San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders last night gave his annual State of the City speech. In it he acknowledged there are many challenges facing San Diego, including a budget deficit, water shortages and labor issues. KPBS reporter Katie Orr has details.
The city will meet with all five of its public employee unions this year to negotiate new contracts. During his speech at the Balboa Theater downtown, Sanders reached out to the unions. He says the city understands its employees have been through tough times and are hurting.
Sanders: At the same time, I caution that neither labor nor management can afford another impasse, because the cost of business as usual will be paid through service cuts and layoffs.
Sanders says he appreciates the willingness of the unions to restructure pensions for new employees. But he says further cooperation is needed to reform the way San Diego does business.
Katie Orr, KPBS News
