Cross Posted at Red County SD…..
Keith Barnett, executive director of Adam Smith of California, shot the following over to me regarding Jerry Sanders’ visit to the organization’s breakfast meeting this morning in Mission Valley. About 40 turned out to hear Sanders….
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders received a standing ovation this morning as he accepted the Adam Smith Award for Fiscal Responsibility. Judging by the importance of City Council candidates Phil Thalheimer (District 1) and Carl DeMaio (District 5) attending today’s Adam Smith of CA meeting, it is safe to say they are committed to stand beside the Mayor in reforming City Hall.
This next budget year San Diego will be eliminating over 600 positions in city government (I refer to them as positions, not employees, because most jobs are presently vacant). Sanders spoke to the fact that SD has added 2,000 employees in the last ten years, yet has failed to see an increase in service. Most San Diegans would argue that service has in fact declined. The Mayor mentioned that we could see another 250 non-public safety positions cut in the 2009 budget without affecting service levels. The labor unions will undoubtedly oppose such a proposal, while many others might pose the question, “Is 250 enough?”