Mayor touts wins, warns of more cuts in State of the City speech
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Mayor Todd Gloria touted his achievements on housing, homelessness and public safety in his sixth State of the City speech Thursday.
Why it matters: The speech was a chance for Gloria to address criticisms that he hasn't accomplished much as he heads into the final years of his second term and potentially eyes a run for higher office.
Driving the news: From the City Council chamber, Gloria laid out the city's budget challenges to temper expectations for what can happen in the next year, warning that "more tough decisions and cuts" are coming.
- The city was facing a $318 million structural budget deficit last year, which he tried to close through cuts and new fees. In the end, the city made up $270 million of the deficit.
Friction point: Gloria was twice interrupted by people in the audience shouting obscenities.
- Gloria paused each time, then resumed his speech.
- "Anyone else?" he quipped after the second interruption.
Zoom in: Gloria touted his budget restraint as one of his key successes.
- "Historically, San Diego has not always acted like the big city that it is, avoiding hard conversations, dodging necessary choices and pushing problems down the road for somebody someday to solve," he said.
- He highlighted two cuts: $35 million in contracts and management positions and saving $13 million by moving city employees out of rented offices.
- He didn't mention new controversial parking fees in Balboa Park, higher parking rates and longer parking hours.
Gloria also highlighted wins in:
Housing: The city permitted 7,500 new homes last year, double its yearly average from the past 20 years, he said.
- But "until more San Diegans can look at their rent or mortgage without cringing, our work is not finished," he said.
- He added that San Diego also needs to expand its definition of what a home is to permit and build row homes, townhomes and condos in neighborhoods that previously prohibited them.
Developments: Gloria promised the redevelopment of Sports Arena will move forward, despite a recent court ruling blocking its progress.
- He didn't say specifically how that would happen.
- He also said unused city-owned properties like 101 Ash, the Old Central Library and the indoor skydiving facility would be turned into housing.
- And he announced a five-year, $118 million plan to upgrade the 35-year-old Convention Center.
Homelessness and Public Safety: Gloria noted new safe parking lots allowed the city to start enforcing parking bans for RVs.
- And he pointed to a state agreement that let police clear encampments on freeway ramps and touted falling crime rates.
What's next: Gloria ended with a reminder that the city is improving, but asked for patience.
- "The markers of our progress are all around and I'm here to tell you that there are even more ahead, all we have to do is choose to see it," he said.