Labor’s Legislative Hero of the Month: San Diego City Councilwoman Toni Atkins

Download the February 2008 issue in PDF format

Toni Atkins is February’s “Legislative Hero of the Month” for her leadership and resolve during the council’s review of the City Charter. The City Charter is like the constitution of San Diego’s municipal government, where the checks and balances between different city officials and its residents are spelled out.

Mayor Jerry Sanders and his supporters in the real estate and hotel industries have tried to control the process since it began about a year ago. One of the most drastic – and potentially detrimental – changes Sanders and Big Business have pushed for is a proposal to strengthen the Mayor’s veto so that it would require 75 percent of the City Council to override him in legislation.

Councilwoman Atkins recognized that such a move would make San Diego’s City Council the weakest legislative body in the United States. The Mayor’s supporters were relentless in trying to get her to change her vote, but she held her ground on this very important issue of good governance. The Mayor’s attempt at yet another power grab was unanimously defeated by the council once it was apparent that Councilwoman Atkins wasn’t going to become the “swing vote.”

The Labor Council commends Councilwoman Toni Atkins for ensuring that the public can still play a significant role in shaping public policy in our city by keeping the distribution of power fair and reasonable.