The Coast of Pacific Beach Restaurant Walk
Mayor Jerry Sanders did not participate in conference calls with other mayors to share information about the local spin-offs of the Occupy Wall Street movement, according to spokesperson Rachel Laing. However, he did receive an email asking him to share information regarding Occupy San Diego on an online survey—and we have obtained the email through the California Public Records Act.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors organized the first call on Oct. 13. The follow-up email was sent to mayors across the country the next day (which just happened to coincide with the San Diego Police Department's first attempt to break up the protest).
"Yesterday Conference leaders held a conference call to share information on the impact the Occupy Movement is having on cities and on how cities are responding to it," the email from Conference CEO Tom Cochran says. "The mayors felt that it would be helpful to gather information from a broader group of cities on the government costs associated with Occupy-related events, issues which are arising, and strategies which are being employed.”
You can read the email here. A link was provided to an online survey, which is still online, but you have to make up an identity to get past the first page.
The survey asks three questions (pdf'd here):
1. To date, how much has your city government spent responding to Occupy-related events?
a. What is the estimated dollar amount of extra costs (police overtime, extra trash pick-ups, etc.) associated with Occupy-related events?
b. What is the estimated dollar amount of Occupy-related costs absorbed by your city's regular activities (police straight time, permitting, etc.)?
2. Please identify any major issues relating to Occupy-related events in your city. (This might include impact on public safety, local businesses, traffic, public transportation, permitting, availability of public spaces, public health, etc.)
I've asked for Sanders' response to this survey and I'll post it if and when his office provides it.
UPDATED: Sanders' office responded to say they did not respond to the survey.
