Contrary to what I originally thought, San Diego CityBeat wasn’t the only local publication writing about the cozy homelessness study contract between the CCDC and former board member Jennifer LeSar. A pseudonymous blogger at San Diego Reader has also examined the questionable deal for a $464,750 study on how to end downtown homelessness in 5 years.
My apologies to the San Diego Reader for not noticing this earlier.
Importantly, the blog posts by “historymatters” have explicitly linked Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, LeSar’s wife and a former San Diego City Council member, to the government chumminess with LeSar’s agency. For example:
“I don’t know why the media has been so quiet on this issue for so long. After all Atkins was 1 of the Council members that gave the beautiful and very valuable prime 17 acre NTC site to developer Corky McMillin for 1 dollar a year in an astounding Redevelopment deal that stunned and enraged citizens. Then Corky McMillin turned around and hired LeSar as a consultant….sound like quid pro quo?”
Such cynicism! I’m sure LeSar got the contract strictly on her merits and her political connections had absolutely nothing to do with it. LeSar is purely motivated by her desire to help the homeless, and cashing in on political connections is the furthest thing from her and Atkins’ mind.
Because if something really were wrong, more local media watchdogs would be publishing investigations on the LeSar/Atkins development consulting business.
Right?
(DISCLAIMER: This is my opinion, and not necessarily that of my employer, the North County Times).