As the melodrama surrounding City Hall unfolded this week, one thing became obvious to all observers of city and local politics. Jerry Sanders has shown himself to be a R.I.N.O. (Republican in Name Only) who lacks the ability to lead this city. His commitment to Republican principles has been whispered about for years. This week has shown Jerry to be nothing more than a tax and spend opportunist who is more interested in grabbing money from taxpayers than doing what’s best for them.
This week alone Jerry Sanders celebrated the groundbreaking for a library that still needs $32.5 million to be raised to pay for the place. The most embarrassing image from that event was a collection box where attendees could donate to the building costs of that edifice of arrogance. On Thursday he vetoes a bill for a $300 million project for a new city hall. He vetoed it not because of the extravagant expense, only because he’s afraid voters are going to rightfully reject his monument to incompetence.
And then there’s the zombie sales tax. Several weeks ago, his office “floats” the idea of a sales tax. When responsible politicians and organizations opposed it, Jerry sent his press secretary to say that “now’s the wrong time” for a sales tax. Fast forward through a couple of weeks of silence as the Zombie sales tax keeps rising from the dead. Finally, the RINO decides to speak. Our not so Republican mayor holds with unions hacks Todd Gloria, Donna Frye, Marti Emerald and Sherri Lightner to support a sales tax that burdens San Diegans and does nothing to fix the real problems of the city.
Even the most fervent Sanders fans must now realize what many of us have long suspected: We have a RINO Republican leading the city as it heads further down the road to financial ruin.