A new Field Poll released today revealed that San Diego voters are more likely to state they are going through tough economic times than any other region in California. However, county voters remain largely optimistic about our state’s future economic recovery. Among the findings: A whopping 71% of San Diego voters say they are financially worse off today than a …
A Fresh Start for San Diego City Taxpayers
(originally featured in San Diego News Network) The recessionary turmoil and state tax increases of 2009 were a devastating one-two punch for many San Diego families, leaving few prepared for our unknown financial future. Rather than allow greater harm to befall our economy this year, City Hall leaders must take action today and prioritize the long-term interests of local taxpayers. …
DeMaio Applauds Key Ruling on City Pension Benefits
A late-breaking court ruling on San Diego city pension benefits has earned the applause of Councilmember Carl DeMaio, who has steadfastly challenged the status quo on our policy options to reform our long-term financial obligations. A detailed press release from his office is below. I’ve watched some recent media interviews where other leaders at San Diego City Hall have been …
REPEALING TAXPAYER RIGHTS IS THE WRONG SOLUTION FOR SAN DIEGO’S FISCAL WOES
This Thursday evening, Voice of San Diego reporter Liam Dillon posted an article on San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders’ plan to study possibly two new back-door taxes on city residents – a stormwater fee and a trash collection fee – as part of a $179.1 million budget-balancing deal with the City Council. As Dillon notes, these two fees have been …
Proposed San Diego Permit Rules For Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Fall Short of Public Demands
This Tuesday, the San Diego City Council will review new land use & permitting regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries, which have long been a source of controversy, criminal activity and quality of life problems in our community. Though polling data suggests that the overwhelming majority of San Diego residents are in favor of tough legal mandates for greater safety and …
San Diego City Taxpayers Need New Budget Solutions From City Hall
This Tuesday, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders publicly released his plan to close the estimated $179-201 million gap in the Fiscal Year 2011 General Fund budget at City Hall. While Sanders’ proposal minimizes the deficit’s impact on residents without raising taxes, it fails to secure the long-term interests of local taxpayers. Why? #1 Short-term financial fixes are heavily relied upon. …
HJTA: Harkey, Anderson #1 Taxpayer Advocates in Sacramento for 2009
The results are in from the 2009 Legislative Report Card issued by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA), one of California’s oldest and most respected taxpayer advocacy organizations, and San Diego Assemblymembers Diane Harkey and Joel Anderson were the *only* elected state representatives out of all 120 legislative members in Sacto to receive perfect “A” scores! The Report Card, which is based …
New Poll Finds San Diegans Support Tough Rules on Cannabis Dispensaries
According to a new poll conducted by Competitive Edge Research & Communication (CERC), San Diegans want tough regulatory oversight for medical marijuana dispensaries, which are opening up throughout the city today with less restrictions than bars, liquor stores and traditional pharmacies. The CERC poll, which surveyed 505 adults in the City of San Diego, found broad support generally for medical marijuana …
San Diego City Hall Needs Citizen Help to Achieve Fiscal Recovery
(This op-ed was originally posted on San Diego News Network this week) With falling tax revenue projections from our national economic downturn, and the ongoing turmoil of a structural deficit in our local government, the City of San Diego now faces an estimated $201 million budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2011. Thankfully for taxpayers, reaction from elected officials to this …
California Voters Oppose Prop. 13 Changes, Tax Overhaul, Poll Finds
Taxpayer Godfather Howard Jarvis would be proud. According to a Field Poll released Wednesday, California registered voters oppose sweeping changes to the state tax system, Proposition 13 property tax provisions, and the 2/3 legislative requirement in Sacramento. Among the findings: 52% disapprove of eliminating Proposition 13 safeguards for commercial property and business owners; 69% disapprove of lowering the 2/3 legislative …
Poll Finds Obama-Nobel Peace Prize Decision Unpopular in San Diego
According a new SurveyUSA poll, San Diegans did not warmly welcome the news last Friday that President Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize. Fielding responses from 500 adults in San Diego County, SurveyUSA found that 52% of area residents did not agree with the decision to award Obama the Prize. Those opposed include 72% of registered Republican voters, 22% of …
Radical Parking Meter Proposal Advances at San Diego City Hall
This week, the San Diego Budget & Finance Committee advanced a proposal to radically change parking meter policies in our City. The proposal would: * allow the maximum parking meter rate to be DOUBLED to $2.50 an hour; * allow parking meters to charge on Sundays; * allow parking meters to charge until 11PM; * increase city staffing for parking …
Addressing San Diego’s City Budget Crisis
My thoughts on closing the City of San Diego’s massive budget deficit, which now threatens the future of our core public services, including police, fire protection, libraries, and parks. VV (Reposting from Voice of San Diego) The San Diego City Council faces a daunting task in closing the $179-$201 million budget gap before it. Proposed solutions to closing this gap …
San Diegans & Obama
With ten months now in the White House, just how do San Diegan voters feel about President Obama’s job performance and policy/political agenda? The well-respected Field Research Corporation just released a statewide opinion poll today which included a breakout of San Diego County respondents. According to the poll: * San Diegan voters are significantly less supportive (48% approve/43% disapprove) of …
Celebrate Richard Rider Day!
The San Diego City Council just unanimously approved Councilmember Carl DeMaio’s proclamation of October 6th as Richard Rider Day in our City. For decades, Richard has been a tireless advocate for taxpayers in our community, and has demonstrated the core principles and convictions we need in our elected officials. Richard, your activism has been an inspiration to me and countless …
Poll finds Majority of San Diegans Oppose ACORN, Support Gov Fund Cuts
According to the results of a SurveyUSA poll released last Thursday, 2 out of 3 San Diego residents aware of ACORN have negative impressions of the community-based organization, which is now embroiled in a national scandal exposed by conservative activists affiliated with BigGovernment.com. The poll, which surveyed 500 San Diegan adults, also found that residents are strongly in favor (67%) …
Is D1 Now Democratic?
Is the City of San Diego’s District One now firmly in the Democratic column? I was rummaging through some of my old computer files this morning, and came across some interesting 2007 voter registration numbers from the City Clerk’s Office. Comparing them to the most recent voter reg report, which you can find online here, shows two important things: 1) …
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