An excavator picks up mud and debris in Chollas Creek in Southcrest on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. City workers began cleaning up the creek, starting on South 38th Street, in response to flooding. A city-sponsored ad campaign warning residents about San Diego’s crumbling stormwater system echoes some themes of a separate political campaign supporting Measure E, a proposed sales tax hike on the ballot.
The Measure E campaign has spent nearly $700,000 on mailers and ads. City officials considered a separate ballot measure to levy a parcel tax to fund stormwater projects but decided to pursue only Measure E. Invoices provided by the city summarizing the Think Blue campaign show the city created five separate ads: two 10-second spots, two 15-second spots and one 30-second spot.
Critics, including the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, say the campaign may have been been carefully crafted to remain just barely legal. She said Think Blue’s advertising budget is about $100,000 per fiscal year and has not changed this year. “Neither MEA nor the Penny for Progress campaign coordinates or is even aware of the city’s internal communications efforts on any subject,” said Zucchet, referring to the labor union he leads, the Municipal Employees Association.