voiceofsandiego.org: Letters... Toni Hearts Todd

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008 | Toni Atkins' endorsement of Todd Gloria is hardly a surprise. She need not elaborate on her reasons for supporting him. She could have stopped immediately after saying that he "is the best choice to continue," because the Todd Gloria we have come to know is just Toni Atkins in a better suit.

Where Atkins gets the gall to imply that she (or Todd) "listens to and cares about the people who elect us" is beyond me. When 1,000 residents of Kensington signed a petition stating that they were opposed to the Kensington Terrace project, she chose to vote in favor of it. Todd Gloria had been in attendance at the monthly meetings of the Kensington Talmadge Planning Group leading up to that vote, and when concerned residents spoke about the project's impact on our community, he would smirk and roll his eyes while joking with Atkins' aide. After the City Council vote, during the League of Conservation Voters' Candidate Forum on February 11, 2008, when asked a direct question about Kensington Terrace, Todd said if he had been on the City Council that he, too, would have voted in favor of it.

That, also, is not surprising. His donor forms are not only an honor roll of the Building Industry Association, including Kensington Terrace hired lobbyist Mitch Berner, and president of the BIA Sherm Harmer, but also the Old Guard members of the Kensington Talmadge Planning Group who voted to approve the project for their friend, developer Allard Jansen. They are gone from the local planning group now, ousted in the March elections by the residents of Kensington.

With donors like Centre City Development Corp. directors Kim Kilkenny and Atkins' spouse Jennifer LeSar on his list, Todd would provide the same lack of oversight to the CCDC that Toni Atkins and company provide now.

He also enjoys the financial support of the chiefs of staff of both Jim Madaffer and Scott Peters, two council members not known for anything other than creating huge debt through sweetheart pension deals and for signing off on every development project that comes before them.

What we have gotten in District 3 from Toni Atkins is not much of anything, except a lot of talk about "process." What we would get from Todd Gloria is more of the same. A nod from Toni Atkins to Todd Gloria is hardly a ringing endorsement to anyone who wants to see some real changes made in mid-city that would bring infrastructure upgrades, new transit options, a fix to the pension problem, restructured redevelopment agencies that ensure transparency and honest transactions, and fewer handouts to developers at the expense of residents and taxpayers.

We all know that both Atkins and Gloria are in the developers' pockets, but clearly it's even worse than we thought. The old boys are getting desperate. They'll do anything to block reform in this city, and their ploy of attacking Stephen Whitburn for advocating dissolution of the CCDC and SEDC is typical. Voters have a real choice in District 3. Todd Gloria is a paid off insider, and Stephen Whitburn is a reformer. If you want real change, you have to vote for Stephen Whitburn.

Posted by Fred Williams | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 1:16 pm

The truth is that Todd Gloria is the only hope for District 3. Maggie and Fred go on about Gloria's contributions but never ask how Whitburn gets his money. Why not? Because unlike Gloria, Whitburn doesn't disclose his donors. Whitburn has never disclosed the source of the $100,000 he has loaned his campaign, nor does he disclose who will pay him back if he is elected. The choice here is between Gloria who discloses his contributions and publicly says that $270 or less will never by his vote, and Whitburn who refuses to explain how he got over a 100k to loan his campaign, or how he will pay himself back. If you want back door contributions, vote for Whitburn. If you want independent leadership, vote Gloria.

Posted by District 3 Resident | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 3:05 pm

Gloria? Independent? Go look at link and see for yourself. Gloria is the insider in this race, and all the developers are lining up to stuff his pockets. Stephen Whitburn is an outsider and reformer. Just like Donna Frye, Stephen Whitburn wants to change the culture of corruption that snared Toni Atkins, Scott Peters, Jim Madaffer and the rest of the arrogant insiders who have disgraced our city. Insiders made this mess, and outsiders will fix it. If you want independent change, vote for Stephen Whitburn.

