AMIRA EL-KHAOULI
STAFF WRITER

Mayor of San Marcos, Jim Desmond, visited CSUSM on April 25 as a part of Dr. Staci Beavers State Politics (PSCI) course. During his visit, he informed students about the inner-workings of local politics in the City of San Marcos and discussed city involvement in current and upcoming developments.

Mayor Desmond was elected to his position in 2006 and re-elected in 2010. The mayor stated he makes $15,000 per year and serves on the City Council. As of April 24, the City Council has hired a city manager, starting on June 4, 2012. Both Mayor Desmond and the city manager will be spearheading upcoming developments near CSUSM.

“Who’s my boss?,” asked Mayor Desmond. “You are, the voters.”

Improvements to Interstate 78 are being worked on as a coalition between San Marcos, Escondido, and Cal-Trans. The San Marcos Creek District is planned as redevelopment into a downtown, just beyond Discovery Street and Craven Road.

Funding for these projects rely on the city’s sales tax and rental revenues, which are fairly stable.

Several students have raised concerns about rental rates at The Quad, the new university housing on Barham Drive. The Quad is a city project, part of the creation of a University District. The entire project will feature university friendly businesses, places to hang out and more pedestrian-friendly streets.

The goal is that “you can live there,” stated Desmond in reference to both the University District and the downtown Creek District. “You don’t have to be as dependent on cars. Our worst problem is the traffic issue.”

Photo: San Marcos Mayor, Jim Desmond, on the CSUSM campus discussing Interstate 78 and the upcoming community planned around the The Quad student housing. Photo by Amira El-Khaouli.