Larry Stirling, former San Diego city council member and retired judge, had an opinion printed in this morning's Union-Tribune, strongly suggesting that Proposition D should fail and that City Hall requires "adult supervision" going forward.

According to Stirling, "Former San Diego city councilmen Fred Schnaubelt, Bruce Henderson, Bill Mitchell and I are voting 'no' on Proposition D. Threats by city staff to cut services if we don't give them more money is the lingo of street muggers, not responsible public officials."

Stirling's complete comments appear below an editorial letter by current council member Donna Frye who wrote in part, "We are facing a very important choice about the future of San Diego. ... Being angry over the sins of the past is understandable. But it does not solve the problems we face today. Proposition D does."

Proposition D's fate may be strongly influenced by a level of public disgust over the secretive budget negotiations which appear to have bailed out the Centre City Development Corporation with an earmark by Nathan Fletcher. The late-night legislative amendment of SB 863 in Sacramento completely removes the tax increment cap where CCDC takes a portion of property tax revenues away from the city's general fund. Fletcher, Mayor Jerry Sanders, and CCDC head Fred Maas have already stood together to make a public apology for the back-room wrangling that led to a state budget deal.

Stirling's anti-D letter ends by stating: "When the voters reject Proposition D, we [Schnaubelt, Henderson, Mitchell and Stirling] will be providing the adult supervision so desperately needed at City Hall."

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/encanto-gas-holder/2010/oct/29/an-early-holiday-season-arrives-with-unlimited-ccd/