Once again, Sacramento has taken away a little more local control from cities over their own business, thanks to approval today by Governor Jerry Brown.
Last week, the state Senate approved SB829, a labor union backed bill. The Senate’s approval of SB829 is an attempt to undercut Proposition A, the Fair and Open Competition Initiative, which is on the June ballot in San Diego.
SB829 is an attempt by labor-backed lawmakers to restrict construction funds to charter cities that refuse to consider union-friendly Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on city construction projects. Experts agree these types of agreements increase construction costs up to 15 percent. The bill, backed by the State Building & Construction Trades Unions, now gives labor unions control of local construction money and block savings for local taxpayers. SB829 was opposed by San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, the League of California Cities, and the California Chamber of Commerce.
It sticks in the Libertarian Lass’s craw and it should stick in the craw of every taxpayer and voter when Sacramento legislators have the arrogance to dictate terms when local governance isn’t to their liking. In this case, we have Sacramento putting conditions on funding unless charter cities go along. No matter how much a city’s elected leaders may believe in fair and open competition, the thought of a cash-strapped city losing out on desperately needed state funds may be daunting enough to force them to submit.
Proposition A will prevent the City of San Diego from imposing mandatory PLAs on City-funded construction projects. This means equal treatment for union and non-union workers. It also requires the Mayor to post construction contracts online for public review. Proposition A is endorsed by San Diego mayoral candidates Bonnie Dumanis, Carl DeMaio, and Nathan Fletcher; In November 2010, San Diego County’s version of Proposition A passed with 76 percent of the vote and won every precinct in San Diego County. NOTHING passes in San Diego County by this kind of margin.
Late today, City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said he would defend Prop A in court if voters pass the measure in June.
Scott Crosby, President of the Associated Builders and Contractors of San Diego, said, “SB829 has serious constitutional defects. However, that has not stopped some in the legislature from backing what should be a non-starter. SB829 is a power grab by Sacramento politicians that will certainly be overturned by the courts.”
“We all know this is a legislative maneuver to take local control away from San Diego and keep it in the hands of special interests,” San Diego County Senator Joel Anderson said. “It’s their drill for special interests.”
“It is extremely frustrating for local governments when the legislature places restrictions on them financially,” San Diego County Senator Mark Wyland said. “In this instance, it is their local control that we are intruding upon, and it makes no sense. Let’s not burden our cities anymore.”
Details are posted on the Fair and Open Competition website, where you can also find more information about PLAs and why Prop A needs to pass in June.
DISCLOSURE: Associated Builders and Contractors San Diego is a client of my public relations firm, Falcon Valley Group.