The following is a Twitter conversation from Friday afternoon between Tony Manolatos, deputy chief of staff/communications director for Councilman Kevin Faulconer, and Evan McLaughlin, director of politics and legislation for the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council. Kelly Davis, associate editor of SD CityBeat, also joined the discussion near the end. The conversation stems from yesterday’s announcement by San Diego Unified School Board President Richard Barrera that he is seeking an “emergency” loan of $64 million from the City of San Diego to help close the school district’s $120 million budget deficit. Barrera is expected to make his pitch at Monday’s City Council meeting.
Manolatos: “Dear SD Unified…Please come up w/a plan better than this one: http://bit.ly/huXk2j We are not an ATM.”
McLaughlin: “What’s the cost to the general fund to do that?”
Manolatos: “What’s the plan after the loan? Another loan?”
McLaughlin: “Didn’t read that. Sounds like SD Unified wants CCDC to hasten payment. CCDC already borrows from schools, not other way around”
Manolatos: “Schools are made whole and will receive more money if redevelopment remains. They want an advance/loan to help pay for pensions. That’s not a good plan.”
McLaughlin: “SD Unified proposal has nothing to do with ending redevelopment. It’s about a 1992 agreement between CCDC & schools in which CCDC owes schools money.”
Manolatos: “I didn’t say it would end redevelopment. Tho it would kill plans for a DT fire station and other projects, meaning lost jobs, etc.”
McLaughlin: “Redevelopment would continue. Schools want the $160M owed to them paid back more quickly. Teaching is a job too, right?”
Manolatos: “Don’t layoff the teachers. Make reforms, or you’ll be back in another year asking for more money, right?”
McLaughlin: “That’s the blanket way some have viewed anything dealing w government, but it’s wrong. Teachers aren’t overcompensated.”
Kelly Davis: “What schools want the money for isn’t legal. Money can only be used in/near project area & on capital improvements”
Manolatos: “I’m told there are a lot of legal questions w/this. All the more reason I don’t expect it to gain much traction Monday.”