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The ill-fated decision to sign a lease-to-own deal for the former Sempra Energy headquarters at 101 Ash St. continues to cost the city of San Diego big chunks of public funding.
At the recommendation of Mayor Todd Gloria, the San Diego City Council voted Tuesday to pay more than $1.8 million to settle legal claims filed by two companies hired to help renovate the vacant 19-story high rise.
The decision came on a 6-3 vote, with Councilmembers Sean Elo-Rivera, Vivian Moreno and Monica Montgomery Steppe opposed.
“The public deserves a city government they can trust,” Elo-Rivera said just before the vote. “That trust can only be regained with radical transparency. I cannot in good faith support (the settlements) absent an independent investigation. … I’m a no.”