1. What is your view of how elected leaders won approval of first-ever trash collection fees on more than 200,000 single-family homeowners?
San Diegans broadly understood that the city faces real budget constraints and we were the only commensurate city that did not have a specific fee for trash collection, leading to the passage of Measure B.
But the hasty rollout to meet the growing budget deficits of the past few years left many residents frustrated and distrustful. San Diegans have watched costs rise higher than projections, going to $30–$40 per month, while dealing with confusing decisions on new trash cans, absent customer service and a variety of service providers rolling through neighborhoods multiple times a week.
Bottom line: San Diegans recognized the need for this policy but the process should have been more transparent on the timeline, gradual on costs and concerned for public access.
2. What is your view of the imposition of parking fees at Balboa Park and do you think the mayor and council did enough to control costs before taking this step?
The creation and adoption of the Balboa Park parking fees happened in just a few months and their haphazard implementation is ample evidence that not enough work was done. None of our Balboa Park stakeholders were informed, and now all of them are suffering. Our museums, restaurants and the Zoo are all suffering a loss of visitors and foot traffic, and our residents face a perplexing validation system, if they even know it exists, and all of this chaos netted the city less than a third of projected revenues.
We need to immediately pause the parking package and face the structural budget deficit with an honest resolve that our residents can respect. I was proud that my council member voted against the budget that included all of these confounding fees and I will continue to make those tough decisions for the good of San Diego, now and into the future.
3. Voters gave landslide approval in 2006 to a “managed competition” process in which some city services can be outsourced and strongly supported pension reforms for most city workers in 2012, but elected leaders have pursued neither policy in recent years. Would you?
Over my career, I have seen every attempt made by the proponents of “managed competition,” and in practice, city workers consistently proved they could deliver more effectively than outside companies.
The city must continue to focus on accountability for all of our departments and ensure that our workers have the resources to deliver city services to our neighborhoods. Our city workers have consistently risen above the vitriol and accusations of hostile political leaders to do the jobs that our residents expect. So instead of returning to divisive policies of previous decades, the city should honor the commitments already made to our workers.
On pension reform, we should respect the will of voters while ensuring a sustainable system that protects taxpayers and allows us to recruit and retain a strong workforce.
Rather than revisiting divisive policies, I would focus on accountability, investing in city services and making sure departments have what they need to deliver for our communities.
4. What is the single issue you feel deserves more attention?
District 8 has always been a community that is most affected when the cost of living rises. At this moment, as all families are squeezed by the rising costs of housing, groceries and gas and by stagnating wages, so many of our residents are also in the crosshairs of an immigration crackdown. Generational communities in San Diego are looking to their elected leaders to give them room to build for the future.
From fighting for more home construction to keeping libraries and rec centers open, or helping guide hundreds of young Latinas into college and successful careers, I’ve dedicated my career to giving our communities strength.
As the daughter of an immigrant housekeeper, I have my neighbors, community leaders and public services to thank for my success and I am running for City Council to ensure that the next generation of District 8 can prosper the same way I did.
Go to www.venusford8.com for more information on the candidate.