Show Me the Money Going into the Final Stretch, San Diego City Election Edition
Show Me the Money Going into the Final Stretch, San Diego City Election Edition
It's a million dollars crazier than usual
I’ve spent a couple of days looking at finance reports from the City of San Diego Clerk’s Office, and my eyes are spinning. There have been a couple of oopsies, requiring restarts, and I am 100% sure something else got screwed up. (Leave a comment on boo-boos, so I can do better if there’s a next time.)
What I looked at are Form 460s (Statements of campaign recipients), covering the period July 1-September 19. This is supposed to give a financial picture of where campaigns stand going into the final stretch before election day.
The cash on hand can tell observers about the overall health of a campaign. In the case of one candidate, the income and expenses are way low compared to cash on hand. This tells me they have outsourced much of the work of getting voters interested in their candidacy. And, sure enough, there are Independent Expenditure groups picking up the slack.
I also looked at 496/497 Forms, which report major donor contributions and independent expenditure reports, dating back to mid-September, looking for who’s handing out and collecting contributions over the past month.
A million dollar donation to the Lincoln Club in September made everything different this year. It appears they might have taken 10% off the top and donated the rest to the Independent Expenditure group supporting Larry Turner for Mayor.
Supporters of Mayor Todd Gloria rallied their troops and appear to have nearly matched the Lincoln Club expenditures.
The happiest people in town are undoubtedly the owners of local broadcast media, since both campaigns are spending HUGE amounts over the airwaves. Local print/mail houses are also busy keeping up with demand. As far as other media goes, my sense is that neither campaign gets it. Buff candidate pictures don’t have the appeal some people obviously think they do.
I have no doubt that this big money dump has changed the nature of the campaigns. Whether or not it will change the outcome is yet to be seen. One candidate wants us to believe he’s done a good job in the face of challenges, the other wants us to believe he’s got (no doubt they’re “common sense”) solutions if elected.
When it comes to the housing crisis, both candidates are wrong. Incremental steps are as good as we can get.
Homelessness isn’t a “San Diego” problem, and the best we can do short term is apply bandages, something the people upset with “them” can’t accept. The healthcare workers and facilities needed to address the psychological and addiction problems do not (and won’t anytime soon) exist, no matter how many times people say it would “solve” homelessness.
Trust me on this one: government mandated “detention centers” are coming. Maybe they’ll be more officially permitted camps, maybe they’ll be a concentration camp in the desert.
Indented text is about non-candidate entities spending money on a particular contest.
San Diego Mayoral Contest
Turner for Mayor 2024:
460 $70,216 donations, $66,768 expenses, $22,813 cash on hand
Turn San Diego Around in Support of Larry Turner for Mayor 2024, sponsored by The Lincoln Club Business League Lincoln Club Donations $900,000, Other small donors $7999
Re-Elect Mayor Todd Gloria 2024:
460- $103,814 income, $112,600 expenses, $365,966 cash on hand
OutFront Media: $36,500 billboards
San Diego Labor Coalition, Sponsored by Laborer's International Union of North America Local 89: $116,444 mailers
California Progress for All $15,000 Media buy
A Better San Diego, Sponsored by California Alliance of Family Owned Businesses $100,000 billboards
Protect Neighborhood Services Now, Sponsored by San Diego Municipal Employees Association $5684 mailer
But wait! There’s more!
San Diegans for Fairness Supporting Todd Gloria for Mayor & Stephen Whitburn for Council 2024 $807,071 in donations, including:
Steve Cushman $15,000, Sycuan Citizens for Good Government $100,000, Dan Feder $8000, Dan Floit $10,000, IQHQ Reit Inc (Commercial Real Estate) $18,000, San Diegans Against Hate PAC $25,000, David Wick $85,000, SD Regional Chamber of Commerce $25,000, Alanviterbi, Jill Smith $10,471, John McGrory $1000, Building Industry Assn. $25,000, Trimension LLC(Damien Torbit) $10,000, United Nurses Assoc of CA Union of Hlth Care Prof. PAC $50,000, Coalition for Patient Access & Innovation $85,100, Robert Price $25,000, 1HWY1 LLC(Yehudi Gaffen) $10,000, San Diego Downtown Partnership $10,000, Flocke & Avoyer Commercial Real Estate $10,000, Building a Stronger CA, sponsored by Western States Regional Council of Carpenters $75,000, Kilroy Realty LP $10,000, California Apartment Association Independent Expenditure Cmte. $175,000, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO $10,000, Progressive Labor Alliance PAC, sponsored by Labor & Housing Organizations $7500, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club $2000, NAIOP San Diego PAC (developer assn) $5,000
San Diegans Opposing Gloria for Mayor 2024: 460- $340 income, $253 expenses, $333 cash on hand
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City Council
D3
Whitburn for City Council 2024
460- $14,910 income, $30,304 expenses, $75,698 cash on hand
Outfront Media $4300, $9450 (Billboards)
Protect Neighborhood Services Now, Sponsored by San Diego Municipal Employees Association $52,468 mailers
San Diego Police Officers Association Political Action Committee $11,670 (mailer)
San Diego Labor Coalition, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of North America Local 89 $99,226 mailer
