further stadium corruption
SAN DIEGO — Local officials are letting friends and family use a luxury stadium box, when they really should use it for guests who will promote city and county interests, according to a grand jury report.
In a report scheduled to be released tomorrow, the grand jury claims that officeholders who get two free tickets for all stadium events use the "city box" for family, friends and employees.
The panel reviewed randomly selected sign-in sheets for 21 Padres games, four Chargers games and a U2 concert.
The policy establishing guidelines for the box states: "The Director's Area was developed for use by the San Diego City Council, San Diego County Supervisors and the San Diego Stadium Authority and their guests, to provide access to the Stadium for persons who can aid the growth and promotion of the City and County of San Diego."
The grand jury found, however, that those guidelines are largely ignored because the city is not getting any promotional value from the box.
The report, called "Take Us Out to the Ballgame,"does not allege laws have been broken. But it does recommend that the policy either be observed or rewritten. It also recommends that, in the future, elected officials reimburse the city for tickets used by friends and family.
The unusual grand jury topic is appropriate to the panel's mission of "serving as a watchdog and uncovering waste and inefficiency in government," said Scott Barnett, executive director of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.
Many of the politicians indirectly criticized in the report reportedly objected to its characterizations.
The policy is "very general," according to Councilman Byron Wear, who said his guests have included constituents involved in youth programs and community groups. His most frequent guest, however, reportedly appeared to be his brother, a city fire captain.
Wear countered that the stadium is a "city asset" and it's one of the opportunities that councilmembers have "to share with other people," Wear said.
Councilwoman Barbara Warden was one of several politicians who refused to give the grand jury any information about guests whose names appeared on sign-in logs. Her guests reportedly included a daughter-in-law and a niece.
The five county supervisors were not forthcoming either. The report cited that on four different occasions, for example, Supervisor Bill Horn's tickets were used by his children and by Fallbrook constituents on others. In each case, he identified them as "guests of Supervisor Horn, pursuant to council policy."
It would be difficult to calculate the value of the 52-seat city box and its 26 free parking spaces and catered food and drinks, said assistant stadium manager Steve Shushan.
However, the box could reportedly generate about $400,000 a year.
For comparison, an eight-seat box costs $50,000 a year while the cost for a 20-seat box runs from $80,000 to $90,000.
In a report scheduled to be released tomorrow, the grand jury claims that officeholders who get two free tickets for all stadium events use the "city box" for family, friends and employees.
The panel reviewed randomly selected sign-in sheets for 21 Padres games, four Chargers games and a U2 concert.
The policy establishing guidelines for the box states: "The Director's Area was developed for use by the San Diego City Council, San Diego County Supervisors and the San Diego Stadium Authority and their guests, to provide access to the Stadium for persons who can aid the growth and promotion of the City and County of San Diego."
The grand jury found, however, that those guidelines are largely ignored because the city is not getting any promotional value from the box.
The report, called "Take Us Out to the Ballgame,"does not allege laws have been broken. But it does recommend that the policy either be observed or rewritten. It also recommends that, in the future, elected officials reimburse the city for tickets used by friends and family.
The unusual grand jury topic is appropriate to the panel's mission of "serving as a watchdog and uncovering waste and inefficiency in government," said Scott Barnett, executive director of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.
Many of the politicians indirectly criticized in the report reportedly objected to its characterizations.
The policy is "very general," according to Councilman Byron Wear, who said his guests have included constituents involved in youth programs and community groups. His most frequent guest, however, reportedly appeared to be his brother, a city fire captain.
Wear countered that the stadium is a "city asset" and it's one of the opportunities that councilmembers have "to share with other people," Wear said.
Councilwoman Barbara Warden was one of several politicians who refused to give the grand jury any information about guests whose names appeared on sign-in logs. Her guests reportedly included a daughter-in-law and a niece.
The five county supervisors were not forthcoming either. The report cited that on four different occasions, for example, Supervisor Bill Horn's tickets were used by his children and by Fallbrook constituents on others. In each case, he identified them as "guests of Supervisor Horn, pursuant to council policy."
It would be difficult to calculate the value of the 52-seat city box and its 26 free parking spaces and catered food and drinks, said assistant stadium manager Steve Shushan.
However, the box could reportedly generate about $400,000 a year.
For comparison, an eight-seat box costs $50,000 a year while the cost for a 20-seat box runs from $80,000 to $90,000.
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