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>> Peggy: HELLO I'M PEGGY PICO. WELCOME TO OUR KPBS AND SAN
DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIAL
BROADCAST. LEADING FORMER MAYORS REFLECT.
JOINING US ARE THREE FORMER MAYORS OF SAN DIEGO.
JERRY SANDERS, ROGER HEDGECOCK, AND FORMER MAYOR, CALIFORNIA
SENATOR PETE WILSON AND OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE INVITED ALL OF SAN DIEGO
FORMER MAYORS BUT OTHERS DECLINED OUR REQUEST.
BEFORE WE START OUR DISCUSSION LET'S TAKE A BRIEF LOOK BACK TO
WHEN EACH OF YOU WERE MAYOR OF SAN DIEGO.
>> Peggy: PETE WILSON WAS ELECTED MAYOR OF SAN DIEGO IN
1971. WILSON'S PLAN ENCOURAGED DENSITY
AND GROWTH IN THE URBAN GROWTH. HE REESTABLISHED SAN DIEGO
AGENCIES AND THE CITY USED PUBLIC BONDS AND PRIVATE
INVESTMENTS TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN.
INCLUDING THE GASLAMP QUARTER, BUILDING HORTON PLAZA AND THE
SAN DIEGO TROLLEY. WILSON WAS INVOLVED EARLY ON IN
PENSION REFORM. AND CITY EMPLOYEES WITHDREW FROM
SOCIAL SECURITY FOR LIFETIME HEALTH BENEFITS.
WILSON RESIGNED AS SAN DIEGO'S MAYOR IN 1982 AFTER BE HE
ELECTED TO THE U.S. SENATE. HE SERVED TWO TERMS AS
CALIFORNIA'S GOVERNOR. MANAGING GROWTH CONTINUED TO BE
A POLITICAL PRIORITY WHEN ROGER HEDGECOCK SERVED OUT WILSON'S
TERM. HE CONTINUED PROJECTS BEGAN BY
WILSON INCLUDING EXTENDING THE SAN DIEGO TROLLEY.
HEDGECOCK SUSPENDED NEW CONSTRUCTION PERMITS NORTH OF
DOWNTOWN IN A EFFORT TO MAKE DEVELOPERS COVER THE COST OF
ROADS, PARKS AND FIRE STATION. BY 1985 SAN DIEGO'S OLDER
NEIGHBORHOODS NEEDED ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN INFRASTRUCTURE
REMAYORS. HEDGECOCK WAS ELECT TODAY SECOND
TERM BUT WAS FORCED FROM OFFICE AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY OF
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION CONVICTIONS.
THE CHARGES WERE OVER TERMED BUT ONE CHARGE.
HEDGECOCK MAY BE BEST KNOWN AS A CONSERVATIVE TALK RADIO HOST FOR
30 YEARS. WHEN FORMER SAN DIEGO POLICE
CHIEF JERRY SANDERS WAS ELECTED MAYOR IN 1985.
SAN DIEGO'S PENSION FUND LIABILITY WAS $1.5 BILLION
GROWING. WITH HIS SIGHTS SET ON BALANCING
THE BUDGET THE CITY'S FIRST STRONG MAYOR CUT FUTURE DEBT
WITH VOTE EAR PROVED PROPOSITIONS B.
>> IT WILL SAVE TAXPAYERS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
>> Peggy: FOLLOWING A LAWSUIT OVER SEWAGE SPILLS THE CITY
RAISED WATER AND SEWAGE RATES. THE CITY BEGAN BORROWING
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN BONDS TO PAY FOR STORM DRAIN AND STREET
REPAIRS. UNDER SANDERS LEADERSHIP THE
CITY USED MANY FUNDS TO BREAK GROUND ON THE SAN DIEGO NEW
CENTRAL LIBRARY. IN APRIL SANDERS BECAME
PRESIDENT OF THE SAN DIEGO REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
>> Peggy: NOW, FROM PAST TO PRESENT MANY OF SAN DIEGO'S
CHALLENGES REINVOLVE AROUND THE FOUR TOPICS WE'RE FOCUSING ON
TONIGHT. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT,
INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND PENSIONS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF ATTENTION ON BUILDING AND IMPROVING DOWNTOWN
IN YOUR OFFICES. NOW MAYOR FILNER WANTS THE CITY
TO INVEST IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.
