Earning a Media Award from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association
I’ve received lots of awards over the years, however, the award that means the most is being recognized by my peers. This past month, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) held its 29th annual Golden Awards. The event featured both the Golden Watchdog and Golden Fleece Awards to determine the best and worst of local government’s effectiveness in good governance.
The winners (and losers) were presented at the 2025 Goldens, which took place this past November 12 at Riverwalk Golf Club, located at1150 Fashion Valley Road in San Diego.
Richard Bailey, who served as mayor of Coronado from 2016 through 2024, emceed the event. In addition to his public service, Bailey is a small business owner and outdoor enthusiast. One of his recent, major accomplishments is that he summited Mount Everest, completing a childhood dream to reach the top of the world. With an elevation of 29,032 feet, less than 8,000 people have accomplished this goal which takes two months to climb.
Rick Griffin, a public relations peer, who has known me for most of my career as a publisher, recently wrote an article that was published in “The Times.” The title to his column referred to me as ‘Mild-mannered’ publisher Patty Ducey-Brooks now a ‘lion ready for battle’, which made me chuckle and also appreciate the message.
I thought, “There’s nothing wrong with being mild mannered and ready to deal with serious governmental issues with an attitude.”
This is how the article continued:
Patty Ducey-Brooks says she has always been interested in accountability in government. “People want the facts about their elected officials, what they’re doing to make the community better and how they’re working for the people,” Ducey-Brooks told Times of San Diego.
Since 1999, Ducey-Brooks has served as owner and publisher of the Presidio Sentinel, a monthly community newspaper circulated in Mission Hills, Hillcrest, Bankers Hill, Old Town, University Heights, North Park, Liberty Station and Downtown San Diego.
Its tagline says, “Serving the Heart of San Diego.”
“We’re serious about serving our communities as a voice of logic and reason,” Ducey-Brooks said. “We’re here to protect taxpayers and call-out politicians, many of whom are regularly disappointing their constituents.”
In a long-overdue move, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association has presented Ducey-Brooks with its Golden Watchdog award in media for excellence in government reporting.
“Patty Ducey-Brooks has been a community activist, fighting for our neighborhoods, our city and our region,” SDCTA said. “Behind her mild-mannered exterior beats the heart of a lion ready for battle. Using her monthly newspaper, the Presidio Sentinel, Patty brings the battles to her readers as she builds coalitions to tackle felony-stupid government.
SDCTA said one of her recent victories was successfully opposing a large homeless center in Middle Town proposed by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. Currently, Ducey-Brooks is in court battling the city of San Diego’s recently imposed monthly fee for trash collection.
“I’m very grateful for the award from the Taxpayers Association,” said Ducey-Brooks, “This group has educated San Diegans for decades and helped save the region’s citizens billions of dollars.”
SDCTA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization known for promoting accountability, cost-effective and efficient government and opposing unnecessary new taxes and fees.
Also, at its recent 29th annual Goldens awards event, SDCTA presented a Golden Watchdog award in grassroots advocacy for excellence in public discourse to Paul Krueger, who retired as a TV news reporter in 2023 to become a community activist and a regular contributor to The San Diego Union-Tribune and Times of San Diego.
Starting in 1989, he spent 32 years at KNSD-TV NBC 7 San Diego as a reporter and producer for investigative, consumer and medical reporting teams.
Today, Krueger heads a volunteer grassroots citizens group called Neighbors for a Better San Diego. The group, based in San Diego’s Kensington-Talmadge community where Krueger lives, advocates for sensible growth, realistic planning and coherent transit strategies. It has opposed the mayor’s plan to advance increasing residential neighborhood density by allowing developers to build multi-unit auxiliary dwelling units, also called ADUs, without parking on single-family lots.
SDCTA cited Krueger’s recent commentary published in the San Diego Union-Tribune with the headline, “What mayor calls ‘failure’ sounds like ‘good government’ to many.” As Paul Krueger, we must not be afraid to speak with a loud voice expressing our real concerns about the issues that impact the people of San Diego. I feel fortunate that I get to share this honor from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association with other organizations and individuals who believe in doing what is best for the residents of the city and county
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