At San Diego 'Green' Forum, Steve Whitburn Says Something Unexpected
A Little Authenticity Shines Through the Polish
San Diego, April 20 -- If all politics is local, I was in for a treat. Any event that draws over 60,000 people annually is sure to draw the attention of political candidates of all walks and stripes. Especially when there is an opportunity to focus questions and issues narrowly. Green issues have become chic in political rhetoric and promising everything photovoltaic under the sun is just what the Earth Day attendees in Balboa Park ordered.The 2,400-seat Spreckels Organ Pavilion served as the venue for a debate between three candidates running for City Council District 3 -- Steve Whitburn, Paul Broadway and Todd Gloria. While other candidates running for the seat were invited, they did not choose to attend the forum sponsored by the Sierra Club, San Diego Earth Works and The Network of Spiritual Progressives.
As I looked around the amphitheater at the 50 or so people that had chosen to take an hour out of their beautiful San Diego day to attend the forum, I thought there might actually be an opportunity for these candidates to say something substantive. No such luck in their opening statements.
Paul Broadway, who is by far the least traditionally polished in the race, lamented the recent change in MTS pricing and the removal of transfers. He promoted the idea of new housing developments having more sustainable systems like gray water recycling and photovoltaic systems, an idea that would be echoed by the other candidates.
Steve Whitburn was the only candidate on the stage to wear a blazer, and that made sense. He rattled off a series of endorsements that would make his case for him, notable among them the Sierra Club and Donna Frye.
Todd Gloria seemed to be the smoothest speaker amongst the candidates. Speaking without notes, he rattled off his service in the local communities and his long service to popular Congresswoman Susan Davis' office. Mr. Gloria seems to have all the right qualities for a District 3 council member, yet I'm not sure he's going to get it done.
Comments
AnyoneButGloria
(Guest)
(Guest)
05/22/2008
I agree w/ the previous comment, there is a reason this guy has so many signs--notice it is always in front of liquor stores, or bars. Glorias campaign contribution list has every seedy questionable figure imaginable right down to the Sunroad guy, 2 council members in coronado that tried to fight the citizens on an initiative that would stop runaway development, Jim Madaffers office for the love of God. This guy is really a big concern. So next time you see a purple sign, remember, someone paid for that and it was probably a developer.
Followthemoney
(Guest)
(Guest)
05/05/2008
I am urging people to examine the money in this race. For the 1st time we have access to all campaign contributions. Look at center for policy initiatives under "follow the money". Im not interested in personal attacks, just people looking at the facts. For Todd to suggest that he will fight for us when his list of developer contributions is at least 6 pages long is difficult to swallow. Here is just a few of the many concerns like his contributions from Sherm Harmer, Building Industry President that pushed for 301 university adamantly opposed any provisions for historic preservation and any provisions for height limitations and a living wage for workers as well as contribution from Elliot Feuerstein Mira Mesa Shopping Mall Real Estate Developer among many many more. 2. The endorsement on his website by the 2 Coronado council members Carrie Downey & Casey Tanaka who tried to fight the citizens proposition J that would stop runaway development. his is cause for concern.
disappointed
(Guest)
(Guest)
04/29/2008
to much build up. too little payoff.
Paul Broadway
(Guest)
(Guest)
04/21/2008
Dear Mr. Griffin, thank you for at least mentioning my name and stance on an issue in your article on the San Diego City Council District 3 Debate. You are doing a much better job than the local newspaper of record and the city's television stations. Those "news" organizations are more interested in John Hartley's sad brush with the law and the media circus that it initiated. I would like to add one more statement to the legalization of Marijuana, It is my opinion that Marijuana should be legalized. It should be controlled, taxed, and legally dealt with on the same scale as Alcohol. The reason I have this opinion is, I have found that there are a lot of people who are sitting in jail, wasting tax dollars over the importation and sale of Marijuana. I have also noticed that there are gangs and drug lords who are making money off of our population without paying any tax dollars for such commerce. I have also noticed that the illicit drug trade produces human slavery, murder, and a
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