(Photo: The mayor delivering the state of the city address in the newly refurbished Balboa Theatre Downtown. Alison St John/KPBS )
San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders delivered his third State of the City Address last night and struck a note of hope that the worst of San Diego's financial nightmares are in the past. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.
Speaking in the golden light of the ornate and beautifully restored Balboa Theatre downtown, Sanders referred several times to restoring trust. That, he said, has been a tougher goal even than restoring the city's dismal financial condition.
Sanders : Our bigger challenge was to earn your trust once again, and tonight I report progress, not perfection but progress measurable progress.
The mayor measured progress by comparing the city to the shambles it was in two years ago when he took office, saying that back then, no-one even knew how many people were on the payroll. He took credit for getting three years of back-dated financial statements approved, and glossed-over the fact that San Diego is still not back in the public bond market, and won’t be until 2006's audit is approved.
The mayor has spent considerable time in Washington and Sacramento making personal connections in the corridors of power, something the previous mayor did little of.
Sanders : We have successfully lobbied state and national leaders to give our region close to $1 billion for emergency preparedness transportation and improving environment.
Street repair is a subject dear to all San Diegans' hearts and Sanders highlighted an item in his yet-to-be-announced budget that will be popular: $70 million for repaving streets and fixing storm drains.
Sanders : This represents an increase of over 3,000 percent since I took office.
Not surprising, since streets have had short shrift in the last two tight budgets.
Sanders : The days when the city budget were a shell game are over. Now for the first time my five-year outlook imposes real discipline in the budgetary process and sensibly funds long term obligations.
Sanders says he will announce his updated five-year plan today and that it will include tens of millions of dollars more than last year, to keep paying down the pension and retiree health care deficit.
He made it clear that he's dropped any idea of rolling back pension benefits.
Sanders : When I first became mayor I relied on the advice of the city attorney, that previously awarded pension benefits could be taken away. The courts have ruled decisively against the city attorney.
While distancing himself deliberately from the city attorney, Sanders was cautiously complementary about the city council.
Sanders : I've enjoyed a productive relationship with this city council.
However, he did not give an inch on the one issue where the council has overridden his veto. He remained conspicuously silent on the issue of water reclamation, sticking with the cheaper and less politically tricky solution.
Sanders : The time to conserve water is now, it is the responsibility of every San Diegan.
Sanders says he plans to convene a summit of California Mayors next week, to lobby for state money to transfer more water to region.
The speech contained no grand visions such as a city hall, but Sanders did talk about launching plans to beautify Balboa Park in time for its 100th anniversary.
He held out no hope that the city might change its mind on a new stadium for the Chargers but said he wants them to stay in the county, and threw his support behind Chula Vista's bid.
When it came to the all-important question of preparing for future wildfires, Sanders broke with tradition, and shared the state of the city spotlight with County Supervisor Ron Roberts. Roberts spoke about a new working committee made up of mayors and fire chiefs from around the county.
Roberts : While CalFire does a good job of fighting fires, we also need to look at a regional fire fighting authority to direct out efforts in San Diego County.
The new committee will come up with recommendations in June.
Sanders ended his speech on a note of confidence.
Sanders : Stand with determination, stand with confidence, stand with strength, we can do this, it's time to stop looking backward and start looking forward.
This is a message Sanders hopes will carry him forward, as he runs for reelection later this year.
Alison St John, KPBS News.