MR. WILSON, HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE NEEDS OF A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN
WHILE NOT NEGLECTED OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS?
>> CAREFULLY. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF HELP, THE
PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS WILL NOT SIMPLY SUFFER IN
SILENCE. THEY WILL BE VOCAL.
IT'S NOT JUST THEIR RIGHT BUT I WOULD SAY THEY HAVE AN
OBLIGATION TO THEIR NEIGHBORS TO BE SO.
IT IS THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE THAT WHEN
PEOPLE COME TO YOU WITH COMPETING CLAIMS, PARTICULARLY
IF YOU'RE THE MAYOR OR A GOVERNOR, YOU HAVE GOT TO MAKE
DECISIONS THAT YOU THINK REFLECT THE MOST URGENT PRIORITIES.
THE GREATEST NEEDS. AND IF YOU ARE WISE ABOUT IT AND
LISTEN CAREFULLY. YOU, I THINK, CAN GET A PRETTY
GOOD IDEA OF WHAT PEOPLE THINK TO BE THE PRIORITIES.
THEY DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH WHAT PROFESSIONAL STAFF WILL
TELL YOU. BUT IT'S -- IT ISN'T SO MUCH NOT
KNOWING WHAT TO DO. I THINK WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
IS YOU HAVE TO BE REASONABLY CONFIDENT YOU'RE MAKING THE
RIGHT DECISIONS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
THEN YOU GO AHEAD AND DO IT. >> Peggy: MR. HEDGECOCK, HOW
WOULD YOU TRY TO BALANCE THE INTEREST OF CERTAIN
NEIGHBORHOODS AND DOWNTOWN? >> IT'S ALWAYS MORE DIFFICULT
WHEN THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE LAST
NUMBER OF YEARS THERE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH MONEY TO DO WHAT
SHOULD BE DONE IN ALL OF THE RESPECTS.
WHEN I WAS THERE BRIEFLY THIS WAS A CONTINUING DEBATE.
I HAD A THEME OF BEING MAYOR FOR AWFUL SAN DIEGO.
AS POINTED OUT I WAS TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE THINGS
PETE STARTED TO KEEP THEM GOING IN THE CITY, DOWNTOWN
REDEVELOPMENT WAS ONE OF THOSE. THE CONVENTION CENTER AND SO
FORTH. WE PAID A LOT OF ATTENTION TO
GIVING THE COMMUNITIES MORE AUTONOMY TO GET THE INTEREST TO
INTERACT WITH YOU. THEY HAD A ELECTED PLANNING
GROUP, COMMUNITY COUNCIL, AN ABILITY TO COME TO A MEETING IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES TO YOU OR LOCAL
ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER. THAT HELPED TO GET THE DIALOGUE
GOING. >> Peggy: WHAT ABOUT YOU,
MR. SANDERS? >> I THINK THE STORY SIN
COMPLETE PUTTING IT THAT WAY. WHEN GOVERNOR WILSON WAS MAYOR,
RIGHT BEFORE HE WAS MAYOR IT COST LITERALLY THE CITY TREASURY
$17 MILLION TO SERVICE DOWNTOWN. IT WAS IN SUCH DECAY.
BY THE TIME I WAS DONE BEING MAYOR THE DOWNTOWNERS TURNED
45 MILLION TO THE GENERAL FUND THAT WENT OUT TO THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT HELPED US BUILD SEVERAL
BRAND NEW LIBRARIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT HELPED US REPLACE ABOUT 200 MILES OF ROY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. WE REPLACES WATER AND SEWER
PIPES IN ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN SAN DIEGO AND
CAME OFF THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREES.
DOWNTOWN GENERATED ABOUT 65,000 JOBS FROM WHEN PETE TOOK OVER
AND GOT THE DOWNTOWN GOING. WITH THE THIRD PHASE OF THE
CONVENTION CENTER COMING THROUGH THAT'S ANOTHER 11,000 JOBS SAN
DIEGANS WILL HAVE PERMANENTLY. YOU BALANCE THOSE.
YOU GIVE THE NEIGHBORHOODS THE LIBRARIES AND PARKS.
THE AMENITIES. BUT YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THE JOB
CREATION DOWNTOWN AND GENERAL FUND MONEY THEY GET FROM THAT.
