San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Big issues nearly collide at City Hall
The city of San Diego is trying to hit the pause button on what were once a couple of promising initiatives that have since turned into policy and public relations disasters.
A $30 million program to install streetlights with sensors and cameras was intended to save money with more efficient lighting, collect useful traffic and environmental information — and, eventually, help motorists find parking spaces.
It didn’t work out and ended up becoming a police surveillance tool.
The city’s deal to purchase the former Sempra Energy headquarters nearly four years ago was expected to save the city $44 million by ending leases for office space scattered throughout the city.
The building, with the now-infamous 101 Ash St. address, has become a financial black hole, costing the city tens of millions of dollars more than anticipated while political intrigue and litigation play out on multiple levels.
The streetlights and real estate transaction are controversies that have little to do with each other except they are peaking at the same time, raising concerns about competency — or worse — at City Hall.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer last week temporarily pulled the plug on the streetlight program, turning off the cameras until the council develops a surveillance oversight ordinance.
Two weeks ago, he halted the $535,000 monthly rent payment for the building, ostensibly to force a renegotiation of the lease-to-own agreement with the landlord/ seller.
Both the 101 Ash St. and streetlight issues are now on longer-term trajectories, though the latter one likely will be calmer.
The streetlight program caught some people by surprise as it morphed into a police surveillance system
Vista and operating 24/7.
The city credits multiple factors to shutting down the illegal dispensaries; there were as many as 30 in Chula Vista.
Googins specifically mentioned Councilman Mike Diaz, who represents western Chula Vista, for being a “champion” on the issue.
One of the key factors was the creation of Chula Vista’s first ever criminal prosecution unit and the involvement of District Attorney Summer Stephan, who actively sought felony charges and asset forfeitures, Googins added.
Although Friday’s press conference had a celebratory tone, both the mayor and chief of police stressed that they will continue to take a hard stance on illegal operators.
“What I’d like our community to know, is our personnel stand ready to shut down and arrest any other illegal operators should they open in our city,” Chief Roxana Kennedy said.
Both Kennedy and Stephan said the illegal marijuana dispensaries have links to cartels and organized crime. However, police officials declined to specifically mention the names of any criminal organizations connected to these operations.
“Because those investigations are still ongoing, I’m not going to name those groups specifically at this time,” said police Lt. Dan Peak. “But I can tell you that there is organized crime backing.”
Kennedy said the illegal shops presented multiple safety hazards. Not only did they sell unregulated products that contained banned chemicals, but they also sold cannabis to children and, in some cases, also sold illegal narcotics.
Between February and August of this year, detectives served 30 search warrants, recorded 26 arrests, seized $34 million worth of product, $6 million in cash and 23 firearms, Kennedy said.
Additionally, more than 100 people connected with the illegal dispensaries were arrested and received warnings instead of felony charges. These were mostly low-level employees.
At the press conference, Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas said the city expects the first legal cannabis business to open within the next two months. The city began accepting applications in January 2019 and has been criticized because of how long it has taken applicants to get through the process.
Although there are currently no illegal dispensaries in Chula Vista, the mayor expected them to make a comeback.
“Because these illegal shops are so profitable, I suspect that they have not gone away forever,” she said. “So, we must remain vigilant and continue to prosecute.”
gustavo.solis@sduniontribune.com