Faulconer claim not "flawed" — it's a blatant lie

The U-T this morning ran a story stating that the main claims of the candidate it favors, Kevin Faulconer, is "flawed." Actually, that claim, hawked by former mayor Jerry Sanders, is not simply flawed. It is a bald-faced lie.

According to the U-T's story, Faulconer's most frequent boast is that he helped bring changes that "have yielded $1 billion in savings that can now be used for road repairs and neighborhood improvements."

Continues the U-T, "While the claim is true in a broad sense, it fails to provide needed context and leaves the incorrect impression that the money is ready to be spent right away. These savings are spread over three decades and have yet to be realized in the city budget. Additionally, there's no guarantee that the money saved will, in turn, be spent on streets or neighborhoods, especially given the city's shaky financial outlook." (Emphasis mine.)

I congratulate the U-T for partially clearing the air on this matter, but it should have done more than write one story placed in its second section.

Candidate Mike Aguirre, who has been bringing out the truth on the pension issue, is calling on Faulconer and Sanders to apologize for the blatantly false ad. Aguirre asks that a truthful ad be created and requests that the chamber of commerce hold debates on city finances. (An earlier chamber debate was canceled after Aguirre came out with pension facts.)

Jerry Sanders now heads the chamber of commerce. If you know someone who belongs to the chamber, ask if he/she believes the ad Sanders is putting out. And ask if Sanders is qualified to head the chamber.

Also, ask every candidate about San Diego's "shaky financial outlook," as described accurately by the U-T. If the outlook is so shaky, can the City afford building a convention-center expansion into a national glut or afford to subsidize a Chargers stadium?