>> Peggy: LET'S EXPLORE THIS FURTHER WITH BUILDING
IMPROVEMENTS. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR SAN
DIEGO CITIES, ESPECIALLY SAN DIEGO, TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOST
OF REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS? DO WE NEED TO MAKE UP FOR THE
FUNDS? >> WELL, REDEVELOPMENT THAT
CREATED DOWNTOWN, THAT CREATED THIRTEEN OTHER AREAS IN THE CITY
OF SAN DIEGO. IT'S NOT JUST DOWNTOWN.
TONY YOUNG HAD REDEVELOPMENT IN HIS DISTRICT.
KEVIN FALKNER HAD REDEVELOPMENT IN HIS DISTRICT.
IT CREATED SEVERAL HUNDRED UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
WORKING SAN DIEGOANS. IT'S BEEN ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
THAT CREATED THE JOBS. NOW THE MONEY IS MISSING BECAUSE
THE STATE LEGISLATURE REFUSED TO BALANCE THEIR BUDGET, AND TOOK
THAT BACK FROM CITIES DOING A GOOD JOB.
>> Peggy: HOW DO YOU GET THE MONEY, MR. WILSON?
HOW DO YOU MAKE UP FOR THE LOSSES?
>> WELL, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. THE THING THAT OUTRAGED ME WHEN
THE LEGISLATURE, THE STATE MADE A GRAB FOR THE FUNDS, IS THEY
HAD DONE NOTHING TO CREATE THEM. THEY LITERALLY HAD NO CLAIM.
NO JUST CLAIM. THE SUPREME COURT UPHELD THEIR
ACTION. THEY SAID, WELL, THE LAW GIVES
THEM THE POWER TO CREATE THE AGENCIES SO IT GIVES THEM THE
POWER TO END THEM. THAT'S A PURELY LEGALISTIC
ANSWER. AS A MATTER OF POLICY, IT WAS
TERRIBLE POLICY. I'M NOT BLAMING THE COURT.
I DON'T THINK THEY HAD A CHOICE. WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THE
EXECUTIVES AND THE LEGISLATURE AT THE STATE LEVEL DID.
AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED IT WAS THEFT.
THEY HAD TAKEN MONEY THAT WAS NOT RIGHTLY THEIRS.
THEY DID NOTHING TO CREATE IT. >> Peggy: OKAY.
>> AND THE KIND OF THING, FORTUNATELY THEY DID IT
RELATIVELY LATE. >> Peggy: OKAY.
I WANT TO MOVE ON BEFORE I DO I WANT YOU TO ANSWER THIS,
MR. HEDGECOCK. DO YOU HAVE IDEAS OR GOOD AS
VIED ON SEQUESTERING THE FUNDS BACK.
>> THE STATE WON'T LET THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES HAVE THE LEVERAGE
THEY HAD BEFORE. SO WE'RE LEFT WITH WHAT WE HAVE
LEFT. THAT'S BASICALLY COME UP WITH
OTHER IDEAS TO INDUCE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT AS IT'S
HAPPENING NOW IN A NUMBER OF PLACES.
TO COME IN AND HAVE THE ATMOSPHERE AND SUBSTITUTE WHAT
WE USE TO DO IN PRIMING THE PUMP WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT MONEY.
IT'S MORE DIFFICULT AND MUCH SLOWER.
>> Peggy: OKAY I'M GOING TO STAY WITH YOU, MR. HEDGECOCK, ON THE
NEXT QUESTION. HOW WOULD YOU SET PRIORITIES FOR
IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE TODAY IF YOU WERE IN THE OFFICE?
>> IT WOULD BE TOUGH. THE MONEY IS TIGHT.
JERRY TALKED ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS HE DID.
IT'S CORRECT, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
NONE THE LESS YOU LOOK AT SAN DIEGO NOW THE POT HOLES, A WATER
BREAK -- I HAD ONE BY MY MOM'S HOUSE AT POINT LOMA.
I WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT. >> IT'S TOO LATE.
>> IT'S TOO LATE TO TALK TO YOU. [LAUGHING]
>> WE HAVE A CRUMBLING SYSTEM IN A LOST WAYS.
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I HOPE THE COMMITTEE AND THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE BOND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT THEY
CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING FOR A INFUSION OF CASH.
TOO MANY THINGS ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
OUR WATER PIPES AND SO FORTH THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED.
