by Ernie McCray
The other night while watching tv I heard interim San Diego Mayor, Todd Gloria, mention that it’s “A new day at City Hall.”
Well, I’ve witnessed many a “new day” in my life and what’s going on today in City Hall doesn’t look anything like any one of those days to me. Instead, it looks like the same old same old to the millionth degree.
Oh, but there was a new day at City Hall. Not too long ago. And it wasn’t like any “new day” I have ever experienced before. It was something to behold. True blue. I mean no mayor, as in none, before Bob Filner, had ever cited visions for our city that coincided with mine, a vision that included people like me, many of us South of 8, activists, artists, performers, non-profit folks and business folks of common means, all trying to meet our community’s needs.
We, for the very first time in our lives, had a mayor who had shown us how much he loved us and cared about us and had done so for decades, unfailingly, unflinchingly. He made us part of the loop alongside the fat cats. He let us know what “A New Day at City Hall” looks like up close and personal.
But boy, did we drop off that high suddenly out of nowhere one day when some friends of the mayor stood before cameras telling the world that he couldn’t keep his horny thoughts to himself – and before you could say, as they used to say, “Jack Johnson,” they asked him to resign and then Gloria Allred rolled into town like an actor stepping onto the red carpet at the Academy Awards, in tailored clothes and fine hose, leading a parade of women who painted soft porn descriptions in our minds of unwanted sloppy kisses and un-slick come-ons and salacious propositions and we learned about the “Filner Headlock” and sang “Do you love me now that I can do the Filner Dance?” in the shower. Well, I did.
And recall petitions were hustled around and finally people had steamy sultry stuff to post on Facebook to which they received many a thumb up for “Like” than thought imaginable. And our mayor became the talk on talk shows pretty much anywhere there are talk shows on the planet. And San Diegans pitched in against him like citizens in chapters of Mark and Luke, crying “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
And in the time it takes to swat a fly, it seemed, the brother was gone. Due process thrown to the wind. Sad story if there ever was one. All that went on, by anyone’s definition, had to be the epitome of “A new day at City Hall.”
I can only hope my friend heals. And I hope the women heal too. And, although, I wish it could have all been handled in a different way, I can’t find any animosity in my heart against people I love and respect, like Donna Frye, who brought us the bad news like town criers. And if the allegations are true, as they’ve been presented to us, the people, I simply hope Bob finds a way to make amends with himself and just be a better man when it comes to relating to women.
And I hope there comes a day, just in case men haven’t made any significant changes, for the better, in being the dogs we can be, that women someday feel free enough to say to some wise-guy: “What did you just say? Take my what off? Tell me you didn’t say ‘panties.’ Mofo, I will take these spiked heels off and knock your ass out if you come up with some crap like this again! Get me some coffee!” But no one should have to tell a man that. Hey, I’m just aspiring out loud.
Todd Gloria. I’d really like to hear him describe what’s so new about City Hall right now, considering that no leaders, during all this, chose to speak for the politically second class citizens in the city who, up until a few months ago, have always felt disenfranchised, disconnected. And now we feel that way again.
And what about the media who just went along for the show, National Enquirer style, zeroing in on the raw bits and juicy pieces of a sex scandal they ended up aiding and abetting – as though they were afraid that investigative reporting might cause leprosy. Nobody wanted any part of truths other than who got saliva on their face. No one delved into what Bob Filner’s demise really means.
No one from the media asked or seemed to wonder, as we were teased with snippets of news, as to who might someday take over the city, if any of them might, like Bob, stand up to the power brokers when they’re taking resources from needy communities needlessly which is pretty much the status quo for how it goes in our city.
No one asked Todd if City Hall would continue, as the previous mayor had done, providing a place at the table for neighborhood activists, non-profit folks, academics, progressives.
Surely some talking head or field reporter or news anchor must have been impressed enough with Bob’s willingness to serve the needs of regular San Diegans to inquire as to will someone continue meeting with citizens on Saturday mornings (and do what I saw Bob do with my own eyes, assign someone to look into our concerns right on the spot – I don’t know how many people I’ve heard, throughout his political career going back to his days on the school board and on the City Council and in the House of Representatives, rave about some matter that he took care of personally, directly).
Will we see the new mayor participating in our community meetings, listening and learning from us because we know he or she will be at the elaborate conclaves the big boys hold?
Will the new mayor share Bob’s concern about the environment and try to keep dirty industries out of areas like Barrio Logan in conjunction with organizations like the Environmental Health Coalition? Will the new mayor be a friend to labor aka the people? Who will stand up, within reason, against doubling down on the Balboa Park transformation, Convention Center expansion and a new football stadium?
Put simply who will protect us from these projects that the big boys dream and scheme, now, under the guise of “A New Day at City Hall” and consider other notions and learn to make big decisions based on the best thinking of everyone.
“Nobody” is the answer to that question which makes a story that was already very bad sadder still. Unless we, who felt so emboldened with Bob Filner in office, find a way to keep his vision of San Diego on the minds of our civic leaders and fellow citizens – at all times.
