By Kate Callen / June 16, 2025
Good afternoon.
As you know, community leaders in every district are fighting the City’s efforts to cram more housing into our neighborhoods – housing that is excessive in scale and expensive in price.
We’ve gotten to know one another at meetings like this, and we’ve talked about joining forces. Massive public outrage over monstrous Bonus ADUs has finally united us as
members of the new San Diego Community Coalition.
It is sad but true that local politicians only seem to care about three groups: the Chamber of Commerce, the building industry, and certain labor unions.
Going forward, the Community Coalition will expect your equal time and attention. This citywide alliance is three months old. It includes 26 communities, and it is growing. Neighbors for a Better San Diego helped launch us. Save Our Heritage Organization has joined us.
Our geographic reach extends from Encanto in the south to University City in the north, from El Cerrito in the east to Ocean Beach in the west.
Together, we will be relentless in fighting predatory development wherever it occurs. Together, we will demand that elected officials give us the respect you owe us. Today, we speak for tens of thousands of San Diegans who believe “4 Is Fair Everywhere.”
They know for a fact that Bonus ADUs will not solve the affordable housing crisis. And they know Bonus ADUs will never solve the homelessness crisis.
You insult your constituents when you pretend otherwise.
It is even more offensive to say that opposition to Bonus ADUs is rooted in racial prejudice and socioeconomic bias. And I’m sorry Mr. Elo-Rivera isn’t here – he’s been
missing from this meeting for quite some time.
If that’s the story you’re pushing, Coalition members in underserved communities like Encanto and Jamacha and Chollas Valley would like a word with you.
When you cast your vote today, remember that our Coalition communities are fighting predatory development together. And we will never stop fighting it together.
Thank you.
Kate is one of the founding members of the San Diego Community Coalition and is, of course, an administrator for the Rag — filling in for me while I’m recuperating.
Kate,
Thank you for attending on behalf of all the communities of San Diego, your remarks are spot-on.
Unfortunately, a reoccurring theme in these council meetings is the lack of council attention, and/or absence, when the constituents speak. Yesterday was not quite as bad as what we have seen in other meetings but definitely blatant.
We’ve heard Elo complain about protracted meetings but he misses the fact that 197 speakers is a by-product of bad, self-serving, misaligned governance. And if council members will not pay attention when the constituents speak, then they should forfeit their vote.
Wow! Great speech, Kate, it sounded scary just reading it and I’m not even a politician.
As a 48-year citizen of this city, I want to thank you and I think everyone should.
You put ’em on notice! Thanks, Kate. & here’s to our collective future as communities throughout the city working together for the benefit of all of our neighborhoods. Without the input of citizens from all over the city, ADU policy would have continued largely as is. Though we didn’t get all that we asked for, major improvements were made. And five council members showed some spine in resisting the mayor’s agenda. Your effectiveness and that of other leaders is much appreciated!
Well said, Kate; they aren’t scared yet but they should be. We are a force to be reckoned with and will only grow.
Thank you Kate! Thank you for always speaking up for us. Thank you for always calling these nitwits out for their lame actions, incompetence, and lobbyist loyalties. Thank you for always having our backs! You are a boss-lady who is not afraid to call council members to task and every resident of San Diego needs to know your name and should thank you for your level head and common sense because our council members obviously lack these same qualities!
I’d like to contribute to this new entity, the San Diego Community Coalition, as I do to NFABSD……however, I might contribute more if these were tax-deductible organizations.. ….But, I’m not sure if, given their role and goals, if this would be allowed in the US or Canada tax codes. Can anyone enlighten me on this??
Thanks Deb — you can still donate to the SD Community Coalition regardless. Once the dust settles over the ADU fight, we’ll contact you — and others — for a way to seamlessly donate to our coalition.
Deb, donations to political advocacy organizations are not tax deductible. They do not qualify as 501c3 charitable organizations.
It is sad but true that local politicians only seem to care about three groups: the Chamber of Commerce, the building industry, and certain labor unions.
Yes, and that is entirely what’s going on with Aguirre in the south supervisors race. As much as you all want Democrats to succeed, and I do, this race by the poor IB mayor, working class Aguirre has been financed by the special interests that run this town. Rottenstreich is the campaign mgr. and the unions are behind her. Sorry to say this is the first election I would agree to McCann, to break the political structure that is strangling common sense politics for San Diego. It’s obvious these groups are trying to consolidate more power thru the county sups. As much as I’m divesting myself of this platform, I find this needed to be said, that majorities still need checks and balances, and sometimes that means support for another side for insurance.
You also seem to avoid the fact that McCann is a member of the MAGA crowd. That is worse than any of your other claims.