The Great American Ponzi Scheme
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(Corrects inaccurate reference to coconut palms in first paragraph. This variety of palm tree does not grow in San Diego.)
In San Diego, fire stations are suffering brownouts. Library hours have been cut by a quarter, youth programs reduced by half. There are fewer cops on the street but more potholes, and because trimming of the city's 30,000 palm trees has been reduced.