Report: Filner Regrets Balboa Park Attitude

Mayoral Candidate Bob Filner now supports a city-backed renovation of the Balboa Park makeover, according to our media partner the Voice of San Diego.

During a contentious 6-hour public comment hearing on the Plaza de Panama plan in July, U.S. Rep. Filner emphasized his opposition to the project, which will be partially funded by philanthropist Irwin Jacobs.

He originally said the Jacobs plan runs the risk of dipping into the general fund, and that the construction would break the park's historical integrity.

Among the more eyebrow-raising comments, he wondered aloud what would happen to the plan if Jacobs died. He also called forth an impersonator of Balboa Park botanist Kate Sessions to back up his position on the historical impacts of the construction.

In a statement sent to the Voice of San Diego, Filner said β€œIn retrospect, I wish the tenor of objections raised at that hearing had been different – less personal.”

He also said that since the City Council has adopted the Jacobs plan, if elected mayor he would certainly implement the plan.

Click here to read the VOSD article in full.

The meeting is now notorious for the emotional community response. Public comments ranged for a former NBA star’s praise of the plan to a former city attorney’s scathing criticism of Jacobs.
 

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