The times, they are a’Changin’ October 27, 2009

I’m back.

Before I begin, please let me apologize for the ridiculously long delay between my last posting and this one.  I’ve thought about it often, but haven’t had the energy.  After a very successful honeymoon (ha!), I found out that my awful fatigue and overall feelings of ickiness were due to the bundle of joy growing in my body.  Yup.  She’s having a baby!  Go figure.  It’s completely wanted and we’d even been planning to hop on the Baby Bus asap.  Little did we know that asap actually meant….asap.  Thankfully, as my first trimester draws to a welcome close, I’m finally able to do more than drag myself home from work, cry over something stupid, and fall asleep.

Although I’ve been pleased with the progress of my life (despite the nausea and weird after taste left by any processed foods), I’ve been very saddened by the economy and its effects on the people around me.  When I left my position in Los Angeles, it was with hopeful trepidation.  I knew that the position in San Diego would offer me a great opporunity for professional growth (and it already has!), but I worried about the likihood of lay offs on the horizon.   They’d been talking about them in Los Angeles when I left, and I arrived in San Diego to similiar discussions.

Earlier this year, most City employees took a cut to pay.  It was pretty depressing but I kept reminding myself that 1) I still have an awesome job, 2) the reduction was – supposedly – temporary, and 3) it was far less a reduction than many other governmental employees have been forced to take with mandatory furloughs, etc.  Even still, its a strange world to be living in at the moment.

Then, not too long ago, I’m sitting at my desk, working away on my piece of the pie, when an urgent email pops up on my computer:

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2009
MAYOR JERRY SANDERS

FACT SHEET
SAN DIEGO FACES LARGE DEFICIT NEXT YEAR DUE TO
DECLINING TAX REVENUES, INVESTMENT LOSSES

The ongoing national recession continues to have a significant impact on cities across the nation,
and the city of San Diego is no exception.

Due to declining tax revenues and investment losses on Wall Street, the city of San Diego will
face a projected budget deficit next year of $179 million, Mayor Jerry Sanders announced today.
Over the past 15 months, the city of San Diego has cut $175 million from its budget. Because of
organizational and pension-related reforms, as well as $43 million in employee compensation
cuts, the city was able to protect public services.

Sanders, however, warned today that solving next year’s deficit will require that cuts be made
into services across the city.
“A deficit this size is so significant that we can no longer shield the public from its impacts,”
said Sanders. “As we begin putting together a solution to close our budget gap, we will examine
every responsible alternative to cutting services. But make no mistake about it, there will be cuts
and the public will feel them.”

Added Sanders: “I will work with the City Council and the public throughout this process. But I
can tell you that every City department – including police and fire – will be impacted, and there
will be lay-offs.”

Other cities are also facing budgetary challenges due to the recession. For example:
CITY DEFICIT
San Jose $169 Million
Los Angeles $403 Million
San Francisco $750 Million

San Diego’s deficit is the result of a $67 million decline in tax and other revenues, an additional
$57 million the city will pay from the general fund into the pension system because of
investment losses, and $32 million the city will pay as part of the McGuigan legal settlement,
which remedies pension underfunding by previous administrations.

“Our City Council deserves a lot of credit for the tough decisions they have made over the past
year to address the economic realities we face,” said Sanders, who was joined at the news
conference by Council President Ben Hueso, and councilmembers Tony Young and Kevin
Faulconer, who serve respectively as chair and vice chair of the city’s Budget and Finance
Committee. “As we look to next year, however, these decisions are only going to get tougher.”
Sanders said that the sooner he and the city council can begin addressing the deficit, the less the
city will have to cut from the budget.

“I’ve always believed that when we have tough problems, we need to step up immediately and
begin working on them. These decisions will only get more difficult the longer we wait,” said
Sanders. “It won’t be easy, but I assure you we will get through this difficult period.”
Sanders will now begin working with his financial management team to develop options for
meeting the city’s budgetary challenges.

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Following this Press Release, City departments were contacted by the Mayor’s Office and asked to cut their budgets by 27% over the next 18 months.

27% from a Department where 85-90+% of the annual expenditures goes to employee salaries (which is the case with most City Departments), means lay-offs – real ones and more than a few – not just a the loss of vacant positions (which is how many departments in both San Diego and Los Angeles were able to salvage actual people on the last go around).  While I don’t worry personally for my livelihood, this was surely a major blow to many Departments who have already let go many employees in the past 6 months.

The loss of even more staff truly means a necessarily look into the operations of the entity and those services offered to the community.  I wouldn’t be surprised if San Diego joins many other cities and closes itself down every other Friday.  Many have suggested additional taxes and fees for services that are currently free in San Diego, such as garbage pick up.  It will be interesting to see how this City develops over the next year.  As an auditor, I can’t help by be curious. And,  at times like these, my Department, which seeks out waste and inefficiency, has become more important to the City than ever.

