Craig Klein’s views do not necessarily reflect those of the OB Rag
By Craig Klein
I’m voting for Larry Turner for mayor of San Diego. Here’s why.
This November, the voters of San Diego face a binary choice. To continue the way the City is going, under the leadership of a mayor whose policies over the last 3 1/2 years have been an absolute nightmare for the citizens of what once was America’s Finest City. Todd Gloria, the current incumbent, continues to push unrealistic, poorly thought out policies, particularly in the areas of land use and development, which if not stopped, will be the end of San Diego as we know it.
Without regard to the lack of infrastructure to support it, Mayor Gloria is pushing for massive increases in housing density, with plans already in place to allow for the the construction of a massive number of additional housing units in every residential neighborhood in the City, with no required off street parking. Of these units, only a small percentage are required to be “affordable” (using a formula for calculating “affordability which is beyond the reach of most San Diegans.)
The remainder of these units will be “market rate”, which based on what has been built so far, looks like between $3,500 to $4,000 a month for a 500 sq. ft. apartment, with no off street parking.
Already neighborhoods like North Park and Hillcrest have been devastated by the construction of multiple multi-story apartment buildings, with no off street parking, making the parking situations in these already fully built out neighborhoods incredibly challenging.
Mayor Gloria’s solution is that we are all going to get rid of our cars, ride bicycles, or take public transit. This solution is totally impractical. What about the construction worker who must transport tools and materials to job sites? How about the owners of electric vehicles, with no way to charge them overnight because the closest parking space they can find is three blocks away from their home? How about basing the criteria for current transit infrastructure in “Sustainable Development Areas” on SANDAG projections of what might be built by 2035?
Mayor Gloria refuses to listen to the voices of the neighborhoods. In recent months He has replaced the entire Hillcrest Planning Board, with a new Board filled with his pro development supporters. He has completely ignored the University City Community Plan and is pushing forward on a massive increase in housing density in University City, despite the lack of roadway, water, sewer, parks, and educational infrastructure to support the increased density.
The proposed “Midway Rising” project would add thousands of housing units in the Sports Arena district, very few of which will actually be “affordable”, but the majority of which will lack adequate vehicle parking. Did I bother to mention that the developer awarded the Midway Rising project donated more than $100,000 to Todd Gloria’s campaign in 2020?
I haven’t even talked about the homeless crisis, which has continued to escalate under Mayor Gloria’s leadership, or 101 Ash Street, or the other idiotic real estate deals entered into by the City. Simply put, Mayor Gloria has a record, and it’s not good. San Diego can’t survive another four years of Todd Gloria.
Enter Larry Turner. Who is he?
To start with, he’s not a politician. He’s a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel, who currently serves as a community relations officer in the San Diego Police Department. He has always been an independent, with no affiliation to either of the major political parties. He’s not taking money from any source associated with any political party. He took second place in the Spring Primary Election on a shoestring budget, raised entirely from grass roots donations.
Larry has stated that he has no political ambitions for higher office beyond Mayor of San Diego. He says his primary goal is to be a servant of the citizens of San Diego and to promote policies consistent with the desires of the citizens. He has stated that he believes in the importance of Community Planning Groups and Community Plans and that the Mayor and City Council should listen to the neighborhoods regarding development and land use issues.
Some people will no doubt say that we don’t know enough about Larry Turner. Some may distrust his background of military service, or his current occupation as a police officer. Some may say that Todd Gloria, with all his faults, is the “Devil we know”, and that Turner is the unknown prize behind door number two. I say that we know of the damage Todd Gloria has already done to our city and that we can anticipate the additional harm he will cause if re-elected.
I’m willing to vote for change, because, simply put, we just can’t do any worse than Todd Gloria for four more years in the Mayor’s Office.
Craig Klein has been an Ocean Beach resident since 1985, an on-and-off member of the Ocean Beach Planning Board for 15 years, a graduate of USD School of Law, and a regular surfer of Sunset Cliffs since 1978.
While I agree whole-heartedly with you Craig, I’m still a little bothered about how Turner wound up on the ballot. Turner needed to have registered to vote in the city by November 7 of last year and I have never seen anything to show that he did. Turner seems like a good guy but his story makes no sense to me. I certainly won’t vote for Gloria but I’m not sure Turner gets my vote unless he finally clears this up.
Thx much for sharing your informed thoughts about the mayoral race, and your disappointment/disillusionment with Mayor Gloria.
I think many of us will vote for Larry Turner to send a message that we are unsatisfied with the Mayor’s policies — from land use, to homelessness, to infrastructure and the lack of constituent response.
With these two choices, I am skipping past the Mayor section this year. Yikes.
Skipping voting for Mayor this year probably guarantees another four years of Todd Gloria. So I guess what you are saying is either that you don’t care about the future of San Diego, or you have given up all hope and resigned yourself to the continued degradation of our community.
