>>> THE RACE FEATURES CHARGES, COUNTER CHARGES AND SIGNIFICANT MONEY, DISCOVERED THEY HAD BEEN REGISTERED AS MEMBERS OF A BRAND-NEW POLITICAL PARTY, TAX REVENUE WOULD EXPAND THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE HOMELESS, SO WHY IS A HOMELESS ADVOCATE AGAINST IT?

MEASURE A SUPPORTS A COUNTYWIDE VOTE ON DEVELOPMENTS.

THE KPBS ROUNDTABLE STARTS NOW.

WELCOME TO OUR DISCUSSION OF THE WEEKS TOP STORIES, I AM JADE, AND JOINING ME TODAY ARE JENNIFER BOWMAN OF I NEW SOURCE, ERIC ANDERSON OF KPBS NEWS, CLEAR OF KPBS NEWS ALSO AND SCOTT LEWIS OF VOICE OF SAN DIEGO.

SO THE SAN DIEGO CITY ATTORNEY IS THE CHIEF LEGAL ADVISER TO THE MAYOR, AND ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS, THE OFFICE HANDLES 20,000 MISDEMEANOR CASES AND 200 CIVIL CASES EACH YEAR, THE CURRY ATTORNEY IS RUNNING FOR HER SECOND TERM, TWO CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING TO REPLACE HER.

SO, SCOTT, START BY TELLING ME ABOUT MARA ELLIOTT, HOW LONG IS SHE BEEN IN OFFICE?

>> FOR A FULL TERM NOW ALMOST, THERE IS BEEN A DEBATE FOR ABOUT THE DECADE, IT IS AN ELECTED POSITION, SO DOESN'T REALLY REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, LAWYER FOR A CITY AND SHE CAME INTO THE OFFICE WITH THIS PERSPECTIVE SHE WAS GOING TO BE A QUIET LAWYER FOR THE CITY, GET INTO THAT SPACE, THEY REALIZE HOW POWERFUL THE POST REALLY IS AND SHE IS BEEN VERY FORWARD WITH A LOT OF ISSUES FROM SURVEILLANCE AND THE CAMERAS THAT CAME OUT TO THIS LAWSUIT SHE IS TAKEN, SHE MIGHT SHUT DOWN INSTACART, THERE ARE ALL KIND OF THINGS SHE IS TAKING A FRONT ROW SEAT ON, AND IT HAS CAUSED A LITTLE BIT OF CONTROVERSY.

>> TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE CAMERAS.

>> YEAH, THEY WERE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC AND CITY COUNCIL AS A WAY TO HELP CLEAN UP TRAFFIC IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND SHE CANNOT RANDOMLY THE OTHER DAY AND SAID LOOK AT HOW GREAT THEY ARE AT SOLVING CRIMES, THAT IS NOT PART OF WHAT WAS SET IN MOTION, SHE IS IN THE FACE OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.

>> DIDN'T SHE ALSO TRY TO BECOME THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS?

>> SHE SENT STATE SENATOR TO PUT UP ABOUT WHICH WOULD'VE TAKEN ONLY THE ENFORCEMENT PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT OUT OF IT, LATER, ATTENTIVE SKIRT NAME, SO SHE WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE THERE.

>> DIDN'T SHE MAKE A BIG POINT OF SAYING SHE IS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS SHE WAS PUSHING?

>> SHE CAME OFF THE CAMPAIGN THREE YEARS AGO IS THE LEAST INTERESTED IN TRANSPARENCY, MOSTLY JUST WANTED TO SERVE, NOT BE IN FRONT OF ALL THESE ISSUES, BUT THEN SHE MADE A JUSTIFICATION FOR THE LAW, A BURDEN FOR ALL THESE PUBLIC AGENCIES, WOULD'VE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ENFORCE THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT.

>> JENNIFER, ARGUABLY WAS WELL MONDAWMIN IS COREY BRIGGS, WHAT KIND OF LAW DOES HE PRACTICE?