Posted by Fred Williams | reply to this comment
September 26, 2008 7:14 am

Fred, the funny thing is that I would love to post a link showing where Whitburn got his 100k "loan" but I can't because he hasn't disclosed it. Every one of Gloria's contributions has been disclosed. Not so for Whitburn. Where did he get his money? How will he pay himself back? NO ONE KNOWS! Rather than punish Gloria for being the only honest candidate in the race you should start asking some tough questions of Whitburn. Does transparency really mean collecting contributions from interests with business before the city AFTER election day? I don't remember Donna Frye loaning herself 100K and then getting back room contributions after the election...

Posted by District 3 Resident | reply to this comment
September 26, 2008 2:13 pm

It is nice to see a letter re the Dist 3 race that is purportedly factual. Unfortunately many of the comments made about this race in VOSD and elsewhere have been heavy on vitriol, anonymity and name calling and light on facts. For a neighborhood committed to diversity and generally characterized by political maturity, many of the puerile comments about Todd and Stephen should be an embarassment. Disagree with Maggie if you want to, but try to back it up with facts or you are wasting everybody's time, not least of all your own.

Posted by charles pratt | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 1:24 pm

"Neighborhood committed to diversity" What a joke, some 30% Latino yet never seen any at all those neighborhood meetings. Dist 3 is must like the rest of San Diego as far as the power elites seems to care, just another Latino Free environment in our fine city of Scam Diego. diversity mean including all people not just the homosexuals, Whites, and Republican.

Posted by Really? | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 5:11 pm

I live in Kensington and it is full of NIMBY people who have too much time on their hands. From cell towers, to the library to the Kensington Terrace they are always saying NO. I'm thankf ul Toni voted in support. It is ironic that the same NIMBY crowd who opposed the building that now houses the Starbuck's sits at that very coffee shop to plot their next NIMBY camaign. Get a job already.

Posted by Not a Kensington NIMBY | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 1:27 pm

You are so right! I live in South Park and feel Todd Gloria and Atkins really understand the challenges of my neighborhood and look out for us. There is always a contingent of people who reject any proposal that will change anything, but they are just being knee-jerk. When the change comes, the impacts are never as bad as they thought, and they usually end up availing themselves of the convenience or amenity once they lose their anti-change fight. These people can never imagine that a politician or planner who does not only consider their petty concerns or aversion to change is just thinking big-picture, not "bought and paid for." Someone has to think big picture, or nothing would EVER get done. (By the way, if you think Whitburn is an angel, it's probably only because he hasn't actually made decisions, so you don't have "material" for your anger yet.)

Posted by Agreed! | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 3:53 pm

Wow, imagine that...citizens that don't want there small scale historic neighborhood turned into a giant shopping mall---and why would anyone be concerned about the enormous electromagnetic frequency radiation from cell phone towers. I dont live in Kensington, but I really like the people that live in that neighborhood. They are good people that care about the world and their community. Id take them as neighbors any day. NIMBY is a word coined by the BIA.

Posted by Christine | reply to this comment
September 27, 2008 7:30 pm

Wow, Maggie, the donors to Todd Gloria are pretty scary. Sherm Harmer, for one, is all for the Grantville settlement agreement, transferring $31.4 million of Grantville property tax to CCDC to pay for downtown improvements. He even went so far as to suggest that any improvement to downtown is an improvement to your neighborhood, too. So, if Todd Gloria is elected, expect him to rubberstamp BIA-backed schemes and more condos downtown, while the streets in your neighborhood crumble.

Posted by Brian T. Peterson, DVM | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 1:32 pm

Thank you Maggie!!!! That is the best letter ever. It nails it. I mean Toni has been in office for how many years now saying she would vote for the community and not the developers. She told us over a year ago last summer that she was going to get demo permitting and notification on the agenda. It took tons of e-mails and 6 months for it to finally appear. She then did her usual posturing, pretending to care about the neighborhoods, and then totally blew it off. No follow up to actually implement any change. She also could have stepped in and helped save Cleveland street using CEQA but instead we got a letter saying this a private issue of the developer. I mean I think Todd will be even worse. His money is as big Republican as it getsand we have already seen him return favors.

