By Ron Donoho / San Diego Sun / October 6, 2025
With increased fees for parking meters and car-related violations making headlines this year, it would seem fair and prudent (if not legally mandated) for elected officials to follow the same laws as their constituents.
On a regular basis, however, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s official vehicle is parked near City Hall on Third Avenue near C Street in seeming violation of three parking laws.
The San Diego Sun photographed the mayor’s black Chevrolet SUV (with exempt license plate) parked in a red zone, too close to an intersection (per the city’s “daylighting” law) and partially blocking a driveway for the San Diego Civic Center Stage Door.
Speaking anonymously, a city employee with specific knowledge of the situation said, “The mayor parks there all day, every day. He’s the mayor. When are people going to realize poor people get ticketed and the rich people can do anything?”
Publicly detested parking meter fees, parking violation fines and many city services were increased this year as Mayor Gloria’s administration attempted to balance a city budget burdened with a quarter-billion-dollar deficit.
The daylighting law went into effect January 1, 2025, and the city began enforcing it on March 1. The law mandates that cars not be parked within 20 feet of a sidewalk at an intersection (even if the curb has not yet been painted red). The intent is to improve intersection visibility for drivers and pedestrians.
In the case of the mayor’s car being parked on Third Avenue, the curb is painted red and C Street is a thoroughfare fraught with unusual peril since it includes trolley tracks.
The city of San Diego issued 13,000 daylighting citations totalling $1.4 million from March 1 to September 18, according to The San Diego Union Tribune.
This year, the daylighting fee was increased to $117.50 from $65. If the mayor’s car was parked in this spot a roughly estimated 145 working days after enforcement, the accumulated fee just for daylighting would be $17,037.50.
According to San Diego Municipal Code Section 81.0104: “…Official vehicles displaying “exempt” license plates may park at meters without payment. They are also permitted to park longer than the time limit posted on meters…This exemption does not apply to commercial loading zones, red zones, bus stops, taxi stands, and passenger (white) zones that are otherwise reserved for special types of vehicles or specific activities. All other violations are subject to citation.”
The Sun sought comment from the mayor’s office and from the city department that oversees Parking, Community Parking Districts, Shuttle Services, Shared Mobility Devices. Neither spokesperson responded by press time.
UPDATE: After publication of this article, a San Diego Police Department spokesperson emailed The Sun a statement indicating the parking spot for the mayor’s vehicle would be changed to a new, undisclosed location. The statement read:
“The Mayor’s vehicle is part of SDPD’s Executive Protection Detail and its parking is determined by public safety considerations to allow for the Mayor’s safe and efficient access to and from City Hall. In an environment where we’re seeing increasing threats on public officials across the nation, SDPD has identified a new area that provides the same level of safety and efficiency in accordance with traffic safety laws.”
Attorney Mitchell Mehdy, who since 1988 has been known locally as “Mr. Ticket,” said rules should apply to everyone.
“If it’s an ambulance or an emergency situation, parking in a red zone is acceptable,” Mehdy said. “But they’re red zones because they’re unsafe, hazardous areas for some reason. People who work for the government should not be above those they are governing.”
Allowing an elected leader to flaunt the rules sets a dangerous precedent, Mehdy said.
“Today’s greatest danger is the temptation of power,” he said. “It’s intoxicating. We see it in all levels of government. In San Diego, can’t the city just issue the mayor a parking space in a city lot?” SDSun
Paul Krueger wrote the Rag:
I think it’s worth posting Ron Donoho’s story about the Mayor’s security detail parking his SUV in red zones, at curbs, and within 20 feet of curbs.
Yes, other mayors have done that, but what makes Gloria’s case worse is that he’s imposing much bigger fines for San Diegans who violate parking laws, and his minions have issued thousands of $100-plus “daylighting” citations to San Diegans who park within 20 feet of a curb, even when that curb has not been painted red and/or no signage has been erected to inform motorists of this new traffic law. Worse, the UT recently ran a story about how most of these citations are being issued in the lower-middle/middle-class areas mid-city/North Park area, where parking is very limited, due to state and local laws that allow/encourage developers to build high-density apartments with no parking.
Also, Donoho didn’t just document the Mayor’s “My bodyguards can park anywhere, any time, so who cares if you can’t find a parking space” mentality. Donoho pressed the issue with city officials, who now say the mayor’s SUV will no longer be parked in such obviously law-breaking locations.
I definitely think Donoho’s story — and my earlier posting of those same photos and other photos that show Sean Elo-Rivera and Rep Sara Jacobs getting reserved parking at the overcrowded, parking-deficient College-Rolando library — have struck a nerve with the public.
People are pissed about the doubling of parking meter fees — from $1.25 an hour to $2.50 — “surge pricing” at Gaslamp area (and wider) parking meters to $10 an hour for “special events,” paid parking in Balboa Park, and soon to come at the beaches, if the Mayor and Elo Rivera have their way… trash fees, a huge proposed incease in water and sewer bills, etc.
I’ve gotten more than 8,000 views on my Nextdoor re-post of Ron’s story… thousands more than the usual response. I think that number reflects people’s anger with the mayor and (some of the council’s) “Parking for me, but not for thee” attitude.”
Not that I care for the can’t park closer than 20′ from a crosswalk, that fact is that the Mayor has some leeway because of the mere fact of being the Mayor of San Diego. Whether you like it or not or anybody else, he has perks along with his security details for, yep, being the Mayor of San Diego.
I think it would be more wise to write about all the condo housing being built with no requirement for off street parking.
Just my two cents
The City only approves the building of overpriced apartments by the thousands with no offstreet parking. No condos, nor houses are being built for sale to the public, by design while politicos run interference for Real Estate Investment Trusts outdid humans in order to buy up every home that comes onto the market fir sale. It is called the Politico-Corporate Monopolization of Housing.
The rules are being “flouted” by the mayor, not flaunted.
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others…” – George Orwell.
I’ve told this story in this space before, but I feel it bears repeating. When I was employed at the airport we had frequent meetings in our offices with representatives from SANDAG and the city, including elected representatives. Many of those meetings involved our plan to build parking structures in front of T1 and T2 which both agencies were vehemently opposed to. They repeated over and over that no one should be driving a single occupant vehicle to the airport, that only transit and shared ride vehicles should be allowed.
After each meeting they would hand us their parking tickets for validation (i.e., free parking) even though both agencies were located very near to the airport flyer bus route with 15 minute headways. Apparently, they were much too important to lower themselves to ride the bus, which should be reserved for the plebes like you and I.
I know this is petty, but, like the mayor’s parking habits, it reflects the mindset of too many in our local government.
Oh, by the way, I received a “daylight” parking ticket on the second day of enforcement for parking in front of my house, even though the announced enforcement was said by the city to not include residential areas predominantly residential areas. So it goes.
First thing….the entire 2nd floor of the city’s parking garage is reserved for the mayor and city council members. Why doesn’t his crew park the mayor’s ride in his designated parking spot that is denied to the public.and city employees?
Second thing….why does our tiny mayor need a full blown, pollution spewing Chevy Suburban to drive his tiny a$$ all around town? Why doesn’t he have an efficient electric car?
I don’t think high profile politicians can park in designated spots anymore. Makes it too easy to target them.
Do as I say. NOT as I do.
Simple enough? they will always have excuses.
Why does Todd in his spare time paint the curb white and mark it reserved?
Its an INSULT that they do this and are always defended or justified in the actions
Easier still, cant they not just dropped him at the steps of city hall, find a nearby parking spot and then pick him up as needed? OR is this yet another slap in the face to his employers (us the payers)