>> HE IS WELL KNOWN FOR SUING PUBLIC AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, HIS NAME COMES UP IN SOME OF THE BIGGEST DISPUTES YOU SEE, ANYTHING FROM A WATERFRONT PROJECT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, HE TYPICALLY REPRESENTS NONPROFIT, AND HE HAS FOLLOWED OVER 20 LAWSUITS AGAINST THE CITY, SOME TIMES HE WINS, SOMETIMES HE LOSES, SUPPORTERS SEE HIM AS AN ADVOCATE, A FIGHTER AGAINST CITY HALL, THOSE WHO DON'T BELIEVE THAT, SEE HIM AS SOMEONE WHO USES THE PRODUCT THIS OF SUING TO CASH IN AND MAKE A LIVING.

>> HE IS ATTACKED ELLIOTT ON A NUMBER OF FRIENDS?

>> SO A COUPLE OF THINGS SCOTT MENTIONED, THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, THAT HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR AGO NOW, BUT IT CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR PART OF THE CAMPAIGNS, HE HAS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE SURVEILLANCE AND PRIVACY STANDARDS IN THE COLLECTION IN THE ACCESS THAT A PRIVATE COMPANY WOULD HAVE.

HE HAS ALSO ZEROED IN AS WELL AS PETE MESSAGE INTO HER OWN GENERAL ELECTRIC STOCK, GE OWNED AT ONE FOURTH THE START UP, THAT WAS INSTALLING THE CENTERS, HE RAISES CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS.

>> COREY BRIGGS CONDUCTED HIS PRIVATE PRACTICE, WHAT DID YOUR REPORTER FIND OUT BACK THEN?

>> WE LOOKED AT DOZENS OF NONPROFIT THAT HE REPRESENTED AND FOUND THAT HE HAD A PLAYED A ROLE IN INFORMING MANY OF THEM, WHETHER INCORPORATING THE NONPROFIT, WHETHER THE ADDRESS MATCHED AS LAW FIRMS, BOARD MEMBERSHIP, A LOT OF THE MEMBERS WERE ACTUALLY OVERLAPPING AND MATCHING OTHER NONPROFITS, WE FOUND THAT MORE THAN HALF WERE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL DISCLOSURE LAWS, SO FILING DOCUMENTS THAT SHOW YOUR FINANCES, YOUR BOARD MEMBERSHIP, YOUR MISSIONS PAYMENT, THINGS LIKE THAT, HAD NOT BEEN FILED AS REQUIRED.

WE LOOK AT THAT AGAIN AS HE ANNOUNCED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND FOUND MUCH HAD NOT CHANGED.

>> YOU NEED A CLIENT IN ORDER TO SUE, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT, THERE HAVE BEEN ALLEGATIONS FROM ATTORNEYS ON THE OTHER SIDE IN COURT WHO HAVE ARGUED THAT NONPROFITS REPRESENTED BY BRIGGS ARE SHELL CORPORATIONS OR A MERE ALTER EGO OF THEIR COUNSEL AND SOME OF THOSE HAVE BEEN DECIDED OR NOT DECIDED IN COURT.

>> NOTICED ANY CHANGES BRIGGS OPERATES HIS PRACTICE?

>> HE CONTINUES TO SUE NONPROFITS, HE HAS GOTTEN IN TROUBLE FOR AT LEAST BEEN INVESTIGATED BY THE STATE BAR ASSOCIATION FOR REPRESENTING NONPROFITS THAT WERE NOT IN GOOD STANDING AS FAR AS FILING THOSE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, THIS TIME AROUND, WE DID NOT NECESSARILY SEE THAT, BUT WE DO CONTINUE TO SEE THE NONPROFIT HAVE FAILED TO FILE DOCUMENTS.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PETE MESSAGE.

