>> GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR THE SAN DIEGO MAYORAL DEBATE ON KPBS, PART OF OUR MEMBERS PROJECT WITH NEW SOURCE AND SAN DIEGO.

I AM INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER AMITA SHARMA.

TONIGHT, WE WILL HEAR FROM INCUMBENT SAN DIEGO MAYOR TODD GLORIA AND CHALLENGER LARRY TURNER ABOUT THEIR VISIONS FOR SAN DIEGO AND HOW THEY WOULD SOLVE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES HERE IN CALIFORNIA'S SECOND LARGEST CITY.

THEY WILL BE ASKING -- ANSWERING QUESTIONS POSED BY OUR ANALYST, ANDREW BOWEN , JAMIE SELF AND CO AND EDITOR IN CHIEF SCOTT LEWIS.

TONIGHT'S DEBATE WILL FOCUS ON THREE AREAS.

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND MONEY MATTERS.

BOTH FOR THE CITY BUDGET AND THE SAN DIEGO RESIDENTS.

THIS WILL BE OUR FORMAT.

EACH PANELIST WILL ASK A QUESTION .

WE WILL GET TWO MINUTES FOR ANSWERS.

THERE IS A CLOCK IN FRONT OF THE STAGE SO CANDIDATES CAN KEEP TRACK OF THE TIME.

WE WILL ALLOW OPPORTUNITIES FOR REBUTTAL AND ARMY REDIRECT A QUESTION AS STATED.

AT THE END OF THIS HOUR, EACH CANDIDATE WILL GET 90 SECONDS FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS.

OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE HAS BEEN ASKED TO HOLD THEIR APPLAUSE SO THAT EACH CANDIDATE GETS PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE THEIR POINT.

BEFORE THIS BROADCAST, WE HAD A COIN TOSS TO DETERMINE WHO WOULD BEGIN THE FINAL CLOSING STATEMENT.

THE WINNER OF THE TOSS WAS MAYOR GLORIA.

BEFORE WE BEGIN TO DISCUSS HOUSING, WE WANT TO GIVE EACH CANDIDATE ONE MINUTE TO TELL VOTERS WHY THEY SHOULD BE ELECTED.

MR. TURNER, WE BEGIN WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS EVENT.

IT IS GREAT YOU GET A CHANCE TO TALK WITH A BIG GROUP OF PEOPLE OUT HERE.

I ALWAYS LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY VISION FOR THE CITY.

I HAVE SERVED YOU ALL FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

I WAS OFTEN IN THE SHADOWS DOING AROUND THE WORLD.

I DID 23 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WHERE I SERVED IN COMBAT OPERATIONS, HUMANITARIAN RELIEF OPERATIONS, AND I LET THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD AND HEADED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE BUDGET.

WHEN I CONNECT TO SAN DIEGO, THAT WAS THE THING.

I WOULD STAY HERE, I WANTED TO ENJOY SAN DIEGO.

UNFORTUNATELY, SOME THINGS WENT WRONG WHILE I WAS AWAY MOST OF THE TIME.

I ENDED UP JOINING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO HELP THE CITY AND THE BEST WAY THAT I COULD.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT AND I WANTED TO BE OUT THERE HELPING IN ANY WAY THAT I COULD IT I JOINED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THE S.W.A.T.

TEAM, A PATROL OFFICER, I TRAINED NEW OFFICERS, THEN I BECAME A COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER.

I HAVE BEEN OUT THERE SERVING YOU FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

IN CHURCHES, AND SCHOOLS, EVERYBODY OUT THERE, I REALLY HAVE A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF SAN DIEGO AND WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY WORKING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, IN MY EXPERIENCE -- >> WE WILL HAVE GIUSEPPE THERE.

MR. GLORIA?

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AMY THIRD-GENERATION SAN DIEGO AND.

IN THE SENATE TO WORKING-CLASS PARENTS, WHO RAISED MY BROTHER AND I TO BELIEVE THAT RESPONSE ABILITY IN LIFE IS TO MAKE THINGS BETTER THAN YOU FOUND THEM.

THAT REALLY WAS A RECIPE FOR A CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

I HAVE BEEN HONORED TO SERVE MY HOMETOWN THROUGHOUT MY CAREER AS A HOUSING COMMISSIONER, AS A CITY COUNSELOR, MAYOR AS WELL.

I HAVE HAD SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THIS CENTURY.

LITTLE PANDEMIC, ECONOMIC RECESSION, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL UNREST.

IT HAS CHALLENGED US GREATLY.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TACKLE ALL OF THOSE CHALLENGES WILL MAKING MEANINGFUL PROGRESS ON ISSUES LIKE HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, AND ON CRIME.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE ABOUT MY RECORD AND WHY I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO LEAVE MY HOMETOWN FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

>> OKAY.

NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE FIRST TOPIC, WHICH IS HOUSING.

JAMIE, THE FIRST QUESTION?

>> THE FIRST QUESTION FOR YOU, MR. TURNER.

IN SAN DIEGO, EACH MONTH, MORE PEOPLE BECOME HOMELESS THAN FIND HOUSING.

YOU HAVE BEEN A VOCAL CRITIC OF THE MAYOR'S APPROACH TO DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY.

AND ALSO HIS PROPOSED THOUSAND BED SHELTER NEAR THE AIRPORT.

IF YOU ARE ELECTED, WHAT IS YOUR SPECIFIC PLAN TO CREATE SHELTER FOR UNHOUSED SAN DIEGO?

AND HOW WOULD IT DIFFER FROM THE WORK THAT THE MAYOR AND HIS TEAM ARE ALREADY DOING?

>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW ON WHAT THE PROBLEM REALLY IS.

I HAVE A FEW FROM TALKING TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREET, ALL OF THE SERVICE PEOPLE, I HAVE SEEN WHAT HAS WORKED.

WE USE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM.

THE DIAGNOSES HE IS USING IS WHY IT IS FAILING.

EVEN FOUR YEARS AGO, FATHER JOE ALERTED US ALL THAT THE PLAN WAS NOT GOING TO WORK, IT IS GOING TO FAIL, AND IT HAS.

IT HAS BEEN INCREASING, EVEN BY HIS OWN NUMBERS, IT HAS INCREASED BY DOUBLE.

IT IS MORE THAN THAT.

LACES THAT WE UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT COUNT, WE DO NOT COUNT ACCURATELY, THERE ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE HIDE.

THE MAYOR HAS PEOPLE PUSHED OFF ONTO CALTRANS PROPERTY WHERE THEY DO NOT COUNT AS SAN DIEGO ANYMORE.

THERE WILL BE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH ON HOW WE WILL TACKLE THIS PROBLEM.

UNDERSTANDING THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE CUSTOMERS OF THE SERVICES WE WILL PROVIDE.

THE FIRST THING I DO, DAY ONE, WE HAVE TO PUT TOURNIQUETS ON ALL THE BEDS THAT WE ARE LOSING.

HE HAS HAD TEMPORARY BANDAGE APPROACHES TO THIS.

MANY OF THESE BEDS WILL BE GONE IN JANUARY.

HE WILL TOUT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE NEW SHELTER OPPORTUNITIES.

THEY ARE NOT BEDS.

HE HAS CHANGED THE DEFINITION OF THAT TO LIVING IN A PARKING LOT OR YOUR CAR, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

THAT IS NOT HELPFUL TO THESE PEOPLE.

BUT WE HAVE TO GET IN THERE, WE HAVE TO STOP THE BLEEDING, WHATEVER IT TAKES, WE HAVE TO STOP THOSE BEDS.

WE WILL HAVE 1000 PEOPLE ON THE STREET IN JANUARY.

