Enough is Enough

Published: Monday, April 28, 2008 7:08 PM PDT

E-MAIL STORY

I have known Robert for some time now, and have worked with him on a number of community issues. I have also shared his frustration over unsolved problems facing our city. I agree with Robert when he says: “Enough is enough!”

As he campaigns around District 3, San Diego City Council candidate, Robert E. Lee, reminds taxpayers and voters of these facts:

In 2005, two San Diego City council members resigned in shame, accused of accepting bribes from individuals associated with an “adult entertainment” club.
Five currently sitting council members were deemed “negligent” in their fiduciary duties to San Diego taxpayers and bondholders by an investigative agency.
Five former San Diego city officials recently had civil securities fraud charges filed against them by federal regulators.
As a result of intentional under funding, the San Diego city employees’ pension fund deficit exceeded $1 billion in recent years.
The San Diego city employees’ medical care fund deficit has recently approached $1 billion.
The “infrastructure deficit” -- needed repairs and upgrades to our roads, sidewalks, water system, sewage treatment system, storm runoff, and buildings and other facilities -- far exceeds $1 billion.
Because of these and other financial shenanigans, all three major public bond ratings agencies either suspended or sharply downgraded the city of San Diego’s credit ratings.

With these and other facts in mind, Robert believes, “Enough is enough!”, and that San Diego citizens, taxpayers and voters are demanding a return of Ethics and Integrity to City Hall. When a culture of unethical, and even unlawful, behavior so permeates the business of city government, San Diegans see that the required and expected duties of city officeholders and officials simply fall by the wayside. And San Diego taxpayers literally end up paying the price for this kind of unacceptable behavior. If he is elected to the San Diego City Council, I know Robert will work hard to restore Ethics and Integrity, and to implement systems of accountability and transparency, to city operations.

On the major, “meat and potatoes” issues of everyday city governance, Robert is running on his “3 and 3” plan for change, emphasizing a trio of important District 3 issues and three critical citywide issues:

In District 3:

Crime prevention: Increase the police presence in District 3, including the restoration of the community, police storefronts. Prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law. Grow and support Neighborhood Watch groups.
Transportation and mobility improvements. Improve mass transit, including upgrading the University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard transit centers, incorporating Bus Rapid Transit, and adding more express bus routes. Upgrade and repair our streets. Better synchronize traffic lights, especially during rush hours.
Support economic and small business development, so we can shop and keep our hard-earned dollars in our small, locally-owned, neighborhood businesses.

Citywide:

Pension and fiscal reform. We simply cannot pay for needed programs and improvements until we get our city finances in order. We must spend our finite, taxpayer dollars in efficient and effective ways that benefit the most number of citizens, not the narrow special interests.
Infrastructure repair and upgrade. Crumbling streets and sidewalks, bursting water mains, and sewage leaks that pollute our waterways and cause beach closures are just some of the very real symptoms of our “infrastructure deficit”.
Public Safety n Police and Fire n retention and upgrade. Retain and increase our police and fire professionals, and bring emergency vehicles and equipment and facilities up to standard. When citizens feel unsafe and unprotected, the other issues do not matter.

I know Robert, I have seen his determination and I trust his integrity as I do with very few people. He is, I believe, the only candidate running for the city council who has the unique combination of personal integrity, determination, hard work ethic, and common sense to end the Band-Aid approach we have seen far too much for too many years.

Robert E. Lee pledges to bring fresh, new changes to City Hall ... and I believe him. And I know he's the right person for the job, which is why I’m supporting Robert E. Lee for District 3 City Council on June 3, and I hope you will, too.

-- RALPH DENNEY

1 Comments so far on this story...

I have recently had the opportunity to speak with Robert E. Lee via email and I was quite impressed with his understanding of the issues facing the 3rd district particularly gang violence and crime. For far too long the liberal establishment's "soft" approach to this growng problem has not served our district well. Mr. Lee understands that you need to take a "zero tolerance" approach in these matters. Mr. Lee supports capital punishment for heinous crimes, supports 3 strikes laws (yet is reasonable enough to support only felonies being included not misdemeanors), and opposes the needle exchange program as a wasteful government program that only serves to increase illegal drug use. I enthusiastically support Robert E. Lee for City council and urge everone to vote for him on June 3rd.

Posted by Leonard Farello | reply to this comment
May 11, 2008 6:50 am

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