Freshman Nathan Fletcher Opens Up the Budget Process
By Doug Porter / Words&Deeds
It’s all too easy to be cynical about politics in San Diego, with a history of local governance known mostly for kowtowing to reactionary interests. And I’ll be the first to say we have a long way to go. But things are changing, thanks in part to last year’s ‘Blue Wave’ elections and the persistence of some dedicated local activists.
A decision by the Regional Airport Authority to require a project labor agreement with the contractor responsible for a planned $3 billion expansion of Terminal 1 signals that the days of unions not having a seat at the table are over. A change of leadership in the agencies charged with forethought about our transportation infrastructure means we’re looking at twenty-first century solutions instead of repeating past mistakes.
While these steps forward are each deserving of a more detailed analysis, right now we’re looking at promises to act. There are bureaucracies to reshape and political inertia to overcome, along with the passive-aggressive subterfuge that ‘concerned’ reactionaries will employ to maintain the status quo.
The County Board of Supervisors, a longtime bastion of opacity and backward thinking, is showing signs of waking up to its potential as a force for good. The county has the most influence on the administration of social programs, acting as the local conduit for state and federal dollars for everything from public health to programs for seniors to refugee assistance.
Today’s column will focus on the changes I’ve observed with that institution lately, with the caveat: I’d hold off on popping any champagne until we see how this plays out.
For the balance of this article, please go to Words&Deeds.
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