We, because the politicians in this town, based on my years here since 1962, will just shuck and jive, have to keep the real “new day” alive.
Ernie McCray
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Thank you for the well thought out and well articulated article. It encompasses all I felt and still feel about the state of our city and where it may go now. I also had such high hopes and every time Bob held the line and didn’t capitulate to the power brokers my heart leaped for joy. What grit! It saddens me to think that the short lived progress that was unfolding right before our eyes might be completely vanquished now. When again might we be able to proudly say “I am actually represented and the mayor cares what I think?” It is due time (90 days) that we stand together for principle and utilize our vote to further the plan laid out by Bob and keep the momentum moving forward. Gloria seems to be doing his best to stifle all the present reforms and I see no end in sight if a concerted loud communal No effort isn’t cast sending Faulkner running back to his cover, cowering in fright, that the people won’t stand for IT any more! Let’s vote smartly and passionately for a new day and continue the progress that was beginning to lead us towards a bright future for all.
It is up to us.
I recommend checking into Bruce Coons for Mayor. He has taking on Big Business before. He is for communities and favors people. He’s not sucking up to Big Money, so it’s up to us to spread the word and vote for him. Voting for Faulconer or Fletcher is just allowing the same ole to continue. We have to make a statement and vote for someone that isn’t beholden to the big players.
Great article, Ernie. I can’t help but compare Filner to Tiger Woods,Bill Clinton, etc and wonder who he wronged so badly that he could not escape the onslaught of media attention.
He took on Big Business in San Diego, challenging Irwin Jacobs (big sponsor of KPBS) the Port Authority and other developers. It is truly horrible the trial by media that they did. Consider voting for Bruce Coons. He has taken on those in power before. I think he would be good for the people of this City.
Dear Ernie
Thank you for baring your feelings to us, and letting us know how little faith you have in Todd Gloria’s carrying forward the progressive agenda that Bob Filner started to carry out. Todd talks a good game, but when push comes to shove he sides with the big boys like Irwin Jacobs, as evinced by his long standing support of the Jacobs Plan for Balboa Park. Further evidence of this was his first official act as Mayor He rescinded the stay against further development of the Jack in The Box that City Heights residents have been trying for some time to put a stop to. It was the last thing that Filner did before he left office, to protect those residents. That is Todd’s Councilmanic District and he knows how much those residents resented the upcoming increased noise and traffic that expanding that Jack in The Box would mean, but he sided with this major corporation anyway. He may need a big donation from them in the future when Susan Davis retires and he jumps at the chance to succeed her as Member of Congress.
Oh, John, please! You could have gone all day and not brought up that hideous vision of Mr. Gloria in Congress.
Ernie, thanks for a great piece of writing with a great point of view. I concur. There won’t be another mayor to come close, unless Aguirre gets in. I have heard people tout the merits of Coons and Saldaña s well. If any of these were elected, perhaps the new day at City Hall started by Bob Filner would continue, I don’t really know. I guess we shall see soon enough. I have never heard “on my good foot.” I like that.
That’s Todd in a nutshell.
John, I don’t think Todd Gloria even talks a good game any more. We know who his master is, Irwin Jacobs, et al. All about Big Business and stepping all over the people. I hope people have the sense to not vote for him again. I am consider Bruce Coons for Mayor. He’s not in anyone’s pocket. He will do what’s right for people of this City.
You’re speaking for all of us Ernie… I think we should come together and coalesce on a progressive candidate that will carry that vision we voted for into the special election. If we have 3,4,5… progressive candidates on the ballot we will split the vote and Fletcher the republicrat and old boy favorite will swoop in and win. Lets get our shit together and get one GAL on the ballot – maybe Lori Saldana?
Stephanie
I think that would be hard for me to do at this point, because I like Aguirre so much, and always have. And one quite excellent commenter here is absolutely crazy about Bruce Coons. It’s a good idea, though, and may go forward without either of us:)
Aguirre has said he isn’t running and that might be a good thing. I know several people who worked for him and I met him a couple times myself. Personally I think he’s huge jack ass and a worthless dick head of an individual.
Goat:
Aguirre said quite the opposite, and personally I think he’s a great guy.
Ok apparently you’re right so I stand corrected but he did previously say he was not going to run.
On that note why do you think he’s a great guy?
Whomever we come up with is going to have quite a struggle as labor is going with Fletcher as well as Lorena Gonzalez aka labor.
I can’t believe labor is going with Fletcher, especially since he’s owned by Irwin Jacobs and Company. Shooting themselves in the foot!
Only TWO City employee unions have come out for Fletcher: The MEA and the Firemen. The Police may also go along.
BUT the rest of the Labor Council has NOT come out for Fletcher. They will be making a choice shortly and from what I hear it’s not likely to be Nathan.
That’s good to know. Thanks!
I appreciate this honest healing essay, Ernie,because it is hard to be so disappointed. But your facts are undeniable and the tone is perfect. I thank you.