SO, RIGHT AWAY, WHEN I COME IN TO DO THAT, AFTER THAT, IT IS ABOUT THE CLUSTER SYSTEM.

THIS IS A THING WE DO IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

USAID DID IT ALL OVER THE PLACE.

BRING IN ALL OF THOSE NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, ALL OF THE GREAT PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING, BRING THEM TO THE TABLE AND COME UP WITH AGREEABLE DEFINITIONS OF SUCCESS, AGREEABLE DEFINITIONS OF WHAT THOSE METRICS ARE GOING TO BE, HOW WE WILL JUDGE THEM ON THAT.

WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING, HOW IT IS BEING SPENT.

ANOTHER THING IS THAT WE START TO LOOK AT -- THE POINT PERSON ON THIS.

WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SYSTEM THAT I TALKED ABOUT.

AND THEN GOING ON A LITTLE FURTHER, WE HAVE TO HAVE SEPARATION OF THE PEOPLE AND NOT JUST A GIANT THOUSAND BED FACILITY.

EVERYONE IS AGAINST THAT.

THE IBA, THE CITY ATTORNEY, EVEN THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE ON HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS SAYS THAT IS HORRIBLE.

>> McCUE, MR. TURNER.

MAYOR GLORIA, OBVIOUSLY THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR YOUR ADMINISTRATION.

MR. TURNER MENTIONED THE ROLE THAT TENANTS HAVE PLAYED IN YOUR SOLUTION.

OF COURSE, WHEN YOU PITCH THE CAMPING BAN LAST YEAR, YOU PROMISED TO INCREASE INDOOR SHELTER CAPACITY.

TODAY, MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE OPTIONS ARE TENSE AND TEMPORARY CAMPSITES THAT THE CITY HAS SET UP.

YOU HAVE SAID YOURSELF THAT THIS IS NOT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

SO WHY SHOULD VOTERS AND TRUST YOU WITH RESOLVING THIS ISSUE MOVING FORWARD?

>> SURE.

I WOULD JUST REFLECT THAT THERE WAS NO -- AND MY ANSWER A MOMENT AGO.

THERE IS A FLEXIBLE POSITION THAT WE SEE FROM MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID OF CHANGE AND WORK ON THIS ISSUE.

THAT IS NOT WHAT A LEADER DOES.

A LEADER HAS TO SET FORTH A PLAN AND EXECUTE IT.

THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.

OUR HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.

ALL MAJOR AMERICAN CITIES ARE DEALING WITH THIS CRISIS.

BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING?

WE START WITH AN EFFORT.

WE HAVE TRAINED FOLKS WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE REPEATED CONTACT WITH INDIVIDUALS TO BUILD TRUST AND REPORT TO GET THEM TO SAY YES TO SHELTER SERVICES.

AND WHEN THEY DO, THEY MUST HAVE A BED AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

IN MY TIME AS YOUR MAYOR, WE HAVE INCREASED SHELTER CAPACITY IN THE CITY OVER 70%.

WE HAVE DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO OF OPTIONS.

OPTIONS SPECIFIC TO FOLKS THAT ARE SURVIVORS OF GENETIC VIOLENCE, DRUG ADDICTION, LGBTQ YOUTH, WOMEN ONLY SHELTERS.

YES, WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR PARKING LOTS BECAUSE THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE GROWING PART OF OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.

BUT WE ALSO CREATE SAFE SITES.

OUR DATA SHOWS THAT OVER 80% OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE ACCESSING OUR SAFE LEAVING SITES ARE ACCESSING OUR HOMELESS SHELTER SYSTEM FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

THIS IS HELPING US TO REACH FOLKS WHO WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO BRING IN OFF THE STREETS, WE CAN SURROUND THEM WITH SERVICES TO DIAGNOSE THE UNDER DYING CAUSE OF THEIR HOMELESSNESS AND ADDRESS IT.

WE GO FROM OUTREACH TO THE SHELTER, THE SHELTER IS NOT THE ENDPOINT.

WE HAVE TO BUILD MORE HOUSING.

WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.

MINISTRATION HAS BEEN VOCALLY AND VERY CLEARLY PRO HOUSING.

AS WE BUILD MORE HOUSING, THIS WILL HELP THE ISSUE.

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS.

THE RESPONSE ABILITIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR TO GO TO SACRAMENTO AND GET THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFORMS IN OUR COUNTRY OVER 60 YEARS.

WE NEED THE CONSERVATORSHIP REFORM.

NOW IS THE TIME TO IMPLANT IT.

I WILL SPEND FOUR MORE YEARS TO CONTINUES EXPANDING OUTREACH AND SHELTERS, BUILD MORE HOUSING, AND IMPLEMENT MENTAL HEALTH REFORM SO THAT WE CAN GET THE MOST VULNERABLE OFF OF OUR STREETS WERE GOOD.

>> DO YOU WANT TO EXPAND?

>> YES.

I TALK TO GROUPS ALL THE TIME.

I'VE BEEN TO A NUMBER OF DEBATES THAT THE MAYOR DOES NOT SHOW UP TO.

WE TOUGHER HOURS AND TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY.

I COULD SPEND 10 OR 20 MINUTES MY PLAN IS.

AS I HAVE WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE CITY.

LOOK UP LARRY TURNER FOR MAYOR ONLINE.

I SPENT A HALF HOUR TALK ABOUT HOW WE WILL DO THIS IN DETAIL.

YES.

THIS 32nd RESPONSE, TO ANSWERS, THIS IS NOT REALLY WHAT IT IS LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE TO REALLY DEAL WITH THE PEOPLE.

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO WANT TO KNOW THE DETAILS OF YOUR PLAN.

ANYTIME YOU WANT TO SEE ME, I AM ALWAYS HAVING EVENTS AROUND THE CITY.

COME ASK ME YOUR QUESTIONS.

ON MY WEBSITE, THERE IS A VERY -- >> I HATE TO DO THE VERY THING YOU ARE CRITICIZING, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF TERRITORY TO COVER TONIGHT.

I KNOW IT IS NOT IDEAL.

>> YES, MR. TURNER.

YOU RECENTLY SAID THAT THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE CITY'S CAMPING BAN ON PUBLIC LAND WAS THAT POLICE HAD TO ENCOUNTER PEOPLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY COULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT A SITE OR ARREST THEM.

WHAT IS BEHIND THAT?

WHAT IS YOUR HOPE THAT WOULD BE CHANGED IF YOU CHANGE THAT?

WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE?

IS IT JUST A WAY OF SAYING THAT MORE HOMELESS RESIDENTS NEED TO GO TO JAIL?

>> YEAH, NOT AT ALL.

IT GOES INTO A BIGGER PLAN.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BED SPACE IS AVAILABLE.

NOT PARKING LOTS, NOT ICEFISHING TENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE BOTTOMS THAT HAVE HOLES ON THE ROOF.

NOT PUTTING THEM SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT THE U.N. REPRESENTATIVE ON REFUGEE CAMPS GAVE IT A FAILURE GRADE.

THIS IS ABOUT PLACES WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WHERE THEY HAVE THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND A CONTINUUM OF CARE TO MOVE THEIR WAY UP ALL THE WAY TO WHERE THEY FINALLY GET THAT APARTMENT, THEY'VE GOT A JOB, THEY'VE GOT JOB SKILLS TRAINING THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM.

WHATEVER THAT SUCCESS STORY WILL BE FOR EACH PERSON, IT WILL BE DIFFERENT, UNDERSTAND THAT.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE FOUR STEPS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.

RIGHT NOW, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY POLICE IN SAN DIEGO.

JUST DO NOT.

ABOUT 85% OF THE CALLS THAT MY FELLOW POLICE OFFICERS GO TO ARE ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.