>> Peggy: IT WILL TAKE MONEY. MR. SANDERS, HOW DO WE GET THE
MONEY. >> THERE WAS A PLAN IN PLACE.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLAN. I THINK IT WAS SUSPENDED THIS
YEAR. THE END OF THE BUDGET OF A 5
YEAR PLAN WE PROGRAMMED IN A HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR
WITH A 700 MILLION-DOLLAR BOND PAYMENT FOR EACH HUNDRED
MILLION. AS REVENUES GO UP, TOURISM GOES
UP AND GENERAL FUND GOES UP BECAUSE OF THAT.
YOU REPAY THE 7 MILLION A YEAR FOR HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
YOU CAN'T SPEND MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. IT DOES IT RAPIDLY AND FIXES UP
THE CITY STREETS, WATER AND SEWER PIPES, LIBRARY THAT'S NEED
ATTENTION AND THE POLICE STATIONS RIGHT AWAY.
>> Peggy: ANY PLANS OR ADVICE, MR. WILSON, ON HELPING
REBUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT LEAST FUNDING WISE?
>> I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD MAKES VERY GREAT GOOD SENSE.
I'M DELIGHTED THAT MAYOR SANDERS IS NOW GOING TO BE AT THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I THINK THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE.
AND ROGER'S MIND, THERE WAS A COMMON THEME.
THE BEST SOCIAL PROGRAMMING ANYONE HAS CREATED IS A JOB.
THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN YOU HAVE AN ECONOMY
THAT'S PRODUCING IT. IF YOU'RE TRYING TO WOO
INVESTORS TO WOMEN TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND CREATE EMPLOYMENT
YOU BETTER BE ABLE TO SHOW THEM SOMETHING THAT WORKS.
SOMETHING THAT ASSURES THERE WILL BE DESCENT EDUCATION FOR
THEIR CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
YOU BETTER SHOW THEM THERE IS A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TO ALLOW
THEIR EMPLOYEES TO GET TO WORK ON TIME.
THE BASICS. THE WATER, THE SEWAGE, THESE
THINGS, THESE ARE NOT THINGS YOU CAN TAKE FOR GRANITE.
IF YOU ARE TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE HERE TO INVEST IN YOUR
COMMUNITY AND CREATE JOBS WHICH IS WHAT REDEVELOPMENT IS ALL
ABOUT, BUT IT'S, THAT'S WHAT SETS THE PRIORITIES.
>> Peggy: LET'S DO A LITTLE FOLLOW-UP, SPEAKING OF WATER AND
NATURAL RESOURCES HERE IN SAN DIEGO.
WHAT ROLL SHOULD A MAYOR PLAY IN CONFRONTING WHAT COULD BE THE
BIGGEST THREAT IN SAN DIEGO, OUR FUTURE.
OUR WATER SUPPLY. WHAT RULE SHOULD THE MAYOR PLAY
IN THAT? >> WELL, AN ACTIVE ONE.
YOU REALLY HAVE NO CHOICE. I CAN RECALL IN ONE STATE, OF
THE CITY MESSAGE. I POINTED OUT THIS LOVELY CITY
THAT HAS BEEN SO INFINITELY BLESSED IN SO MANY WAYS WAS NONE
THE LESS AT THE END OF THE LINE IN TERMS OF BOTH POWER,
ELECTRICAL POWER, AND THE WATER THAT IS SO CRITICALLY SHORT.
THE NATURAL RAINFALL IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY OVER MANY YEARS
AVERAGED ABOUT 7 INCHES, NOT MUCH.
WE HAVE NECESSARILY BEEN INVOLVED IN EFFORTS TO BRING
WATER FROM OTHER PLACES. FROM THE MOUNTAINS, FROM
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. PAT BROWN, I THINK PROBABLY
THOUGHT HIS GREATEST LEGACY AS GOVERNOR WAS TO SPEAR HEAD THE
STATE WATER PROJECT. IT WAS DESPERATELY NEEDED.
WITHOUT IT THIS, MUCH OF THIS LOVELY COMMUNITY WOULD BE
DESSERT. SO, YOU HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN
IT. YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK TO FUTURE
TECHNOLOGIES. I MEAN WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
DESALNIZATION OF WATER. THAT'S QUITE EXPENSIVE.