Posted by christine | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 2:27 pm

To be fair to Toni Atkins, on social issues such as affordable housing, a living wage with health benefits and discrimination against minorities she has voted like a Progressive. The problem is she has always had dirty hands whenever it came to redevelopment-- NTC, the Downtown community plan update, 301 University and Kensington Terrace. Her insecurity about having enough campaign funds to win re-election and her desire for a well-paying job in the public sector when she was termed out just led to vote after vote that were not justified by the facts including the infamous vote to increase pension benefits without identifying funding. In the end, she has been a complete disappointment to many who originally supported her election. For Todd to seek an Atkins' endorsement is a real misstep given her unpopularity in District 3 and the fact it focuses attention on his relationshipwithdeve

Posted by Ian Trowbridge | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 3:12 pm

Ah ya...the wise naysayer suggesting Toni is "unpopular" in her district. Say's who? Maybe with your boozy friends she is unpopular but she is incredibly popular and got re-elected with over 60% of the vote. You make things up, again and again.

Posted by sandiegosmile | reply to this comment
September 26, 2008 11:29 am

Um that re-election was several years ago when she was promising us the moon. She promised to stand up to developers and protect neighborhoods. And clearly she didnt follow through on that. Turko did a piece on her because of her lack of follow through on a Park. She just doesnt follow through. You'd be hard pressed to find 60% of people that are happy w/ her.

Posted by Christine | reply to this comment
September 26, 2008 3:55 pm

What I find deeply concerning is the double standard being applied to these 2 candidates. Somehow it’s perfectly fine for Mr. Whitburn to accept so-called "developer money" (and he has indeed accepted it, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in fact), yet he and his supporters attack Todd Gloria for doing the same. Not everyone can fund their campaign by writing themselves a check for $100,000, as Mr. Whitburn has. Todd Gloria has a broad base of support, while Mr. Whitburn relies heavily on personal loans. Such a self-funding strategy didn’t work for Steve Francis and I hope the voters of District 3 will likewise reject Mr. Whitburn’s attempts to buy his way into public office.

Posted by David Lipton | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 4:13 pm

David: I have analyzed the campaign contributions from major developers and registered lobbyists to Whitburn and Gloria and even wrote a piece in the Voice about Todd's many developer and lobbyist donors . I find it irritating when people write without doing their homework and try to mislead the public by making up their own facts. Also, Whitburn has broad base of support but unlike Gloria, has not received bundled cheques from major developers such as the Baldwins, Black Mountain Ranch and Otay Mesa Ranch. What's more, it almost seems that Gloria supporters like you resent the fact that Whiturn has savings and has chosen to use them to offset the funds Gloria is indiscriminately accepting from entities with business before the city council to buy himself into office.

Posted by Ian Trowbridge | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 5:39 pm

Mr Trowbridge, I’m not making up any facts. Here’s a brief list of the "evil" developers who have contributed to Mr. Whitburn’s campaign: Larry Cushman, Arias Construction, Sanderling Properties, and TRS Consultants (whose clients include D.R. Horton and Heritage Pacific Development). Do these not count, Mr. Trowbridge? Or is it only those you have deemed “major developers”? Now we’re distinguishing between “major” and “minor” developers? And how much is too much “developer money”? Let me guess – the amount contributed to Todd’s campaign but not Whitburn’s. This is exactly the double standard, “guilt by association” foolishness I’m talking about -- Whitburn gets a pass but Gloria is somehow “bought and paid” by these contributors, who make up but a fraction of his overall contributor base. Enough with such silliness!

Posted by David Lipton | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 9:35 pm

David: you quote four examples of developers who gave to Stephen. Cushman is primarily a power broker not developer and in any case the Cushmans have given $810 to Todd and only $270 to Stephen. Arias Construction is a developer but Stephen received $120 from an employee who lists his occupation as a laborer. TRS consultants are donations from Jerry Dilno, and Sanderling Properties have not made any donations listed on the City's electronic filing site. Is this the best you can do?

