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Mayors actions raise significant concerns for taxpayers

Monroig: A pay-to-play culture in local government undermines taxpayers trust and disincentives honest parties from investing in San Diego

SAN DIEGO June 28, 2013: The San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) is troubled by what appears to be a pay-to-play culture at San Diego City Hall. In a story that broke today U-T San Diego reports: A voice message left at a city office appears to suggest a direct link between a $100,000 payment to the city and approval of changes to a Kearny Mesa project. Mayor Bob Filner vetoed changes to the Sunroad Centrum Partners mixed-use project on May 16, then withdrew his veto the next month. Id like the council member to know that we have reached an agreement with the mayors office, says the June 7 message to Councilman Kevin Faulconer from a man identifying himself as Sunroad Centrum Partners executive Tom Story. We have paid him the money that was requested and I was told that the mayor would support the (veto) override. The developer asked the city for an easement to allow the project to proceed as planned. The council approved the easement but it was vetoed by Filner. The U-T story notes: Filners chief of staff, Vince Hall, told the council the mayor supported override of his own veto because of a complication in the recording of the easement. At the time, Hall said the developer did not compensate the city. Besides the ethical implications of this deal, this is disconcerting to SDCTA because of the impact it is likely to have on businesses considering doing business at City Hall. The City simply cannot afford this type of damage to its credibility. Businesses will surely reconsider potential investments in San Diego and look to other nearby cities if they think theyre going to be subjected to a quid pro quo. Further, such pay-to-play deals fly in the face of transparent, efficient and honest government. Taxpayers deserve and expect government to be transparent and above board, said Felipe Monroig, SDCTAs President and CEO. Along with generating horrible PR, a pay-to-play culture in local government undermines taxpayers trust and disincentives honest parties from investing in San Diego. We urge the San Diego City Council and City Attorney to quickly get to the bottom of this to help restore public confidence in City Hall operations. ###
CONTACT: Tony Manolatos (619) 549-0137 or amanolatos@gmail.com The San Diego County Taxpayers Association is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting accountable, cost-effective and efficient government and opposing unnecessary taxes and fees. Founded in 1945, SDCTA has spent the past six decades saving the regions taxpayers billions of dollars, as well as generating information to help educate the public. You can follow SDCTA on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.