IT IS ABOUT OVERDOSES.

IT IS ABOUT PEOPLE BEING STABBED OR SHOT ON THE STREET, BEING RAPED.

IT IS UGLY OUT THERE, IT IS DANGEROUS.

CRIME STATISTICS DO NOT SHOW THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT REPORTED.

THERE HAS GOT TO BE A SERIOUS APPROACH TO THIS.

AND NOT JUST CUTTING OFF PHONY STATISTICS TO HELP PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT IS PLANNING CAUSE OF COMPASSION WHEN WE HAVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE FOUR TIMES.

THEY ALREADY KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE OUT THERE ON THE STREET.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A SIGN UP ON THE WALL LIKE HE HAS DONE.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO WARN THEM FOUR TIMES.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH POLICE TO GO THERE AND CONTACT THEM FOUR TIMES BEFORE WE TAKE ENFORCEMENT.

DO I WANT TO TAKE THEM TO JAIL?

NOT AT ALL.

IF ANYBODY OUT THERE THINK THEY ARE MORE COMPASSIONATE ABOUT THE HOMELESS THAN ME, PLEASE LET'S COMPARE OUR RECORDS.

I'M OUT THERE ALL THE TIME SAVING LIVES.

I LOVE THESE PEOPLE, I AM FRIENDS WITH THEM, THEY SHARE NOTES WITH ME ABOUT WHAT IT IS LIKE IN THESE HORRIBLE CAMPING SITES THAT THE MAYOR HAD SET UP, CRIMES THAT GO UNREPORTED THERE.

THIS IS NOT THE SAN DIEGO THAT I WANT.

WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THIS.

THIS IS NOT THE PLACE I WANT TO RAISE MY KIDS.

THIS IS NOT THE SAN DIEGO I REMEMBER.

WHEN I GET BACK TO SAN DIEGO MANY YEARS AGO AFTER MY YEARS IN THE MARINE CORPS, IT WAS UNRECOGNIZABLE IN SOME OF THESE AREAS.

WE SAW HUMANITARIAN CRISES OVERSEAS THAT WERE ONLY ON FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS UNDER HIS WATCH.

>> DID YOU IMPLY THAT YOU WANTED TO CLOSE THE SAFE CAMPING SPOTS?

>> IS IS TWO MINUTES?

THEIR EGO.

WHAT I SAID EARLIER ON IS THAT WE HAVE TO PUT A TOURNIQUET ON THIS.

I WANT THEM TO STAY IN THERE FOR THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY CAN UNTIL WE GET IT THAT FOR THEM.

EVERYONE DESERVES THE BED.

THIS IS ONE OF THE RICHEST CITIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, THIS IS ONE OF THE RICHEST COUNTRIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.

IT IS A PRETTY LOW BAR TO SAY THAT THERE SHOULD BE A BED FOR EVERY PERSON ON THE STREET.

EVERY SAN DIEGO AND IS STRUGGLING OUT THERE.

ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR, THE -- CASE, HE WAS AGAINST THAT.

IT JUST SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO OFFER THEM THAN WHAT THEY HAVE ON THE STREET.

I WANT TO OFFER THAT.

>> MAYOR GLORIA?

>> YES, YOU CAN RESPOND TO THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS QUESTION.

I DID SHOW POLLING THAT SHOWS DISTRICT 3, WHICH INCLUDES DOWNTOWN, WAS SHOWING RESIDENTS THERE WERE EXPERIENCING AND FEELING LIKE THE HOMELESS SITUATION WAS IMPROVING.

WHAT EVERY OTHER DISTRICT WAS REPORTING THAT IT WAS GETTING WORSE.

ARE YOU MERELY PUSHING THE PROBLEM AROUND?

WHAT CAN YOU POINT TO THAT SHOWS THAT IT HAS GOTTEN BETTER OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS?

NOT ALL THE STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN, BUT THAT IT HAS IMPROVED?

>> SURE.

PROBABLY THE BEST STATISTIC WOULD BE THE MONTHLY COUNSEL WE HAVE IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO.

IN MAY OF 2023, ISSUED OVER 2000 HOMELESS PEOPLE ON THE STREETS OF SAN DIEGO.

THE COUNT THIS MONTH IS ABOUT 800.

THOSE FULL, IN MANY CASES, THEY HAVE GONE TO MORE THAN 900 NEW SHELTER BUT THAT WE CREATED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS ALONE.

I HAVE PLANS TO ADD ANOTHER THOUSAND BEDS.

ANOTHER 200+ SAFE PARKING SPACES.

BY THE WAY, BOTH OF THOSE ARE PROPOSALS THAT MY OPPONENT OPPOSES.

WHAT I DISCOVERED IS A REAL INCONSISTENCY, A REALLY CHAOTIC APPROACH TO THIS ISSUE FOR MY OPPONENT HERE, WHO OPPOSED THE PAST DECISION CIGNA CRIMINALIZES HOMELESSNESS.

BUT HE IS HERE ANYTHING THAT HE WANTS TO END THE PROGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT LAW, SOMETHING THAT HE SHOULD KNOW IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DO BECAUSE OF THE SUBJECT OF A PIECE OF LEGAL SETTLEMENT.

SO WE CANNOT DO THAT UNILATERALLY.

SURPRISING THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT.

HERE IS THE DEAL.

WE HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT.

THEY HAVE RECENTLY BEEN TAKEN TO THE CITY COUNCIL ASKING FOR THEIR INPUT IN THE DISTRICT AND WHERE THEY COULD PROVIDE MORE SHELTERS.

WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW, JUST ON TUESDAY, THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED ME TO ADVANCE A SHORT-TERM SHELTER STRATEGY WHERE I INTEND TO PUT MORE SHELTERS ACROSS OUR CITY.

BECAUSE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY HAS SOME LEVEL OF HOMELESSNESS.

THEREFORE, ALL OF US HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE SOME ACTION ON THIS ISSUE.

SCOTT, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS.

WE HAVE A CRISIS ON OUR STREETS.

THERE IS NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.

I AM NOT HERE TONIGHT THING MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, FAR FROM IT.

ONE HOMELESS PERSON IS TOO MANY IN THE CITY.

WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO CONTINUE DOING THE WORK.

WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN IS THAT I HAVE THE BACKBONE TO BUILD MORE SHELTERS.

WHEN WE DO THAT, THE SITUATION IMPROVES.

MY OPPONENT HAS CONSISTENTLY OPPOSED NEW SHELTERS.

THAT IS A RECIPE FOR LEAVING VERY SICK AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE TO DETERIORATE ON OUR SIDEWALKS.

IN A CITY, STATE, AND NATION AS RICH AS OURS, YOU ARE RIGHT, THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.

WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO CLEAN IT UP.

AND WE COULD USE MORE HELP, NOT MORE OPPOSITION.

>> ENTER, IT IS YOUR TURN TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ON THIS TOPIC.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT ENDS A PERSON'S HOMELESSNESS.

THAT IS HOUSING.

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, SAN DIEGO HAS BUILT THOUSANDS OF ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, THESE ARE MOSTLY SMALL COTTAGES, SMALL APARTMENT BUILDINGS SOMETIMES IN THE BACKYARD OF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.

ALL OF THESE 80 USE ARE FOR RENT.

BUT A NEW STATE LAW ALLOWS CITIES TO ALLOW HOMEOWNERS TO SELL OFF THEIR ADUs SEPARATELY FROM THE PRIMARY HOUSE AS A CONDOMINIUM.

AND THE GOAL IS TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE, ATTAINABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

MAYOR GLORIA, IF YOU ARE GIVEN A SECOND YEAR, WOULD YOU LAMENT THIS IN SAN DIEGO?