Posted by Ian Trowbridge | reply to this comment
September 27, 2008 9:31 am

Mr. Lipton, you have provided nothing concrete that would indicate the source of Whitburn's funds. Perhaps a 42 year old man who lives frugally, in a rented one bedroom apartment, driving an 11 year old car, and owning one good suit has managed to save and invest to the point that he can loan his own campaign the funds? We have all heard about Todd's poor parents, but somehow they financed his education at USD, which is not cheap. His partner is an attorney, so their dual income affords them the luxury of owning a nice home. I don't know if Todd's suits are Armani, but public records show that he pulls down close to six figures annually as Davis' rep, so he can afford them, as well as his nice car. He makes his choices on how to spend his money, and so does Whitburn.

Posted by Goodhabits | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 7:30 pm

It has become very aparent that the Whitburn camp hopes to sway voters by firing attacks at Todd. I have had my door knocked on by Todd or one of his volunteers twice since the beggining of the campaign. I have never seen Whitburn and I don't know any of my neighbors that have had him or someone from his campaign stop by. I have called Whitburn's campaign twice and never received a call back. I am going to choose the candidate that actually seems to care about what voters think, not the one who plans on winning by insulting his opponnent.

Posted by kensington voter | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 6:11 pm

I have been a door knocker for Stephen and we were astounded to learn that the Gloria door-knockers were telling people that Gloria was the Democratic candidate and was supported by Donna Frey and the Sierra Club. If thats any indication of how Gloria will be in office, saying whatever it takes to get his way regardless of the truth, people should be concerned.

Posted by Christine | reply to this comment
September 26, 2008 4:02 pm

Nice blind assumptions and allegations there, David. Stephen Whitburn worked hard, lived modestly, and saved aggressively. He's a stand up guy that sees all that is wrong and wants to make it right.. I'm glad for all our sakes that he had the financial know how to be in the position to have the money to loan himself. I'm sure he will use that same fiscal integrity to get San Diego out of the big mess the insiders have created.

Posted by Linda J. Wilson | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 6:26 pm

Todd Gloria is a native San Diegan who's lived his life in the district. Gloria has received 1,000's of individual contributions to support his race. Stephen Whitburn is a carpetbagger from back east. Whitburn has greased his campaign with over $100,000 from a private trust, with no explanation. Todd Gloria is homegrown and home-supported, while Stephen Whitburn is a carpetbagger trying to steal the council seat.

Posted by 2muchsense | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 6:37 pm

I laugh out loud when I see the whining from the likes of Ian Trowbridge. You NIMBY's live in a delusional and hypocritical fantasy land. This NIMBY mantra has been entrenched well before Mr. Trowbridge hit our wonderful city. Perhaps we should have locked the door before he got off the boat. The truth is that Todd Gloria has been involved in a variety of critical issues. It is the mark of a good political candidate these days to raise money from a wide variety of sources. That is our system and I tip my cap to him if he can gather those funds. Mr. Whitburn would do the same if he could. No more whining. If you don't like his policies and experience, don't vote for Todd. Can the phony double talk! Most NIMBY's are imports anyway.

Posted by NativeVoice | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 6:59 pm

First, I use my own name Native Voice. Second, I arrived on the boat in 1972 and have probably lived in San Diego longer than you. Third, I have certainly contributed to the economy of this city more than you have as head of an internationally recognized research lab at the Salk Institute for 30 years that generated on average ten high paying jobs a year, was awarded federal NIH research grants of one million dollars a year, royalty income of close to 10 million dollars, as well as the value added by training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and teaching pro bono at UCSD. Finally, I hope your xenophobic comment that " most NIMBY's are imports anyway" does not reflect Todd Gloria's thinking. I plan to ask that Gloria publicly repudiate your obnoxious comments about immigrants.

Posted by Ian Trowbridge | reply to this comment
September 26, 2008 1:24 am

So Whitburn works as a PR guy for the Red Cross and he can loan himself $100k?! Come on! What's the explanation? Didn't his parents give the Party a bunch of money for him? Doesn't that seem like the likely source? $100K is just a bit more than the $250 contribution limit. I hope some reporter will get to the bottom of this (I'm looking at you Mr. Will Carrless).

