Derek Falconer

UFO Sailor and foiling enthusiast!

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

$3M and an emergency sole source contract for a “temporary” lifeguard tower to replace a 45 year old lifeguard station that was failing due to years of poor maintenance, planning, and budgeting.

There is no funding identified for the replacement station so it’ll be interesting to see just how long this temporary station is in use.

As an iconic San Diego destination, Mission Beach deserves better, and so do the lifeguards that work here.

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

In 2025, the City of San Diego spent $7M to clear tent encampments. However, since the city rarely issues citations or makes arrests for violations, there is little accountability for violating the law so encampments come right back - often within hours of being cleared.

The result is that some city blocks were cleared over 100 times last year.

The sad reality is that, according to the State of California’s 2023 study on homelessness, most of the chronically homeless are suffering from addiction. Without meaningful consequences for their actions, it’s unlikely they’ll ever get help on their own.

Allowing tent encampments is not compassionate to those living on the streets and it’s not fair to the rest of the general public who deserve clean and safe public spaces.

[Derek Falconer @LifeOnTheFoils]

@RichardPBailey_ We need reform and Richard is the man to bring it. This City is worth fighting for!

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

The City of San Diego spends $0.24 of every $1.00 tax dollar to fund pension obligations.

This is unsustainable and comes at the expense of maintaining basic infrastructure.

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

How to close San Diego’s $610 million spending gap without cutting services, raising taxes, or nickel-and-diming residents:

Return staffing to 2015 levels (population is basically the same) → $220M

12% productivity gain from software/systems since 2015 → $95M

Right-size staffing → pension contribution savings → $130M

Completely reform the homeless services model that’s been enabling the problem → $35M

Use managed competition for all city services (trash, parks, etc.) → $50M

Reduce firefighter & police overtime through staffing, policy & priority call reforms → $25M

Optimize real estate (sell/repurpose 101 Ash St + consolidate empty offices) → $25M

Shift misdemeanor prosecutions to the DA’s office like every other city in the county → $20M

Total = $600M+

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

Check out my latest oped in the @voiceofsandiego about how the City of San Diego does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending and management problem: https://t.co/AlkhA5SsZd

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

The City of san Diego only has about $200M in GF reserves which is enough to fund just five weeks of city operations.

Despite record high tax revenue of $2.1 billion last fiscal year, the city failed to put any additional funds in the reserves which leaves the city increasingly vulnerable to unforeseen revenue decreases and expense increases.

In 2019, the City had about 19% of annual revenues in reserves but that number has now dropped to 11% - below the City established policy of 16.7%.

The City has some one-time funds it can tap before using reserves, but at the current burn rate, the city is likely to be completely out of money within just 18-24 months.

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

The number of middle managers at the City of San Diego increased by 461% from 70 in 2015 to 373 today.

But have the managers added value and increased performance?

According to the City's own data, no.

In fact, performance for nearly every metric in every City department is at or near all time lows.

[Wall Street Apes @WallStreetApes]

Former Mayor of Coronado California is blowing the whistle on a new housing project

These new San Diego “affordable housing units” are going to cost $900,000 per unit

He shows a luxury sky rise building with luxury amenities was built for half that

“This affordable student housing project is projected to cost taxpayers nearly $900,000 per unit to build. Meanwhile, this luxury residential development recently sold for just $400,000 per unit. So what gives?

(Here’s more California Democrat housing projects)

- Government funded affordable housing projects like 101 Astoria at $1.1 million per unit
- This city college project at $900,000 per unit
- Rose Creek Village at $600,000 per unit

All routinely cost far more than luxury residential units.

I'm Richard Bailey, former mayor of Coronado and here's why you should care. It's very popular these days for politicians to campaign on affordable housing. Obviously, no one is against affordable housing, but the affordable housing projects being built by government agencies are often double the per unit cost

— San Diego taxpayers are paying double the amount for lower quality housing that they won't even be eligible to live in”

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

The new paid parking at Balboa Park starts today and is expected to generate barely 1/10th of 1% of the City of San Diego's entire budget for FY 2026.

