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Opinion: In the 101 Ash Street scandal, who knew what and when did they know it? We need answers.

The former Sempra Energy building at 101 Ash Street in downtown San Diego on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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The editorial board operates independently from the U-T newsroom but holds itself to similar ethical standards. We base our editorials and endorsements on reporting, interviews and rigorous debate, and strive for accuracy, fairness and civility in our section. Disagree? Let us know.

San Diego’s 101 Ash Street deal generated new headlines this week after it was revealed a real estate expert the city had described as its voluntary adviser on this and a similar long-term lease-to-own arrangement for Civic Center Plaza received nearly $10 million from a company that brokered the two deals. That development led City Attorney Mara Elliot to file a lawsuit to void both agreements and recover more than $44 million from the sellers.

What. A. Mess. You wouldn’t be faulted for thinking the whole thing is too confusing or if it seems like there’s a lot of blame to go around. There certainly is, starting with former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s recommendation to pay $128 million for a building appraised for $67 million without checking its condition. Current Mayor Todd Gloria made the motion to approve the deal in his final months as a council member in 2016. Elliot’s office signed off on it in her first month. Problems leave it unoccupied.

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Voiding the deal would be a miracle after years of growing scandal. But even so, questions remain about who knew what when. They deserve to be answered. In March, The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board wrote, “It’s time for an independent investigation of the entire 101 Ash Street deal.”

It’s beyond time. The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, state Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI won’t comment on whether there are or have been any investigations. But they and the county grand jury — heck, any independent agency that can — should investigate this deal because it stinks to high heaven.

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