AND WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK THAT SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD PLAY IN OUR CITY'S EFFORT TO BUILD MORE HOUSING?

>> I LOVE THE QUESTION.

THANK YOU, ANDREW.

THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, THE MIND HAS BEEN HOUSING, I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT HOUSING ISSUES.

IN MY CAREER AND IN EVERY JOB I HAVE HAD, I HAVE DONE MY BEST TO EXPAND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.

YOU TALK ABOUT A FORM OF HOUSING THAT WE DO NOT DO NEARLY ENOUGH OF.

NONE SUBSIDIZED FOR CELL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.

OUR STAFF IS CURRENTLY EVALUATING THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO SEE HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT IT HERE, ALONG WITH OTHER PIECES OF STATE LEGISLATION THAT CAN HELP US ADDRESS THIS CRISIS.

LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE DOING, ANDREW.

HISTORICALLY, ARID CITY HAS ROUGHLY 5000 NEW HOMES PER YEAR.

LAST YEAR, WE HAD NEARLY 10,000 NEW HOMES.

IS A GOOD INCREASE, BUT WE HAVE TO DO MORE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WORKING AND MIDDLE- CLASS PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN SAN DIEGO.

MY PARENTS ARE BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS WHO WERE ABLE TO BUY A HOME IN SAN DIEGO JUST A GENERATION AGO.

AND GET MY BROTHER AND I ARE BOTH RENTERS IN THIS CITY.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT IF WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WORKING CLASS PEOPLE CAN FIND A FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES HERE.

WHAT YOU DESCRIBED, ANDREW, IS AN IMPORTANT HEART -- PART.

WE HAVE GREAT NUMBERS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LOW AND VERY LOW INCOME HOUSING, BUT WE HAVE TO DO MORE THAN THAT.

WE HAVE NOT DONE NEARLY ENOUGH IN THE MIDDLE INCOME PART OF OUR HOUSING LADDER.

MY OPPONENT HAS CONSISTENTLY SAID IS THAT HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A HOUSING CRISIS, WHICH IS PAINFULLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US THAT SAT DOWN TO WRITE A CHECK FOR OUR RENT THIS MONTH OR THIS WEEK.

WE HAVE TO BUILD MORE HOUSING TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY TO BRING DOWN THE COST SO THAT WE CAN PUT MORE MONEY BACK IN YOUR POCKET.

SO, ANDREW, I WILL USE IN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH TO TRY TO BUILD MORE HOUSING THAT IS ATTAINABLE TO MIDDLE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE GOING FORWARD.

THAT MEANS SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WILL CHANGE, BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT IT WILL CHANGE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVING IN THOSE HOMES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RELOCATE SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE.

WE WILL NOT BE A GREAT AMERICAN CITY IF WE DO NOT HAVE A WORKING MIDDLE-CLASS.

THAT REQUIRES US TO BUILD MORE HOMES.

>> MR. TURNER, THE QUESTION IS, SHOULD HOMEOWNERS BE ALLOWED TO SELL OFF THEIR ADUs PRIMARY -- SEPARATELY FROM THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE?

AND WHAT ROLE SHOULD THE FAMILY UNITS PLAY IN OUR HOUSING?

>> I DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT.

I DO NOT THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SAN DIEGO SHOULD FOLLOW.

GETTING BACK TO IT REALLY DOES CAUSE THE ABILITY PROBLEM IN SAN DIEGO, IT IS NOT THE NUMBER OF HOUSING.

WE HAVE HOUSING.

EVERY PLACE YOU GO TO IN THE CITY, YOU DRIVE AROUND, YOU SEE THAT THERE IS LEASING, THERE ARE SPACES.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT IS NOT AFFORDABLE.

TO CONTINUE TO BUILD MORE IN THE HOPES THAT IT WILL JUST LOWER THE PRICES, THAT IS NOT HAPPENING HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT.

THE OUTSIDE INVESTORS THAT COME INTO SAN DIEGO ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE RAISING THE PRICES.

THEY DONATE MONEY TO OUR MAYOR AND HE ALLOWS THEM TO THEN NOT DOWN HOMES IN SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS AND HE ALLOWS THEM TO BUILD SMALL APARTMENT COMPLEXES THERE.

WHAT THAT DOES IS OUTSIDE INVESTORS COME IN AND OFFER 130% OF THE VALUE OF A HOME BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT WILL BE HUGE WITH THE PERMIT THEY ARE GETTING.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY THIS ARE THE LOGAN COMMUNITIES IN THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW.

THE MAYOR'S OWN CAMPAIGN MANAGER'S HUSBAND GOT HIS PERMITS EXPEDITED SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE THIS HUGE MONSTER OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.

IF YOU DRIVE OVER THERE, YOU WILL SEE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE LITTLE TINY HOUSING.

IT IS RIGHT NEXT TO A -- SHADING THEM, THEY JUST PUT IN SOLAR PANELS, TOTALLY SHADING THEM OUT.

THIS IS NOT THE APPROACH HERE.

WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO COMMON SENSE HERE.

SAME THING WITH SHORTER VACATION RENTALS.

THEY ARE TOTALLY OUT OF WHACK WITH RULES ON THAT.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF BEING OVERLOOKED BY HOW WE ARE DOING THIS.

AGAIN, WHENEVER SOMEBODY FROM OUTSIDE OF SAN DIEGO LOOKS AT THIS AND THEY SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY CASH, AN OUTSIDE INVESTOR TO BUY ONE OF THESE HOMES, WHAT DOES THAT DO?

IT TAKES AWAY A HOME FOR A YOUNG SAN DIEGO AND COUPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD IT.

MAYBE THEY GOT A MORTGAGE THEY WERE ALREADY APPROVED FOR $1 MILLION.

THEY COME HERE AND OFFER A MILLION-DOLLAR ASKING PRICE AND HOW IT IS BEING SOLD FOR $1.3 MILLION TO OUTSIDE INVESTORS.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST TELL YOU THAT THE OTHER THING WE REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS ON TOO IS THE MAYOR INSERTING INFORMATION ABOUT REDLINING IN THE SOUTHEAST AREA.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT JUST DO NOT MAKE SENSE FOR SAN DIEGO THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COMPASSIONATE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CANNOT AFFORD THE HOUSING RIGHT NOW.

>> OKAY.

WE WILL WRAP IT THERE.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT TOPIC ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

ALSO SAFETY FROM ACCIDENTS AND DISASTERS.

OUR FIRST QUESTION ON THAT TOPIC WILL BE FROM SCOTT LEWIS OF OAKWOOD VOICE OF SAN DIEGO" AND IT WILL GO TO MAYOR GLORIA.

>> OKAY.

SO, MAYOR GLORIA, YOU HAVE DONE A LOT TO TRY TO RECRUIT OFFICERS, TO TRY TO KEEP THEM HAPPY.

AND YET WE CONSISTENTLY HEAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT MORALE, ABOUT PEOPLE LEAVING FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

AND A LOT OF THEM .2 ONE THING.

AND THAT WAS YOUR INSISTENCE THAT THE OFFICERS GET THE COVID VACCINE.

AND EVEN OFFERING CONSEQUENCES IF THEY DID NOT.

EVEN THE NEW POLICE CHIEF WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO PROTESTED.

DO YOU REGRET YOUR APPROACH TO THAT?

>> NO, I DON'T.

THE REASON FOR THAT, I MEAN, HE LAUGHED AT IT, BUT WHEN WE MADE THAT POLICY, WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 200 POLICE OFFICERS OUT THICK THAT DAY.

OVER 100 FIREFIGHTERS OUT SICK THAT DAY.