Posted by Wait a second | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 7:37 pm

How interesting. I presented a concern about a demolition permit that was issued for a beautiful bungalow court. Eventually with some persistance the error was corrected and the permit was cancelled. During my presentation to the Uptown Planners. however;Todd Gloria and Toni Atkins aid at that time, Jeffrey Tom were in the back talking and giggling during the entire 3 minute presentation. At the time, Todd was Susan Davis' representative. I never really spoke to him on his position on the reckless demolition policies but it concerned me then and concerns me now upon reading about similar behavior expressed during the Kensington matter. As citizens who are expressing legitimate concerns about our the decisions that affect our community this shows a lack of the most basic form of respect and it is really was not very professional.

Posted by Janet O'Dea | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 7:39 pm

Thank you, Janet, for pointing out Todd Gloria's inactivity on critical issues to Uptown over his years as Davis' aide. I never heard him speak out on 301 University. I never heard him speak against demolition of the historic bungalow court that only you saved. His only purpose being there was to glad-hand for his run for public office.....

Posted by Hillcrest Preservationist | reply to this comment
September 25, 2008 9:37 pm

......I remember sitting in the front row at Uptown Planners, asking questions about the 301 University Ave. Project...such as where was an EIR, traffic study and not within the scale of Hillcrest's Historical Neighborhood.....whi Todd was sitting in the back row with Carol Shultz (Uptown Partnership) who was waving hands of "Smart Growth" with Developers of the then almost "done deal" 301 Monster Project. In all my years of very Controversial Activism in District 3, where your name is on the line....I never ran across Todd in Community Leadership. Stephen Whitburn, I have....and is a breath of "Fresh Air!".......

Posted by Rick Wilson......Hillcrest | reply to this comment
October 1, 2008 3:45 am

More and more people lose their homes, working families are pushed out of our community because of redevelopment and gentrification, people crowd our neighborhoods and less park spaces are available, our city debt continues to increase and our the conditions of our infrastructure continues to worsen…, will the endorsements of the out going politicians ‘who contributed to the state of our human Environment’ continue to be seen as a positive thing? Those past elected officials who resigned – were they held accountable? Those past appointed Heads of Redevelopment; the people who have done nothing to correct our water shortfalls are responsible or accountable? Endorsing either Steve or Todd…, exactly who will be held responsible and accountable when the behaviors of either of these people continues to support the same ‘pro-density at any cost’ policies which have contributed to the worsening of our ;ocal human environments?

Posted by Iknowtodd | reply to this comment
September 26, 2008 7:52 am

Well, I can tell you for sure it wont be Todd. Todd took large sums of money from the sketchy CCDC folks like Nancy Graham. And he already went to the mtg on Prop C and supported it w/ the BIA who created Prop C. Just look at the list of names on "Citizens for Reform". It would be comical if it wasnt so serious. Anyone think it was a good idea to give the mayor his own auditor now?? Does it remind you of anything happening on Wall Street. This is the kind of politician Todd will be. He has to, he took too much of their money.

Posted by cHRISTINE | reply to this comment
September 26, 2008 3:53 pm

Entitlement is the one word that comes to mind when I think of Gloria. A vote for Gloria is a vote for the establishment. I challenge everyone in the community to ask if they are happy with the representation of our current City Council. This year’s political mantra is about change. Whitburn is not in the inner circle and will bring a wealth of experience and prospective beyond hob-knobbing with the establishment that is afraid of change. A vote for Whitburn is a vote for change.

Posted by Jon Lin | reply to this comment
September 26, 2008 9:03 am

It's always good to know who Dede Alpert is endorsing -- Scott Peters, Jan Goldsmith, Alan Bersin when he ran the schools into the ground: it's a template for who not to support. As for Toni Atkins' endorsement, with friends like that Todd Gloria doesn't need enemies. Smart residents of District 3 will vote look at the evidence of who's taking what (and how much) from whom, and then they will vote for Stephen Whitburn for City Council.

