By Norma Damashek
Turns out that mindful walks aren’t guaranteed to be soul-soothing. But one thing’s for sure — they’re invariably eye-opening. Once you start noticing, you’ll find plenty of things you never noticed before.
You’ll remember that last week I walked the walk in La Jolla. A few days ago it was Mission Valley. Yesterday it was downtown. But I’m putting aside downtown and Mission Valley for the time being and inviting you to keep me company on today’s mindful walk… through the mayor’s office… figuratively speaking, that is.
Picture us on the 11th floor of City Hall. Take a seat alongside me in the outer vestibule of the mayor’s suite. Notice the elevators and toilets to our left. Notice the worn carpeting and sullen lighting. Now follow me into the inner sanctum.
Be mindful how you walk.
Inside you’ll notice a brightly-lit chamber filled with a warren of small offices and meeting rooms. Time was, the offices of top management who ran the city under our previous (city manager) form of government worked cheek by jowl with the mayor and his/her modest staff. Around eight years ago San Diego voters amended our City Charter to establish a strong mayor form of government. Now the mayor and his staff occupy all of the 11th floor. Demoted bureaucrats are scattered elsewhere.
I’ve been noticing — and maybe you have, too — that ever since Bob Filner became mayor there’s been major discontent with the 11th floor rearrangement. Many people detest the current feng shui. They’re highly indignant that city decision-making has become political in the hands of Mayor Filner. They piously assert that politics should never intervene in the conduct of city business.
I’ve noticed – and you should, too — that the people whining most piteously about the loss of political neutrality in public affairs are the ones who worked their little heads off to get rid of the (nominally apolitical) city manager system and install the (political, by definition) strong mayor system.
I’ve noticed — and surely you must, also — that the people doing the most bellyaching are the insiders who cling to the notion that they’re entitled (in
Back to our walk through the mayor’s office. I used to notice when Jerry Sanders was mayor that it really didn’t matter whether his 11th floor stable of advisors, speech writers, publicists, and general factotum knew how to run a city or even knew what they were supposed to be doing up there. They didn’t have to. They could just pick up the phone and get instructions from the entitled old guard who, after running an incestuous show for generations, developed a lot of know-how and clout. Our present mayor has chosen to disconnect the hot link between his office and the city’s old guard.
You’ve probably noticed what I’ve said on several occasions: Bob Filner’s got a lively mind and sharp wit, an ethical agenda, big-time vision, useful working connections to state and federal officials, and strong passions.
Here’s something I haven’t said: even a virtuoso player like Mayor Filner can’t do it on his own. A first-class leader needs first-class backup. Perhaps more than any leader in our city’s history, this mayor needs a strong, dedicated, high-quality group of advisors and staff members to back up his proposals, shore up his policies, strengthen his outreach, and advance his goals.
Given San Diego’s longstanding political culture, it’s not paranoid to acknowledge that there’s a paucity of forward-looking, expert, experienced, and trustworthy advisors and staff readily available to this mayor for the work at hand. During my mindful walk through the mayor’s office I’ve noticed (you, too?) the void. There’s still much work to do and changes to make on the 11th floor of City Hall to create the team our mayor needs and the public deserves. There are simply no shortcuts around this one.
Latest posts by Norma Damashek (see all)
- County Government Laid Bare - November 15, 2017
- Hierarchy of Elected Venerables - October 30, 2017
- San Diego’s Dangling Participles - October 12, 2017
Yes, I remember that sullen lighting. I once went up the elevator to floor 11 to hand-deliver a letter to Jerry Sanders. The dim antechamber was only a little less sunny than the reception from the antechamber guard. He barely lifted his head to acknowledge the paper I thrust in his direction, and he said not a word. I’m prone to believe he hated his job, not me.
How is the attitude of the current guard?
Filner is passionate, democratic, and savvy. He has decades of experience dealing with chicanery and morons. But you are correct…he needs a completely trustworthy support staff and a crew with smart, well-informed, long memories of the determined efforts of the many who feel that what’s good for their businesses is good for the rest of us, and if it doesn’t work out that way, …too bad.
I promise you that the lighting on the other side of the antechamber doors is much better. Actually got to see it for myself.
Many of the local progressives -both Democrats and others- have been discussing this major lack. The Mayor needs more staff, he needs staff that knows the players in this city, and he needs them right now. He’s having problems with people who voted for him, who totally support him but are working in Balboa Park and feel totally unheard. If he had had adequate high quality staffing, these problems could have been eliminated, or at least, worked through without appeals and other unpleasantness. And Mayor Bob has federal and state knowledge, but doesn’t seem to actually know this city that well-what’s city owned and what’s not. Donna knew the city, was trusted, and was a great loss.