>> Peggy: THIS WAS QUITE CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE OF THE
COST. THE OTHER THOUGHT IS TOILET TO
TAP. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THESE
FOR OUR FUTURE. >> THEY HAVE TO BE PURSUED.
JERRY SANDERS WAS INVOLVED
WITH THE POSIDON COMPANY.
TOILET TO TAP IS ANOTHER MATTER, OF COURSE.
IT INVOLVES TRUSTING THE FACT THAT GOVERNMENT WILL EVERY DAY
PROVIDE POTABLE WATER OUT OF SEWAGE WATER.
I HOPE THEY KEEP A PIPE TO DILUTE WHAT COMES OUT OF THE
TOILET TO TAP EFFORT IN THE GENERAL WATER SUPPLY THERE.
IT'S OBVIOUS THE MAYOR AT THIS CITY IS AT THE END OF THE
PIPELINE LITERAL LY HE HAS TO BE CONSTANTLY CONCERNED WITH WHAT
IS THE FUTURE WATER SUPPLY GOING TO BE.
I THINK THAT'S EVERY MAYOR GOING BACK TO THE 19th CENTURY.
>> Peggy: YOUR TAKE ON IT. >> WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY. EVERY COUNTY IN SAN DIEGO.
IT'S A CRITICAL PARTNERSHIP. THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO GETS TEN
VOTES OUT OF 40. WE ARE ABLE TO HELP WITH THE
AGENDA. I THINK WE HAVE DONE THAT
SUCCESSFULLY AS A CITY, GOING BACK A LONG WAYS.
THE DESALNIZATION PLANT IS EXPENSIVE BUT IT GOES DOWN EVERY
YEAR. NEW TECHNOLOGY CAN MAKE THAT
LESS EXPENSIVE. ROGER BROUGHT UP THE WATER
REUSE. I'M NOT SUPPOSE TO USE "TOILET
TO TAP." >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE
POLITICALLY CORRECT YOU'RE OUT OF OFFICE.
>> I TOLD PEOPLE THAT WAS MOST SERIOUS DECISION I WOULD MAKE AS
MAYOR. WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS TELLING
PEOPLE THAT WATER IS SAFE. THAT'S THE REASON WE RELIED ON
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, NOT HUMAN
SERVICES BUT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TO TEST AND RETEST AND RETEST.
SO WHEN THE SWITCH IS FLIPPED IT'S SAFE.
>> Peggy: WHAT ELSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SUSTAIN
ABILITY. MR. HEDGECOCK, HOW DO YOU
BALANCE GOALS OF A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AND OUR REGIONS ECONOMIC
BUSINESS. >> WE ARE WELL PAST THE -- WE'RE
NOT CAPABLE OF GOING BACK TO THOSE DAYS.
WE HAVE 3 MILLION PLUS PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY DEPENDENT ON
SOPHISTICATED INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THEM.
WE NEED TO BE MORE AWARE OF THE KIND OF INDUSTRIES AS WE HAVE
BEEN IN RECENT YEARS, IN TERMS OF BIO MED, TECH THINGS
ATTRACTED. ALSO BE AWARE WHAT IS RUINING
THE COMPANIES AND DRIVING THEM OUT.
THE STATE REGULATION, TAXATION, THE ATMOSPHERE CALIFORNIA GIVES
TO THE COMPANIES. IT'S ATROCIOUS IT MAKES IT
HARDER TO DO WITHOUT THE GROWING ECONOMY AND JOBS WE OUGHT TO
HAVE. >> Peggy: LET ME HAVE YOU
ANSWER. THIS WE NEED THE JOBS IN THE
ECONOMY WE ALSO NEED A SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE AND
SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND FUTURE FOR THE STATE.
HOW WOULD YOU BALANCE THOSE TWO INTERESTS?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BALANCES IT QUITE WELL IS THE
DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT WE WERE SO ABUNDANTLY GIVEN BY NATURE.
THAT IS AN ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES THIS A NATURAL DESTINATION
FOR CONVENTIONS AND VISITORS, TOURISM.
TOURISM HAS HISTORICALLY IN RECENT TIMES BEEN A MAJOR
INDUSTRY, AND A VERY GOOD ONE. IT GIVES EMPLOYMENT TO A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT FIND IT A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING
THROUGH A PERIOD, STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARE IN NEED OF A JOB.
