GSDBA Opposes Proposition B

We sent out the following press release today:

Association rejects high costs and legal concerns for no reward

The Greater San Diego Business Association today announced its opposition to Proposition B, which appears on the June ballot in the City of San Diego. While it is clear that the City’s finances, including the pension plan, need a comprehensive overhaul, review of this initiative finds it would only compound the problem.

After careful examination of data and objective analysis, GSDBA believes that the Proposition will be extraordinarily disruptive to City finances and actually adds no enforceable mandates. GSDBA finds nothing in this initiative that could not be negotiated with the unions today if the City Council so directed, despite the multi-million dollar price tag identified by San Diego's Independent Budget Analyst.

Further, the legal issues arising from its passage will tie the City up in expensive litigation for an extended period. These issues include the pending legal challenge by the Public Employee Relations Board, equal protection concerns arising from special exemption for police officers, and questions over whether the measure is constrained to a single issue as constitutionally required.

Because of the Proposition’s negligible contribution to actual pension reform and the substantial costs to San Diego taxpayers, the Greater San Diego Business Association calls on its members and all San Diego voters to vote No on Proposition B.

"The potential harm from Proposition B is too great for us to remain on the sidelines," said Tom Luhnow, CEO of the Greater San Diego Business Association. "Our responsibility is serving our more than 850 member businesses, and there is no question after reviewing Proposition B that it is bad for the small businesses we represent and bad for San Diego."