Regarding the editorial “Regionalism Plan Reaches the Border” (Aug. 27, San Diego Business Journal), the Business Journal has taken a surprising position in favor of an unfunded state mandate imposed upon us by Sacramento.
The CalMex Border Infrastructure Financing Authority, or CalMex, under the direction of a proposed 15-member board, with only two local representatives, would be able to charge fees, in unspecified amounts from unidentified parties, to finance construction improvements along the California and Mexico “border” (defined as 100 kilometers from the border, about 67 miles in San Diego and Imperial counties.)
So, without any public hearings in San Diego, a Los Angeles politician is moving forward with legislation in Sacramento to create a new bureaucracy (CalMex), funded by San Diego businesses, that will spend our money on projects we didn’t necessarily want or need.
Last summer, Sen. Steve Peace, D-La Mesa, was ready to implement his vision for regional government in San Diego, but agreed to hold off at the request of local officials. In response to their concerns, the Regional Government Efficiency Commission, known as RGEC, was formed, which submitted recommendations on regional governance to the state Legislature this past Aug. 1.
Unlike the CalMex proposal sponsored by Sen. Richard Polanco, D-Los Angeles, the RGEC process was open and inclusive, consisting of local hearings, involving local elected officials, citizens, businesspeople, environmentalists, academic and labor leaders in the decision-making process. After input from the state Legislature, the final recommendations of RGEC will be presented to San Diego voters for consideration.
Last, Best Chance
We’re hopeful that the November 2002 election will give San Diegans their best, and maybe last, chance to choose a new form of regional government. We need directly elected and wholly accountable officials making decisions about our needs locally.
RGEC recommends a single general land use plan for the county where we now have 19 of them. RGEC also recommends linking land use and transportation decisions, in the interest of smart growth. We currently have more than 19 municipal land-use authorities and two separate transit agencies.
If Sen. Polanco truly wants to help San Diego, then we have a better idea. One of RGEC’s recommendations was that our Legislature refund to San Diego the statewide average of 47 cents on each property tax dollar collected. Currently, the state returns only 38 cents to San Diego while San Francisco, and Polanco’s Los Angeles district, receive considerably greater shares.
This is simply not fair to the people and businesses of San Diego. And now, Sen. Polanco wants increase that inequity.
Great Things Possible
If Sen. Polanco would support equitable distribution of property tax funds, then a lot of great things could happen here in San Diego.
For instance:
– A new, directly elected and locally accountable, regional government could achieve the very same infrastructure improvements as CalMex, with a share of the $162 million a year generated by eliminating the property tax inequity. Which means none of the new taxes or fees on our citizens or businesses that Sen. Polanco’s CalMex proposal would have squeezed out of us.
– That kind of fiscal reform would reduce the motivation for local governments to approve sales tax-generating projects, like ugly strip malls, at the expense of new home construction.
– With the proposed infrastructure improvements in place, coupled with actual smart-
growth planning policies, we could enhance our quality of life in San Diego while continuing to enjoy a vibrant economy.
Maybe we’re two of the people that the Business Journal thinks are “hollering loudest,” in opposition to SB-865. We will be soon and can assure you that many in the business, environmental, labor and academic communities will join us.
Actually, Sen. Polanco’s effort may have some positive results. Faced with his draconian alternative that is absent of local representation, SB-865 may actually unite those local governments against it.
Those same governments that previously opposed RGEC’s efforts, may now support the essence of the commission’s recommendations; local reform linking land use and transportation decisions as part of a comprehensive regional plan, coupled with equitable fiscal reform from Sacramento.
We hope the Business Journal will see the light and oppose SB-865, helping to unite the San Diego region behind local regional government , not the ill-conceived legislation dreamed up by a Los Angeles politician and subsequently imposed on us by Sacramento.
Wear represents the San Diego City Council’s 2nd District and served as chair of RGEC. Roth is the incoming chair of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and is president and COO of Alliance Pharmaceuticals.
