Week 5: Influence Of Outside groups:
Various outside groups attempt to influence the governance of Coronado, each with differing impacts. Which three do you see as the most influential on the daily life of Coronadans, and how will you engage with these groups to maintain local control for the citizens of Coronado?
The Navy, The Port of San Diego, SANDAG, and Caltrans (tie for 3rd) are tops. Active, informed and intelligent engagement is the key, and we as a city have work to do. We are not an “island”. These groups have great influence over us and they all have primacy over us and we cannot tell them “no”. As your council member, I would ensure a strong presence at these tables. Coronado has not always performed well at that task. We can do better, and I would lead in this effort with my relationships at these agencies already established – to engage them all.
First, there’s our Siamese twin, the United States Navy.The Navy controls large swaths of Coronado and the Constitution is clear on that control. Having frequent, engaged communication with the Regional Commander and C.O. keeps Coronado’s issues forefront. Naval Aviators dot my family (my uncle was an experimental test pilot and taught for decades at NAS Patuxent), and our friends and neighbors are Naval Officers, SEALs and veterans. We are woven inextricably together as a community. I’d continue that communication. We are a Navy town.
Secondly, there’s the Port of San Diego – an autonomous state agency who makes decisions dramatically affecting Coronado real estate development, overcrowding, traffic, and maritime activities (boating) – and the severe air pollution they impose on Coronado – at the Ferry Landing, Tidelands and the Cays, with zero oversight and no appeals of their decisions. Due to the Port’s unique five city “special district”, its weak governance causes a lack of transparency and accountability. A common misunderstanding is that our Port Commissioner serves the city of Coronado. He is only “appointed” by the city. That’s how the Cottages at the Cays trailer park motel got approved by the Port (and is still possible). There is no appeal of any decision by the Port affecting Coronado voters. The only remedy is changing state law, which I’ve worked hard on. I testified twice this summer in Sacramento for Assemblyman David Alvarez’s AB 2783, the San Diego Port Reform and Accountability bill to make the Port more accountable to Coronado voters. Coronado was the only port city that chose not to engage on that bill. That was a missed opportunity for our city for local control. The bill sailed through the state legislature unanimously, but hit last minute political horse-trading. It will be introduced next year. Inexplicably, Coronado was the ONLY Port city of the six to decline to even respond to the strongly worded grand jury report advising major changes to Port governance. Our city again missed that opportunity for local control assertion. I am the only candidate versed and active on these Port governance issues to represent us. Strong engagement and changing the state law are the ONLY things that will assert local control as a Port city. If elected, I promise to make certain that happens. Here’s my Op-Ed in the U-T on the issue. https://bit.ly/PortReform .
SANDAG as our regional agency makes major decisions affecting our town. The housing allocation – which the city fought in a lawsuit and lost, as every other city in California who deflected those allocations did – is now non-negotiable. We have but a few years to get into compliance or the state will allow builders to bypass us and get their permits from Sacramento. Imagine a ten story building in the middle of Coronado with no local control. If we don’t comply, that can happen using the “Builder’s Remedy Law.” It’s already happening in other cities like Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. SANDAG also holds purse strings that, if we can repair our torn relationship there, can help fund the sewage infrastructure in both the US and Mexico with border tolls and save our beaches’ future. I wrote about that in Voice of San Diego a year ago https://bit.ly/SANDAGSolution
CalTrans, another autonomous and independent state agency, asserts influence over our main thoroughfares.The Bridge suicide prevention project must reach completion. Pedestrian and traffic safety on 3rd and 4th, with newer lighted crosswalks like the state installs on other cities’ roads, are needed. The coordination (or lack thereof) of traffic lights is a common complaint. We may revive the Highway 75 relinquishment project. Again, the answer is engagement. I serve on the South County Economic Development Board with several Caltrans representatives. An Ad Hoc committee of council members can change that relationship. I would lead that effort on council.
These collaborative efforts are critical to the future planning of Coronado, and the candidate you choose to interface with these regional agencies is also critical, and is why I am running for council. This is work I am already doing, with relationships off the bridge established putting Coronado first. As your council member, I will be Coronado’s most powerful and respected voice on day one. We need that now more than ever.
VOL. 114, NO. 40 – Oct. 2, 2024
