PRESS RELEASE
20th annual awards program recognizes best and worst use of public funds
San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) has announced finalists for its 20th Annual Golden Watchdog and Fleece Awards. The awards, which recognize the best and worst in local government efficiency, spending and decision-making, will be announced next Thursday, May 21 at a dinner at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina.
The government-watchdog organization chose a Totally ‘90s to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the popular dinner, which has become famous for its hilarious video skits featuring elected officials and familiar political players.
In addition to awards in the usual categories, a special Visionary Leadership Award will be presented to the County of San Diego for the 12-acre waterfront community park that replaced the surface parking lot at the County Administration Building downtown. Among its many smart features, the park incorporates drought-resistant native horticulture, solar-powered lighting, and recirculated water in its interactive fountains.
Here are the 2015 finalists:
Golden Watchdog Award Finalists
Metro
- City of San Diego – Energy Efficient Street Light Conversion
- City of Chula Vista – Asset Management Program
- City of San Diego – SDPD Recruiting and Retention
- City of San Diego Public Utilities – Pure Water San Diego
Regional
- County of San Diego Planning Development Services – Permit Streamlining
- San Diego County Sheriff’s Department – Veterans Moving Forward Program
- County of San Diego – Juvenile Crime Prevention and Diversion
Golden Fleece Award Finalists
Metro
- City of Encinitas & Encinitas Unified School District – Pacific View Profiteering
- City of San Diego – Portland Loos
- City of Escondido – Adoption of Citizens’ Property Rights Initiative
Regional
- Palomar Community College District – Computer Dumping
- CalTrans – Water Wasters
- San Ysidro School District – Title I Cover Up
Public-Private Partnership Award Finalists
- City of San Diego & RAD LAB – QUARTYARD
- San Diego County Regional Airport Authority & Landmark Aviation – Fixed-Base Operator
- County of San Diego & 2-1-1 San Diego – Disaster Response
Media Watchdog Award Finalists
Print/Electronic
- Megan Burks | Voice of San Diego – “Whack-A-Mole City Enforcement Keeps Slumlords In Business”
- David Garrick | UT San Diego – “City Shocked By Cost of Portland Loos”
- Morgan Cook | UT San Diego – “What’s that Caltrans is using water for?”
Television Media
- Joe Yerardi | inewsource & Katie Schoolov | KPBS – “San Diego County’s system for tracking campaign donations called outdated”
- Gene Cubbison | NBC7 – “Questions Still Surround City Council’s New President”
- Brad Racino | KPBS – “San Diego Attorney Cory Briggs’ Land Deals Raise Ethical, Legal Questions”
- 10News Team – “Sheriff’s deputy kept county car and gas card”
EVENT DETAILS:
Thursday, May 21
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
1380 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Cocktail reception: 5-7 p.m.
Dinner program: 7-9 p.m.