By MEgain Erlise
In Mayor Todd Gloria’s recent newsletter, in the portion titled: “Advancing Social Equity as a Core Principle at the City of San Diego,” there’s a discernible tone that’s hard to miss – it feels almost dismissive, as if our long-standing efforts and struggles in this area are being relegated to a mere footnote in the city’s list of achievements.
The Mayor’s communication seems to imply that we should feel grateful for any acknowledgment, however fleeting or insubstantial. It’s perplexing, and perhaps, disrespectful.
The accomplishments the newsletter lists reads in part:
Funded the City’s first Cannabis Equity assessment, paving the way for a cannabis equity program to ensure that the City is ridding the local cannabis industry of institutional racism and systemic disparities
Helped secure a State grant for more than $880,000 to support residents seeking to enter the legal cannabis industry in San Diego through funding to cover permit and license fees and associated start-up property costs while providing access to the cannabis industry workforce
For nearly five years, we’ve been championing the cause of social equity, which now appears to be repackaged as ‘cannabis equity.’ This shift in terminology is not just a matter of semantics but reflects a broader trend of evasiveness and ambiguity that’s become all too familiar in our quest for equity.
There’s also a glaring omission in the Mayor’s message. While acknowledging the state funding, the newsletter fails to mention the additional one million dollars secured through the City Council’s efforts. This point is crucial because when the Mayor had the opportunity to supplement the state funding with city funds, he chose not to, leaving it to the City Council to fill the gap. This action, or lack thereof, speaks volumes about the commitment to this cause.
Furthermore, the Mayor’s approach of bundling everything under an ‘equity’ umbrella, alongside affordable housing and mental services, raises more questions than it answers. Are we now competing with other critical needs for attention and resources? And how does this rebranding affect the groundwork we’ve already laid?
Representing a community bewildered by these political maneuvers, I find myself seeking clarity amidst the confusion of changing terminologies and shifting deadlines. It’s not just about the fight for cannabis or social equity; it’s about addressing the cumulative impact of generational trauma, a plight that communities of color in San Diego have long endured. The failed War on Drugs has left deep scars, manifesting in various forms of societal neglect and systemic injustice. And yet, there seems to be no comprehensive plan to address this legacy of suffering.
I hesitate to sound cynical, but the repetitive narrative of ‘we got you’ and ‘keep fighting’ rings hollow when, with every step we take towards progress, the finish line seems to be pushed further back. Our community deserves more than just platitudes; we deserve concrete action and genuine commitment.
I sincerely hope that my interpretation of the Mayor’s message is mistaken, and I welcome any clarification or insight that might shed light on these concerns. But as it stands, the struggle for true equity and justice in San Diego feels far from over.
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MEgain’s words are invaluable to this discussion. Thank you!
Well said. The Mayor’s words do not reflect his actions when it comes to cannabis social equity.
Todd Gloria has never done a single noble, nor equitable thing in entire his life. No corrupted San Diego Mayor has betrayed the public trust, defied his constituents, ingratiated themselves on corporate donors, while bleeding the public dry more than the Gloria hole. He should not only be removed from office, but he should be brought up on criminal charges.
Interestingly, an acquaintance of mine works for him and is the first to admit she would not vote for him if it wasn’t for the fact that he’s her boss.
Also what interesting to me, quite a few people in my area (Hillcrest) can’t stand him as a human being but voted for him anyway due things they think will personally benefit them.
Gotta love not only crooked elected officials but admittedly crooked voters.
Well said, Chris.
At my advanced age, I now vote my conscience.
There is a reason voting is still (hopefully) a secret here in the U.S.
I ran against Todd Gloria for Mayor four years ago. The media refused to cover my ideas.
The solution to housing the homeless, reducing rents and making San Diego home ownership available to our children is to remove the sale of land from the cost of housing.
Approximately 25% of the price of every real estate sale in San Diego is the land cost.
Remove the sale of land by leasing the land instead of selling it is the solution.
The San Diego Port District is the model for a government agency that is self supported by its leasing of the tidelands.
The next Mayor will no longer sell city owned land. He will make City owned land available to lease for 60 years for projects that are designated for low and moderate income. Any rezones will require the developer to sell his land to the City at the price of the land before the rezone. The City will lease back the land on that price amortized over 60 years.
The solution for the pension program is to put all new employees for any City of San Diego job on Social security.
The real solution is a visionary project to develop Horton Plaza as a “fifteen minute city.”
The idea of a “fifteen minute city” is all functions of a city should be accessible to the residents within 15 minutes of where they live. Building a high rise on Horton Plaza that is a “fifteen minute city” with each level devoted to different city needs allows a resident to access everything they need, jobs, retail, business, government and more without ever leaving the project. Parking would be retained for those shopping in the lower levels. The trolley and bus lines would obviate the need for residents to have cars on site.
I am supporting Dan Smiechowski for Mayor because he will implement these solutions to the night mare that is Todd Gloria’s San Diego.