The chances of the Marine terminal initiative passing
My story this week focused on a proposed ballot initiative to permit developers to build a giant roof deck above the working port. The idea would be to then build hotels or other recreational structures on that deck. I couldn’t get it into my story, but I did talk to Democratic political consultant Chris Crotty, a veteran of numerous ballot initiative campaigns in San Diego, about the roof initiative’s prospects.
“They’re gonna say we’re improving the environment,” he told me. “They’ll try to get the Sierra Club and all the other environmental organizations on board, but they’ll certainly sell it that way.”
He went on to mention that the Environmental Health Coalition, an environmental group working in the neighborhoods nearest the terminal, would be pivotal in making that sell.
Then I told him that the coalition was probably not going to support the initiative.
“If they don’t get EHC, they’re dead, it’s over,” he said. “How can they sell it as an environmental issue if EHC is in opposition? If they’re in opposition, the Sierra Club is in opposition. If the Sierra Club is in opposition then you lose Bruce Reznik and those guys. I don’t see how they can pass it without EHC.
He also said roof deck supporters could probably expect a lawsuit to keep it off the ballot, and possibly the hiring of “signature blockers” – people who campaign against the signature gatherers.
Chris Crotty is a third-rate political consultant. He has no clients of merit. why are you quoting him? You might get better political advice from the lady with the red berret who shows up all the time at City Council.