Pinocchio Chronicles: Why won't County Vote PAAC Nominations? Part II

Last week’s Pinocchio article Part I asked why the county supervisors have not acted on the Carlsbad and Vista nominations of Shirley Anderson and Tazheen Nizam to fill Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (PAAC) 9-month and 17-month vacancies. Is the answer simple: Follow the money?

Perspective

U.S. Congress members freely admit they spend half their time not representing you but raising reelection money. Et tu local politicians?

The LA times reported on LA corruption: How L.A. City Hall became so corrupt: A recent history of bribes, kickbacks, scandal, leaks by Grace Toohey staff writer, Oct. 14, 20-22, updated June 13, 2023 at https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-14/a-guide-to-los-angeles-city-council-scandals.

In 2022, KUSI news – and San Diego City Council members – raised questions about the questionable city purchase of two problem-plagued buildings for $132 million. See Mayor Todd Gloria reveals proposed settlement on 101 Ash Street real estate deal, June 20, 2022 at https://www.kusi.com/mayor-todd-gloria-reveals-proposed-settlement-on-101-ash-street-real-estate-deal/ .

So, let’s say you are a county supervisor. Reelection nears. Where do you get your reelection $$$$$? And with what strings? When it’s time to vote on county projects, including Palomar Airport, do you give the Chamber of Commerce and the many businesses and political donors supporting you carte blanche but give lip service to community residents raising concerns?

One campaign contribution source may flow from persons appointed to county commissions or from their business supporters.

Speaking plainly, if you flew corporate jets into and out of Palomar and wanted a longer Palomar runway so you could avoid San Diego International Airport hassles (even though only 15 minutes away), how much would you, your friends, and employees give the supervisors?

Equally important, would political donors want to control the information that the PAAC gives the supervisors by lobbying for PAAC Committee members favoring business interests? Apologies: Duh.

Experiment

Go to the web. Read the partial PAAC commission bios. (Search Palomar Airport Advisory Committee at https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/airports/palomar/paac.html and click on “bios” in the text.) You will find 7 biographies.

Kaiser, Collins, Frazee, Karpe, O-Reilly, and Swain all strongly support aviation-related business.

Though County Board Policy A-74 refers to maximum committee member terms of 8 years (two terms of the appointing supervisor), Collins has been a PAAC member for 22 years and Kaiser a member for 12 years. The bios do not say how long O’Reilly and Swain have served on PAAC.

You now know why at least a few PAAC members should represent the several hundred thousand homeowners around Palomar. The airport and business community already holds at least 2/3rds of the seats.

Next time: PAAC Part III. County PAAC delay excuses.