"San Diegans for City Hall Reform" Exposed During City Council Charter Changes

At last night's special City Council meeting the truth about the convenient connections between members of the City's Charter Review Committee and the group "San Diegans for City Hall Reform" became a little bit clearer. Though I have written about this issue several times in the past, some other individuals started to do a little digging last night, especially after the two co-chairs of the City's Charter Review Committee spent more time talking about San Diegans for City Hall Reform plans rather than what the Charter Review Committee recommended. John Davies sounded very much like he was making a threat or a challenge to the council to either do what the San Diegans for City Hall Reform want or they will put it on the ballot anyway.

Additionally, the night shed some light as to how many members of the City's Charter Review Committee are also on the group San Diegans for City Hall Reform. Tony Young asked one of the members how many people serve on both and received the answer of 5. Yes, 5 committee members out of the 15 (1/3) that served on the City's Charter Review Committee are on this Independent Expenditure (I.E) group that has over $111,000 in the bank and the Mayor right behind them. How is it possible that the city and media still let this absurdness continue? Clearly the Mayor has some ulterior motives and wants to make a swift power grab.

Though the Council is planning on discussing these issues again at a future meeting, they had some discussion on almost all of the issues and here is a brief overview of the votes:

• Strong Mayor to be placed on the 2010 Ballot -- Passes Unanimously
• Adding a 9th city council district if Strong Mayor is made permanent in 2010, it would be placed on the ballot in 2010 -- Passes
• Expansions of the council 6 out of 9 Veto Override -- Passes 6-1 with district 4 against, but the motion to make the current council Veto Override needing 6 members did not pass - 4-3 with districts 3, 4, and 6 against.
  
• CFO, took recommendation of Charter Rev. Comm. -- Passes Unanimously
• Audit Committee, took recommendations of Charter Rev. Comm. -- Passes 5-2 with districts 4 and 6 against
• Internal Auditor, took recommendation of Charter Rev. Comm. with slight difference -- Passes 6-1 with district 4 against
• Salary Setting, took recommendations of Charter Rev. Comm -- Passes 5-2 with districts 4 and 5 against
  
• IBA, took recommendations of Charter Rev. Comm -- Passes Unanimously
• Contract with Emergency Services -- Passes 6-1 with district 4 against
• Balance Budget -- Passes 6-1 with district 4 against
  

Ben Hueso was absent from the meeting.