facts:

• In 2005, two San Diego City council members resigned in shame, accused of accepting bribes from individuals associated with an “adult entertainment” club.
  
  
• Five currently sitting council members were deemed “negligent” in their fiduciary duties to San Diego taxpayers and bondholders by an investigative agency.
  
  
• Five former San Diego city officials recently had civil securities fraud charges filed against them by federal regulators.
  
  
• As a result of intentional under funding, the San Diego city employees’ pension fund deficit exceeded $1 billion in recent years.

• The San Diego city employees’ medical care fund deficit has recently approached $1 billion.
  
  
• The “infrastructure deficit” -- needed repairs and upgrades to our roads, sidewalks, water system, sewage treatment system, storm runoff, and buildings and other facilities -- far exceeds $1 billion.
  
  
• Because of these and other financial shenanigans, all three major public bond ratings agencies either suspended or sharply downgraded the city of San Diego’s credit ratings.

On the major, “meat and potatoes” issues of everyday city governance, Robert is running on his “3 and 3” plan for change, emphasizing a trio of important District 3 issues and three critical citywide issues:

In District 3:

• Crime prevention: Increase the police presence in District 3, including the restoration of the community, police storefronts. Prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law. Grow and support Neighborhood Watch groups.
  
  
• Transportation and mobility improvements. Improve mass transit, including upgrading the University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard transit centers, incorporating Bus Rapid Transit, and adding more express bus routes. Upgrade and repair our streets. Better synchronize traffic lights, especially during rush hours.
  
  
• Support economic and small business development, so we can shop and keep our hard-earned dollars in our small, locally-owned, neighborhood businesses.

Citywide:

• Pension and fiscal reform. We simply cannot pay for needed programs and improvements until we get our city finances in order. We must spend our finite, taxpayer dollars in efficient and effective ways that benefit the most number of citizens, not the narrow special interests.

• Infrastructure repair and upgrade. Crumbling streets and sidewalks, bursting water mains, and sewage leaks that pollute our waterways and cause beach closures are just some of the very real symptoms of our “infrastructure deficit”.
  
  
• Public Safety n Police and Fire n retention and upgrade. Retain and increase our police and fire professionals, and bring emergency vehicles and equipment and facilities up to standard. When citizens feel unsafe and unprotected, the other issues do not matter.

-- RALPH DENNEY

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