How did last-minute state budget maneuvering position state legislators to outflank City of San Diego officials in the push for a downtown Chargers stadium? We'll discuss the senate bill and analyze what is means for San Diego.
Guest
Scott Lewis, CEO voiceofsandiego.org
Transcript
LAST WEEK CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS FINALLY PASSED A BUDGET MORE THAN THREE MONTHS LATE, THE DELAY CAUSED HEADACHES AND WORRY AS THE STATE RAN OUT OF MONEY AND AT THE 11th HOUR AUTHORITIES SQUEEZED IN A BILL THAT HAD LITTLE OR NOTHING TO DO WITH CALIFORNIA AND LOTS TO DO WITH THE CHARGERS STADIUM PROPOSED FOR DOWNTOWN.
WE WILL ANALYZE WHAT THIS MEANS FOR SAN DIEGO. WHAT IS IN THAT DEAL?
IT'S A SWEET HEART DEAL, QUICKLY LOOK AT YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL LIST IT AS AN EXPLANATION, REDEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT GOES TO AND PART OF THAT IS DOWNTOWN IN SAN DIEGO. NOW THIS BILL SAID THIS CAN GO ON INDEFINITELY. THAT'S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE A LOT OF ENTITIES, THE COUNTY, SCHOOL DISTRICT, WERE WAITING FOR DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT TO CEASE SO THEY COULD BENEFIT AS WELL FROM ALL THE INVESTMENT THAT IS MADE DOWN THERE.
SO REDEVELOPMENT CAN GO ON DOWNTOWN WHETHER THEY NEED IT OR NOT?
RIGHT. THEY BEGAN A LONG-TERM STUDY WHETHER THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO THIS. WHAT THAT BILL WAS GETTING AROUND THE PROCESS. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF YOU SAW THE COUNTY BE SO UPSET THAT THEY FILE LEGAL ACTION.
WHY DID THE STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS GET INVOLVED IN SAN DIEGO BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE?
THIS WAS STARTED BY NATHAN FLETCHER. YOU REMEMBER HIM FROM THE CHILD KIDNAPPING --
RIGHT.
YES. IS A REPUBLICAN AND THEY NEEDED HIS VOTE TO PASS THE BUDGET. AND HE DID WHAT HE CALLS THIS GIFT TO SAN DIEGO. THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT AWARE OF IT AND EVEN THE CITY COUNCILMAN REPRESENTS DOWNTOWN DID NO KNOW. THE MAYOR SAID THAT HE DID NOT TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT MAY DERAIL THE PROCESS BUT THAT IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL.
SO IT WAS A SECRET PROCESS, AND WHAT WE ARE HEARING IS THAT IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR A CHARGERS STADIUM TO BE BUILT DOWNTOWN, NOW.
THE CHARGERS RECENTLY DECIDED THAT THEY NEED TAXPAYER MONEY IF THEY WANT TO BUILD A STADIUM. AS MUCH AS $500 MILLION THE ONLY WAY TO GET THAT TYPE OF MONEY IS IF IT'S INCLUDED IN REDEVELOPMENT MONEY. REMEMBER THE CHUNK OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL. THAT IS THE ISSUE. I THINK A LOT OF RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A CITY THAT IS RIGHT NOW BEGGING FOR MORE TAX DOLLARS FROM SALES TAX WITH PROPOSITION D WONDERING WHY THEY ARE ARE CONDUCTING A HUGE TAX COLLECTION PROCESS.
DIDN'T I HEAR THAT THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO PUT PUBLIC MONEY INTO A CHARGERS STADIUM?
RIGHT. BUT THAT IS GENERAL FUNDS MONEY, THAT IS FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE. WHENEVER THEY SAY WE ARE BUILDING THIS PROJECT, A CONVENTION CENTER, WHEN THEY SAY WE CAN ONLY USE THIS THE MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT IT'S BECAUSE IT'S REDEVELOPMENT MONEY. AND THE REASON THEY CAN SAY THAT IS BECAUSE OF DECISIONS LIKE THE ONE MADE THURSDAY NIGHT. WHERE THEY HIDE ALL THIS MONEY FOR REDEVELOPMENT. HEAT --THAT'S THE ISSUE. NOW THEY ARE SAYING THAT THE STADIUM WILL HELP THE DOWNTOWN BENEFIT FROM IT.
THE VOTERS, THERE WAS A POINT AT WHICH IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT IF THERE WAS A CHARGER STADIUM DOWNTOWN THAT VOTERS WOULD HAVE A SAY.
WELL IT UP IN THE HAIR WHETHER THAT SAY IS GUARANTEED MUCH. WHETHER THERE WILL ASH VOTE. I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THAT THE CITY WOULD INVEST THAT MUCH MONEY IN A FOOTBALL STADIUM WHILE THE REST OF THE CITY GOES DOWN HILL WITHOUT ASKING VOTERS TO WEIGH IN IN. THE CITY COUNCILMAN THAT SUPPORTS IT, ONE OF THE THINGS HE WAS FRUSTRATED WITH WAS HE WANTED THE THE WHOLE YEAR TO WIN THE ARGUMENT ON ITS MERITS.
FIREFIGHTERS BEING CUT, POLICE ARE BEING CUT. HOW DO PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION HAS COME OUT AGAINST IT. I THINK A LOT OF PUBLIC EMPLOYED UNIONS ARE SEEING THAT IT STEELS MONEY AWAY FROM CITY SERVICES.
SCOTT LEWIS THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
