Put On Your "GO-TO-MEETING-DUDS"

A few months ago there was some chat on the Imperial Beach Patch site about the money that Janney, Bragg and sometimes others get for attending meetings of regional agencies. Some writers to this website questioned whether money from SANDAG was influencing the Mayor's decision-making process or his vote on any issues related to SANDAG. Lori Bragg is the MTS representative. Has the bus or trolley service improved dramatically in the last 6 or 7 years?

Here's a real eye opener from the San Diego Reader on a similar subject. Here's a County Supervisor who endorsed Jim Janney for Mayor.

According to a disclosure report posted online by the county, a seat on the SANDAG board of directors - worth $150 per meeting for a total of $4,800 a year, according to the disclosure - went to GOP supervisor Greg Cox. A second seat, worth the same, went to Cox's fellow Republican supervisor Bill Horn.

Cox also got on SANDAG's "executive committee," which at $100 per meeting is worth between $1,001 and $2,000 a year, the disclosure says. In addition, Cox got a place on SANDAG's borders committee, also valued between $1,001 and $2,000 a year.

Horn picked up a spot on SANDAG's public safety committee, of the same value.

Newly elected Democrat Dave Roberts bagged a position on SANDAG's regional planning committee, also in the $1,001 and $2,000 range. The GOP's Ron Roberts is on the transportation committee, paying the same.

Republican Roberts is also on the Metropolitan Transit Systems board, at $150 per meeting, for an annual total of $2,001 to $3,000. In addition, Horn can claim $75 per meeting for his board service with the North San Diego County Transit Development Board, for a yearly total of $1,001 to $2,000.

Cox hit the biggest jackpot of all, getting a potential $2,000 to $3,000 a year for showing up at board meetings of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. The spot pays $200 a meeting and lasts through January 2016, the disclosure says.

The only supervisor listed on the report as spurning the cash payments is Republican Dianne Jacob, alternate to Horn on the SANDAG board and second alternate to Ron Roberts on the transportation committee.

More recently Cox was also appointed to sit on the Coastal Commission. No word yet on how much that pays per meeting or how desperate developers are to influence the Coastal Commission?