Last month, following a San Diego Union-Tribune story, the newspaper’s editorial staff criticized what I believe is the most effective and efficient way to reinvest our resources directly into communities where needs are the greatest.
Every year, each County Supervisor has at their discretion, $2 million to assist non-profit organizations in providing essential services to citizens of San Diego County. We have this fund, in part, because of financial decisions we made ten years ago when we sold the ill-advised San Marcos trash-to-energy plant.
Since then, much of the money in the Fifth District’s Community Projects fund has been distributed quickly and directly to organizations such as fire districts, volunteer fire departments, gang suppression, homeless shelters, and building the San Luis Rey River Park which will facilitate the widening of Highway 76. We’ve helped researchers find ways to bring vision to sightless children, make facility improvements at North County Boys & Girls Clubs and assisted with library and school community theatre construction. We have used funds to bring families to the hospital bedsides of wounded Marines. Community Projects money has included help for Fallbrook’s Avocado Festival, Carlsbad’s Fiesta Del Barrio and Oceanside’s salute to the military Freedom Parade.
When we have been advised of needs, we’ve stepped up to support foster parent organizations, fund groups that care for single women who choose not to abort their pregnancy and help with a program that protects elderly citizens in need of financial support. The list goes on and on.
From the examples listed above, the newspaper is dead wrong when it charges that, “When it comes to this pot of cash . . . it is the politically well-connected who always come out on top.”
My office staff and I are constantly in touch with the community and actively look for and solicit opportunities to support worthy causes that produce positive, accountable results.
Isn’t it ironic that the media is usually the first to criticize government when it perceives that the needy are being overlooked? Helping the needy and contributing to the public good is exactly what we do with our Community Projects Fund. I make no apologies for any project we have funded. The San Diego Union-Tribune knows exactly how much of our money has helped North County and who received it. Every penny is voted on in public session by the entire board and steps have been taken to correct delays in organizations submitting receipts.
There is a slogan on the County of San Diego’s seal. It reads, “The noblest motive is the public good.” That’s a good definition of how we administer our Community Projects Fund. I wouldn’t look for the same slogan to be on the front page of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
In this edition of “A Word From Supervisor Bill Horn,” I’m pleased to share the latest from the County, including highlights from the Fifth District and special congratulations to the Rancho Buena Vista Little League All-Stars. They gave a great performance at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Every year, each County Supervisor has at their discretion, $2 million to assist non-profit organizations in providing essential services to citizens of San Diego County. We have this fund, in part, because of financial decisions we made ten years ago when we sold the ill-advised San Marcos trash-to-energy plant.
Since then, much of the money in the Fifth District’s Community Projects fund has been distributed quickly and directly to organizations such as fire districts, volunteer fire departments, gang suppression, homeless shelters, and building the San Luis Rey River Park which will facilitate the widening of Highway 76. We’ve helped researchers find ways to bring vision to sightless children, make facility improvements at North County Boys & Girls Clubs and assisted with library and school community theatre construction. We have used funds to bring families to the hospital bedsides of wounded Marines. Community Projects money has included help for Fallbrook’s Avocado Festival, Carlsbad’s Fiesta Del Barrio and Oceanside’s salute to the military Freedom Parade.
When we have been advised of needs, we’ve stepped up to support foster parent organizations, fund groups that care for single women who choose not to abort their pregnancy and help with a program that protects elderly citizens in need of financial support. The list goes on and on.
From the examples listed above, the newspaper is dead wrong when it charges that, “When it comes to this pot of cash . . . it is the politically well-connected who always come out on top.”
My office staff and I are constantly in touch with the community and actively look for and solicit opportunities to support worthy causes that produce positive, accountable results.
Isn’t it ironic that the media is usually the first to criticize government when it perceives that the needy are being overlooked? Helping the needy and contributing to the public good is exactly what we do with our Community Projects Fund. I make no apologies for any project we have funded. The San Diego Union-Tribune knows exactly how much of our money has helped North County and who received it. Every penny is voted on in public session by the entire board and steps have been taken to correct delays in organizations submitting receipts.
There is a slogan on the County of San Diego’s seal. It reads, “The noblest motive is the public good.” That’s a good definition of how we administer our Community Projects Fund. I wouldn’t look for the same slogan to be on the front page of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
In this edition of “A Word From Supervisor Bill Horn,” I’m pleased to share the latest from the County, including highlights from the Fifth District and special congratulations to the Rancho Buena Vista Little League All-Stars. They gave a great performance at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.