San Diego Convention Center: A Momentous Decision!

The San Diego region is facing a momentous decision.  There are those who say that without expanding the current Convention Center, San Diego will be at a competitive disadvantage to other cities with larger, first-class convention centers, and will risk losing the largest conventions, for example, ComicCon.  The result, they say, will be a loss of millions of dollars in revenue for the region and perhaps thousands of jobs, particularly in the lodging and restaurant businesses.  There are others who insist that the projected cost of approximately $750 million could be better spent on other priorities at a time when ancient infrastructure is crumbling and government service cutbacks seem inevitable.

Earlier this year, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders appointed a Citizen Task Force to evaluate the proposed expansion.  The Task Force is scheduled to vote on August 31 on a resolution which would recommend moving forward with expansion of the Convention Center.  While the vote of the Task Force is by no means a final decision, and is simply a recommendation to the Mayor, it is not too early to express your view on this issue.  You can do so either by contacting your representative at City Hall, or by posting your views at http://www.voiceofsandiego.org.