The proposed ballpark district in downtown San Diego
"will result in only 7,000 jobs," according to Don Bauder of
the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, who cited a report from the San
Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). The study, done
for the City Council and dated July 6, said that the
"projected jobs will tend to be of the low-pay, low-benefits
variety" and they'll be "mostly part-time and seasonal."
SANDAG showed that the 600,000 square feet of office space
in the 26-block district will generate 2,857 jobs, the
retail facilities will create 682 jobs, the three hotels
will add 935 jobs and the ballpark will generate 2,582 jobs.
SANDAG "does not consider" 4,600 temporary construction
jobs. SANDAG author Kenneth Fabricatore said that he "does
not know how many of the 7,000 jobs will represent a net
employment gain" for the city. The SANDAG report states:
"The projected level of on-site jobs shown in this report
does not necessarily represent a net increase in employment
in the San Diego area. Many of the jobs at the new ballpark
will be transfers from existing stadium. Also, some of the
customer and visitor spending in the ballpark district, the
principal support for retail and hotel jobs, may occur
elsewhere in the region in the absence of the project."
SANDAG said that the ballpark jobs figure is "based on
average needs" at Qualcomm Stadium. But SANDAG adds: "Fewer
employees may be required to maintain and operate the new,
smaller, baseball-only facility." SANDAG added that 40% of
the projected ballpark district jobs will pay less than
$20,000 annually, compared to 22% of county jobs. But an
"estimated" 41% of ballpark district employees "would get
some form" of health insurance from their employers. That
"compares" with 50% countywide (S.D. UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/14).
