HI

THE

S IERRA C LUB S AN D IEGO C HAPTER ,

The City Attorney & You: September 30th

by Carolyn Chase, Political Committee Chair
CITY ATTORNEY DIRECTLY ELECTED? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO EVERY LAND USE DECISION THE CITY MAKES? WHY IS THE CITY ATTORNEY
REPRESENTING?

WORKING TO PRESERVE THE SPECIAL NATURE OF SAN DIEGO FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY http://sandiego.sierraclub.org September/October 2003 Vol. 63, No. 5

SIERRAN
SERVING

I MPERIAL

AND

S AN D IEGO

COUNTIES

WHY DO WE HAVE A CITY ATTORNEY? WHO DOES THE CITY ATTORNEY REPRESENT? WHO PAYS THE BILLS FOR POOR LEGAL DECISIONS? WHY IS
ARGUABLY THE MOST POWERFUL ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE

Get the answers to these and other questions on Tuesday, September 30th at the Otto Center in Balboa Park.

GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION FOR THE MACH 2ND, 2004 ELECTION.

CITY - EVEN MORE THAN THE MAYOR? WHAT INTERESTS HAS THE CITY ATTORNEY BEEN

The City Attorney's Office is low profile but high impact, having the legal authority to affect nearly every decision of the City Council. The office has a civil and criminal division. The civil includes: Trial, Real Property, Public Works, and Employment and Safety Services, and a Public Policy Team. The criminal includes: Consumer and Environmental Protection, Code Enforcement, Child Abuse and Domestic Violence, and Neighborhood Prosecution. They also have "Special Projects" which include a role in the ballpark and Chargers negotiations - as well as other land use deals. What that role is, and the types of both negotiating and legal advice, are of utmost importance to all issues coming

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Activities, Meetings City Attorney Candidate Statements Classified Ads Chapter Notes Letters to the Editor Programs for September & October! Inner City Outings North County Group Outings Listings Canyons Campaign Update! View from the Chair Photo Weekend at Foster Lodge Wilderness First Aid class Excom Ballot and Statements WBC

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTION INFORMATION AND BALLOT ON PAGE 9!

12 16 22 4 3 11 30 14 22 20 2 9 29 17 31

before City Council with tremendous policy, fiscal and environmental ramifications. What is the City Attorney's role in the review of the City's CEQA documents and "Development Agreements"? How is the City Attorney involved in deals being negotiated behind the scenes between Developments Services, Real Estate Assets and project proponents? The infamous Rocque de la Fuente case involved one of those DAs gone bad. Recently, community activists and Political Committee volunteer Kathryn Burton prevailed as part of a community lawsuit in Torrey Hills where the judge cited over and over again, "arbitrary and capricious conduct" in bending over backwards to prevent any public hearing on a large expansion of a project. The City lost before a judge over their CEQA process of the relocation of the Rescue Mission. This City Attorney's office has recently used selective information to support the City's poaching of parklands for industrial uses. Not only do all these situations cost activists time and taxpayers money, but there is a growing concern that the conduct of this office compels the public to have to litigate rather than having a fair and just process to begin with. Whether or not citizens are compelled to sue in order to get a fair process is something that activists are constantly battling. Sometimes we win in court - but why should we have to sue to begin with? How will these candidates be able to change that? The City Attorney is elected, in theory, so as to provide the public an independent check and balance on the use of power and authority and due process by City staff

Meet the candidates & Ask questions 7pm-9:30pm Reception at 6:15pm Balboa Park, just south of zoo entrance
The current candidates for City Attorney : and City Council. But does the public really know this? Does the media report on this? Does the record reflect independence and the public good? This evening is designed to give the public an opportunity to meet, hear and ask questions of the candidates for City Attorney and is part of the Chapter's endorsement process which includes this public forum, a written questionnaire, and an in-person interview. Given the importance of this office and the competitiveness of this race, the Political Committee Board is seriously considering an early endorsement so as to be able to sign on the ballot. If you are interested in participating in this process, or have any relevant information to share, please email me or call (see back page for contact info). HS Mike Aguirre, Deborah Berger, Leslie Devaney, Howard Wayne

The City Attorney Forum

Tuesday, Sept 30th
FREE TO THE PUBLIC

The public is invited to attend:

Otto Center Auditorium

* TURN TO PAGE 16 FOR CANDIDATE STATEMENTS!

page 1 San Diego Chapter September/October 2003 Hi Sierran