In the media frenzy, no one noticed the lack of evidence. No one, in his life of politics, made a public complaint of sexual misconduct before he was asked to resign. The Sheriff set up a dial a smear hot line with three full time employees, all branches of law enforcement, the City Attorney, the City Council, the entire Nation nearly, asked for women to come forward to denounce him. After all that,only one reported that he asked for sex directly, a number of clumsy come ons were alleged as overt propositions. Twenty times nothing is still nothing. There was no sex in the sex scandal. Nothing alleged would be wrong if done with the right person. Bob Filner deceived himself, or was deceived into treating enemies like close friends, to this day he doesn’t understand how evil his confidants were. Good guys are like that sometimes.
Keep up the good work Mr. McCray.
When I observed Doug Manchester snapping up the SD U-T and the North County Times, it seemed just a matter of time before we would be even more fully enveloped in a curtain of yellow journalism thinly veiling the political and ego-driven agendas of Manchester and whomever he considers a tool to acquire the Next Desired Thing.
Two weeks ago, I was picking up the paper for a neighbor on vacation and every day for the entire week, the headlines were all about Filner and his imminent resignation. At a glance, there seemed to be no other news in San Diego County. I had no doubt that he would go down under this s***storm. I wondered why, if Filner had been behaving SO badly for SO long, that this issue was so suddenly and urgently being echoed and amplified by such a large and growing chorus.
But it’s one of the oldest tricks in the book–strategically timed mudslinging.
All humans are flawed. All politicians are human. And perfectly timed magnification of any person’s flaws can be used to undo them.
It seems that all of the above is true–Filner did behave badly, offended a lot of women with outdated, obnoxious and inappropriate attitude. Doug Manchester used his new tool (newspaper monopoly) to take political advantage and wipe out one of the last real adversaries he had. Flawed humans duking it out for positions of power.
In the end, this leaves us with a very unbalanced political ecosystem, which leads to a very unbalanced outcome for the people of San Diego County. Only until the shoe pinches so hard that we cannot walk anymore–will an inevitable backlash occur.
And on it goes. Will we ever evolve and learn how to do things differently?
I sometimes wonder if we human beings know what the concept of “evolving” entails.
So many good comments on your excellent article, Ernie, though I think Fran Zimmerman summed up succinctly what I also feel about the loss of Bob Filner as mayor.
I too like Mike Aguirre and trust him to continue Bob Filner’s principles and policies. Unfortunately – unless he has learned to control his aggressive and excessive behaviors – we would have the same polarized situation that resulted with Filner.
That is why I support Bruce Coons and recommend to all that they keep an open mind before making a decision on whom to vote for. The biography he has posted on his campaign website is sure to surprise many who think he’s a single-issue candidate. Please take a look at the biography on his website:
I really like Bruce Coons!
Well, I’ve been here since 1946, albeit I was a toddler for some of it, and a know nothing high school teenager for another bunch , and then a draftee during the middle sixties, but I never was so proud as I was when Bob started doing for all of us as I would have done myself given the chance or opportunity. Those who draped themselves as Democrats, way back when like O’Conner, etc., still didn’t know what it really took to do the right thing inspite of the establishment doctrines dictated. That darn Nixon is the guy who got me started on the path to reason and dissent and still raises my hackles when he comes to mind. Age does bring a modicum of experience and “wisdom” and I am hopeful that we might get our act together as caring Democrats and not submarine our chances again as we have so recently done in the past with the likes 0f Dukakis or Hart or Gore and Kerry, etc. (not to mention Davis and Bustamonte on the state level, etc.) on that stage and the revolving door here closer to home with weak characters that couldn’t win a rigged lottery if their life depended on it. I suggest we keep the pressure on no matter who gets the nod from our side and not endeavor to dilute our efforts by endearing ourselves to a losing cause in supporting any candidate that does not take this opportunity seriously to take the reins and charge headlong into the fray full speed ahead. Filner is not one to be dismissed as not doing our city proud, rather he should be commended for standing up for what is right, and, so long in coming that I tire just thinking about the many previous wasted efforts. I see Aguirre in this loser category and his track record sucks, as even he had a chance to do it right, but his inflated ego caused us much consternation thus leading us to Goldsmith, of all people, to tell us what we should do and expect. We do have a window of opportunity and I for one choose not to squander it be being way too altruistic and chop off my nose just to spite my face. A win is way too important (versus a loss in the end, where the Reps only will have one person to whom all wealth will flow) and leave us in turmoil looking in from the cold exterior, both limp in spirit and impotent in actual deed. Make no mistake, there is a reckoning that is coming and we will all be the poorer if we don’t rise to the occasion and do what we know is right! Tout whom you like but vote for who can realistically lead us towards the future in glory and not down the path to endless disappointment and dismay.
Amen!
Thanks, Ernie. I appreciate what you wrote and share your sentiments
An excellent article! Thanks so much for your input.