It was a fait accompli but Monday’s vote made it official: the SoccerCity stadium, condos, offices, hotel and river park proposal for Mission Valley will not appear on a special election ballot in 2017. In the wake of their votes last week, the San Diego City Council could only choose to directly adopt the SoccerCity initiative or place it on the November 2018 general election ballot.
After hours of interminable public comments pro and con, council member Scott Sherman aimed scathing accusations from the dais at labor, special interests and San Diego State itself. But with his fellow Republican council member Lorie Zapf having decided her attendance was not required, and with council president Cole having clearly signaled her opposition, Sherman waved the white flag and motioned for SoccerCity to get a citywide vote in November 2018.
Sherman and council member Chris Cate asked for clarifications from staff and the City Attorney, ginning up some glimmer of hope for reviving a special election.
Can FS Investors eat humble pie, sit down with San Diego State in full knowledge of how important their participation is, and together hammer out a new deal to share the Mission Valley site? If they do, we’ll get behind it and be thrilled to help bring MLS to San Diego.
I don’t really know how much [SoccerCity] can blame their circumstances as much as they can blame decisions that they made.
– Voice of San Diego’s Andrew Keatts with Darren Smith earlier today. This radio segment is a sober, substantive discussion worth listening to even after the vote.
KABEER THIRTY 