We had an exceptional turn-out for our “Competition Express” bus tour throughout the city this morning. We’ll send along a video of highlights soon. Thanks for your continued support! -Carl
DeMaio and Reformers Submit 138,000 Signatures to Qualify San Diego Competition Ballot Measure
Taxpayer Savings — Better City Services — Quality Local Jobs
SAN DIEGO – After five months of collecting signatures, a grassroots campaign led by City Councilmember Carl DeMaio today turned in petitions with over 138,000 signatures of city voters to qualify the “Competition and Transparency in City Contracting” Initiative for the November 2010 city election.
The Initiative amends the City Charter to hold city government accountable for fair and open competitive bidding on city services and contracts, would make San Diego’s economy more attractive to private investment, and would require all city contracts be posted online in a searchable format.
“This measure will impose much-needed reforms on city government to achieve taxpayer savings, provide better city services, and create local jobs,” commented DeMaio.
DeMaio and a coalition of taxpayer, business, and civic leaders loaded the 138,000 signatures onto a bus dubbed the “Competition Express” for a city-wide tour, with stops selected to demonstrate how the city’s financial problems have impacted average San Diegans. Among the stops: the Rancho Bernardo library, which has lost almost 25% of its service hours since 2002; a browned out fire station in University City; and the constantly-under-threat fire pits in Mission Beach.
Speakers throughout the tour decried the shameful tactics employed by organized labor to block reforms that would fix the city’s financial problems and help create jobs for San Diegans. They also took some city leaders to task for failing to stand up to the labor unions and implement measures such as the 2006 Prop C on Managed Competition.
DeMaio cited the strong influence of organized labor on a majority of City Councilmembers as the primary reason a citizens ballot measure was necessary. “The politicians had their chance to reform our city. They chose to bow to pressure from city labor unions. The only way we will get real reform is for the public to impose it on city government at the ballot box,” commented DeMaio.
Competition Express Bus Tour Stops
Rancho Bernardo Library – Lost Library Hours
Why Competition Helps Balance the Budget
University City Fire Station – Browned Out Fire Crew
Why Competition Helps Pension Reform
Mission Beach Lifeguard Station – Fire Pits Under Threat
Why Competition Helps Neighborhood Services
Convention Center – Key Project for Local Jobs
Why Competition Creates Local Jobs
City Hall – The Target of Our Reform
Imposing Reform Using the Initiative Process
Guest Speakers
Councilmember Carl DeMaio
Bill Sheffler, former SDCERS Pension Board Member
TJ Zane, San Diego Lincoln Club
Jim Ryan, Associated General Contractors
Adam Summers, Reason Foundation
Ted Brengel, Mira Mesa Town Council
Scott Hasson, Tierrasanta Community Council
Eric Christen, Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction
Hon. Mitz Lee, Filipino American Community Empowerment
Richard Rider, San Diego Tax Fighters
Lorie Zapf, San Diego City Council Candidate – District 6
B.D. Howard, Democrat and former San Diego City Council Candidate – District 8
For more information on the San Diego Competition Ballot Measure, visit www.ReformSanDiego.com.