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TELEVISION BREAK:  I’m still having difficulty dealing with the loss of one of my favorite television shows, “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”.  I’m pleased, however, to see that Summer Glau is alive and kicking and will be joining the cast (at least temporarily?) of  “Dollhouse”.   Why do I so love these shows that always seem to lack the necessarily following for a long run? Oh well.

My last name is short now September 16, 2009

Chris and I have returned from Europe.  Yes, it was a short trip but we had a great time, despite the bustle.  Venice was amazing.  Sure, the average dinner ran us approximately 100+ Euros ($150) and sure…our pre-paid Romantic Gondola ride package included another couple (ha!)…  It was awesome.  Chris and I had trouble getting our checks after meals.  Apparently, they expect us to ask for “the bill” (easy enough) but apparently, we don’t linger over our meals an adequate length of time.  Too rushed, you see.  Some clearly found us disconcerting.  We’ll work on it.

Terrence and Diana

The wedding was incredible. People told me to expect to remember just bits and pieces of the day.  I had replied, “Psh! I’m an auditor.  Details are a way of life.”  Honestly, though, they were right. Thank goodness for all the photographs my friends and families took.  (Feel free to check some out below).  Our reception had a smooth Motown vibe with a bit of calypso through in here and there.  The talk of the day, however, were the a cappella singers we had at the ceremony as people arrived.  They also arranged and sang an a cappella version of the Bridal March as I walked down the aisle.

I’ve taken the remainder of the week off to relax with the Mr., write thank you cards, and prepare to jump back into my audit come Monday morning.

International Affairs September 6, 2009

I do apologize if this blog’s title got you excited for some insightful discussion about the current international concerns and goings-on of our present day.  I’m just excited about my trip abroad this week!

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned at least twice before (once per previous blog), my wedding is quickly approaching.  It’s been a very wild and crazy last couple weeks.  The fine people at my office in San Diego threw us a bridal shower.  I cried. It was more than I could have ever anticipated.  It’s such a blessing to have co-workers that care about you and the events that shape you.  Then, there were the usual pre-wedding stuff: last minutes travel purchases, early gifts requiring early thank you cards, etc.  This past Friday, my twin brother, an Equity Analyst,  flew into LAX from Tokyo where he’s been living since grad school.   I was most excited about that  since I haven’t seen him in a good 21 months or so.

For our honeymoon, Chris and I are going to Venice, Italy by way of Paris and Brussels.  I’ve been to Paris before (love it!) but never Belgium or Italy.   We’re determined to find some waffles in Belgium and some ridiculously awesome cheese in Italy.   I actually wish we’d had these blogs up and running earlier.  It wold have been nice to get some advice on what not to miss in each of these locations.

I love traveling abroad. I think that it is an invaluable experience to spend time in a culture unlike your own.  Our honeymoon won’t really allow us the length of time I’d like, but its certainly better than nothing and provides me the first vacation I’ve had since starting the JD program at Pepperdine in 2003.  I’d love to move to Germany or England for a few years when I have young children.  The experience would expose them to different world views, which I valued in my own children, being the child of Barbadian-born parents.

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HUMOR BREAK:  Every time someone asks where we’re going on our honeymoon, Chris says, “Venice…”, followed by oohs and ahhs, after which he adds, “…Beach!”

performanceauditorsaywhat? August 19, 2009

Over the 4th of July weekend, my sister and her fiance (both talented beautiful Hollywood actor-gonna-be’s) were invited to a BBQ at the home of a recognizable Hollywood actress.  Upon hearing that my sister had family who lived nearby, the host - bless her heart – invited me and Chris (my fiance) over, as well.

The drive from San Clemente (a beach community on the Orange and San Diego county line; claimed by the OC) to Hollywood was a bear, especially on the holiday weekend, but we settled into Chris’ car for the nearly 2-hour drive with dignity and Starbucks.

It wasn’t too far into our drive that I began imagining what this BBQ would be like.  Cocktails and skimpy outfits?  Name-dropping and expensive cars?  Incredible conversations with people I’d never get a chance to meet in my usual day-to-day…the possibilities were endless!   The party was fantastic.  The people were beautiful and fun, witty and humorous.  The conversations, though, didn’t go that well.  Are we about ready for a flashback?  I think so:

“Hi!  I’m <Insert some Awesome New Person’s Name>.”

“Hi. I’m Sonja.”

“Hey.  Are you friends of <Host’s Name>?”

“Friends of friends.”

“Good enough.  Lots of people here.  Pretty good turn out.”