>> PETE MESSAGE IS THE THIRD CANDIDATE AND JUDGING FROM A UT AND 10 NEWS POLL FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR, MAY BE AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR HIM, HE CAME IN AS THIRD, BUT HE HAS EXPERIENCE AS THE DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY, HE IS RAISING THE SAME CAN TURN CONCERNS AS FAR AS BEING A POLITICIAN AND NOT THE HEAD OF A LAW FIRM, AND GETTING INVOLVED IN THAT, HE HAS ALSO RAISED CONFLICT OF INTEREST CONCERNS WITH THAT PROGRAM.

>> IF YOU THOUGHT YOU ARE SIGNED IN A PETITION BUT YOU INSTEAD YOU ARE SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR A POLITICAL PARTY OR NEVER EVEN HEARD OF?

THAT HAS BEEN THE EXPERIENCE OF DOZENS OF SAN DIEGO'S, AS CLAIRE UNCOVERED.

THIS STORY, IT INVOLVES A NEW POLITICAL PARTY, TELL ME ABOUT THE PARTY?

>> SO IT IS A NEW PARTY THAT I THINK IS AIMING TO BE A MODERATE, MIDDLE GROUND TO DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, ESPECIALLY IN CALIFORNIA WHO ARE INCREASINGLY POLARIZED, WAS STARTED BY RETIRED REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN, THEN AN INDEPENDENT STATE ASSEMBLY, THEN LOCALLY WE HAVE JULIE MEYER WRIGHT WHO WAS THEN GOVERNOR PETE WILSON'S CABINET AND USED TO HEAD THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HERE IN SAN DIEGO, THEY ARE KIND OF THE BIG NAMES BEHIND IT.

>> ADDED YOU STUMBLE ACROSS THE STORY?

>> IT STARTED OUT AS LOOKING AT THIS NEW UP AND COMING PARTY, DO THEY HAVE A SHOT OF DISRUPTING THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA?

I WANTED TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE REGISTERED FOR THE PARTY, WHAT DID YOU LIKE, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN, I JUST STARTED CALLING PEOPLE, I GOT THE LIST OF VOTERS AND THE FIRST PERSON SAID THE WHAT?

WHAT PARTY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, THE NEXT PERSON SAID THE SAME THING, I KEPT CALLING PEOPLE, CALLING PEOPLE, I ENDED UP TALKING TO 31 PEOPLE, 30 OF THEM HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PARTY, DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING I WAS TALKING ABOUT, ALL OF THOSE 30 WERE SIGNED UP BY SIGNATURE GATHERERS, WHEREAS THE ONE PERSON WHO HAD INTENDED TO SIGN UP, SIGNED UP ONLINE.

>> WE HAVE VIDEO HERE OF YOU WITH THE STUDENT, WHAT DID HE THINK HE HAD DONE ORIGINALLY?

>> HE SAYS HE WAS SHOPPING FOR GROCERIES AT THE TRADER JOE'S ON CAMPUS AND SOMEONE WAS OUT LIED AND SAID ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?

IF NOT, I CAN SIGN YOU UP RIGHT NOW.

HE SAID OKAY, HE FILLED OUT A REALLY SMALL FORM WITH HIS NAME AND ADDRESS AND BIRTHDAY AND DRIVERS LICENSE NUMBER I BELIEVE, BUT THEN I WENT AND GOT HIS ACTUAL REGISTRATION FORM WHICH WAS FILED, AND SHOWED IT TO THEM, THEN THIS HAPPENED.

>> OH, NO.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I RECOGNIZE.

THAT IS NOT MY HANDWRITING, I DON'T REMEMBER SIGNING THIS FORM AT ALL.

>> IF YOU HADN'T FOUND THIS OUT, WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED HAD HE TRIED TO VOTE?

>> I MEAN, IT IS VERY COMPLICATED, BECAUSE THE COMMON SENSE PARTY IS NOT AN OFFICIALLY QUALIFIED PARTY IN CALIFORNIA, HE WOULD BE TREATED AS A NO PARTY PREFERENCE BOATER, HE VOTED BY MAIL AND HE WANTED TO BE A DEMOCRAT OR WAS PLANNING TO VOTE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, HE WOULD GET HIS MAIL BALLOT, OPEN IT UP AND SAY WHERE IS THERE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY RACE?

