LONGTIME SAN DIEGO OFFICIAL COLLECTING THREE PENSIONS WHILE ADVISING MAYOR

City changed rules to keep Jay Goldstone as chief operating officer

Jay Goldstone collects three different pensions that netted him more than $185,000 in 2021. In the same year, he also was paid some $275,000 by San Diego taxpayers as a provisional chief operating officer reporting directly to Mayor Todd Gloria.

And when Goldstone was on the cusp of breaking city rules that limit how much time somebody collecting a city pension can keep working for the city, the City Council changed the law specifically for his job.

Now, even as Gloria has installed a new full-time chief operating officer, Goldstone is working up to 720 hours a year — the equivalent of 18 weeks.

He is paid almost $200 an hour for his efforts shepherding some of the mayor’s most pressing initiatives but no longer accrues increased pension benefits.

Goldstone, who stepped away from his provisional COO position when Eric Dargan came aboard Nov. 1, declined to be interviewed about his role as Gloria’s right-hand man. Dargan is paid $375,000 a year.

Nick Serrano, the deputy chief of staff, said Goldstone has dedicated most of his 47-year career to public service and the city of San Diego was fortunate to have him for nine of those years.

“He has a record of steady leadership through incredibly turbulent times that include restoring San Diego’s credit rating after a major financial scandal, then pulling the city from the brink of bankruptcy,” Serrano said by email.

“His vast expertise and experience has been and continues to be immensely valuable for our city,” he added.

Serrano said Goldstone has resumed a part-time schedule that will not exceed 720 hours a year. His