We all have our flaws.
Hey Chris, everyone’s opinions and thoughts ought to be respected, but I have noticed in the last few OB Rag pieces about the mayor’s race, all you have to contribute is, “Wow these two candidates equally suck, guess I’m gonna sit this one out fellas.”
I do wish you would share more as to your reasoning, because the mayor’s race really is too important to be so blasé and apathetic towards. Honestly, your opinion barely constitutes an opinion because you haven’t shared much of your own thoughts or context. Is a corrupt candidate just as bad as someone inexperienced? Is a political insider preferable to someone who might seem out of their depth?
I’m sorry to sound more aggressive than I mean to be, but to proudly sit on the fence and proclaim that this election is a waste of everyone’s time is just really weak. It won’t send a message to anyone other than that everyday San Diegans will roll over and accept anything that comes to them.
“Hey Chris, everyone’s opinions and thoughts ought to be respected”
Where have I said otherwise?
@but to proudly sit on the fence and proclaim that this election is a waste of everyone’s time is just really weak.@
You’re reading WAY too far into this. Nowhere did I say this election is a waste of anyone’s time. All I said is I’m skipping over the mayor section, and I stand by that. I don’t like either of the candidates. It’s as simple as that.
The blueberry vs cherry kool-aid section here is comical. And the problem. Cali will take your money and the reps don’t want public input or accountability. I will vote for Turner and Hoskins.
Thank you Craig Klein! Well said and factual.
larryturnerformayor.com
I am reminded that in 2016, progressives in certain Midwest states who couldn’t bring themselves to vote for Hillary Clinton voted for a third party candidate, Jill Stein, thereby throwing the presidency to Trump.
I read comments in this publications suggesting the same thing is about to happen in our mayoralty election. Not voting for Todd Gloria, no matter what you think of him, is a vote for a Republican masquerading as an Independent.
We face an existential threat in this election of unparalleled dimensions and the only way to defeat the forces of darkness is to vote for Democrats up and down the ballot.
And don’t forget that progressive voters supporting Ralph Nader (you know who you are – some of you still have Ralph Nader bumper stickers on your Priuses!) pretty much gave the presidency to George W. Bush.
How could I have forgotten about that? One need not look any further for the proximate consequences than Bush put Alito on the SCT bench and Trump put on the other three guaranteeing for a generation more decisions infringing on abortion rights, gun control and, in a short time, the horrors of what those so-called justices have in mind for us by the end of this month.
I guess progressives, having no real power in our political system because they are unable to attract enough voters to enact their policies and agendas, engage in campaigns for protest votes in a vainglorious show of pseudo power notwithstanding the obvious consequences.
Some of the comments which follow demonstrate the lengths to which pople will try to offer excuses, i.e., local elections, electoral college states solidly Democratic, to avoid their share of the collective blame for putting these Republicans into power over all of us
I respect your position regarding what happened in 2016 with Jill Stein’s voters throwing the election to Trump. I would just ask you, are you ready for the additional damage Todd Gloria will inflict on out city if he is re-elected. Local issues are not National Issues and your statement regarding facing an existential threat in this election of unparalleled dimensions and the only way to defeat the forces of darkness is to vote for Democrats up and down the ballot, is a bit over the top. I guess what you are saying is that you will always support the Democratic Party candidate, even in an election for a non-partisan office, no matter how bad that candidate is. The biggest threat to San Diego right now is stupid land use policies, densification, and over development, without sufficient infrastructure to support it. On this issue I doubt that Mr. Turner could be any worse than Todd Gloria.
Hey Carl, I understand your concerns about the current national political climate and I think in terms of the country as a whole, the trend you describe is very real. However (and I am not trying to run cover for the Turner campaign!), your projection of national trends onto our local politics in the way that you describe I think is very far-fetched. If we were talking about a Carl Demaio or a Kevin Faulconer, you might have a point. But the reasoning you give to vote for a political insider is not really strong at all. Provably, many of the political slime that worked inside of the SDGOP 10 years ago now work inside of the SD Democratic Party. That kind of contradicts the argument you made. No doubt if this city ever went “red” again, many people you see as loyal “blue” warriors would slide into the new regime because ultimately that is how political opportunists and bureaucrats work.
This is no criticism of the Democratic Party itself, but rather the 2 party system as a whole. There will always a place for these people, and to pinch our nose and “vote blue no matter who” is to be ignorant of the realities we are facing. At least if we are going to continue to elect Democrats, we need to apply pressure to make them bend to the people’s will, which we have failed to do. Who benefits if we continue to be good little cogs in the machine? Certainly not I. (Still not an endorsement of Larry T., but we all really ought to give this election more thought)
I would also vote for Turner.
