Guest Commentary
by Brian Brady
Is it any surprise that Bob Filner is going negative so early? When you consider his consultant’s propensity for negative campaigning, the latest attack on Carl DeMaio’s fundraising success is but a preview of the scorched earth campaign Tom Shepard will have Filner lead this Fall.
Mimicking Harry Reid, Filner charged the DeMaio camp with a shakedown scheme after it was reported that DeMaio outraised Filner 3-1 in June 2012:
On Wednesday, Filner blamed DeMaio’s “high pressure shakedown of special interests” for the disparity in funds, accusing DeMaio of threatening potential donors if they didn’t donate.
“After a very intense primary campaign, I thought donors and voters deserved a break, at least for a few weeks,” Filner said in a written statement.
Bob coasted…again… showing his unwillingness to do the hard work, and Carl hustled (like always), making calls, knocking on doors, and building coalitions. Faced with failure, Filner planted a rat and tried to smear DeMaio.
Can you back that up, Bob?
When asked who DeMaio allegedly threatened, Filner’s spokeswoman could not name the individuals for confidentiality reasons. However many do work or have done work with the city, a statement read.
Proof? Who needs proof when you can Reid anything, to anyone, anytime? Just like Harry Reid’s baseless, unsubstantiated conjecture regarding Mitt Romney’s financial status, Filner is throwing mud against the wall to see what may stick.
It’s an abhorrent tactic, practiced by sleazy politicians, at the behest of their consultants. If Filner were really “fighting for the people,” as he claims he has for decades, he’d name names and places, but he won’t…
…because he can’t
…because it didn’t happen…
and Filner and Shepard know it but truth is not going to be part of their agenda this Fall.
# # #
Brian Brady is a small business owner who lives in Solana Beach. He is a director for Stop Taxing Us, the taxpayer advocacy and tea party group. There, he crafted the “Promise to California taxpayers,” a no new tax pledge candidates make. He is a Member-Elect of the SDGOP Central Committee.
Comments 12
Since the following questions were ignored, they are reposted here. The Promise to California Taxpayers has been violated by all City of San Diego Republicans by their voting records to create PRIVATE taxes without public oversight.
If principles matter so much, why are San Diego Republicans silent regarding Mayor Sanders, Councilman DeMaio, City Attorney Goldsmith, and the City Council’s approved plan to privatize an annual $80 million (5%) in Hotel Taxes without the required 2/3 public vote to raise taxes?
http://www.tinyurl.com/20120619
Are any Republicans concerned that the City of San Diego is trying to extend the temporaray 5-year Tourist Marketing District (TMD) past its expiration date of December 31, 2012?
http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/government/article_bfe2000a-dc2f-11e1-969b-001a4bcf887a.html
What about Mayor Sanders, Councilman DeMaio and the City Council approval of $15 million of public financing for a parking structure in Balboa Park through new Parking Bonds, secured by the City of San Diego’s General Fund?
Only Democratic Congressman Bob Filner has spoken against the privatization of Hotel taxes, and the expensive parking structure which will costs taxpayer $15 million for an additional 272 parking spaces. Each new parking space will costs taxpayers approximately $55,147(see Page 16).
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/voiceofsandiego.org/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/4f/84f6ea12-c539-11e1-a8e4-0019bb2963f4/4ff334b483125.pdf.pdf
All Republican City of San Diego elected representatives are trying to create a legal loophole to 2010 Proposition 26 which requires 2/3 public voters approval to create a new Tax, such as the 1- to 3-percent “Special Tax” of which only $25 million would go to Construction of the Convention Center Phase III expansion. The remaining $25 million goes to the Private Tourist Marketing District (TMD) and the Private CONVIS, which includes several Private Hotels are public Port Tidelands.
Another way Republican City officials are trying to raise taxes without a public vote is by Extending the Temporary 5-year 2 percent Tourist Marketing District to include new hotels not previously subject to the Private Tax. The legal argument used is that the 2 percent TMD is an existing tax and all San Diego is trying to do is Extend the 5- year temporary tax for an additional 40 years.
Not only does 2010 Proposition 26 not allow new taxes without a 2/3 public vote, it also makes illegal the Extension of existing taxes beyond the expiration date.
Where is the Outrage? If San Diego creates a legal loophole to Proposition 26, which is doubtful, then any California government can used the same slick idea to bust the will of California voters and our California Constitution, and raise Private Taxes which are not subject to public oversight.
Filner doesn’t “hustle” for money because he already has a bottomless war chest — independent expenditures by his labor union bosses. And it won’t be just the local unions spending LITERALLY millions against DeMaio — we’ll see IE’s funded by state AND nation labor union “contributions.”
