Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

The Mayor’s Financial Retreat

Amid the 11 acres of “lush tropical” backdrop at Kona Kai Resort and Spa on Shelter Island, Mayor Jerry Sanders addressed the San Diego Taxpayer’s Association on the economic hardships the city of San Diego is bound to face.

Sanders explained how the global economic crisis will impact the budget; namely, a projected $43 million deficit caused by slumping tourism revenues and tumbling sales and property tax gains. He said that it was time for the city to scale back on its finances.

“For a city that is already on a tight budget, such a huge adjustment cannot be made painlessly. Unlike the kingpins on Wall Street, no one is going to rescue us. We have to rescue ourselves.

Sponsored
Sponsored

"Across our city, families are preparing for these lean times by showing courage and common sense in the face of uncertainty. We have no choice but to do the same. I have informed the council that, until we have certainty about our economic outlook, I will veto any council action that adds any nonessential programs or obligations that require new spending.”

Not all spending will stop, said Sanders. There are some projects that Sanders says will help save money down the road. The transformation of Lindbergh Field into a regional transportation hub, for example.

“We are drafting an airport plan that captures the true potential of that invaluable property where our transportation modes -- air and rail, highways and seaways -- already converge.

"This plan meshes our transportation options intelligently, and it reengineers Lindbergh Field as a travel hub for our region. It addresses our short-term needs without making them the ceiling of our ambitions. Even if a future generation finds a spot to build a new airport, the inter-modal center we envision will be a lasting boon to the city.”

Sanders also mentioned the convention center and the need to build the third-phase expansion.

“This new phase will be built behind the existing convention center, so it won't block the public’s view of the water. And if it's done right, it will actually enhance public access to the waterfront. I'm excited about this project, and I will do everything I can -- except commit existing tax revenues -- to make sure it goes forward.”

Lastly, Sanders lobbied for support of a new civic center.

“We've heard from financial analysts who say we could save $400 million over the next 50 years by consolidating city operations in a single mixed-use building designed for today's technologically advanced workforce. We are not going down this road unless it pencils out for the taxpayers -- that's all there is to it. But if it’s true that a new civic center will save the taxpayers money, I can't turn my back on a solution simply because it will be unpopular in certain circles.”

In closing, Sanders reiterated his confidence in the City of San Diego and its residents.

“We will emerge from these challenges more secure, more confident, and knowing we kept faith with the people who are the strength and future of our great city.”

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Centennial Salute to San Diego’s Military, East Village Block Party, Birding Basics Class

Events March 29-March 30, 2024
Next Article

Flowering pear trees in Kensington not that nice

Empty dirt plots in front of Ken Cinema

Amid the 11 acres of “lush tropical” backdrop at Kona Kai Resort and Spa on Shelter Island, Mayor Jerry Sanders addressed the San Diego Taxpayer’s Association on the economic hardships the city of San Diego is bound to face.

Sanders explained how the global economic crisis will impact the budget; namely, a projected $43 million deficit caused by slumping tourism revenues and tumbling sales and property tax gains. He said that it was time for the city to scale back on its finances.

“For a city that is already on a tight budget, such a huge adjustment cannot be made painlessly. Unlike the kingpins on Wall Street, no one is going to rescue us. We have to rescue ourselves.

Sponsored
Sponsored

"Across our city, families are preparing for these lean times by showing courage and common sense in the face of uncertainty. We have no choice but to do the same. I have informed the council that, until we have certainty about our economic outlook, I will veto any council action that adds any nonessential programs or obligations that require new spending.”

Not all spending will stop, said Sanders. There are some projects that Sanders says will help save money down the road. The transformation of Lindbergh Field into a regional transportation hub, for example.

“We are drafting an airport plan that captures the true potential of that invaluable property where our transportation modes -- air and rail, highways and seaways -- already converge.

"This plan meshes our transportation options intelligently, and it reengineers Lindbergh Field as a travel hub for our region. It addresses our short-term needs without making them the ceiling of our ambitions. Even if a future generation finds a spot to build a new airport, the inter-modal center we envision will be a lasting boon to the city.”

Sanders also mentioned the convention center and the need to build the third-phase expansion.

“This new phase will be built behind the existing convention center, so it won't block the public’s view of the water. And if it's done right, it will actually enhance public access to the waterfront. I'm excited about this project, and I will do everything I can -- except commit existing tax revenues -- to make sure it goes forward.”

Lastly, Sanders lobbied for support of a new civic center.

“We've heard from financial analysts who say we could save $400 million over the next 50 years by consolidating city operations in a single mixed-use building designed for today's technologically advanced workforce. We are not going down this road unless it pencils out for the taxpayers -- that's all there is to it. But if it’s true that a new civic center will save the taxpayers money, I can't turn my back on a solution simply because it will be unpopular in certain circles.”

In closing, Sanders reiterated his confidence in the City of San Diego and its residents.

“We will emerge from these challenges more secure, more confident, and knowing we kept faith with the people who are the strength and future of our great city.”

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Making Love to Goats, Rachmaninoff, and Elgar

Next Article

Didja know I did the first American feature on Jimi Hendrix?

Richard Meltzer goes through the Germs, Blue Oyster Cult, Ray Charles, Elvis, Lavender Hill Mob
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.