$2612 Hertz tab marks mayor's DC stay

Political spin and Hertz appear to be big winners in the latest out-of-town travels of San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer and his retinue of local business boosters late last month.

A well-timed October 31 puff piece in the Washington Post touting Faulconer, ex-GOP mayor and current chamber of commerce honcho Jerry Sanders, and other San Diego politicos ran a few days after the mayor's delegation concluded its four-day stay in Washington.

"It’s beyond politics. It’s about where we are in the world,” the story — headlined, "Build a wall on the border? No thanks, says San Diego" — quoted Faulconer as saying of unspecified "comprehensive immigration reform" he supports.

Chimed in Sanders, who with Faulconer led last year's successful campaign to derail a minimum-wage hike and has championed more U.S. manufacturing in Baja California, “There’s no boogeyman on the south side of the border. We know that. There’s our families on the south side.”

Continued Sanders, “When you remove the social debate and it’s just an economic debate, it’s hard to argue against that."

The glowing Post piece omitted mention of this year's study by University of Southern California's Dornsife Program for Environmental and Regional Equity. 

That report blasted the border policies of San Diego's political establishment, asserting, "Current ties with Tijuana still remain relatively unequal and businesses continue to exploit the lower labor costs in Mexico. Attempts to address these issues are often stymied by short-sighted politics.”

While in the nation's capital, Faulconer took the opportunity to push for more tax money for his toilet-to-tap water-recycling program and engage in other water and development lobbying.

Expense records for the mayor obtained after a request under the state public records act show that Faulconer and his bodyguard and driver, San Diego police detective Ross Weaver, racked up $2612 by renting a car for five days from Hertz in Washington at a $305 daily rate, including a vehicle upgrade of $750. Gas added another $66.

On September 30, the records show, the pair popped up to Boston and New York for another try at keeping the Chargers in town. In Boston the mayor met with Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots. After that it was back to the Big Apple for a confab with New York Giants owner John Mara.

The mayor's room at the Night Hotel on Times Square ran $444.58, according to his receipt.

The next day, October 1, Faulconer dropped in on NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell. Then it was a hop down to Charlotte, North Carolina, to confer with Jerry Richardson, owner of the Carolina Panthers.

According to the documents, Faulconer received reimbursement by the city of $1466 for the Chargers-related portion of his jaunt, including $1021 in transportation costs. No meals were listed.

And the journey may be just the beginning. The mayor is set to hit the road again November 11 for a pitch in New York to the NFL’s Committee on Los Angeles Opportunities.