MY NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY AS MAYOR IS TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A SAFE.

HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY DO THAT WITH HUNDREDS OF POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS UNABLE TO COME TO WORK BECAUSE THEY WERE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID?

WE HAVE TO GET THIS PROBLEM UNDER CONTROL IF WE WILL PROTECT OUR CITIZENS AND PROTECT OUR ECONOMY.

I HAD TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS.

THAT IS WHAT BEING MAYOR IS ABOUT.

I DO NOT REGRET DOING THAT.

IMPORTANTLY, SCOTT, THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE POINTED AT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO INCREASE PAY, IMPROVE BENEFITS, PROVIDE TOOLS LIKE START -- SMART STREETLIGHTS SO THAT OFFICERS CAN CATCH BAD GUYS AND BRING THEM TO JUSTICE, I HAVE EVERYTHING -- DONE EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY CAN TO PROTECT SAN DIEGANS.

WE ARE ONE OF THE SAFEST BIG CITIES IN AMERICA BECAUSE WE HAVE PROPERLY RESOURCED PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS.

MY OPPONENT HAS TOLD, I BELIEVE IT WITH YOU, THAT HE BELIEVES POLICE OFFICERS ARE OVERPAID AND WE SHOULD REDUCE BENEFITS.

BUT HE ALSO SAID A MOMENT AGO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS.

HOW IN THE WORLD WE PUT MORE POLICE OFFICERS IF YOU START CUTTING PAY AND REDUCING BENEFITS?

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.

PROBABLY WHY YOU SHOULD NOT MAKE HIM MAYOR.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, WE HAVE TO KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE.

BEING SAFE IS THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT I DO AS MAYOR.

THE WEATHER THAT IS FULLY FUNDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, LIFEGUARDS, PARAMEDICS, THAT IS WHAT I HAVE DONE IN THE RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

WE ARE A SAFE CITY, WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER.

JUST LIKE THE HOMELESS QUESTION A MOMENT AGO.

ONE CRIME IS A CRIME TO MANY.

BUT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS MAKING SURE OUR OFFICERS, THAT STREAMLINE FOR IMPROVEMENT IS RETAINED.

BECAUSE WE HAVE IMPROVED PAY AND BENEFITS AND WE HAVE GOTTEN A NEW POLICE CHIEF THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT, I BELIEVE WE ARE TURNING A CORNER ON THIS.

THE DATA BACKS IT UP, BOTH CRIME STATISTICS AND OFFICER RETENTION RATES.

>> MR. TURNER, YOU DID TELL ME THAT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS TIME FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER CHANGING THE FUTURE BENEFITS FOR TEACHER POLICE OFFICERS, FUTURE FIREFIGHTERS.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD PURSUE?

AND WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGES MY THAT PRESENT THAT YOU COULD ADDRESS FOR RECRUITMENT?

>> I DO NOT THINK I SAID IT EXACTLY THAT WAY.

WHAT I SAID WAS THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT EVERYTHING INSTEAD OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS TYPE OF SPENDING PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH THE MAYOR.

BANKRUPTCY MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO SAN DIEGO IF WE DO NOT CHANGE COURSE RIGHT AWAY.

AND WHAT I SAID WAS WOULD WE CONSIDER EVERYTHING, AND I SAID YES, WE WOULD CONSIDER EVERYTHING.

AS I ANSWER THAT.

BACK TO IT THOUGH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PENSION BENEFITS OF THE POLICE OFFICERS, THEY ARE PRETTY COMPARABLE TO MOST POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY.

I WOULD IN NO WAY WANT TO CHANGE THAT.

THAT IS JUST A FACT.

WE MAY BE FORCED TO DO SOME THINGS.

BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE BECAUSE OF ME, THAT WOULD BE BECAUSE OF THE BAD SPENDING THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

BUT BACK TO THE QUESTION OF POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHER ACCESS IN SAN DIEGO.

I SAID EARLIER THAT 85% OF CALLS THAT POLICE ARE GOING TO HIS HOME IS RELATED.

AND I SAID WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS.

YES.

IF WE KEEP FOLLOWING YOUR PLAN ON HOMELESSNESS.

OFFICERS ARE RUNNING FROM CALL TO CALL THAT IS A HOMELESS RELATED CALL AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO THE HOUSE CALLS WHEN THEY HAVE THE BURGLARIZE OR CAR CRASHES.

YESTERDAY, SOMEBODY TRIED TO STEAL MY CAR AND OCEAN BEACH OF ALL PLACES, RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE STORE, YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS AT, SCOTT.

I WAS OUTSIDE, THEY WERE LEAVING THE CAR, THEY RETURNED TO HOTWIRE IT AND THEY TOOK OFF.

IT WAS AN HOUR AND EIGHT MINUTES.

AN HOUR AND EIGHT MINUTES I HAD TO WAIT ON HOLD BEFORE SOMEONE PICKED IT UP.

YOU KNOW, IT IS ALL ABOUT NOT JUST HAVING THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS, BUT US BEING ABLE TO KNOW AS AN OFFICER WHERE WE NEED TO GO AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

I CHALLENGED IT LAST TIME AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT IS WHERE THE CALL CENTER IS.

SO MANY EMPTY DESKS THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE FLEEING THIS DEPARTMENT FOR PLACES THAT PAY MORE.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE POLICE OFFICER ON THE STREET, IT IS ABOUT GETTING THE INTEL OF WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

IF I AM OUT THERE AND I GET ASKED, DO WE NEED MORE POLICE OR CALL TAKERS?

I WOULD SAY CALL TAKERS.

I CAN GET TO A CALL LONG BEFORE THE CULPRIT HAS WALKED AWAY FOR AN HOUR.

SO HERE WE ARE NOW IN SAN DIEGO WHERE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT OUR POLICE DOING?

I'VE GOT GREAT PLANS FOR NON- SWORN OFFICERS THAT CAN HELP MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE SO THAT POLICE CAN DO POLICE WORK.

>> ANGIE, YOU HAVE THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> SANDY TO SET A GOAL OF ENDING ALL TRAFFIC DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES BY 2025.

THAT DEADLINE IS NOW JUST A FEW MONTHS AWAY.

BUT THE CITY'S OWN DATA SHOWS THAT TRAFFIC DEATHS ARE MORE COMMON TODAY THAN THEY WERE WHEN THAT GOAL WAS ADOPTED A YEAR AGO.

WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

WHY ARE TRANSIT DEATHS GOING UP?

AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS MAYOR TO PROTECT SAN DIEGANS FROM TRAFFIC VIOLENCE?

MR. TURNER?

>> GETTING BACK TO MY LAST ANSWER, BECAUSE IT ROLLS RIGHT INTO THIS ONE, IT IS ABOUT OFFICERS THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THE THINGS THEY NEED TO DO.

BEFORE THE HOMELESS CRISIS THAT EXPLODED UNDERNEATH THIS MAYOR, OFFICERS ARE NOT OUTDOING TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, WE ALL DO NOT WANT TICKETS AND WE DO NOT WANT TO GET PULLED OVER BY THE MOTORCYCLE COP.

BUT THE MOTORCYCLE COPS IN SAN DIEGO, THAT IS THEIR JOB, THEY ARE GOING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS, THEY ARE COVERING ME WHEN I GO OUT TO A DRUG SALES CALL.

THEY ARE NOT DOING THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.

I'VE BEEN AT INTERSECTIONS WHERE, UNFORTUNATELY, SOMEBODY RUNS A RED LIGHT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND I SAY, WHY DIDN'T THAT CUP OF THEM OVER?

BECAUSE I AM ON MY WAY TO AN EX- BOYFRIEND KICKING THE DOOR AND FROM A WOMAN WHO HAS A RESTRAINING ORDER.