THAT KIND OF THING REALLY, IT'S ESSENTIALLY A CLEAN INDUSTRY.
WE DON'T HAVE THE KIND OF POLLUTION YOU HAVE FOUND IN THE
MIDWEST, EARLIER. NEITHER DO THEY NOW, BUT THE
THING THAT I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT IS THAT YOU
DON'T MAKE LIFE SO DIFFICULT. FRANKLY, SO UNREASONABLE THAT
YOU DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM COMING HERE AND MAKING THE
CHOICE INSTEAD FOR A FAR MORE INVITING ENVIRONMENT FROM THE
STANDPOINT OF CREATING EMPLOYMENT.
>> Peggy: SPEAKING ABOUT INVITING.
INVITED OUR ENVIRONMENT, CLEAN OCEANS, WATER AND AIR ARE PART
IT. >> LET ME GIVE YOU A EXAMPLE.
THE POINT LOMA SEWAGE OUTFALL GOES INTO THE OCEAN.
WE HAD SCRIPTS OCEANOGRAPHY COME IN AND ACTUALLY MONITOR THAT.
THEY HAVE THE MOST SOPHISTICATED MONITORING SYSTEM OF ANYONE ON
EARTH. THEY FOUND THERE WAS NO IMPACT
30 FEET FROM THE MOUTH OF THAT OUTFALL.
NO IMPACT AT ALL. THIS IS SCIENCE.
WE WORKED WITH ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
INSTEAD OF CREATING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CARVING
UP THE COASTAL LINE FOR SECONDARY TREATMENT WE WERE ABLE
TO WORK WITH ENVIRONMENTALS TO COLLECT THE WASTE WATER.
HOW TO REUSE IT TO PUT LESS IN THE SEWER SYSTEM WHICH
PERMANENTLY REMOVES THAT FROM BEING A PROBLEM.
WHEN WE GET THE GROUPS TOGETHER AND HAVE A VOICE FOR SCIENTISTS,
ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND BUSINESS WE HAVE THE BEST SOLUTIONS.
THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT EACH TIME.
>> I WOULD POINT SOMETHING OUT. THAT'S A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE.
SCRIPTS KNEW MORE ABOUT THE OCEAN AND WHAT WAS A PROPER
ENVIRONMENT THAN ANYONE ELSE. THEY ACTUALLY SAID TERSERY
TREATMENT IS NOT NECESSARY, IT'S COUNTER PRODUCTIVE.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMPELLED US TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT, A
TERRIBLE MISTAKE. THEY'RE GUILTY OF MISTAKES ALL
THE TIME, AS IS STATE GOVERNMENT.
IMPOSING FREQUENTLY IN THE GUYS OF SEEKING ENVIRONMENTAL
CLEANLINESS, THINGS THAT DON'T REALLY ACHIEVE IT BUT DO BARE A
COST. I WOULD SAY ANY MAYOR COMING
INTO THIS JOB IN THE FUTURE WILL HAVE TO BE AS ALIVE TO THAT AND
WILLING TO GO UP AND FIGHT. WILL HAVE THE COMPANY OF OTHER
MAYORS TO MAKE CERTAIN THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T DO SOMETHING
TRULY HALF ***. >> Peggy: OKAY.
OUR FINAL TOPIC. OUR --
[LAUGHING] >> Peggy: LIVE TV.
OUR FINAL TOPIC -- PENSION REFORM.
WE WON'T BE SWEARING IN THIS PART.
IT'S GENERATED QUITE A BIT OF CONTROVERSY OVER THE YEARS.
IT USE TO BE CITY EMPLOYEES WERE PAID LESS THAN THOSE IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR. THOSE EMPLOYEES WERE GIVEN A
DEFINE PENSION TO MAKE UP FOR LOWER PAY.
THAT IS NOT TRUE ANY LONGER. NOW CITY EMPLOYEES DON'T HAVE
SOCIAL SECURITY TO FALL BACK ON. MR. SANDERS, HOW DO WE BALANCE
FARE RETIREMENT VERSUS THE EVER GROWING COST AND CONCERN OF
TAXPAYER FUNDS -- >> ALL OF THE DEFINED BENEFIT
PROGRAMS WERE DEVELOPED IN THE 40s AND 50s WHEN PEOPLE
DIDN'T LIVE AS LONG. YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR GRANDMA AND
GRANDPA THEY LIVED TO 65-70 THEY WORKED TO 65.