Although most San Diegans do not regularly visit Balboa Park, the vast majority are opposed to paid parking as it represents the latest example of a mismanaged City that is out of touch with the people it represents.

[Wall Street Apes @WallStreetApes]

The San Diego City “lid lifters” are already hitting the streets to visit every single home in San Diego every year to make sure they’re recycling

These enforcement officers are hired by Democrats and are being paid $70k per year to monitor your trash recycling compliance

[Derek Falconer @LifeOnTheFoils]

Is there a better definition of having a "Do-nothing Government Job?" Lid Lifters in the City of SD getting $70k per year for looking in people's trash which only adds to the already eye-watering cost of living! This beautiful City needs new leadership!

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

Would you support repealing San Diego's new parking and trash fees?

Good news! Proposition 218 allows voters to put an initiative that repeals the fees on the 2026 ballot with just 20K signatures.

I am working with several grassroots and good-governance organizations to make this happen but we need your help.

The legal and signature gathering process can be expensive, so before we officially begin, we want to see how many people would be willing to sign the actual petition once ready.

Add your name as a supporter at https://t.co/44aknezwJ7.

Once it looks like we'll have enough support, we'll kick off the actual campaign and send the official petition out to everyone that signed up.

Let's do this San Diego!

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

A SANDAG whistleblower was awarded $2.5M for being wrongfully terminated after raising concerns to management about toll collection software that was erroneously charging drivers.

The toll system was used on the 125 freeway and would charge tolls to the wrong license plates. Management knew about the problem bc drivers complained, but did not bother to fix it or notify the SANDAG Board of Directors.

Shortly after the longtime accountant raised concerns with an auditor, management fired her.

Without the courage of the whistleblower, it is likely the public never would’ve found out about the toll system and reforms never would’ve taken place.

The entire leadership team at SANDAG subsequently resigned over the past 12-18 months.

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

The City of San Diego pays “lid lifters” $70K per year plus benefits to inspect everyone’s trash cans once per year to check that the waste is being placed in the proper cans.

Do the lid lifters rummage through the entire contents of each can? No, they simply lift the lid and inspect the top portion.

Do the lid lifters issue fines for noticeable violations? No, they simply issue “oops” notices to residents.

So if the lid lifters aren’t actually checking the trash and aren’t actually issuing fines, what’s the point?

State law SB1383 requires cities to have a compliance program for checking that garbage makes it to the correct can. However, there are alternative ways to meet the state’s compliance requirement without hiring a bunch of “lid lifters” at $70K per year plus benefits.

[Derek Falconer @LifeOnTheFoils]

@elonmuskTN 56

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

The County of San Diego is quietly preparing a new tax measure for the 2026 ballot.

Between the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, and SANDAG, there could several tax increases on the 2026 ballot:

-City of SD sales tax
-City of SD bedroom tax on airbnb and 2nd homes
-County of SD sales tax
-County of SD transfer tax
-SANDAG sales tax

Until government agencies undergo major structural reform to get back to the basics, more tax and fee increases are likely on the way.

[Richard Bailey @RichardPBailey_]

Mo Money, Mo Problems:

City of San Diego releases YE 2025 financials showing a RECORD amount of tax revenue collected, but also a record amount of expenditures.

Despite record high tax revenue and record high staffing, the City’s performance by nearly every metric in every department is at or near all-time lows.

This report continues to confirm that the City of San Diego does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending and management problem.

[Derek Falconer @LifeOnTheFoils]

@RichardPBailey_ has a plan! Time to get back on a path to fiscal sanity and get serious leadership back in City Hall.

[Derek Falconer @LifeOnTheFoils]

More fee hikes. Cost of living is out of control and poor City Leadership is making it worse...time for change. For more info follow @RichardPBailey_ on X and IG!