YOU KNOW, BACK TO TRAFFIC DEATHS , THAT IS A BIG PART OF IT.

WE ARE NOT DOING THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT THAT WE USED TO DO.

AGAIN, AS MUCH AS YOU DO NOT LIKE TICKETS, JUST KNOWING THE OFFICERS ARE OUT THERE MAKES YOU SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW, YOU PUT ON THE BREAK.

I WOULD TELL YOU ALSO, YOU KNOW, ON BICYCLE FATALITIES, THE NUMBER OF BICYCLE AND VEHICLE FATALITIES, VEHICLE VERSUS BICYCLE FATALITIES HAS REALLY GONE THROUGH THE ROOF.

I THINK A PART OF THAT IS THE BICYCLE LANES IS THAT THE AIR HAS PUT IN PLACE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT AS PART OF HIS IDEA ON CLIMATE ACTION AND OTHER THINGS.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY IN THE CASE OF PUTTING THOSE IN PLACE, THEY WERE PUTTING UNSAFELY.

I WILL TELL YOU THIS.

I THINK IT WAS LAST THURSDAY OR TUESDAY, THE CITY SETTLED A LAWSUIT.

$7 MILLION FOR A WRONGFUL DEATH OF A BICYCLIST IN ONE OF THESE POORLY MADE ICICLE LANES.

I AM NOT AGAINST BICYCLE LANES, THEY JUST HAVE TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

I KNOW SOMETIMES WE LIVE IN THIS BINARY APPROACH OF THE SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT OR THE SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT.

I LIKE BIKE LANES, I WANT TO RIDE MY BIKE, THEY JUST HAVE TO BE MADE SAFELY.

OBVIOUSLY, THE CITY, THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES IT WAS DONE INAPPROPRIATELY BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE SETTLED FOR $7 MILLION.

THEY WOULD'VE TAKEN IT TO COURT AND MADE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT.

BUT IT WAS THEIR FAULT.

IN THE HASTE OF TRYING TO MAKE TRAFFIC SAFER, TRYING TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF CARS ON THE STREET, I HAVE SEEN SOME SMART CHOICES OUT THERE.

ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE, YOU NEED TO STEP UP ON THAT ALSO.

>> THANK YOU.

MAYOR GLORIA, WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS FOR WHY TRAFFIC DEATHS HAVE GONE UP SO MUCH?

AND WHAT CAN YOU DO AS MAYOR?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN A SECOND TERM TO PROTECT SAN DIEGANS FROM TRAFFIC VIOLENCE?

I WOULD DO WHAT HE IS IN THE OPPOSITE OF.

THE ROAD THE GENTLEMAN WAS KILLED UPON DOES NOT HAVE A BIKE LANE.

I THING THAT IS PROBABLY YOUR POINT.

THAT WE HAVE TOO MUCH OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS ONLY MADE FOR ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY, THE CAR.

MY TRANSPORTATION PLAN IS ABOUT GIVING YOU CHOICES.

YOU SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO BE ABLE TO WALK SAFELY WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, TAKE A QUALITY TRANSIT, TAKE A BICYCLE SAFELY OR A CAR IF THAT IS YOUR CHOICE.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE SYSTEM WE HAVE.

WE ARE BUILDING A DIFFERENT SYSTEM NOW TO TRY TO MAKE OUR COMMITMENTS UNDER ZERO, AS WELL AS OUR COMMITMENT UNDER OUR LANDMARK CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

THAT IS IN PROGRESS NOW.

THERE ARE GROWING PAINS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

THERE ARE DEFINITELY PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO DEMONIZE AND TALK AGAINST MY PLANS, NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS THAT WE CAN PROTECT PEOPLE.

I WAS TALKING TO SCOTCH THE MOMENT TO GO ABOUT MY RESPONSIBILITIES TO KEEP YOU SAFE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

TO YOUR OBSERVATION ABOUT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND INJURIES, THAT IS TRUE.

BUT THE DATA SHOWS THAT WHEN WE INSTALL PROTECTIVE BIKE LANES, THOSE NUMBERS COME DOWN.

THAT SHOULD BE A CALL TO ALL OF US.

YOU HAVE SEEN ME TRYING TO BUILD MORE OF THESE.

WE JUST BUILD A PRECISION BIKE LANE, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL AND WILL CERTAINLY HELP MORE PEOPLE TO STAY SAFE.

WE WILL CONTINUE ON THIS PATH BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THERE WILL BE VOICES OF OPPOSITION AND CRITICISM.

BUT THE JOB OF MAYOR IS TO KEEP YOU SAFE AND THAT IS WHY WE DO THIS.

WE ARE NOTHING IF NOT OUR GOOD WEATHER.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A CLIMATE CRISIS.

MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE CHOICES ON HOW THEY GET TO A TO B IS ONE WAY WE CAN TACKLE IT.

FOR THIS BUDGET, WE HAVE SET MONEY ASIDE FOR -- TO MAKE THEM SAFER.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY LIMITING NEW STATE LAWS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON TRYING TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR ALL USERS OF OUR ASPORTATION NETWORK.

BUT THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, ANDREW.

I HOPE THAT YOU KNOW I FEEL THE URGENCY OF WORKING ON THIS ISSUE.

BUT EVEN IN THE YEAR WITH A DIFFICULT BUDGET, WE STILL PUT MONEY TOWARDS PUTTING OUR VISIONS IN PLACE.

>> THANK YOU.

MORE THAN 1000 HOMES WERE LOST IN THE JANUARY FLOOD.

AND NOW HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE SUING THE CITY FOR FAILING TO MAINTAIN A KEY DRAINAGE CHANNEL ALONG THE CREEK.

IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THERE HAS BEEN FLOODING THERE.

AND IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN SUED OVER IT.

MAYOR GLORIA, THE DAY AFTER THE STORM, YOU SAID THAT THERE IS NOT A DRAINAGE SYSTEM ANYWHERE THAT COULD HAVE ACCOMMODATED ALL OF THE RAIN THAT FELL THAT DAY.

YET, THE CITY ALSO REMAINED WOEFULLY BEHIND IN ADDRESSING THE STORMWATER UPKEEP.

SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT SAN DIEGANS SHOULD EXPECT THESE CATASTROPHIC EVENTS HAPPENING AS WE SEE BIGGER AND BIGGER, MORE INTENSE STORMS?

OR DO YOU HAVE A PLAN MOVING FORWARD FOR PROTECTING PEOPLE?

>> YES, WE DO.

LET ME SAY THAT WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 22nd WAS A TRAGEDY.

AS YOU SAID, HUNDREDS OF HOMES WERE IMPACTED, AND THOUSANDS OF SAN DIEGANS.

YOU SAW THE CITY GALVANIZING COME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

IMMEDIATELY I DECLARED AN EMERGENCY IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.

WE SET UP RECOVERY EFFORTS AND CLEARED OUT THOUSANDS OF TONS OF DEBRIS FROM THOSE CHANNELS UNDER THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION.

SUBSEQUENTLY, WE ESTABLISHED A $7 MILLION FUND, WE PARTNERED WITH THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TO HELP STORM SURVIVORS THAT ARE THERE AND WE WORKED EFFECTIVELY WITH FEDERAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING A VERY HELPFUL ASSISTANCE OF VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS TO GET A FEMA DISASTER DECLARATION TO FURTHER HELP WITH THE RECOVERY.

TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT GOING FORWARD, WE IDENTIFIED THIS ISSUE BEFORE JANUARY 22nd.

YEARS BEFORE, I WAS ABLE TO SECURE $733 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.

BUT ABOUT 40% OF THAT MONEY IS IN TROY'S CREEK.