A SHORT SPREAD IN TIME OF DRAWING THE BENEFITS.
WHAT HAPPENED IS CITIES GAVE BETTER BENEFITS INSTEAD OF PAY
RAISES. SOON THE BENEFITS GOT OUT OF
SYNC. PEOPLE STARTED TO LIVE LONGER.
NOW THEY LIVE TO 85 AND RETIRE AT 55.
THAT'S NOT A SUSTAINABLE MODEL. A 401K MODEL IS.
THAT'S WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED FOR.
WE GAVE THE EMPLOYEE UNIONS THE LATITUDE TO DECIDE TO GET BACK
INTO SOCIAL SECURITY OR HAVE A 401K BY THE CITY.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE GOT INVOLVED AND TOOK THAT AWAY FROM
THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE UNIONS AND DEMAND THEY GO BACK
TO SOCIAL SECURITY. A LOT OF EMPLOYEES DIDN'T WANT
TO DO THAT. THAT'S A SYSTEM FRAUD WITH
PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW. >> Peggy: WHAT'S YOUR TAKE,
MR. HEDGECOCK? >> I THINK JERRY HAD TO FACE A
CRISIS THAT BUILT UP OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS.
HE DID IT WELL. THE COUNCIL DID IT WELL.
THE MEMBERS ARE HERE TODAY. IN MY DAY WE DIDN'T THINK OF IT
AS A ISSUE. IN THOSE DAYS IT WAS MORE OF A
BALANCE BETWEEN WHAT THEY WERE PAID.
COMPARABLE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND THE PENSION THAT'S
WERE COMPARABLE. IN PETE'S TIME WE HAD
CONFRONTATIONS WITH FIRE FIGHTERS AND UNION ISSUES IN
THOSE DAYS. THANKFULLY BY THE TIME I GOT
THOSE THEIR THOSE WERE PRETTY MUCH SOLVED.
I DON'T THINK I THANKED YOU FOR THAT.
>> I'M SURE YOU THEY DIDN'T. [LAUGHING]
>> Peggy: TO GO A LITTLE FURTHER ON, THIS WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS TO OUTSOURCING CITY JOBS, IF THAT'S
A POSSIBLE SOLUTION? >> WELL, WHEN I WAS GOVERNOR ONE
OF THE THINGS WE TRIED TO DO WAS LAUNCH A INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH
AS AN OPERATING PROCEDURE. FIRST FINDING OUT WHETHER A
CLAIM ON THE STATE TREASURY RANKED AMONG THE PRIORITIES AND
THEN DECIDED WHETHER IN- HOUSE PEOPLE COULD DO IT AS WELL OR
BETTER. OR SOMEONE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
OFFERING TO DO IT FOR A FEE COULD DO IT BETTER.
WE SAID LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.
WHO EVER DOES IT THE BEST, FOR THE LEAST COSTS SHOULD GET THE
WORK. >> Peggy: OKAY.
I THINK WE WILL WRAP UP HERE WITH ASKING EACH OF YOU THIS.
MR. HEDGECOCK, WHAT'S THE ONE THING YOU DID AS MAYOR, THAT THE
MAYOR TODAY SHOULD NEVER DO. >> SHOULD NEVER DO.
WELL, I HAVE A LIST OF THOSE. HOW LONG DO WE HAVE?
NO I THINK THE -- THAT'S A QUESTION THAT IS HARD TO ANSWER.
YOU NEVER WANT, YOU NEVER WANT TO SAY TO YOUR SUCCESSOR THIS IS
A MISTAKE I MADE. IT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT THING TO
DO SEVERAL YEARS LATER. HOLDING UP THIS AND NOT DOING
THAT. I'M PROUDEST OF THE CONVENTION
CENTER. IT CONTINUES TO GROW UNDER
SEQUENT MAYORS. THAT I LEAVE TO SEQUENT MAYORS
THAT SAY THAT'S A GOOD DECISION AND WE WILL BUILD ON THAT.
>> Peggy: MR. WILSON, WHAT'S THE ONE THING YOU'RE MOST PROUD OF
WHEN YOU WERE MAYOR OF SAN DIEGO?
