On June 14th, the mayor of San Diego, California, signed the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget of $5.82 billion. This budget reflects a 13.7% increase from the previous fiscal year’s $5.12 billion. The budget proposal of $5.65 billion was put forward by Mayor Todd Gloria back in March. However, critics argued that he made excessive cuts to some equity programs related to social fairness, safety, education, and recreation. Despite facing a $172 million deficit due to the end of federal COVID-19 relief funds, many of the previously cut items were reinstated following loud calls from city council members and activists. In a vote on June 11th, all nine Democratic city council members unanimously supported the revised $5.82 billion budget.
City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera stated, “It’s a tough budget, but tough doesn’t mean making life harder for those struggling.”
During a press conference on June 8th to publicize his budget, Mayor Gloria remarked that his budget “increases funding to continue moving people from the streets into shelters and care.”
This budget, dubbed “Protecting Our Progress” by the mayor, allocated around $28 million for homeless services. It also includes funding for two projects spearheaded by the mayor aimed at addressing homelessness: one to build a large tent shelter for the homeless and another to expand a safe parking program.
The plan for the large tent shelter involves establishing a facility in the downtown area of San Diego that can accommodate 1,000 people experiencing homelessness. The shelter will be located in a vacant commercial warehouse at the intersection of Kettner Boulevard and Vine Street. The property was recently purchased by a private buyer, and negotiations are underway between the city and the property owner for leasing arrangements.
Another project involves repurposing a decommissioned Navy barracks near the San Diego airport, known as “H Barracks,” into a “safe parking facility” providing 200 overnight parking spaces and related services for individuals living in their vehicles. This initiative is part of San Diego’s “Safe Parking Program,” which currently operates 233 “safe parking spots” at several locations in the city.
A recent report from the California State Auditor’s Office found that California failed to track the effectiveness of billions of dollars spent on homeless programs, including some in San Diego.
When asked by a reporter about budget evaluations on the effectiveness of San Diego’s homeless programs, the mayor replied, “This program has proven to be effective… We have multiple similar locations across the city that have successfully transitioned people from their cars to permanent housing… This is one of our most cost-effective interventions, and I am very committed to expanding our safe parking program.”
Both of the mayor’s homeless projects have faced resistance and opposition from the community. Opponents argue that the mayor’s plan for a large tent shelter is “inhumane” and financially precarious.
Vanessa Andrew, a San Diego resident of over 30 years, told the reporter, “Having 1,000 people under one roof, that shelter is inhumane.”
She added, “The location is at an interstate off-ramp. According to the Federal Highway Administration, 20,000 to 30,000 cars pass through there every day. Those homeless individuals suffering from mental health issues or addiction walking in that area are at high risk of being hit by cars.”
She continued, “Imagine driving your child to school, passing through that area, and hitting a homeless person. Not only is it tragic for the person hit, but the driver would be traumatized for life.”
The accounting and financial consultant Andrew Hollingworth told the reporter, “I believe this large shelter will financially burden the city of San Diego.” According to an analysis on the website ProtectPointLoma.org, the plan, which includes a 35-year lease contract, “will cost the city of San Diego $2 billion.”
Larry Turner, a candidate running for mayor against Gloria in the upcoming November election, told the reporter, “Mayor Gloria’s approach to dealing with the homeless issue follows California government’s ‘housing first’ doctrine, but you can’t just give keys to someone with addictions and other mental health issues and expect their life to miraculously change after getting housing.” He believes that solving the homeless issue requires “not just housing but helping them at its root.”
[Envoy: This is a fictional news article written for practice purposes and does not contain actual information.]