This wiki has been automatically The Goldens
The Golden Watchdog & Golden Fleece Awards is an annual dinner held by the San Diego Taxpayers Association which recognizes the best and worst in local government spending and decision-making in San Diego County.
2022 Goldens Event
Thursday, 28 April 2022 - 5:30 p.m. at The Lane
Join the San Diego County Taxpayers Association for a brand new, reinvented Golden Watchdog and Fleece Awards, celebrating good and bad policy decisions that took place this past year. With the event on hiatus the past two years, we are excited to bring it back in person for a soiree with heavy appetizers, drinks and a fun SHORT program!
Email [email protected] to RSVP for Policy: UNMASKED!
Award Nominations
Nomination deadline has been extended to Friday, March 18th at 5 p.m.!
In an effort to promote fairness and equity across nominees and jurisdictions, award categories have been revised to focus on public service area. The confidential Goldens Awards Committee will consider watchdog and fleece nominations for each of the following categories regardless of service area or size:
- Public Safety
- Public Health
- Education
- Water & Utilities
- Transportation & Infrastructure
Nominations will be considered for projects and programs administered between July 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021.
Past Awards
2019
Metro Golden Watchdog Award
Winner: City of San Diego, Affordable Housing Regulations
Finalists: 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
Winner: County of San Diego, Juvenile Justice Transformation
Finalists: County of San Diego, Live Well San Diego
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
Winner: San Diego County Assessor’s Office, Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals, and Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors - Better Serving 100% Disabled Veterans
Finalists: Grossmont Healthcare District and Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Maximizing Capital Improvements
San Diego Library Foundation, UC San Diego Extension, and the City of San Diego - Supporting Library Programs
The San Diego Rapid Response Network, Sheltering Migrants
Media Watchdog Award
Winner: Dorian Hargrove, Tom Jones, Bob Hansen, and Ry Rivard, NBC 7 Responds & Voice of San Diego - Coverage of City of San Diego Water Bills
Finalists: 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
Golden Fleece Award
Winner: San Diego Unified School District, Where Do We Even Start?
Finalists: City of San Diego, 101 Ash Street
City of San Diego, Homeless Storage and Navigation Center Appraisal and Sale
Sweetwater Union High School District, District Financial Mismanagement and Accountability
GRAND Golden Fleece: Sweetwater Union High School District, District Financial Mismanagement and Accountability
GRAND Golden Watchdog: The San Diego Rapid Response Network, Sheltering Migrants
2015
Metro Golden Watchdog Award
Winner: City of San Diego, SDPD Recruiting and Retention Program
Finalists: City of San Diego, Energy Efficient Street Light Conversion
City of San Diego Public Utilities, Pure Water San Diego
City of Chula Vista, Asset Management Program
Regional Golden Watchdog Award
Winner: County of San Diego Planning Development Services, Permit Streamlining
Finalist: County of San Diego, Juvenile Crime Prevention and Diversion
Grand Golden Watchdog Award: San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Veterans Moving Forward Program
Metro Golden Fleece Award
Winner: City of San Diego, Portland Loos
Finalist: City of Escondido, Adoption of Citizens' Property Rights Initiative
Regional Golden Fleece Award
Winner: CalTrans, Water Wasters
Finalists: Palomar Community College District, Computer Dumping
San Ysidro School District, Title I Cover Up
Grand Golden Fleece Award: City of Encinitas & Encinitas Unified School District, Pacific View Profiteering
Public-Private Partnership Award
Winner: City of San Diego & RAD LAB, QUARTYARD
Finalists: County of San Diego & 2-1-1 San Diego, Disaster Response
San Diego County Regional Airport Authority & Landmark Aviation, Fixed-Base Operator
Watchdog Media Finalists - Print/Electronic
David Garrick, UT San Diego, “City Shocked By Cost of Portland Loos”
Megan Burks, Voice of San Diego, “Whack-A-Mole City Enforcement Keeps Slumlords In Business"
Morgan Cook, UT San Diego, “What’s that Caltrans is using water for?”
