Contracting only works when we can hold contractors responsible for their use of taxpayer dollars. If a private, for-profit company takes over control of a public service or facility, our elected officials must ensure that strong measures for public accountability are in place. If not, the public may suffer poor quality, higher fees, and the loss of transparency in the delivery of critical community services.
Issue Briefs
City of San Diego Contracting System Flaws
July 2008
Examples of contractor failures causing low quality service and extra cost
News Coverage
Contracting out of city landfill operations will be complex
San Diego Union-Tribune, 7/11/11
City Council comittee votes to postpone competitive bidding to operate Miramar
examiner.com, 5/19/11
Environmentalists want study before landfill is privatized
San Diego Union-Tribune, 11/11/10
DeMaio calls for overhaul of pension system to plug budget gap
San Diego Daily Transcript, 11/5/10
DeMaio Unveils Budget-Balancing Plan
NBC San Diego, 11/5/10
San Diego Facing The High Cost Of Saving Money
KPBS News, 10/20/10
Outsourcing A ‘Pot Of Gold,’ Also Known As The City Dump
KPBS News, 9/29/10
Landfill step has already been taken
San Diego Union-Tribune, 9/28/10
Council, Mayor endorse last minute Prop D makeover
VoiceofSanDiego.org, 9/17/10
California City That Outsourced Everyone Is Snared by Pay Scandal in Bell
Bloomberg, 8/3/10
The Latest on Privatization & Contracting
Keep Miramar Landfill Under Public Control
By Clare Crawford on September 23, 2011
Councilmembers demand answers before outsourcing Miramar Landfill
By on May 18, 2011
San Diego wasted $500k on consultants; more scrutiny needed as quest to privatize landfill continues
By Susan Duerksen on March 24, 2011
SDDPC, a New Transparency
By Murtaza Baxamusa on April 2, 2010
Shadow Elite: If You Believe That, I’ve Got a Bridge to Sell You….
By Donald Cohen on February 25, 2010
Deceptive ballot drive to kill the Living Wage!
By Susan Duerksen on February 19, 2010
Ending the Contractor Gravy Train
By Murtaza Baxamusa on October 19, 2008
Privatization must not put health coverage in peril
By Murtaza Baxamusa on July 27, 2008
No Plan for Meeting Community Needs
By Donald Cohen on December 19, 2003