***
Cusack for City Council 2024
460- $7,642 income, $4,987 expenses, $3,387 cash on hand
***
D9
Hoskins for City Council 2024
460- $7,845 income, $7,778 expenses, $11,702 cash on hand
San Diego Police Officers Association Political Action Committee $19,062 mailers
Sean Elo-Rivera for City Council 2024
460- $10,370 income, $15,583 expenses, $31,850 cash on hand
Protect Neighborhood Services Now, Sponsored by San Diego Municipal Employees Association $18,908 mailer
California Working Families Party $5,000 digital ads
***
City Attorney
Maienschein for City Attorney 2024
460- $1,700 income, $811.00 expenses, $137,353 cash on hand
Independent Voter PAC $55,000 Social/digital/text msgs, $22,886 texts, $10,942 mailer
Protect Neighborhoods $29,000 Social/digital/text msgs,
San Diego Labor Coalition $96,633 mailers
San Diego Police Officers Association Political Action Committee $24,180 mailers
California Cardroom Alliance Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee $213,000
Heather Ferbert for San Diego City Attorney 2024
460- $17,437 income, $22,978 expenses, $109,661 cash on hand
Protect Neighborhood Services Now, Sponsored by San Diego Municipal Employees Association $29,000 (anti Maienschein), $87,800 mailer
***
Measure E
Penny for Progress, Yes on Measure E:
460- $958,880 income, $123,851 expenses, $855,257 cash on hand
Marriott International $9500, Western States Regional Council of Carpenters Issues $10,000, Sheet Metal Workers Local 206 $20,000, NAIOP San Diego PAC (developers assn) $5000, Peace Officers Research Assn. of CA Issues $20,000, HDR Inc (engineering/architecture) $15.000, Rick Engineering Company $10,000, H.G. Fenton Company $10,000, Seligman Liberty Station LLC $2,500, AFSCME AFL-CIO (MPO) $50,000, San Diego County Lodging Assn $10,000, Harris & Associates $10,000, Progressive Labor Alliance $15,000, Badiee Development Inc. $25,000, Republic Services $9,000, WSP USA Inc. (Engineering/Design) $30,000, San Diego Police Officers Association Political Action Committee $50,000, Protect Neighborhood Services Now $500,000
AFSCME Local 127 Issues PAC 460- $1,319 income, $5,000 expenses, $4,073.76 cash on hand. $5000 Penny for Progress
San Diego City Fire Fighters, Local 145 PAC 460- $132,000 income, $132,705 expenses, $4,542 cash on hand. $119,880 Penny for Progress
Protect Neighborhood Services Now, Sponsored by San Diego Municipal Employees Association (460 $139,800 in, $502,395 out, COH $193,425) $500,000 to Penny for Progress
***
San Diego County Taxpayers PAC opposing Measure E: $15,000 digital ads
Reform California Against Measure E $2594 Canvassing
***
Monday News You Should Read
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PRESS RELEASE - San Diego Tourism Marketing District Rejects Funding for San Diego Rodeo Amid Controversy Over Animal Cruelty and Legal Risks
In a significant decision, the San Diego Tourism Marketing District (SDTMD) has rejected a request from the San Diego Padres for $150,000 in funding for the 2025 San Diego Rodeo. This outcome follows growing concerns about the controversies surrounding the event and potential legal risks.
The Padres sought $100,000 for musical talent and $50,000 for marketing purposes. However, board members expressed skepticism about the need for the funding, citing the rodeo's past success and the significant backlash it faces. One board member noted that ongoing controversies, including a lawsuit against the Padres, posed substantial risks to the event’s viability.
“The board's decision reflects a recognition of the risks associated with funding an event that inflicts harm on animals,” said Amit Dhuleshia, co-founder of Strategic Action For Animals (SXFA). “Funding such an event is increasingly seen as unacceptable, and we commend the SDTMD for making the ethical decision!”
***
Stare at the sun by Bill McKibben at the Crucial Years
Via the Carbon Brief analysis of the latest numbers from the International Energy Agency:
The IEA’s latest World Energy Outlook 2024 shows solar overtaking nuclear, wind, hydro, gas and, finally, coal, to become the world’s single-largest source of electricity by 2033.
This solar surge will help kickstart the “age of electricity”, the agency says, where rapidly expanding clean electricity and “inherently” greater efficiency will push fossil fuels into decline.
As a result, the world’s energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will reach a peak “imminently”, the IEA says, with its data indicating a turning point in 2025.
Is this fast enough to catch up with climate change?
It is not
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Biden to Propose That Insurers Cover Over-the-Counter Birth Control by Sheryl Gay Stolberg at The New York Times
Polls have found widespread bipartisan support for access to contraception. In the aftermath of Dobbs, Democrats began pushing legislation to enshrine a right to contraception in state or federal law. Republicans have consistently voted against such measures.
“Republicans’ own actions make them the most effective messengers against themselves,” said Chris Fleming, a Democratic strategist who works with the advocacy group Americans for Contraception, which has been running ads against Republicans like Senators Rick Scott of Florida and Josh Hawley of Missouri.
The group has also been parading a giant inflatable intrauterine device around the country; the balloon arrived in Washington in the spring after Senate Republicans blocked the Right to Contraception Act. Every Republican except Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the bill.