IT'S NOT ON HERE, HE COULD VOTE IN THE RACE, BUT HE WOULD NEED TO CALL THE REGISTRAR OR GO IN AND SAY I NEED A NEW BALLOT, SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED DEMOCRATIC BALLOT, IF HE WAS PLANNING TO VOTE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, HE COULDN'T, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY.

>> THE GOVERNOR JUST SIGNED A BILL THAT SAID YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR PARTY PREFERENCE OVER THE NEXT LIKE WEEK.

THE OTHER PART IS, THERE IS A DEFINITE APPETITE WHO WERE REPUBLICANS AT ONE TIME, BUT ARE ON BOARD THE LOYALTY TO TRUMP TRAINING, THEY ARE FRUSTRATED, SO THERE IS AN IDEA THAT NEEDS TO BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE DEMOCRATS, IT'S A REAL BOMBSHELL BECAUSE THEY WERE ACTUALLY TRYING TO GET MOMENTUM ALONG THE LINES OF WE ARE CREATING THE ALTERNATIVE TO THE DEMOCRATS, WELL, I FORGOT.

>> THERE WORKING TO CREATE THIS PARTY, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY MEMBERS OF THIS NEW PARTY AND HOW MANY MAY HAVE JUST BEEN IN ROLLED IN ERROR?

>> THEY SAY THEY HAVE ABOUT 19,000 PEOPLE STATEWIDE, ABOUT 5000 IN CALIFORNIA, IT IS NOT SCIENTIFIC, I DID CALL PEOPLE RANDOMLY, BUT I TALKED TO IN SDSU STATISTICS PROFESSOR WHO SAID THAT COULD MAN LIKE 83% OF THEM ARE SIGNED UP, THAT IS ABOUT 4000 PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT CORRELATES STATE WIDE, WORKING ON FOLLOWING UP ON THAT .

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE IT DIDN'T WORK OUT SO WELL.

>> YOU KNOW, NOTHING AGAINST THE PARTY, BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO BE THIS ALTERNATIVE, WHEN I TALK TO THEM ORIGINALLY FOR THE STORY, WAS MORE THE POINT OF WE WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE PARTIES, WE WANT TO BE AN ALTERNATIVE, THE PROBLEM IS THIS POLARIZED PARTY SYSTEM, I THINK IT IS USING SIGNATURE GATHERERS IS MAYBE WHAT LED TO THIS.

>> THE SIGNATURE GATHERING INFRASTRUCTURE IN CALIFORNIA IS VERY IMPORTANT POLITICAL FORCE, THEY GET PAID PER SIGNATURE GATHERED AND SO THEY ARE INCENTIVIZED IN A VERY ODD WAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, THEY USUALLY SERVE AS A FIFTH ARM TO GOVERNMENT WHERE THEY CAN BE A VETO POWER OVER A LAW THAT GETS PASSED OR ADD A NEW LAW, BUT HAVING THEM TRYING TO CREATE A NEW PARTY, WITH WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY, AS FASCINATING.

>> MAYBE NOT AS MUCH COMMON SENSE AS THEY HOPED.

>> WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THIS?

>> THE FIRM IS BASED IN KEARNY MESA AND THEY HAVE DONE OTHER PETITION DRIVES, I THINK THEY DID THE NEWLAND SIERRA, I THINK IT'S A WELL KNOWN FIRM PEOPLE GO TO A LOT FOR THESE TYPES OF DRIVES.

I THINK ONE THING AS USUALLY YOU ARE COLLECTING SIGNATURES FOR A PETITION TO MAYBE OVERTURN SOMETHING, NOT REALLY TO REGISTER PEOPLE FOR A SPECIFIC PARTY, WHEN HE SIGN A PETITION, THEY WILL SAY ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?

BUT IN THE PAST THEY HAVE NOT ALSO GOTTEN PAID BY A SPECIFIC PARTY TO SIGN PEOPLE UP FOR THE PARTY.