If we think only somewhat deeply about the state of the city, one really has to look backwards a short distance to see that the alternative to Bob working his magic is Carl D or some other Republican ‘lockstepper” who would have continued the city onwards into mediocrity and sameness doing the bidding of the elite. I, for one, am thrilled at Bob’s progress and wish him all good luck and speed as he churns the paddles that will make San Diego a real city again. If he continues to do the right thing, damn the torpedoes, and finishes what he has started, we will all profit by all his hard work. The feathers that have already been ruffled are a stark indication that he is doing good work. I ask that we all please give him enough time to keep the train righted and moving forward towards a brighter, not duller, future. Go Bob!!
Thanks Norma for this article. Gets me to think more about my impression that Filner needs good help, and since I am looking for work and have many mad skills that would greatly benefit Filner’s office and agenda, I am considering that I should find a way to get on his team.
A simple suggestion – put the staff names on the web site, their phone numbers, their emails, and the areas they are addressing. People still get on the phone to call instead of email when the stop sign on their corner disappears, and they call their council member, because they know their local council representative. They don’t know who to call for what from the Mayor’s office. Part II is to return phone calls.
It’s no secret: ruffling the feathers of our city’s old roosters feels great. But forging institutional changes in San Diego will take a concerted program of well-planned and well-executed strategies by a team with management skills, knowledgeability, expertise, and political know-how — IN ADDITION to a public-minded philosophy.
Star virtuosos depend on great accompanists for outstanding performances. If the goal is to change the direction of this city so it stands a chance of STAYING changed, there must be a qualified inner circle around the mayor to make sure the details are well taken care of.
Norma, you know better – all of the employees on CAB-11 worked for the Mayor after Mayor O’Connor took office. The only others who were there during the Wilson and Hedgecock administrations were Committee Consultants, and Intergovernmental Relations (which worked pretty much directly for the Mayor). The floor also had much more open area of unused space in those days. O’Connor remodeled the floor to increase the efficiency of the floor plan.
Back in prehistory (before Wilson) the floor was shared with the Mayor on the East end and the Council, still very part-time, on the West end. That ended when the Council became full-time and needed a cadre of staff. Then the City Councilors moved to CAB-10.
As to the lighting, the whole City Administration Building is dismal.
Hello Tim —
re. “… the whole City Administration Building is dismal”
How true, how true.
I live in Escondido but have been a fan of Bob Filner’s for years. I was elated when he became mayor even though I was not able to vote for him. He is an ethical, fairminded, knowledgeable public servant and I am thankful to have him continue to serve. I’ll help in whatever way I can to make his term as successful as possible. This article was very helpful in seeing behind the curtain at what he’s been facing. Thanks, Bob, for your continued work for San Diego!
I’m not sure “forging institutional changes in San Diego” is what any quadrennially-elected
first-in-a-blue-moon Democratic mayor signs on for or even what we the people expect. Part of the reason for elections is to change the status quo, and it seems to me that is exactly what Mayor Filner has been doing. I applaud him for it and look forward to more.
I think constituent service matters and know that Bob Filner does too. If the Mayor’s staff hasn’t been returning phone calls to Norma or “nostalgic,” maybe they need to get on the ball. Otherwise, count me a happy camper with this administration to date.
Fran- They have a hard time responding to queries from reporters–even friendly ones–let alone constituents. It’s been a MAJOR point of contention for local journos. He does a lot of public events, and I think they hope that those will make up for the lack of responsiveness to the public.
I ADORE Mayor Filner! I never find him abrasive – I find him charming and entertaining (while I am unmoved by Todd Gloria’s dazzling smile). Well, the mayor is more in my age group. I have no idea what Mayor Filner’s staff does. Maybe an article on their function would help us to understand the new paradigm.
If you or someone you know is despondent about not getting a return phone call from the mayor (or anyone else, for that matter) try activating this link for assistance:
Maybe the staff of the SDFP should contact Filner’s offices and offer our services in any way we can to promote Filner’s agenda. Having a pipeline to someone on the inside and knowing we have Filner’s best interest at heart might give us access to some privileged information that would help to counteract the U-T’s endless campaign to discredit him. That would be a breaking story …
Building skilled institutional support for elected officials requires a certain mindset and long term planning. Republicans excel at developing their bench.
Just look at who works at the city’s major development, consulting, building industry, public relations, and think tanks. And remember the San Diego Taxpayers Association and Chamber of Commerce. How many Republican candidates have those organizations produced?
San Diego county Republicans excel at building a disciplined labor force that then moves, en masse, into staff positions when elections occur. They Understand the importance of providing employment, training and other support for people looking to become candidates and/or staff on campaigns and in elected’s offices.
Progressives need to learn from these examples.