By OB Rag Staff Report
Much like Cabinet meetings at the White House, the San Diego City Council on Monday re-elected Council President Joe La Cava unanimously and with tributes that were downright worshipful.
The casting of ballots took mere minutes and seemed to follow a script where each Councilmember recited a different set of La Cava’s awesome leadership skills. Only Councilmember Henry Foster III declined to join the performance. Councilmember Jen Campbell was absent.
Excerpts:
Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee (made the nomination): “President La Cava has approached this role with thoughtfulness, integrity and transparency and has shown a willingness to work thoughtfully and collaboratively with the community.”
Councimember Steven Whitburn (seconded the nomination): “This may be the easiest vote we take all year. … I have appreciated the even-handedness and grace with which [La Cava] has approached everything that has come before us.”
Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera: “I really admire the steady hand you provided this year. Great job, sir.”
Councilmember Vivian Moreno: “Your commitment to transparency and good governance is well-known. I know you’re going to continue to meet those standards.”
Councilmember Marni von Wilpert: “Thank you for making sure that everyone has an opportunity to speak in this chamber as is our First Amendment rights while making sure to balance decorum.”
Councilmember Raul Campillo: “I’ll add to this chorus that I appreciate your leadership over the past year … making sure that the ideas of the Council are put forward and listened to.”
By the end of the encomiums, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
San Diego has had far worse Council Presidents — who can forget Elo-Rvera’s tenure of disruptive and vindictive posturing? But we have done better. If anyone wants a preview of La Cava’s leadership over the next two years, we invite you to revisit this August 22 Rag post, “Under the Bus with Councilman La Cava,” about his shameful attempt to ram through an effort to declare Mission Bay Parkland “surplus” and turn it over to developers.
A peevish La Cava was exasperated that his colleagues wanted to hold a vote on the idea: “You either love this or you hate this. There is no middle ground, no refinement that can come out of more public discussion. I am very concerned about us not pursuing new revenue to finance the Mission Bay Park.” When he realized he was the only “No” vote for a continuance of the item, he mumbled, “They threw me under the bus.”
Yup, I read about this in the UT San Diego this morning. Thank goodness I hadn’t eaten breakfast yet.
I remember him attempting to give away one of our beloved Mission Bay Park resources as mentioned in the last paragraph of this piece.
I suppose the silly, overindulgent accolades by his colleagues could be a by-product of relief. At least Sean Elo was not up for re-election consideration.