>> THE INTERESTING THING IS, AN IDEA THAT WE HAD, I DIDN'T GET
DONE, ROGER DID. THAT IS THE CONVENTION CENTER.
I SAID WE ARE IN A POSITION TO GET FAR MORE OUT OF TOURISM AS A
INDUSTRY. MY IDEA TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE
WAS NOT TO GOOD. HE CAME UP WITH A BETTER IDEA.
I WILL GIVE YOU ONE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WHAT SHOULD YOU
NEVER DO. WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR
REELECTION -- >> Peggy: UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE
JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT. I'M SO SORRY. WE WILL TOUCH ON
THAT IN A BIT. THE THING YOU'RE MOST PROUD OF?
>> THE RELATIONSHIP WITH COUNCIL.
THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL WORKED TOGETHER TO SHARE THE FINANCIAL
ISSUES OF THE CITY. WE'RE AT THE BRINK OF BANKRUPTCY.
THE COUNCIL CAME TOGETHER AND WORKED STRONGLY WITH OUR OFFICE.
>> Peggy: ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
NOW YOU CAN SEE THE MAYOR'S ANSWERS TO AUDIENCE QUESTIONS IN
OUR EXPANDED BROADCAST AT KPBS.ORG.
>> WILL YOU ANSWER IT NOW. >> I WILL.
WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR REELECTION A MAN CAME UP TO ME
ON THE STREET. HE SHOOK MY HEAD AND SAID I WILL
SUPPORT YOU FOR REELECTION. NOTWITHSTANDING THAT STUPID DUMB
IDEA OF TRYING TO MOVE THE AIRPORT.
[LAUGHING] >> HE SAID THAT'S THE DUMBEST
IDEA YOU HAVE EVER HAD. HE SAID OTHER THAN THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN PRETTY GOOD. [LAUGHING]
AND I WILL TELL YOU I DON'T THINK IT WAS THE WORST IDEA.
IT WAS NOT POPULAR. THE ONE STATISTIC THAT I THINK
EXPLAINS IT IS THAT 90% OF THE PEOPLE WHO USE THE AIRPORT DID
NOT LIVE IN THE FLIGHT PATH. FOR THEM IT WAS VERY CONVENIENT.
I HAD AN IDEA THAT IF WE RELOCATE IT DID TO OTAY MESA
WHICH WAS THEN TOMATO FIELDS WE WOULD OF HAVE IT WITHIN EASY
REACH OF THE DOWNTOWN, CLOSER THAN MOST MAJOR AIRPORTS TO
THEIR DOWN TOWNS, IT ALSO WOULD HAVE PROVIDED US NOT 500 ACRES
WHICH IS WHAT LINDBERGH FIELD IS, BUT 5000 ACRES SO WE COULD
DO WHAT SAN FRANCISCO DID AND HAVE A INDUSTRIAL PARK PRODUCING
ALL KINDS OF EMPLOYMENT ALL AROUND IT.
>> Peggy: WHICH IS GROWING IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS IF YOU HAVEN'T
BEEN UP THEIR LATELY WITH BIOTECH AND SCIENCE COMMUNITIES
ALL AROUND THE AIRPORT. SO, THANK YOU.
WE DID RUN OUT OF TIME. LIVE TV.
IT'S GOOD TV. CAN I SWITCH OUT MY QUESTIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING AUDIENCE QUESTIONS.
THEY WROTE THEM. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE YOU ANSWER
THEM. THIS -- THIS IS BEING RECORDED
FOR RADIO BROADCAST TOMORROW. SO PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF BY
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS THE MAYOR YOU WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION. >> WE'RE TAKING AUDIENCE
QUESTIONS? >> WHO EVER HAS THE SECOND
FROM OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE. GLEN SPARE OWE YOU HAVE A
QUESTION FOR THE MAYOR. >> YES, GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE TODAY. TWO OF YOU OPERATED UNDER THE
COUNCIL MANAGER FORMER GOVERNMENT, AND ONE UNDER THE
NEW COUNCIL MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
ALL OF YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO OBSERVE IT GOVERNOR AND
MR. HEDGECOCK, HOW WOULD THE NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT "STRONG
MAYOR" IT'S CALLED. HOW WOULD IT CHANGE THE WAY YOU
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. [ APPLAUSE ]
GOVERNERED ON SPECIFIC ITEMS? DO YOU THINK IT'S A POSITIVE OR