In an article today in the Union Tribune, San Diego's primary newspaper, a grand Jury report released yesterday became allied to the Mayor's approach to selling city owned property. The Mayor favors allowing real estate brokers to sell city land instead of liquidating the properties  at auction. The grand Jury report touted this approach as one way to assist in the revamping of the city's troubled Real Estate Assets Department.

The city owns 3400 properties  covering 1200 acres. It also rents 680 properties and many of those leases have expired. The Mayor will ask the city council  to approve selling 19 properties valued at over 40 million.

A member of the council lauded the Mayors entrepreneurial spirit but also cautioned that this practice should not be done for the  simple purpose of balancing the city's budget. Historically the city has used auctions to liquidate properties but the Mayor believes that there would be increased exposure to Buyers and possibly increased value in the competitive market. The Mayor called the real estate brokerage participation in selling city properties innovative".