The LAST thing labor unions want to see is a major American city embark on the path to a true reform of municipal operations. DeMaio strikes fear into every public employee labor union war lord in the land.
DeMaio is out-fundraising Filner in VOLUNTARY contributions — but Filner wins the fundraising battle when we count the CONFISCATED contributions backing his campaign.
How much will labor spend against DeMaio (mostly attacking DeMaio)? START with $5 million. Awesome.
On the surface DeMaio appeared to be a fiscally conservative Republican. In reality he is as phoney as a three dollar bill as revealed in his vote to support Irwin Jacobs’ ill conceived and fiscally irresponsible Balboa Park make over. That project will have further negative impacts upon our city’s general fund and will result in further cutbacks in police, firemen and Library and Rec Center hours.
I wont claim to understand that issue fully R.Ross. but, as I understand it, the financing will be provided by Jacobs for the parking concession.
Lightner abstained because she opposes user fees for parking. It would seem that the rest of the Council understands that user fees are an appropriate way to pay for services rendered
San Diego already has Valet parking in front of the Prado that could never provide revenues to pay off the new Bond debt. Dr. Jacobs promised to fundraise @ $30 million for his ByPass Bridge; Grade Separation Road with 2,600 feet of Retaining/Crib Walls to 20 feet high; and Valet drop off at the reconfigured Alcazar Garden Parking Lot. The large grading operation includes cut and fill slopes of 30 and 25 feet just for just the new “Centennial” Roadway (Grade Seperation ditch) through portions of Palm Canyon.
Mayor Sanders and the City Council voted to issue $16.5 to $18 million in municipal Bonds, backed ONLY by the City’s General Fund and taxpayers for the parking structure. See Pages 2 and 13 of the Independant Budget Analyst (IBA) report.
http://www.sandiego.gov/iba/pdf/reports/2012/12_31.pdf
“If there are insufficient net parking revenues to pay the annual debt service on the bonds beyond the capitalized interest period, the General Fund would be responsible for covering the shortfall… Although net parking revenue is planned to fully support debt service, the General Fund ultimately backs a 30-year debt service obligation on the contemplated bonds.”
It would be great if Taxpayers were not on the hook for ALL shortfalls in revenue assumptions through a new paid parking/Valet fee. Dr. Jacobs refused to backed up his financial projections with his own money.
The contrasts in Leadership between Bob Filner, Mayor Sanders, Councilman DeMaio, and all Republican office holders on Balboa Park is stark. Bob Filner has always opposed the private commercialization of the People’s Park. In September 1988, 24 years ago, as the City Council person for Balboa Park and downtown (CCDC), Bob Filner lead the unanimous City Council, Balboa Park institutions, and public stakeholders to approve the framework for the Balboa Park Master Plan and $80 million in park improvements during a 4 hour City Council meeting. Funding for Balboa Park improvements, circulation, and parking were to be paid with dedicated TOT funding including a one percent (1%) increase to our Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). The $80 million for Construction was to be completed in 10 years by 1998 for a publically financed parking structure behind the Organ Pavilion (to keep public parking free), and a free Park Shuttle and Tram system.
Months later in February 1989, Balboa Park Council Person Bob Filner stopped McDonald’s plan to open up fast food restaurants in the People’s Park in return for underwriting a Tram system as part of a public-private partnership.