IT IS THIS COMPETING INTEREST WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT ADDITIONAL PEOPLE.

>> THE PUSH TO EXPAND THE SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER, AND IS ATTRACTING MONEY AND HEAT, AMASSING MORE THAN AND 2 MILLION IN DONATIONS, MAJOR SEE CALLS FOR INCREASED IN HOTEL ROOM TAX TO EXPAND AND OPERATE THE CONVENTION CENTER AND PROVIDES FUNDS FOR HOMELESS PROGRAMS, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS, WHICH ONE SOME FIND A BIT SKETCHY.

SAN DIEGO HAS BEEN TRYING TO ENLARGE THE CONVENTION CENTER FOR YEARS, WHY HAS LENO WORKED OUT?

>> IT IS AN ODYSSEY OF FAILURE, FOR 10 YEARS, THAT FAILED, COURT THREW THAT OUT, THEY FINALLY HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT, THE DIFFICULT PART IS THEY ASSUMED THEY NEED, BUT THAT IS KIND OF A LOT.

>> METRO SEE, IT'S EASY ON ITS FACE, IF YOU VOTE YES FOR MEASURE C, YOU ARE VOTING TO RAISE THE TAX THAT THIS AREA AND OTHERS PAY WHEN THEY STAY IN A HOTEL, WHEN YOUR HOTEL IS CLOSE TO THE CENTER, IT'S A HIGHER TAX INCREASE, FURTHER AWAY, LOWER, BUT THEY ARE RAISING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND 59% OF THAT MONEY WILL GO TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, IMPROVING THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, BUT IS PASSED, THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, THE OTHER 41% WILL GO TO OUR HOMELESS WHICH ARE YET TO BE DEFINED THE FIFTH AND THE 60 HER AND THEY WILL TAKE A QUARTER OF NUMBER MONEY FOR THE HOMELESS AND THEY WILL USE IT TO DO STREET REPAIRS.

>> THERE ARE CONFLICTING OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT IT WILL ACTUALLY DO, HERE IS CAROL KIM WHO IS ON THE BOARD WITH HER TAKE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO RAISE THIS TAX AND SPEND IT ON THREE SPECIFIC BUCKETS, THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION, HOMELESSNESS, STREETS AND ROAD.

>> SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

>> THE COST OF THE CONVENTION CENTER WILL BE SOMETHING WE CAN HANDLE, THE LAST ESTIMATE WAS LIKE $700 MILLION, IF THEY DON'T BREAK GROUND IN 2021 OR BY THEN, THAT COULD BE A BILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT, COULD WE HANDLE THAT MUCH DONE AND STILL MAKE ROOM FOR ALL OF THESE OTHER PROMISES WE HAVE MADE?

THEY'RE ALSO BELIEVING IT WOULD CREATE 7000 JOBS, THOSE NUMBERS ARE WEIRD, THERE ARE A LOT OF PROMISES OF HOW MUCH WILL BE FREED UP FOR HOMELESS SERVICES AFTER THAT, THEY ALL REST ON CERTAIN THINGS HAPPENING WITH THE ECONOMY, AND THEN TURNING OFF MORE TAX REVENUE, ALL OF THOSE ARE GAMBLES, THEY ARE BETTING A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROMISES THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FULFILL.

>> THEY HAVE THAT BIG PROMISE TO EXPAND THE CONVENTION CENTER, THEN I'LL HAVE A SPECIFIC IDEA YET OF WHAT THE EXPANSION WOULD LOOK LIKE, IT INCLUDES MONEY FOR HOMELESS PROGRAMS, THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DESIGN THAT SAYS A CERTAIN AMOUNT WILL GO TOWARDS THIS OR A CERTAIN AMOUNT WILL GO TOWARDS THAT, IT IS SORT OF UNDEFINED, THEY LEAVE IT IN THE HANDS OF THE COUNCIL IF IT GETS APPROVED.

