Escondido
Mayor Jim Rady said he will attend a $60 per person gala opening of the new Escondido City Hall on March 18, but he will be there under protest because he believes that the event should be free and open to the public.
The fete is being billed as the “Party of the Century” by the organizers as a way to raise money for events to be held in conjunction with Escondido’s centennial celebration. Escondido incorporated as a city in October, 1888.
The new, $15.7-million City Hall will officially open for public use the day after the opening night party.
“You shouldn’t have to pay $60 for your first opportunity to see City Hall,” Rady said Friday. “It should be free. But I’ll go because I support the Centennial Commission and I don’t want to cast a pall on the party. But I won’t be the first one there (to the party) and I certainly won’t be the last to leave.”
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