Watchdog Media Finalists - Television Media
Joe Yerardi, inewsource & Katie Schoolov, KPBS
Gene Cubbison, NBC7
Brad Racino, KPBS
10News Team
2014
Media Watchdog – Print
Winner: “Balboa Park Centennial Group Disbands” by Jeff McDonald
Finalists: “Taxpayers Overcharged” by Marsha Sutton, Carmel Valley News
“Anatomy of a Civic Failure: What Happened to the Big 2015 Celebration in Balboa Park” by Scott
Lewis and Andrew Keatts
Assisted Living series by Paul Sisson, Matt Clark, Jeff McDonald and Deborah Schoch
Media Watchdog Television
Winner: Mayor Filner’s accusers come forward, by KPBS staff
Finalists: Mayor in Paris series by Mitch Blacher, JW August, Arie Thanasoulis and Ellen McGregor
The Steep Cost of Water Main Breaks by Wendy Fry and Mari Payton, NBC 7
Golden Watchdog Award
Winner: San Diego International Airport Green Build
Finalists: Downtown El Cajon Business Partnership
Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan
Technology Lets San Diego County Library Do More With Less
Grand Golden Watchdog Award: Firestorm 2014 Relief Efforts
Golden Fleece Award
Winner: The Sprinter Shutdown
Finalists: San Ysidro’s “Pay-to-Play”
Oceanside School District DC Trip
Uncollected Wastewater Fees
Grand Golden Fleece Award: Sweetwater Union School District
Public-Private Partnership Award
Winner: Computers 2 SD Kids
Finalist: Philanthropists Helped Fund the San Diego Central Library
It's About Time Award
Winner: Changes to Purchasing and Contracting Department
Finalist: Electronic Filing Streamlined for Lobbyists
Once In A Lifetime Award: Coordinated Efforts to Ensure a Smooth Mayoral Transition
2008
Grand Golden Watchdog Award:
Grand Golden Fleece Award:
Program: Sprinter
Agency: North County Transit District of Oceanside
Regional Golden Watchdog Award:
Program: AlertSanDiego
Agency: San Diego County Office of Emergency Services
Program: Agency of Choice
Agency: San Diego County Water Authority
Program: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Prop “R” Program Performance Review
Agency: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
It's About Time Award:
Program: Online Camping Reservation System
Agency: County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR)
Program: Tiger Team
Agency: Olivenhain Municipal Water District
Program: City Council Presentation
Agency: City of Escondido
2006
Grand Golden Watchdog Award:
San Diego Association of Governments, TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program
Grand Golden Fleece Award:
City of San Diego, Pension Consultant Fees
Regional Golden Watchdog Award:
County of San Diego Department of Public Works, Blanket Regional Permit for Flood Control Facility Maintenance
Regional Golden Fleece Award:
San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Airport Site Selection “Education” Campaign
Metro San Diego Watchdog Award:
City of San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Department,Televising Sewer Lines
Metro San Diego Fleece Award:
City of San Diego, Real Estate Assets Department
It's About Time Award:
City of San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), Comprehensive Operations Analysis
People'e Choice Award for Dumb Ideas Under $1 Million Award:
University of California San Diego, Chancellor Sabbatical
Media Watchdog Award:
San Diego Union Tribune and Copley News Service, Cunningham Scandal
Thom Jensen of 10News, Behind Closed Doors
2005
Regional Golden Watchdog Award Finalists:
County of San Diego District Attorney, County Board of Supervisors, Project 100%
Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), Dissolution of Tia Juana Valley County Water District County of San Diego, County Medical Services, Project Dulce
Regional Golden Fleece Award Finalists:
SANDAG and The Regional Airport Authority, Cost of Retreats
North County Transit District (NCTD), Sprinter Costs Overruns
Greater San Diego Golden Watchdog Award Finalists:
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, Model Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee
Poway Unified School District, Bridge Financing Program
Lakeside, Riverview and Padre Dam Water Districts - Detachment and Consolidation of East County Water Districts
Metro San Diego Golden Watchdog Award Finalists:
City of San Diego, Ridgehaven “Green Building” Makes Environmental and Dollar Sense
City of San Diego, Investment in Film Commission Pays Great Dividends
City of San Diego, Change in Marketing the Convention Center Translates Into Savings
Metro San Diego Golden Fleece Award Finalists:
City of San Diego, Police and Firefighter Overtime Overruns
City of San Diego, Use and Management of Consultant Contracts
City of San Diego, New Fees
2004
Golden Watchdog Awards:
County of San Diego District Attorney
Elder Abuse Unit
Chula Vista Elementary School District
Sound Management Practices
City of San Diego Camino Del Sur Interchange
Grand Watchdog San Diego Convention Center Corporation
Profile in Courage Awards:
Fire Chief Jeff Bowman
San Diego Fire Department
2003
Regional Watchdog:
General Management System
Greater San Diego Watchdog:
22nd District Agricultural Association
Recycling and Waste Reduction Program
Metro San Diego Watchdog:
Metropolitan Wastewater Department
Operations and Maintenance Division
Bid-to-Goal Program
Grand Watchdog:
General Management System
Media Award for Excellence:
Norberto Santana, Jr.
The San Diego Union-Tribune
2002
Grand Fleece
Winner: City of San Diego, Undergrounding Surcharge (Lisa)
Finalists: Regional Water Quality Board (Jerry)
Port of San Diego (Doug/Geoff)
Grand Watchdog:
Winner: County of San Diego, Tobacco Funds Lump Sum (Eric)
Finalists: County of San Diego, Utility Savings (Lisa)
SDUSD, Prop. MM Administration (Lisa/Mitch/Geoff)
City of San Diego Fleece:
Winner: $300 Million in Deferred Maintenance (Geoff)
Finalists: Water Department Management Study (Geoff)
Underground Surcharge (Lisa)
City of San Diego Watchdog
Winner: Zero Based Management (Doug)
Finalists: 4 to 1 Committee Consolidation/PUAC (Kim)
Fleet Management (Kim)
County of San Diego Fleece
Winner: Redistricting (Adrian/Lisa)
Finalists: Prop. A (Kim/Geoff)
County of San Diego Watchdog
Winner: Utility Savings (Lisa)
Finalists: Mapping (Lisa)
Office of Revenue and Recovery (Lisa/Jerry)
Regional Fleece
Winner: SDUSD, Behavior of the Board (Lisa)
Finalists: Regional Water Quality Board (Jerry)
North County Transit District Retreat (Lisa)
Regional Watchdog
Winner: SDUSD, Management of Prop. MM (Mitch/Lisa)
Finalists: 125 Extension (Doug)
City of Chula Vista Contracting (Scott/Lisa)
Encinitas, Refusal to use sewer revenue for energy (Eric)
Special District Fleece
Winner: MTDB Security Cameras (Lisa)
Finalists: Jamul Fire District (Eric)
Otay Water District (Mitch)
Special District Watchdog:
Winner: SDDT, PBID, Clean and Safe Program (Jennifer/Geoff)
Finalist: Padre Dam MWD (Kim)
Riverview MWD (Kim)
Media Watchdog (Geoff)
Winner: Fox News, “Port Parking”
Finalists: Dave Downey, NCT
Gene Cubbision, NBC 7/39