Posted by Fed Up | reply to this comment
September 26, 2008 8:38 pm

I have been fighting for communty rights and against developers for years and there is no way I would endorse Stephen if he wasnt solid, honest, and accountable to the people. And he is. This guy is as honest and gracious as they come and he has the money from solid citizens and endorsements from respectable organizations to prove it. I will take the Sierra club candidate anyday over the Police and firefighter union candidate. And the idea of having both him and Donna on the council together makes me feel like things really can change here. I encourage evryone to meet him.

Posted by Christine Mann | reply to this comment
September 27, 2008 7:20 pm

Well, if Christine Mann supports Mr. Whitburn over Todd that is good enough for me. Don't know who Wallace M., "Wait a second", “District 3 Resident" are, and I can not remember anyone going by any of those names standing-up with our community rights against the greed and selfishness of the downtowners, so anything they have to say is meaningless to me. The wealthy and political bosses support Todd, while the activist and those how fight for the rights of other normal people in the community support Mr. Whitburn. The right choice for the people seems more than clear to me, and that choice is not Todd.

Posted by Really? | reply to this comment
September 29, 2008 6:17 pm

You know, that all make sense. Why would I support people who do not support the working class super-majority in San Diego? I just went onto the Whitburn website link and donated in support of his effort to support and represent us. Never did such a thing before, but it is clear that the other person cannot even mouth the words in support for the people; Whitburn has as least made the effort to say he represent our wants and desires. I may be an anti-big development, anti-wasteful spending, anti-big government, anti-back-door-deals kind-of person call the average citizen, but at least I can understand the difference between more of the same and real change. In this case, I believe real change is much more likely to be supported by Whitburn.

Posted by Gregory | reply to this comment
September 30, 2008 9:31 am

This certainly is an entertaining race. Just by reading the comments (and the amount of them) I can see it's a heated battle. It's too bad that the majority of SW supporters attack while the majority of TG supporters, well, support. If I knew nothing else about this race, that would be enough. Not to say SWs supporters are any less supportive or understanding, but that fact that even when faced with angry, mean and twisted claims TG supporters show the real substance of his candidacy. You can tell so much by looking at how people treat their opponent. For that, among other reasons, I support Todd Gloria.

Posted by Wallace M. | reply to this comment
September 29, 2008 10:24 am

Wallace M. stated: "You can tell so much by looking at how people treat their opponent." Yes, you sure can, as I witnessed Todd Gloria unnecessarily attack Whitburn at recent forum at a church in my University Heights neighborhood. The forum was going well, and the panel participants were answering questions focusing on their respective viewpoints and answers. Towards the end, Todd couldn't help but add some "opponent bashing" to the tail end of a question regarding campaign funding - and when it came to Stephen's turn, he seemed genuinely put off - Todd's mini-attack was completely out of character of the forum's atmosphere, but Whitburn came back with a gentlemanly counter-volley. Why is it "nonsense" to believe someone who claimed to live modestly, worked hard and saved aggressively? Didn't most of our parents do just that? I'm a 50 year old native, and going with the "carpetbagger."

Posted by Scott Kovacik | reply to this comment
October 8, 2008 8:41 am

"Stephen Whitburn worked hard, lived modestly, and saved aggressively." I have never seen such nonsense! Whitburn has spent his life working for east coast radio stations and as a PR rep for the Red Cross. There is no way he saved $100K, and if he did and didn't invest it in some reasonable way, he is definitly not the financial leader I want for our City. I refuse to vote for Whitburn until he comes out and honestly discloses where he got the $100K. I'm betting a family trust...

Posted by Kensington | reply to this comment
October 1, 2008 7:59 am

Kensington, please. It definitely seems like some people are pretending to live in Kensington and then trashing Whitburn on this forum. I have met Kensington people and they are classier than that. As for Toni---well she has been ignoring us for the last 8 years, I think its high time we ignore her!!!!!

Posted by Amy | reply to this comment
October 5, 2008 9:48 pm

Toni Hearts Todd

By Maggie McCann, San Diego