THOSE PROJECTS ARE BEGINNING UNDERWAY NOW.

I WISH IT COULD BE FASTER, BUT NONE OF THIS STUFF IS QUICK.

MORE THAN HALF OF THE ACTIONS WE HAVE DONE SINCE THE STORM AND GENERATE 22nd IS WORK WITH THE STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER DAVID ALVAREZ TO ALLOW US TO DO PERMITS FASTER AND WITH LESS RED TAPE.

THAT BILL WAS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.

AND SO WE ARE LEARNING THE LESSONS OF JANUARY 22nd.

WE ARE ACTING AGGRESSIVELY TO CLEAR THE CHANNELS AND TO MAINTAIN THIS TO PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO FOLKS WHO WERE IMPACTED, AND TO USE THE 700+ MILLION DOLLARS FROM OUR FEDERAL FUND TO MAKE THE LONG- TERM PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT THAT IS, YES, IT IS NOT ME SAYING THAT WE CANNOT DO IT, IT IS ARE ENGINEERS WHO SAID THAT THERE IS NO WAY WE COULD ENGINEER SOMETHING THAT COULD HANDLE THAT AMOUNT OF WATER IN THAT STORM EVENT.

AS A GOING FORWARD, WE HAVE A REAL CHALLENGE.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM BECAUSE THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING.

I DO BELIEVE THAT WE WILL HAVE EFFECTS THAT THIS GOING FORWARD.

WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF SEEING WHAT HAPPENED, LEARNING FROM IT, AND DOING BETTER GOING FORWARD.

>> A QUICK FOLLOW-UP FOR YOU.

PRIOR TO TROPICAL STORM KAY IN 2022, YOU ISSUED AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND YOU ENDED UP CLEANING A LOT OF THE CHANNELS OUT.

DID YOU CONSIDER DOING THAT IN ADVANCE OF THAT JANUARY 22nd STORM?

I BELIEVE IN THE THURSDAY PRIOR, THERE WAS A PREDICTION ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN.

>> NO.

THE REASON FOR THAT, YES, THAT WAS A PREDICTION.

THE DIFFERENCE WAS THE AMOUNT OF RAIN BEING COMPRESSED IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND FOCUSED IN A MICROBURST OVER A VERY CONSTRAINED GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

THEY COMPLETELY CHANGED THE GAME.

NO UNPREDICTED IT WOULD BE QUITE LIKE THIS.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEARING ALL OF THOSE AREAS OUT.

IN A DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR, TWO AREAS WHERE WE INCREASED FUNDING WAS HOMELESSNESS AND TRANSPORTATION AND STORM WATER.

SO WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CHANNELS STAY CLEAR.

>> MR. TURNER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?

>> YES.

JUST TALKING ABOUT THE CREEK SIDE OF IT.

AND OF THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT SOME RESTRICTIONS FROM THE STATE.

SUBSEQUENTLY AFTER THE FLOOD, WE FOUND OUT THAT THOSE WERE RELAXED THE YEAR BEFORE.

SO WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT THE ENGINEERS, OF COURSE, ALL THE NUMBERS THAT COME OUT OF THE CITY, THOSE ARE HIS EMPLOYEES.

YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF THAT.

ENGINEERS THAT SAY NOTHING COULD HAVE STOPPED THIS TOO .7 INCHES OF RAIN, EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, 2.7 INCHES OF RAIN IS JUST A RAINY DAY.

IT IS NOT A FLOOD WHERE PEOPLE DIE.

AGAIN, I STILL NEVER HEAR AN APOLOGY.

I HEAR, THIS IS BAD, TERRIBLE, THERE IS NOT, I AM SORRY FOR NOT FUNDING THIS.

FOR SOMEBODY TO BE IN POWER FOR 18 YEARS AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN SAN DIEGO, NOT ALWAYS THE MAYOR.

YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ELECTED FOR 18 YEARS?

>> KNOW.

YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR MATH.

>> HAS BEEN ELECTED AS MAYOR NOW FOR 4 YEARS.

AND THE MONEY HAS NOT BEEN PUT TOWARDS, EVEN NOW.

A CALL FOR ABOUT $250 MILLION FOR THE STORMWATER SYSTEM EVEN AFTER THE FLOODS, THE MAYOR HAS ONLY HAS ABOUT $50 MILLION.

IT IS AN INCREASE FROM BEFORE, BUT IT IS STILL NOT THERE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED THE FLOOD THAT NEED TO HEAR AN APOLOGY AND WANT TO TAKE THAT STEP FORWARD.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR HOUSES DESTROYED, THEY CAN GET THOSE PERMITS PUT IN PLACE.

THE MAYOR SAID, OH, THERE ARE NO MORE FEES FOR PERMITS, THERE ARE.

THERE ARE OTHER COUNTY AND STATE PERMITS.

YOU CAN SAY THAT IS NOT A RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT WAS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF A BASIC NEED OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND YOU DID NOT DO IT.

SO I WOULD THINK THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO PAY THOSE FEES FOR THOSE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO MAKE UP FOR IT.

AND WHY ARE PEOPLE STILL LIVING IN HOTELS?

SERIOUSLY.

HOW MANY MONTHS HAS IT BEEN AND PEOPLE ARE STILL LIVING IN HOTELS WAITING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

-- TO BE AS COMPASSIONATE AS WE ARE TO HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING OUT OF HOTEL MONEY FROM THE CITY WHEN IT WAS THE CITY'S FAULT THAT THIS HAPPENED.

NO, AGAIN, RED TAPE, RULES OF THE STATE, I WILL BE THE KIND OF MAYOR THAT TAKES CARE OF SAN DIEGO FIRST.

I WILL GET IN THE BULLDOZER AND KNOCK THOSE TREES DOWN.

>> WE NEED TO MOVE ON.

>> THE TREES ARE WHAT CAUSED IT, HE LEFT THEM IN THERE.

>> WE HAVE TO MOVE ON TO OUR FINAL TOPIC TONIGHT.

MONEY MATTERS.

WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT MANAGING THE CITY'S NEARLY $6 BILLION BUDGET, BUT ALSO ABOUT CITY TAXES AND FEES THAT AFFECT THE BUDGET OF EVERY RESIDENT IN SAN DIEGO.

OUR FIRST QUESTION ON THIS TOPIC WILL BE FROM KPBS REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN .

>> AFTER HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION IS OFTEN THE LARGEST EXPENSE FOR SAN DIEGO HOUSEHOLDS.

THEY ARE GLORIA, YOU ARE ELECTED IN 2020 ON PROMISES OF PROMOTING MORE AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, LIKE PUBLIC TRANSIT AND BIKING.

AND YOU PLEDGED TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE AT --, WHICH YOU MENTIONED EARLIER.

YOU HAVE NOT JUST A SEAT ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BUT THE MOST POWERFUL SEAT ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED A SANDBAG MEETING IN 12 MONTHS, SINCE YOU HAVE BECOME MAYOR, YOU HAVE ONLY SHOWED UP TO 50% OF SANDBAG BOARD MEETINGS.

WHY HAVE YOU NOT BEEN MORE PRESENT AT SANDBAG?

AND IF YOU ARE RE-ELECTED, SHOULD WE EXPECT YOUR ATTENDANCE RECORD TO IMPROVE?

>> ANDREW, I WILL BE VERY CLEAR WITH THIS ANSWER.

THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS ALWAYS REPRESENTED -- >> BUT YOU ARE NOT THERE.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I DO NOT THINK VIEWERS WILL UNDERSTAND BASED ON YOUR QUESTION.

IF I'M NOT THERE, MY ALTERNATE IS THERE.

