Labor Council Gives DeMaio, Lightner Failing Grades

Five of the eight members of the San Diego City Council were given failing grades by the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council on Thursday for their stances on 27 key issues.

Carl DeMaio, Kevin Faulconer, Sherri Lightner, Tony Young and Lorie Zapf were given F grades by the umbrella group for the region's labor unions in their "Working Families Report Card." DeMaio, a vocal opponent of labor political aims, received the lowest score, with 16 percent.

Marti Emerald, who received the highest score of 87 percent, and David Alvarez received Bs.

Todd Gloria, who frequently supports labor causes on the council dais, received a D. He was dinged for supporting Mayor Jerry Sanders' plan to finance the expansion of the Convention Center and backing competitive bidding for operations of the Miramar Landfill.

Individual aspects involving the Convention Center expansion made up five of the 27 issues.

"Working families have been struggling in San Diego, and they need a city council that's in their corner fighting for more jobs, better jobs and better lives," said Lorena Gonzalez, the council's secretary-treasurer and CEO. "This report card, unfortunately, shows that this city council just hasn't been there when working San Diegans need them."

Emerald was rewarded for going against the majority of her colleagues by supporting a measure that sought to prevent the construction of Wal-Mart stores in the city, opposing a vote by hotel owners on whether to increase the nightly room tax to pay for the bulk of the Convention Center expansion, and being against the landfill bidding.

-City News Service