San Diego In Peril

This San Diego Union-Tribune editorial highlights the need fora comprehensive regional approach to growth in order to preserve qualityof life in San Diego. The editorial applauds the efforts of Sen. StevePeace, D-El Cajon, to consolidate planning agencies into a singularpanel to address regional decision-making. After preliminary attempts todo so under a plan called RITA, or Regional Infrastructure andTransportation Authority, Peace has revised the proposed entity bygiving it regional land-use authority under the new acronym RGEC, orRegional Government Efficiency Commission. The 11-member board would becreated by a bill currently being reviewed by Gov. Gray Davis, theeditorial states. The new regional governmental structure would beempowered to adopt a countywide growth-management plan to which localagencies would have to conform.