from San Diego County Taxpayer Association…
SDCTA Announces Finalists for Good Governance,
Media Initiatives Awards
Winners to be revealed at the 17th Annual Goldens on May 16
(San Diego) – The San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) today announced the finalists in its annual Golden Watchdog, Media Watchdog, and Public-Private Partnership “Golden” award categories. Winners will be honored at a special awards dinner and ceremony at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center in Mission Valley on Wednesday, May 16.
Loved by some, loathed by others, the annual Golden Watchdog and Fleece awards give the public the opportunity to voice both admiration and criticism of government programs.
SDCTA’s coveted Golden Watchdog award categories honor programs that exemplify efficient use of tax-dollars and good governance. The Media Watchdog recognizes excellence in reporting on behalf of taxpayers. The Public-Private Partnership Award is given to a program that stretches taxpayer dollars through innovative collaboration between the public and private sector. Finalists for the less-desirable “Fleece” award categories will be announced later this week.
This year’s theme is “Taxpayer TV: You can’t make this $#!% Up!” Expect a reality TV twist on SDCTA’s infamous video skits featuring the San Diego region’s elected officials, community leaders, news media, and other well-known faces. Throw away the remote for this one- this is one show you don’t want to miss!
The Golden Watchdog finalists are:
- City of San Diego: Reform Roadshow (Retiree Healthcare Reform)
- Multiple Agencies including the Port Authority, Metropolitan Transit District, North County Transit District, and 11 Cities: Book ‘Em, Danno! (Graffiti-Tracker Program)
- County of San Diego – Better Than Extreme Couponing (Capital Improvement Program)
- Port of San Diego – The Price Is Right (Streamlining of Procurement Policies)
The Public-Private Partnership finalists are:
- Multiple Agencies including the City and County of San Diego and the United Way: Get Smart (Project 25)
- Vallecitos Water District and Sustain San Marcos – Roll Out the Barrel (Rain Barrel Program)
- City of San Diego and Car2Go –Taking the Checked Flag (Car2Go Program)
The Print/Electronic Media Watchdog finalists are:
- Ashly McGlone, U-T San Diego Watchdog Team, Sweetwater Union High School District Coverage Investigative Series
- Maureen Magee and Jeff McDonald, U-T San Diego, San Diego Unified School District’s Healthcare Benefits System Investigative Series
- David Garrick, North County Times, “Pay Hikes in Escondido Draw Criticism”
- Keegan Kyle, Voice of San Diego, “The Cost of Violating SD’s Curfew” Investigative Series
- Aaron Burgin, U-T San Diego, Otay Water District Investigative Series
The Broadcast Media Watchdog finalists are:
- 10News KGTV I-Team Investigations, “I-Team reveals Court spending bill could impact $2B computer system”
- 10News KGTV I-Team Investigations, “Businesses profiting illegally from food stamps”
- Michael Turko, KUSI News, “Get the job done (City of Encinitas park controversy)”
- NBC San Diego and ProPublica, “Where San Diego’s tax dollars are spent”
For more information about the 17th Annual Goldens, please call SDCTA at (619) 234-6423 or email brianna@sdcta.org.
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Disclosure: I’m a member of the SDCTA board of directors. It pays squat.