The coalition “A Better San Diego“, comprised of community, faith, labor, LGBT rights, immigrant rights, environmental and social justice organizations (view a partial list), have been working to build an economic vision for our city that focuses on jobs, quality of life, equality, prosperity and fairness for more San Diegans. This coalition has been organizing a forum where selected candidates running for San Diego Mayor will address issues that concern workers, students, retirees… actually, the 99%!
During the Economic Summit sponsored by the coalition earlier this year, participants were asked, “If you could ask the next Mayor one question what would it be?” The hundreds of responses were combined and narrowed down to create the central points to be posed to this forum, presenting the candidates in the 2012 mayoral race with the challenges facing our communities while giving the citizens an opportunity to hear the candidates’ approach to confronting them.
To be held on October 19 at Balboa Theater, the event, which is free and open to all, will start promptly at 6:30 pm and run until 8:00. The 90-minute forum will consist of a community panel, a media panel and questions from the audience. Because of the time restraints and after much discussion, coalition members decided to invite the 4 most prominent candidates, Representative Bob Filner, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, Councilman Carl DeMaio and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.
Mr. Filner and Mr. Fletcher have accepted and confirmed but both Mr. DeMaio and Ms. Dumanis have declined. Ms. Dumanis has stated she will not debate until next year (while holding private fundraisers), and Mr. DeMaio’s reason for not attending is unclear since his petition drive is finished… We’re still hoping they will change their minds.
Plan to attend this important event, and OCCUPIERS I am calling on you too! I know the system is a mess but until we fix it, it’s all we have, so come and get informed.
The doors to Balboa Theater will be open at 5:45. Please RSVP at A Better San Diego. You may also submit suggestions for questions.
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Does anybody think Carl will campaign (outside of downtown) any where south of interstate 8?
From my twitter Feed: Craig Gustafson RT by DaveMaass
Carl DeMaio’s rep says he won’t take part in Wed’s mayoral debate because it’s sponsored by a labor-backed group that opposes his candidacy.
I can only hope that means that Carl will refuse to perform his mayoral duties (if elected) because a labor-backed group opposes his mayoral term.
This guy has the most off-putting attitude and mannerisms of any political candidate I’ve ever seen.
Please don’t attend this forum. This group has only invited professional politicians and the wealthy, not the citizen candidates who are running for Mayor of San Diego. If we are ever to break the back of the oligrachy which controls our city, we must demand full participatory democracy – and that means giving every candidate a voice in the debate about our municipal future.
If elected, Bob Filner would be the most progressive mayor in the history of San Diego. We citizens have been involved in the community-labor coalition and you Rocky and your group were invited to participate but you declined to do so.
Frank: It’s not about me or you, or your group or my group; it’s about participatory democracy and letting all candidates for public office put forth their plans and views, not just the professional politicians and those with stacks of money in their pockets.
And, by the way, I too support Bob Filner for Mayor, but not at the cost of my democratic soul.
Rocky Neptun
Rocky, I just think you over the years have contributed so much to progressive politics in San Diego that now you shouldn’t diss the efforts of the coalition that you were invited to join.
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