Taxpayers Association Announces Finalists for 2019 Golden Watchdog & Fleece Awards

Annual dinner recognizes best and worst use of public funds in San Diego County; this year’s 1970’s-themed event takes place on May 16

SAN DIEGO (May 9, 2019)—The San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) today released the list of finalists for its 24th annual Golden Watchdog & Fleece Awards. The annual awards dinner recognizes the best and worst in local government spending and decision-making in San Diego County. Winners will be announced at the awards dinner on Thursday, May 16. The theme: a 1970’s extravaganza, “Thursday Night Fever.”

“There has been good work done in the public sector this year, and we are excited to give folks the recognition they deserve,” said Haney Hong, SDCTA’s president and CEO. “This year’s 1970’s-themed Goldens dinner is guaranteed to be a great time for all, and we look forward to acknowledging local governments’ achievements—and calling attention to some pretty spectacular flops. Additionally, we truly appreciate all the elected officials and notable San Diegans who will be coming from across the region to participate in this event.”

The finalists for this year are as follows:

Metro Golden Watchdog Award

  • City of San Diego: Affordable Housing Regulations

  • City of Carlsbad: Carlsbad Municipal Water District’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure and Analytics

  • City of San Diego: San Diego Housing Commission’s Path to Success

Regional Golden Watchdog Award

  • County of San Diego: Live Well San Diego

  • County of San Diego: Juvenile Justice Transformation  

  • San Diego County Fire Authority, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, San Diego County’s Sheriff’s Department, City of San Diego, U.S. Forest Service, Navy, Marines, and San Diego Gas and Electric: Local Wildland Fire Suppression Capability

Public-Private Partnership Award

  • Grossmont Healthcare District and Sharp Grossmont Hospital: Maximizing Capital Improvements

  • San Diego Public Library Foundation, UC San Diego Extension, and the City of San Diego: Supporting Library Programs

  • San Diego County Assessor’s Office, Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals, and Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors: Better Serving 100% Disabled Veterans

  • The San Diego Rapid Response Network: Sheltering Migrants

Media Watchdog Award

  • Brad Racino, inewsource: Coverage of Business Disclosure and Transparency in the City of San Diego

  • Adam Racusin, KGTV: Coverage of Failure in Foster Care in San Diego County

  • Dorian Hargrove, Tom Jones, Bob Hansen, and Ry Rivard, NBC 7 Responds & Voice of San Diego: Coverage of City of San Diego Water Bills

Golden Fleece Award

  • City of San Diego: Housing Navigation Center Appraisal and Sale

  • San Diego Unified School District: “Where Do We Even Start?”

  • Sweetwater Union High School District: District Financial Mismanagement and Accountability

The winners of the Grand Golden Watchdog and Grand Golden Fleece Award will also be announced at the dinner.

Event Details

The 24th Annual Golden Watchdog & Fleece Awards

Thursday, May 16

5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Hilton San Diego Bayfront

1 Park Blvd

San Diego, CA 92101

Event Hashtag: #SDCTAgoldens

Register and purchase tickets for: https://www.sdcta.org/goldens

The San Diego County Taxpayers Association (@sdcta) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, dedicated to promoting accountable, cost-effective and efficient government and opposing unnecessary new taxes and fees. For the last 73 years, the SDCTA has been providing information to help educate the public and save the region’s taxpayers millions. Public opinion polls consistently rate the SDCTA as the most "influential” and “trusted” public policy institution in San Diego.

Download the press release here

SDCTA