Historic Quotes from the San Diego Union Tribune archieves include the following: “Councilman Bob Filner, whose 8th District includes the 1,290-acre park — second only in size to Los Angeles’ Griffith Park — said the improvements will help “bring the sparkle back to the jewel of our city.” His colleagues, who approved the plan without dissent, agreed. ” This is a grand day for Balboa Park,” said Mayor Maureen O’Connor… The tax money will help pay for the restoration of several buildings, completion of a Japanese-style garden and the development of a park shuttle system… More than $32 million is expected to be spent on the structural improvements and another $3.7 million to turn the Prado and Palisades back into plazas…”
“Bob Filner, Opposes commercialization… “It opens up the whole park for sale,” said Councilman Bob Filner, whose 8th District includes the park . “Once you start down that path, the park will be commercialized and it will be a mess,” he said. “What we need is a place to escape from the fast-food places.”.. Filner said a greater effort should have been made to find a sponsor who would not demand anything but advertising rights on the tram.”… The fast-food restaurant chain proposed to operate five trams in the 1,400-acre Balboa Park if the city allowed it to set up shop there. ” The tram is critical (to Balboa Park), but I still think we can get it on our terms without selling the birthright of San Diego,” said Councilman Bob Filner, whose 8th District includes Balboa Park. Filner’s motion to separate the issue of the park ‘s food concession from the issue of the tram was approved unanimously in a 3-0 vote”… “This kind of trade-off crosses a line that we’ve never crossed before,” said Councilman Bob Filner, whose 8th District includes the park. His colleagues on the city council’s Public Facilities and Recreation Committee voted unanimously yesterday to continue searching for a corporation to sponsor a streetcar line that would carry people from one end of the park to another. Filner said the deal suggested by the McDonald’s Corp. could set a bad precedent. “We could end up selling off the park piece by piece,” he said during the committee meeting at City Hall, where park users railed against the commercialization of the park. Poking fun at the McDonald’s proposal, Filner described a ludicrous scenario in which the Burger King Corp. would pay for the restoration of the Old Globe Theatre in exchange for the production of a play titled “Burger King Lear.” Or, Filner asked, how about a Mexican fast-food chain fixing up the Casa del Prado, renamed Casa del Taco? The House of Charm could become the International House of Pancakes if that restaurant chain renovated the old building, the councilman said. On a serious note, Filner concluded: “I don’t think we (should) sell off Balboa Park to the highest bidder.”… Councilman Bob Filner, whose 8th District includes Balboa Park, said he will not “sell out Balboa Park to commercial ventures.”… Given the financial outlook, the McDonald’s offer to provide buses, emblazoned with the company’s logotype, “at no cost to the people of San Diego” is seeming much more appealing than it did a year ago, when the fiscal picture was not as bleak, Councilman Bruce Henderson said yesterday… “It wasn’t just the logo on the tram ,” Filner said. “It was in exchange for a very visible outlet for McDonald’s.”
In contrast, Mayor Jerry Sanders’ leadership set the unfortunate tone for the July 9, 2012 public hearing by announcing detractors to Dr. Jacobs privately funded Bypass Centennial Bridge and Grade Seperation Centennial road, and up to $18 million taxpayer financed paid parking structure have intimidated future and current civic philanthropists from giving money to our poor and broke city for public projects. For example, they “been subjected to some of the most vile and idiotic comments imaginable.”
http://tinyurl.com/20120709a
Please see Video start time 8 minutes 20 seconds for Mayor Sanders’ remarks.
…but the park is ALREADY commercialized and has been for decades. There is a zoo there, a number of food stands, and an amusement park on property, all of which charge fees for products distributed and services rendered.
The whole premise of Balboa park was a celebration of the commercial activity of the Panama Canal might provide and to promote San Diego as the first port-o-call (which is deliciously ironic because Filner still thinks the port lays idle)
What is “The People’s Park”?
The Park IS the “People’s Park” and not all of us “People” agree with this monstrous plan that would ruin many beautiful views.
Wealthy Developers like Manchester think they can buy public opinion but his money is WRONG.
No more giveaways to these for profit ELITISTS who are trying to buy My city.
REFORM for Demaio and the greedy money grubbing coward Doug Manchester means.
Real
Estate
F
O
R
Manchester
That is so clever, we don’t even know what to say. The level of debate has truly been raised!
Gotta love how “The People” treat “their” park:
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/aug/12/police-investigating-vandalism-balboa-park-lily-po/
“It was a mess. There were a few dead koi, empty bottles, squirt guns, balloons, flip-flops…” said John Hittner, who maintains the pond for the city. “They broke the drain pipe and some of the old planters collapsed.”
It amazes me how a blog concerning the honesty of Bob Filner gets twisted into a completely different subject.
Filner blamed DeMaio’s “high pressure shakedown of special interests” for the disparity in funds, accusing DeMaio of threatening potential donors if they didn’t donate.
“After a very intense primary campaign, I thought donors and voters deserved a break, at least for a few weeks,” Filner said in a written statement.
When asked who DeMaio allegedly threatened, Filner’s spokeswoman could not name the individuals for confidentiality reasons. However many do work or have done work with the city, a statement read.
Standard political dodging by Filner supporters.
Filner has a habit of being dishonest, check this out concerning an airline incident:
http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/fact/article_e236cac4-ec91-11e1-b7a6-001a4bcf887a.html
I have listened to Filner speak, and I find him to be sort of lacking in all areas except dodging, pandering, and BSing.
What else is he going to do, Filner has been feeding off the tax payers all his life and will say or do anything to keep it that way.
This election is San Diego’s last chance before turning into Stockton.
Imagine four-eight years of simply having to LISTEN to a smarmy Mayor Filner. A mind-boggling thought.