New bill targets homeless spending feuds familiar to San Diego

The intrigue: The tussle between cities and counties is front of mind in San Diego this week, after Mayor Todd Gloria decided not to include $5 million the city was expected to pay to operate a shelter in the Midway area in his budget proposal released Tuesday.

• That facility was a collaboration, with the city paying to operate it, the county providing land and on-site behavioral health services, and the nonprofit Lucky Duck Foundation donating the shelter tent.

What they're saying: "We need to step up and make it a clear goal in every region to get people off the streets, and we have to give cities the tools and support they need to do that," Blakespear said in a release announcing the legislation.

• "Counties need to be full partners in this effort."

How it works: In California, funding for behavioral health services— covering both mental health and substance-abuse interventions — flows through counties.

• Cities, though, typically pay to shelter homeless residents who would otherwise be on city streets — where they might also cost cities money in police, fire, ambulance or environmental services.

Between the lines: Blakespear is teaming with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who told Politico it was intended to both ensure counties do their fair share and to incentivize cities to invest in more shelters.

• "If nobody's going to help with funding the human services, why should a city take it upon itself to go do the right thing and expand its shelter service?" Mahan asked.

Flashback: Gloria, during his January State of the City, was unusually harsh in challenging the county to do more.

• "It is my hope that anytime you see a person on the street suffering from extreme mental illness or addiction, that you think of the County of San Diego and ask them: When will they step up to provide the services needed to end this crisis?"
• In her State of the County speech this week, County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer did not return volley.

What's next: SB 16 has a hearing in the Senate's Housing Committee on April 22.