Editorial

March 26th, 2009

This n That

I’m hoping the Escondidp Police Officer’s Association has learned a lesson from the negative reaction they received from councilmembers and the public alike. This following their recent questionable marketing effort to persuade the council and the public to support their request for exemption from pay cuts to help out on difficult city budget issues. Most other city departments and employees did. All the Escondido POE did was take what was generally a positive image and change it into a negative image of being greedy, pushy, and inconsiderate of their city and community. One almost got the impression we were suffering from a visit by mobsters from the old Chicago era collection racket. “Youse want protection? Youse gotta come up wid da’ dough.”

Distasteful politics. I’d recommend they retain the services of a respectable public relations counsel firm. Whoever they are using now is not giving very good advice.

I’d also hope that the City Council of San Marcos come to its senses and work out some simple compromise with the owner of the Money Pit restaurant. Cities are begging for creative business people to come to their cities, invest their money, and work to become a success and catch the attention of the public, thereby bringing feathers in the caps of various city officials at the same time.

Obstructionism does not seem to be the wisest course. Encouragement and support is.

Let’s get this worked out, and quickly. You have a good, creative businessman. Encourage him, work with him, come up with a plan. We’ve got some sharp councilmembers as well. They’re good at compromise. Let ‘em get involved and do what they do best. The council and staff can solve this little dust-up. Get ‘er done!