SAN DIEGO -- The corruption scandal is the latest blow to the image of San Diego, which is already called "Enron by the sea" because of the pension fund scandal.

The heart of the city is downtown San Diego.

At the downtown visitors center, the City Council scandal only came up when 10News mentioned it.

"We have a lot to offer the tourists," Sue Mason, director of visitor services, said.

Some people who live in San Diego say they feel more distrust of government.

"We're supposed to be America's finest city, (but this) puts a black mark on us," Mira Mesa resident Diana Hamilton said.

The negative press is not stopping the launch of a major new promotion for downtown San Diego.

"This is a blip on the radar. We'll get a new mayor, get it fixed up (and) it'll be just fine," Jack Berkman with Berkman Communications said.

The promoters are branding downtown as America's Finest Playground, betting that dirty politics will not tarnish that image.

"It never was America's finest government -- it was the finest place to live, work and play," Jimmy Parker with the Gaslamp Quarter Association said.

However, San Diego can no longer call itself the most efficiently run city in California.

"We're in a situation where it's extremely unstable -- not good for (the) reputation of politics in San Diego," Dr. Peter Andersen with the SDSU School of Communication said.