>> ONE OF THE BIG WORRIES IS THE STATUS PRESENTED A LOT OF MONEY TO THE CITY TO DEAL WITH HOMELESS ISSUES, THERE IS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THIS MONEY WOULD BE NEEDED, PEOPLE RUNNING FOR MAYOR SEE IT AS THE MAIN SOURCE OF FUNDING ACTUAL HOMES FOR HOMELESS RESIDENTS, AND IS SUCH AN AMORPHOUS BLOB OF MONEY RIGHT NOW, EVERYONE CAN SAY IT WILL DO WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO, YET THERE IS NO SPECIFIC PLAN IN THE ACTUAL MEASURE.

>> VOICE OF SAN DIEGO, YOU GUYS DID A REPORT ON MICHAEL McCONNELL, WHY HAS THAT CREATED SUCH A STIR?

>> WHEN YOU NEED TWO THIRDS FILE, NOBODY CAN BE AGAINST IT, HE SPENT WHAT LOOKS LIKE $300,000 OPPOSING THIS, SO HE SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF ALL THESE CONCERNS ABOUT THE RISK, HE ACTUALLY WORRIES IT WILL MAKE HARDER TO RAISE TAXES FOR OTHER ACTUAL HOMES HE WANTS TO SEE BILL, BUT ALSO I THINK UNDERLYING THAT, THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY LISTEN TO HIS CONCERNS OR NEGOTIATE HIM ENOUGH, WHEN THIS WAS BEING FORMULATED, HE SAID LOOK, I'M GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY AGAINST IT, THEY CALLED THE BLUFF AND THERE WAS NOT A BLUFF, NOW, WE WILL SEE IF THAT REALLY DOES THINK THE MEASURE OR NOT, THAT IS A BIG ISSUE.

>> YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY ORGANIZED GROUP AGAINST IT, IT IS NOT A GROUP, IT'S JUST A PERSON, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE WAS EXPECTING HIM TO, HE ACTUALLY SOLD HIS BUSINESS?

>> HE SOLD THE BUSINESS AND USE THE MONEY FOR THAT TO SPECIFICALLY INVEST IN THIS.

THERE ARE SO MANY FACEBOOK ADS AGAINST IT, I COVERED A TAX INCREASE, AND 2004, THERE WAS ONLY ONE MAYOR AGAINST IT, SO $300,000 WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.

>> TO COMBINE IT, THE HOTEL GUYS HAVE TRIED TO COMBINE IT WITH HOMELESSNESS AND ROUNDS AND MAKE IT SOUND LIKE IT'S REALLY FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE IN FOR ROADS WHEN THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN THE MEASURE THAT SAYS ANY HOUSING WOULD GET BUILT FOR THE HOMELESS.

>> THE THREE MANDER MAIN FUNDERS ARE THE THREE HOTELS RIGHT AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER.

MANCHESTER, MARRIOTT AND HILTON, THEY WOULD ALL BENEFIT TREMENDOUSLY IF THE CONVENTION CENTER IS EXPANDED.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE FLYERS THAT HAVE BEEN CIRCULATING, THE MONEY BEING SET ASIDE FOR HOMELESS, DOESN'T REALLY MENTION THAT CONVENTION CENTER, ALTHOUGH IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WHEN HE SET ASIDE 59% OF THE FUNDING FOR ONE THING, THAT IS A PRETTY BIG CHUNK OF MONEY.

THIS TAX IS NOT FOR 10, 20, 30 YEARS, THIS IS A TAX IN PERPETUITY, IT WILL LITERALLY RAISE BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, THESE THREE PROJECTS.

>> TAKING A LOOK AT ANOTHER MEASURE, BUILDING NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND ROLLBACK COUNTRY, WE WILL GET A LOT MORE DIFFICULT IF MEASURE A PASSES, RIGHT NOW THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN APPROVE DEVELOPMENTS IN AREAS THAT FALL OUT OF THE CITY'S GUIDELINES, BUT VOTERS COUNTYWIDE WOULD WEIGH ON AND PROJECTS WITH SIX HOUSES OR MORE IF THEY REQUIRED AN AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL PLAN, WHEN WAS THE PLAN ADOPTED AND WHEN HAS THAT EVER ABLE BEEN ABLE TO BE CHANGED?

