The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce has decided to weigh in on the policies and politics at San Diego City Hall, announcing it is going to study and speak out on certain political issues in the next few months.
“We have grown increasingly concerned about the inability to complete the audits,” said Jessie J. Knight Jr., the president and chief executive officer of the 3,000-member organization.
Without a completed audit of the city of San Diego’s 2003 financial results, Wall Street has downgraded the city’s bond rating, impairing its ability to borrow money for new and ongoing municipal projects.
In addition, Mike Murphy, the chairman of the chamber’s board of directors and president and chief executive officer of Sharp HealthCare, said the chamber will focus attention on the city’s anticipated $50 million budget deficit, whether the city should proceed with construction of the Downtown library, and the underfunded municipal employees pension system.
The chamber is also concerned about the city’s effort to find a replacement for City Manager Lamont Ewell, who has announced he will leave his position June 30.
Connie Lewis
