In between the City of SD’s Ethics Commission and the County DA’s Public Integrity Unit — throw in a few others for good measure — the fun never stops in Sunny San Diego.
A couple of the week’s examples:
DA unit investigates alleged public corruption
Ever since Duke Cunningham, San Diego Stripper-Gate, Nick "Slum-Lord" Inzunza of National City, and just about everything former Chula Vista Mayor Steve Padilla stuck his paws on, nearly everyone else in the County wants to be the leader of rooting out all evil. To be sure, that’s not a bad thing, it’s just hard to keep track of who exactly is doing the investigations nowadays.
Count as part of this group of caped crusaders at least two — maybe three — separate entities in the City of San Diego alone (including the Ethics Commission and City Attorney Mike Aguirre, who also believes he was born to investigate the former), DA Bonnie Dumanis, the San Diego Union-Tribune, an occasional hard-nosed TV investigative journalist, Federal prosecuters (formerly of Carol Lam fame), the SEC, and a few good e-journalists/bloggers, Scott Lewis of VoiceofSanDiego and Chris Reed of the U-Ts America’s Finest Blog to name a couple.
Then, toss in the more traditional groups like the FPPC and the Grand Jury….heck, it’s just not safe to be a public official in San Diego County anymore. Unless, of course, you a) are honest, ethical and above reproach, b) completely disclose your interests on that hated 700 Form, c) recuse yourself when reality and even perception dictate, and d) keep clear of questionable liaisons, such as strip club owners and those carrying bags of hundred dollar bills. Oh yes, and lobbyists, developers and environmentalists.
But seriously — in case you thought I was kidding before — some politicos in San Diego think that following the guidelines noted in a, b, c and d above is still not enough, that even honesty and integrity will eventually land you in hot water, with all the entities out there that may be willing to follow up on any allegation, just to possibly make a name for themselves (their words, not mine). And, as many know, even the mention of an investigation in the press provides the sliver of doubt in the eyes of the public.
For me, the bottom line comes to two things: First, Duke Cunningham and Ralph Inzunza wrought this on us. Second, if you run for office in San Diego, live with it and stop your whining, you know what you’re getting into. You also have the choice to hang it up.
I’d much rather live in an area where I know you’re all being watched, than not knowing — all fat, dumb and happy — what was happening all those years right in our midst.