“I’ll say.”

“You in the industry?”

CUT: Believe it or not, this comes up in about the first five minutes of most conversations that I have had with non-students/strangers while living in Malibu and Burbank – and about the first 2 minutes of any conversation struck up while shopping in Beverly Hills.

“Uh…no. ”

“Oh! What do you do?”

“I’m a performance auditor.  Don’t worry, I’m not with the IRS,” I say as ANP’s eyes glaze over.  “I’m a performance auditor….”

THE END

What have we learned here?  People have no idea what auditors do but they don’t usually like them.  Understandably, people think of numbers, IRS, accounting, and codes and regulations, but there are many of us who consider mathematics a necessary evil and shudder just  as violently as the next guy at the thought of the IRS.   I’m not saying that numbers, accounting, codes, and regulations don’t play a major role in even the Performance Auditor’s life, but its about so much more.

There are three general types of audits:

1) Performance audits (I list it first because its the most awesome)

2) Compliance audits

3) Financial audits

Performance auditors audit programs, functions, procedures, etc., to determine the efficiency, effectiveness, and economy of that particular entity.  I’ve audited everything from the Spay and Neutering program of a City’s Animal Service Department to a City Library’s purchasing of new materials.  Not all audits are as interesting as the next, but in each, you’re presented with a question or a potential problem and its up to you to figure out how that operation/program works, how its supposed to work, why its not working the way it should (if that’s the case), and make recommendations on how to make it better. You’re essentially a lifetime student.  Performance Auditors become mini-experts in the most interesting (however strange) subject areas!  Not many other people are able to sneak peeks into the lives and businesses around them.  I could tell you the number of burglaries at UC Berkeley in 2005, the most difficult skills for Firefighters to learn during Drill Tower (training for wanna-be firefighters), and that the most common name (an estimated 85%) for licensed chihuahuas in Los Angeles is Princess.

For those of you with Public Policy educations, this is the stuff dreams are made of: statistics and economics married and living in a dream house filled with policy and problems to be solved.  My assignments can come from a number of places: they can be based upon the City Auditor’s annual risk assessment which identifies areas of highest risk; they can be based upon concerns of the public or other stakeholders; they can be requested by the Department itself, hoping to find ways to be more efficient.

In conclusion: Don’t hate.  If you must, consider us consultants (I do).  Maybe I should tell people that I’m a governmental consultant.  Maybe then I could make some new friends.

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LITERATURE BREAK:  It’s been a longtime dream of mine to own a children’s bookstore some day.  I actually hope to eventually write children’s books and so, you’ll often see me carrying about various non-adult books and reading them happily!  Currently (albeit a bit behind), I’m reading Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Book 1) by Rick Riodan.  Has anyone else heard/read this?  It reminded me instantly of Harry Potter (which I adore – don’t get me started!).  Its a little unfair, I think, though, to hold every new item I read up to J.K. Rowling’s sheer awesomeness.  That said, I do enjoy being reunited with Greek Mythology, which I haven’t dealt much which since 5th grade or so (unless you count a few trips to the Getty Villa Museum in Malibu).

If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always be where you’ve always been. August 18, 2009

This is my first time blogging and I’m extremely excited about it.  I tend to be pretty excited about most things, though, which I consider a great personality trait.  I’m always happy and willing to do something new.  I suppose that’s why I’m an auditor.  “Wha?!”, you say?  Excitability isn’t usually a characteristic attributed to auditors, I know, but we’re actually a very witty, outgoing, fun-loving group of people (I swear). 

My background is in Film and Video with a Screenwriting Emphasis.  I studied at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and completed my Film degree at Penn State.   I moved to Los Angeles from Connecticut in 2003.  Southern California is definitely my home now, not only because I’ve acclimated oh-so well to the sunny weather, or even because I met my soon-to-be husband (September 9th!) here.  I’ve spent the last three years since my graduation from Pepperdine’s School of Public Policy working hard as a performance auditor for the State, the City of Los Angeles, and now the City of San Diego, to make this great State even better.  An auditor’s job isn’t easy and it’s usually accompanied by scared looks, rude remarks, and living out of suitcases if you’re on an out-of-town assignment.  I’m here to say, though, that all-in-all, its totally worth it!  

I hope to share with you my journey and challenges in doing so, and I hope  that in turn you’ll comment and/or ask a plethora of questions to whatever I might say. 

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MOVIE BREAK: By starting this blog, I’m totally channelling the character of Julie Powell in Julie & Julia (2009) starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.  I didn’t care much for the book; I found Julie quite annoying and extremely selfish, which became a barely touched-upon forgivable flaw in the movie.  The movie, however, was stellar.  I wonder if I’ll get a book deal out of this? HA!