READER’S EDITORIAL: LEASE REVENUE BOND IS NEEDED TO ADDRESS SAN DIEGO'S DEFERRED MAINTENANCE QUICKLY BEFORE NEXT MAJOR STORM

By Shane Harris, president,  People’s Association of Justic Advocates

Photo via National Weather Service:  flooding today in Mission Valley

January 22, 2024 (San Diego,CA ) -- The imagery of our city under water is deeply troubling but the out of sight out of mind approach by the Mayor is even more appalling. This is a time when leaders should be out helping the most vulnerable such as our seniors and unsheltered. I wanted to call attention to the reason that so many across San Diego are experiencing flooding today and the reason this happens every time San Diego experiences heavy rain.

Perhaps many have all heard about the City of San Diego’s substantial deferral of major infrastructure upgrades, such as street repairs, but this is yet another example that impacts most of us in a dramatic way every time it rains and requires both immediate and long term commitment from our Mayor and City Council to rectify.

What many residents across our city may not know is that the responsibility lies with the City of San Diego’s Stormwater Department to protect communities from flooding by performing regular street sweeping, cleaning storm drains, clearing drainage channels and ensuring that sump pumps are working and this department’s priorities are set directly by Mayor Gloria as the city’s “strong mayor.”

The question remains the same. How can we possibly pay for this very necessary and very deferred maintenance? There is a financing mechanism available to the city called lease revenue bonding which allows the city to pursue a large bond for repairs today that is repaid with future revenues from city leased land, but there needs to be a large lease to use as collateral such as the Sports Arena.

Unfortunately, to this day, no Council Member, nor the Mayor, have ever asked what the expected revenue stream to the city is from the currently approved bidder, nor from any of the bidders who originally competed.  Why are our elected officials so quick to burden us with another sales tax increase and yet won’t lift a finger to maximize city revenues which could prevent the need for further taxes and still provide the services we need?

I am imploring the council and Mayor to use the city's lease revenue bonding channel to address the long standing deferred maintenance issues or else the people of San Diego will be left to fend for themselves once again in the city's next major storm. 

The opinions in this edtiorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an ediotrial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.