Open Letter to President Obama From Concerned Citizen of San Diego

In the wake of your winning the Presidency of the United States, which came as a great jubilation to everyone I know, and in light of my observations, personal dealings (I have spoken in front of City Council once or twice), and real facts about the city of San Diego, that you, or anyone else in your administration can fact check, I must pleade with you that any money sequestered specifically for our city as part of your economic bailout plan, especially funds meant to house, feed, and clothe the homeless be closely monitered by federal officials.



San Diego city officials, including the current mayor, who has consistently mimicked a President Bush "What me worry?" attitude in his campaigns, and relationship with the media, the City Council, and all other city employees with any power over finances for the city are notorious for shady, closed-door dealings that have consistently, year after year, drove the cities deficit to near bankruptcy.



The pension scandal, that was well documented by various media outlets, left current city employees without any kind of retirement benefits, and put San Diego on the map, and well ahead of it's time, as far as this current recessive economy is concerned. This is especially tragic for the poorest of the poor- low income families, disabled and homeless war veterans, recovering addicts, and people suffering from the stigma of mental illness. The city of San Diego elite power players have proven over and over they have little or no concern for the impoverished, and will not, almost gauranteed, give any Federal stimulus money back to it's taxpaying citizens, at least not until their own selfish interests are paid for first.



There are many things I could add to this letter that concern me globally, or nationally, but this more immediate, local issue is the one I thought most important to write you about- if in fact, letters like these are ever read by people in power.



Thank you for being willing to be a democratic leader at this critical moment in world history.

Sincerely,

Ben McFadden