However, the growth of Airbnb taking long term rentals away from the likes of me has me leaving Ocean Beach – my home for almost fifteen years.
Prices are now beyond me – housing costs all across San Diego are sky high, unless one has a fat purse.
Perhaps Turner will truly work with city government to return some of the power to the “little people” and away from the corporate interests which hold so many of the cards right now.
A vote for Larry Turner is a vote for a Republican. He’s supported by the Lincoln Club (or at least attends their events). He’s beloved by the San Diego Tax Payers Association, a reactionary organization dedicated to destroying local governments and their ability to provide essential services. It’s not more complicated than that.
Also Craig you write a lot about the high cost of housing and the lack of dedicated “affordable” housing. Since you’re someone who owns property and apartments in OB, do you let the market set your rents or do you dedicate a specific amount for low-income San Diegans?
I think our tenants would say that our rents are below market. Just for giggles, do you know what Todd Gloria’s formula for calculating “Low income affordable housing” is? Also, do you think that a policy that allows the developer to build 10 units on a lot zoned for a single family home, and only “affordable” restrict 2 of the units is going to create appreciably more “affordable” housing?
An independent is a GOPher? And the taxpayers association is a pretty neutral organization actually favoring infrastructure. I don’t see your factual connection.
Get out of the uniparty mindset. Calling anyone out because of their party affiliation is just another fear tactic. The party that is serving the wealthy is both parties. Identity politics has paved the way to the horror of current policies. The Mayor race is supposed to be apolitical, and if you are happy with the ‘new’ San Diego that is happening now, then you will vote again for TG. I will not. Larry Turner is an Independent, always has been, so if you are going to call him out, WHAT policy of his do you not like? Homelessness is his top priority. Hmmmmm. He has some real solutions to this problem. Hmmmmm.
Tell me you’ve never met the man without telling me. People within either political cult will only ever vote within their own cult. It’s just the way they both work these days. Extremists on both sides that say anyone outside of their group is a threat because they’re part of this other evil group. As George Washington warned us, political parties will tend to put their party allegiance over their allegiance to their country. Grouping an independent candidate to the other cult you vilify as your only reasoning to retain a severely failed mayor is the exactly what he warned us about.
Well written, thank you! I couldn’t agree more about Todd Gloria’s inept leadership and ways he has pushed his own agendas for his own gain. That combined with his control over the City Council and the apathy or forgiveness from San Diego residents has already destroyed San Diego. The high density plan threatens the mental health and well being of current residents. There is no appreciation of quality of life. The question is, do we have any chance of turning things around? I’m appreciative of people who are willing to fight for something they value, so thank you again for speaking up!
WE DO HAVE A CHANCE TO TURN THINGS AROUND, WE JUST HAVE TO GET ACTIVE AND DO IT.
Go to his web site: https://larryturnerformayor.com/. Get involved, get a yard sign, better yet, get 2 (or more) yard signs. Tell all your friends. A lot of people are disgusted with Todd Gloria, but Turner has low name recognition. Get the word out, WE CAN DO THIS!!!
If the great o ran beach community goes down it is because people put their Gai in political leaders and not helping your fellow neighbor out we need caring people not bad politicians
Ocean beach is great place great community people help people not politicians
Craig, Thank you for provoking a thoughtful conversation about this issue. Todd Gloria has been no friend to the beach communities and I will not be voting for him.
It is a BAD idea to link local issues and elections to national issues. Voting down the entire ballot for one party is what is destroying the USA. Todd Gloria is a crook, as demonstrated by his choice of his $100,000 donor and his backing by developers of all the “FAKE” affordable housing.
If for no other reason, vote to eliminate the echo chamber of a single political party. We cannot have a balanced government, or represent diverse interests, if all our electeds are cut from the same cloth. Vote for balance.
Hey recently visited and for most part love the vibe. However when many rentals (read most) look like…well…shite I feel bad for the renters. By the way the inside of some of these shacks is amazing. This isn’t about the renters. When the majority of places are less than presentable that induces an environment of “take it or leave it” and frankly that is a buzz kill. Rules should be in place and standards of upkeep imposed. If you can’t afford the upkeep of the property then sell. The alternative of renting a 400 square ft shack with the original kitchen and bathroom is appalling. Renters stand up for your rights or continue to pay outrageous sums for sub standard housing. Elect people who are looking to help the majority not prop up the minority.
Or if you don’t like the property move? It’s a two way street. Usually conditions are inspected prior to renting? No? Use and upkeep contributes to rents. Broken things should be fixed. But why on a thread about the mayoral election? A Gloria shill?
To some people, the “original kitchen and bathroom” says “historic,” not “appalling.” We all have our own taste, and as a matter of fact, I still have my 1953 kitchen (and bathroom).
