On Jan. 10, a pessimistic Mayor Jerry Sanders – San Diego's first "strong" mayor – gave his fourth State of the City message. Citing a $54 million deficit, scaled-back city services, higher fees, layoffs and mandatory water rationing, Sanders left little doubt that he was in charge and taking responsibility for the city's future. While the message was bleak, the mayor assuming responsibility was something San Diego residents were now getting used to.
Since becoming the first mayor under the mayor-council structure adopted by voters in November 2004, Sanders has faced staggering obstacles strewn in the wake of previous mayors, councils and managers: a pension shortfall of $1.4 billion, three indicted council members, FBI and SEC investigations, loss of bond ratings and inability to sell bonds, and a federal grand jury indictment of six members of the retirement board, among other issues. The wonder is that only 51 percent of those voting in 2004 supported a change in governing systems.
Making the transition from a council-manager system to a mayor-council form would be a significant venture for any mayor, but to inherit a city in financial chaos experiencing a leadership vacuum placed enormous burdens upon Sanders' administration. Add to this the burdens on local government from the international financial crisis, and any evaluation of the new system becomes nearly impossible.
One thing is certain, however. While San Diego is far from solvent, there is a path leading in the right direction. The ineffectiveness that mesmerized previous officeholders is gone. Sanders has taken responsibility and put in place processes that will slowly pull the city back from the brink of the bankruptcy. It is a leadership that the previous system was not able to provide.