>> THIS WAS A MULTIYEAR PROCESS, TOOK A LONG TIME, IT TOOK YEARS, THEY GOT INPUT FROM OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, THE COMMUNITIES, UNINCORPORATED AREAS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, WHEN THEY FINALLY PUT IT IN PLACE, THEY SAID LOOK, WE ARE GOING TO DESIGN A PLAN FOR GROWTH, BUT IT WILL ALLOW FOR GROWTH IN CERTAIN QUARTERS, CONNECTED TO SERVITORS, WATER AUTHORITIES, ABILITY TO DELIVER WATER TO THE AREAS FOR EXAMPLE IS ONE OF THE THINGS, AND WE ARE TRYING TO CONCENTRATE DEVELOPMENT WHERE IT MAKES SENSE, THAT WILL KEEP US FROM HAVING LAY SPRAWLED OBJECTS, PROJECTS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, THAT WILL POP UP FROM 2000 HOMES, THE PROBLEM WAS , THIS WAS PASSED IN 2011, WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, MORE THAN A DOZEN LARGE SPRAWLED PROJECTS WENT THROUGH THE COUNTY PLANNING PROCESS, MANY OF THOSE ARE BEING CHALLENGED IN COURT, A COUPLE OF THOSE REGAL RULINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN STAND.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, IT TAKES THIS OUT OF THE HAND OF SUPERVISORS, IT IS A COUNTYWIDE VOTE >> SUSAN BALDWIN TALKS IN THIS CLIP HERE ABOUT WHO HAD INPUT TO THE GENERAL PLAN IN THE EIGHT YEARS IT TOOK.

>> THE BUILDING INDUSTRY, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, SO IF THE PLAN NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, THERE SHOULD BE A REVIEW OF THE PLAN AS A WHOLE, NOT INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS BEING APPROVED IN A PIECEMEAL FASHION.

>> WHAT WERE THE REASONS FOR CURTAILING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT?

>> WHAT PLANNERS LOOKED AT WAS, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO BUILD A HOUSING PROJECT IN A PARTICULAR AREA?

IF YOU HAVE A CITY THAT IS HERE AND YOU DECIDE TO BUILD A HOUSING PROJECT HERE, YOU HAVE TO BUILD ROADS TO CONNECT THAT, AFTER RUN SERVICES, YOU HAVE TO PROTECT IT FROM FIRE WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HAPPEN IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, ALL THOSE THINGS CARRY A COST WITH THEM, TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE POPULATED AREAS IN THIS ISOLATED DEVELOPMENT AREA WHICH IS GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WHICH MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE COUNTY TO COMPLY.

THAT IS THE REASON THEY DECIDED TO MOVE THE DEVELOPMENT AROUND EXISTING SERVICES.

'S PAYMENT DO YOU THINK THIS MEASURE CAN PAST?

WON'T PEOPLE BE RESISTANT TO MAKING IT HARDER TO BUILD NEW HOUSING?

>> THAT'S WHAT THE OPPONENTS ARE BANKING ON, IF WE DON'T ALLOW THESE THINGS, PEOPLE WILL MOVE TO RIVERSIDE, WE SHOULD HAVE URBAN LIMIT MINDS AND GROW SHOULD HAPPEN IN URBAN AREAS TO DEAL WITH GREENHOUSE GASES, THE PLAN CREATED A WEIRD INCENTIVE FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND WAS VALUED AT THIS MUCH BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BUILD HOMES, SO PEOPLE WANTED TO BUY IT.

SPIN LIKE THAT WRAPS UP ANOTHER WEEK OF STORIES HERE AT THE KPBS ROUNDTABLE, THANKS TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT, CHECK US OUT AT KPBS .ORG.