From Thursday’s No on Prop D rally...

“My name is Roz Winstead (right), and I’m proud to be in the company of Donna and Marti in urging a NO VOTE on Prop D. As a woman of color and a small business owner for 20 years, I can tell you that the decision voters will make (next Tuesday) on June 8 will determine the kind of City we will live in for years to come. Voters will decide whether we empower special interests and invite their corrupting influence or demand a City government that represents and is accountable to all its citizens — men and women of every hue, rich, poor, housed and homeless.

The 5 year “Strong Mayor” experiment was backed by big business interests, lobbyists and developers, and it clearly delivered the goods for them. It failed miserably however in assuring transparency, and fair and open competition for small firms seeking to do business with the City. The fingerprints of powerful special interest groups, armed with Political Action Committees can be seen in the City’s blatant disregard for its own contracting regulations and enforcement obligations. An April 30 report from the City Auditor confirms this fact — and what the Executive Branch didn’t want us to know. San Diego is a pay to play town, and hiding the ball as the Mayor has done for the last 5 years — won’t change that.

The Prop D campaign was deceptive from the beginning and remains so today. If passed, it will institutionalize a flawed “reform” that serves a few — at the expenses of many. The proponent’s ballot argument actually states that, “Problems that were previously swept under the rug are now subjected to vigorous and open public debate.” Are they kidding?? This is incredibly false — unless you file a Public Record Act Request — or a lawsuit!!! ehh Donna??

Don’t be fooled by the accountability hype. Vote No on Prop D and encourage your friends, neighbors and colleagues to do so as well. Prop D is deceptive and dangerous to a City with a culture and history like ours. Let’s get the Mayor back on the Council, save taxpayers millions of dollars — and let the bright light of public scrutiny into the dark board rooms where deals are too often cut — and decisions impacting all of our lives — are too often made. I urge you to vote NO ON PROP D!!”

Insiders are behind Prop D...how about you? League of Women Voters says NO

No on Prop D rally

“San Diego Neighborhoods United believes that if Prop D passes, too many critical decisions affecting neighborhoods will be made without community input,” explained their chairperson Kristin Harms (right). Hillcrest resident and small business owner Ros Winstead added, “Voters are being misled by Prop D proponents on the intent of this measure, particularly its benefits and costs.” But it’s not just the costs that worries neighborhood groups and business owners such as Winstead; it’s also the resulting impacts to the communities and the lack of open decision making.

Councilwomen Marti Emerald and Donna Frye called today’s noon rally in the Civic Center Plaza joining Kristin, Ros and other community organizations as they released the hidden costs assocated with the current Strong Mayor form of government. “Over the past five years, Strong Mayor has cost the taxpayers an additional $1 million annually, but the budget is so opaque it’s hard to track. The $5M that could have been used to maintain public safety, instead of paying for Strong Mayor staff salaries,” said Frye.

Insiders are behind it...how about you? “I think there’s some, in my opinion mistaken, loyalty to a person rather than a form of government,” says Donna Frye taking a stand against Proposition D. This movie from Dan Soderberg may help, too. “To me, it’s very disturbing because I do think of (Cox) as public airways. I don’t think people should have unequal access to the public domain.”