$228 million of debt transferred from General Fund to Redevelopment
By a vote of 7 to 1, a proposal by Councilmember Carl DeMaio was approved today to transfer 30 years of debt service on the Convention Center from the General Fund to the Redevelopment Agency. The action saves taxpayers $228 Million over 30 years.
“In these difficult times when we are facing deep budget cuts, I’m proud that we were able to pass this common-sense measure to protect core services,” said DeMaio.
Since taking office, DeMaio has advocated for transferring the Convention Center’s debt service to the Redevelopment Agency to protect General Fund services. Utilizing Redevelopment Funds to protect General Fund services is one of the elements of DeMaio’s recently released Roadmap to Recovery plan.
“When I first proposed this transfer, it was on the basis that the Convention Center debt service should never have been a General Fund responsibility in the first place. I’m thrilled that today we finally took appropriate action to reflect our priorities,” concluded DeMaio.
Comments 9
Am I the 5,000th comment?
We did ask for creativity.
This “DeMaio” proposal and others like it concerning CCDC were repeatedly offered up by Donna Frye when she sat on the Council. I don’t remember any conservatives rising up in support back then.
Alger,
and?
What “conservatives” were on the council with Donna Frye at that time? Jim Madaffer? LOL. Just asking.
Greg raises a key point. The last fiscal conservative we had on the San Diego City Council prior to Carl DeMaio was Bruce Henderson, who served one contentious term in the early 1990’s.
EVERY other GOP CC member serving in the period between Bruce and Carl was anything but prudent or frugal when it comes to taxpayer funds. These GOP “conservatives” supported numerous local tax increases, bonds, pro sports subsidies and — most important — the disastrous expansions of our city pensions (including their own).
It was an unhealthy mix of RINO mentality (expanding govt is okay as long as WE are in charge) and stunning economic illiteracy. Even more disturbing was their complete lack of skepticism. They blindly accepted the suggestions of City Manager Jack McGrory because he’s — well — he’s tall, and has a commanding voice.
When it comes to conventional criteria (education, slickness, etc.), Donna Frye arguably was the least suited for city council, and definitely comes from the left. But she brought something to office seldom seen in those days — a healthy skepticism — and the willingness to question authority.
Over and over I’ve publicly credited Donna with being the best city council member we had since Henderson (until Carl was elected, of course). It’s not that she was so great — she was just better than the mindless robots that joined her on the council. An independent cuss, she is.
In the Land of the Blind, the person with one eye is King — or, in this case, Queen. Queen Donna — I LIKE that!
Michael,
And I just wish we would spend more time supporting and opposing ideas based on the idea and not on the messenger.
Greg,
I wasn’t referring to the Council Members. I was referring to everyone else who has an opinion and isn’t afraid to share it. I don’t remember anyone who would consider him/herself a conservative saying this was a great idea when it was Donna Frye’s idea.
Taking things for granted can be surprising. SANDAG, Board of Dir., March 25, Item 12, Healthy Works Grant Program: “The goal of the Healthy Works Program is to address obesity rates, physical inactivity and poor nutrition in the San Diego region.” Translates: fat people, exercise and diet. Funding scheme is Fed (CDC) and (ARRA), County (HHSA), SANDAG (Healthy Works Program)
Goal: Nanny state dictation of diet, exercise and suppression of personal habits.
VOTE: 19-0
Republican, fiscal conservative Lori Zapf was one of the 19.
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(Rostra’s comment number 4,999 – Editor)
A guy and his wife are talking. The wife tells him that if anything were to ever happen to her she would want him to re-marry. But when he does re-marry, his new wife cannot live in their house.
“Oh no, honey. This house is our home. I could never do that,” he says.
She then tells him that his new wife could NOT sleep in their bed.
“Oh no, honey. That bed is our bed. I could never do that,” he tells her.
She also insists that his new wife could NEVER use her golf clubs.
“Oh no, honey,” the husband says. “She’s left handed.”
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(Rostra’s comment number 5,003 – Uhhh, trying too hard – This little experiment sure was anti-climactic. – Editor)