I sincerely wish Councilmember Young well in his quest to reform and rev up the budget process. He is absolutely right that the budget process in years past has been a mess, with the biggest casualty being a lack of meaningful and timely citizen input. I agree that starting the budget formulation and negotiating process earlier in the cycle at least puts the "sausage making" in public view, for a longer period of time, to examine, vet and influence. After all, it is our tax dollars we're talking about...

Posted by Robert E. Lee | reply to this comment
January 6, 2009 9:26 am

Mr Young's words are nice to hear. The response to his actions will be less than expected. The Budget process within San Diego is a facade. Just look at the SEDC problem as it relates to the budget. The council is given the budget and they play with it on the margins. They do not have the knowledge and understanding to deal with the budget as an item and to look critically at the departments and line items. They try, but the majority of information is kept from them and if it were available they would not know what to do with it. If the fiscal situation within the city is to be solved and put on a working basis, the council has to deal with the whole budget and that will cause them heartburn because it will impact their special interest groups.

Posted by Richard Tanner | reply to this comment
January 6, 2009 11:30 am

As long as Mr. Young advocates discrimination against same gendered adults wishing to marry under civil law I can't respect him or take him seriously. When religion affects an elected leaders decisions he/she loses all credibility with educated voters. Mr. Young's inablility to connect equal rights for persons of color to the same request for gay persons is incomprehensible and inexcuable. Have you noticed that he is the only Councilmember who insists on referring to himself as a Councilman? George Stevens used religion and his status as a "pastor" to pander to his constituency. I had hoped a former school administrator would be more progressive.

Posted by T. Tanaka | reply to this comment
January 7, 2009 1:29 pm

I'm familiar with people playing "the race card" so now we have people playing the "homosexual card"? So what did Tony do to get your ire? I feel that getting the budget out front and early is important. I plan to voice my two cents and I hope everyone else does too. By the way, is inexcuable a new word or a typo? I think the latter! Go Councilman Tony........

Posted by panchy | reply to this comment
January 7, 2009 2:45 pm

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