Hello OB, a shill lol. I know nothing about either candidate. I was visiting my daughter who lives in OB near beautiful Sunset Cliffs. My point about supply and demand is that this can be manipulated. If all of the owners of property do nothing to enhance their property in conjunction with no new housing starts then this is not really capitalism as intended by Adam Smith. Even in Massachusetts where I live commercial real estate owners are guilty of holding their properties off the market waiting for prices to rise instead of following what the market dictates. Could it be they have made so much money they can afford to ignore what the market dictates. Now all the supposed capitalists will chime in, “it’s their property” Ugh.
Oh, a fan in the stands with little skin in the game and plenty of input. Gotcha.
Todd Gloria is ruining San Diego, and another four years of him, will consolidate his high density in Non-existant public transportation areas policy. Even though I’m a life-long democrat , I’m voting for Larry Turner.
Go to his web site: https://larryturnerformayor.com/. Get involved, get a yard sign, better yet, get 2 (or more) yard signs. Tell all your friends. A lot of people are disgusted with Todd Gloria, but Turner has low name recognition. Get the word out, WE CAN DO THIS!!!
Craig well said!!! I listened to Larry Turner speak recently, and he has my vote. Voters of San Diego can change the landscape-to-come if we get Gloria and council members OUT! Drive around San Diego, take pictures of the high density high rise buidings from Mission Valley to Hillcrest, Normal Heights, and now in OB/PL. The buildings are real and going up in record speed because of Gloria’s executive orders expediate projects, waive zoning laws, environmental impact laws, and coastal zone laws. While the buildings are real, the “new executve orders” because they are based on a formula that allows builders to call projects affordable when they are not. Good trick, so that government agenda of doubling population is married to wealthy investors who buy our land and build skyward. We citizens have no power because the plans and ‘orders’ are in place, and the rush to build is NOW. They are counting on residents like us to fumble and fail. They don’t know OBceans–do they? We may just fumble over the goal line and save our beach community.
When Todd Gloria rides a bicycle to his meetings and events, I’ll reconsider. Until then, let’s be skeptical about what he says and what he does.
When Toad and the City Clowncil take public transit to and from “work” every single day…
I’ve said this before, but I think it bears repeating.
When we were doing the planning for the Terminal 2 expansion at SDIA, the City and SANDAG were vehemently opposed to any new parking structures. Their position was that anyone coming to the airport should be in some form of shared ride vehicle – bus, taxi, uber, etc. – and that, in particular, there should be no accommodations for single occupant vehicles. I.e., no parking spaces for business travelers taking short trips driving to and parking at the airport.
I will point out that both SANDAG and the city are located very conveniently near the Airport Flyer bus line, a high frequency bus service directly to the airport. We had members of our governing board who took public transportation (Coaster, Trolley, Airport Flyer) to our board meetings, but every single time we met with other government representatives, they drove in single occupant vehicles, and lined up to have us validate their parking.
What is good for thee is not good for me, I guess. Public transportation is only for the plebs, not the planning department, SANDAG or the mayor’s staff.
Kudos to the former bike coordinator for SANDAG, who I used to see riding to and from work (in a business suit!) on his bicycle.
Whether it’s my car or an Uber, BFD, you’ve done nothing. At least my car is one trip vs. two Ubers. Geniuses!
O ly caring people. Only caring ly can solve the housing / homelessness crisiy not the MAYOR NOT GND MAYOR OR ANY POLITICIY
where did the initial plan for all these bike plans come from? not our current mayor…Homelessness is a problem all over this state, how can we blame our current Mayor…he is doing more than the last mayer did to improve things
The plan came from Circulate SD – which surprise, surprise, has corporate supporters a mile long.
Because he is in charge here and nothing is being done. It doesn’t take much effort to understand that illegal drug us on city streets is permitted and therefore rampant. He permits it he’s promoting it. He makes it worse by doing nothing. Who cares where a problem started, he took the job on and has chosen to do nothing to solve it, just move it around and and make some social media posts about it. He is interested in himself and career aspirations, not the average citizen. And saying someone is better than the previous guy does not address is he the guy we should hire. the guy who has proven to be a failure for 4 years or someone with experience and a plan to get the job done?
Noodle this around for a little bit. If Gloria wins the Mayorship and gets a call to go to D.C. Sean Elo Rivera becomes the acting mayor. Scared enough yet?
I refuse to vote for Gloria however I am dismayed that when I reached out to the Turner campaign for more information they never got back to me–for someone that is running as an underdog that is inexcusable
Peter: I understand your frustration. I have been actively volunteering for Turner for a couple of months now, and still have occasional problems getting follow up communication from the campaign. Please keep in mind that Turner is running a grass roots campaign, without a lot of big $$$ donors to finance a “major party” type of campaign staffing and response. Please consider that when you place your vote.