WE HAVE A VERY CAPABLE COUNCILMEMBER GOES ON MY BEHALF.

HIS VIEW IS VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY FOR PLANNING.

WE CAST OUR VOTES AT SANDBAG.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

A REMINDER THAT I DID GET ON THE BOARD FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS THAT I WAS MAYOR, I SERVED AS VICE CHAIR OF THAT BOARD.

AFTER 2022, THERE WAS A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AND I FELT IT WAS AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO ALLOW NEW LEADERSHIP TO ASCEND AT THE BOARD AND TO ALLOW ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HAVE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE THERE.

IT IS NOT TO SAY I AM ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN THIS, I AM, MY STAFF AND I LOOK AT THIS ALL THE TIME, IN BRIEF REGULARLY, I MEET REGULARLY WITH THE CEO OF SANDBAG YOU SEE THAT BY THE DOLLARS THAT COME IN TO SAN DIEGO.

THE PERSIAN BIKEWAY WAS A BUDGETED AMENDMENT.

WE ARE DOING THE SAME THING RIGHT NOW ON THE NORMAL STREET PROMENADE.

USING OUR LEADERSHIP AT SANDBAG TO BRING MORE RESOURCES TO THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND TO IMPROVE LIVES OF RESIDENTS.

OUR CURRENT APPROACH IS WORKING.

IF I FIND IT DOES NOT WORK, WE WILL MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT SANDBAG IS A VERY IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION IN OUR COUNTY AND THEY ARE $1 BILLION PLUS BUDGET AND IT IS ONE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE REPRESENTATION AS WE GET A FAIR SHARE OF RESOURCES.

IN SAN DIEGO IS DOING THAT.

IT GOES BACK TO YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION.

THIS IS PRECISELY ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN ADDRESS VISION ZERO OBLIGATIONS TO MEET MY VISION OF GIVING PEOPLE OPTIONS IN GOING FROM A TO B.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR INFRA STRUCTURE STRATEGY.

NOT JUST FOR GETTING MONEY OUT OF SANDBAG, BUT LEVERAGING THOSE DOLLARS TO GET MONEY OUT OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE RESEARCHER LOBBING IN PLACE FOR SAN DIEGO TO COMPETE, JUST TODAY, WE ANNOUNCED OVER $1 BILLION IN FUNDING COMING INTO THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO FROM STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS.

WHAT MY IT MINISTRATION IS DOING IS WORKING AND RESULTS ARE EVIDENT IN DOLLARS FLOWING TO OUR CITY.

>> FOLLOW-UP.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE DIRECTION THAT SANDBAG IS HEADED WITH THE NEXT REASONABLE -- REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN IS SUPPOSED TO BE ADOPTED NEXT YEAR, THEY HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

>> THERE STILL FORMULATING IT.

WE HAVE OUR EXISTING PLAN AND IT IS VERY AGGRESSIVE.

THAT ALIGNS WITH MY VISION OF MULTIPLE CHOICES OF HOW TO GET FROM A TO B.

THAT PLAN WAS A PLANET SUPPORTED AND VOTED FOR.

THIS NEW PLAN BEING DEVELOPED, IT REMAINS TO BE INFLUX OF WHAT WOULD BE THERE.

ULTIMATELY, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE -- REQUIRED UNDER CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

AND THAT WILL BE TELLING ABOUT WHETHER THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO USE OUR VOTING POWER TO SUPPORT IT OR OPPOSE IT.

AGAIN, IT IS IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

>> MR. TURNER, I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY YOU ARE AT LEAST SKEPTICAL OF THE BIKE LANES.

YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT YOU WANT US TO SPEND OUR TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS ON ROADS AND FREEWAYS, FRANKLY, MOST PEOPLE DRIVE.

CARS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.

THERE ARE COSTS TO SOCIETY IN TERMS OF AIR POLLUTION, NOISE, ROAD MAINTENANCE, AND THEN THERE ARE THE DIRECT COSTS TO THE CONSUMER.

GAS, INSURANCE, I JUST HAD TO PAY A $1300 CAR REPAIR BILL TODAY.

IF CARS ARE YOUR PRIORITY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO MAKE TRANSPORTATION MORE AFFORDABLE FOR SAN DIEGO?

>> I DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THIS BINARY CHOICE.

AGAIN, I AM INDEPENDENT, LIFELONG INDEPENDENT.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE TRYING TO PUT PEOPLE IN THIS CAMP OR THIS CAMP.

EARLIER, THE MAYOR SAYS I WAS AGAINST HIS FOR CERTAIN HOMELESS LOCATION.

NO, HIS PLAN WAS, AT THAT LOCATION, I CHANGED THE PLAN, I TALKED TO PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE CAME UP WITH A GOOD PLAN TO BRING HOMELESS VETS TO THE HISTORICALLY OLD BOOT CAMP FOR THE NAVY.

SO IT IS NOT THAT I'M AGAINST IT, I AM NOT AGAINST THE BIKE LANES.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LESS PEOPLE DRIVING CARS.

I CERTAINLY WOULD.

WE ARE JUST NOT AT THAT PLACE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE CAN FORCE IT ON PEOPLE.

THE MAYOR KEEPS TALKING ABOUT CHOICES, BUT IT REALLY IS NOT CHOICES.

WHEN WE DECREASE PARKING AND WE TAKE PARKING AWAY FROM THE STREETS, EVEN WITH HIS ATU PROGRAM, YOU ARE DRIVING PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE CAR.

I DRIVE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

I UNDERSTAND, I'M TRYING TO BETTER THE ENVIRONMENT, AND MAKE DECISIONS ALL THE TIME WITH CLEANING RIVERS OR CLEANING THE BEACHES, I TRIED TO BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR MY KIDS IN DOING THAT.

YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR IS DRIVING A V-8 APPEAR THAT IS PUTTING OUT A LOT OF EXHAUST.

THE MAYOR IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT GETTING MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES INTO THE CITY.

I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW FOR SOME PARKING ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE, BUT THESE ARE STEPS WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT MAKE SERIOUS DECISIONS FROM A MAYOR TO IMPACT OUR LIVES IN THIS REGARD.

SO, YOU KNOW, I AM NOT AGAINST BIKE LANES.

SOME OF THEM ARE ON VERY BUSY STREETS WHERE THEY COULD'VE BEEN MOVED OVER ONE LOT ONTO A PARALLEL ROAD, AND THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE REDUCED TRAFFIC FATALITIES AS WELL.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE TO BE HERE, THIS IS A CRISIS AND YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN BY GOING TO SANDBAG MEETINGS, THAT DO NOT TRAVEL AS MUCH.

WHY ARE YOU IN VEGAS SO MUCH?

WHY ARE YOU IN CHINA?

WHY ARE WE IN KOREA, MEXICO CITY?

YOU DID NOT GO TO CABO'S?

OKAY.

YOU DID NOT GO THERE, BUT YOU WENT EVERYWHERE ELSE.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO BE PRESENT FOR.

IT IS ABOUT LEADERSHIP.

I THINK WE HAVE A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP WHAT YOU THINK IT IS, IT IS ALL ABOUT, YOU KNOW GOING AROUND TO THE PEOPLE, LOOKING RIGHT AT THE RIGHT TIME AT RIBBON-CUTTING.

I AM ABOUT DOING THE WORK.

WHEN YOU SAY WE DID THIS AND WE DID THAT IN THE CITY, I AM THE Wii.

I AM THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN DOING IT, NOT YOU.

YOU ARE IMPLANTING MY PLANS THAT I BROUGHT UP TO YOU.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND, MAYOR GLORIA?

>> I DO NOT THERE IS ENOUGH TIME FOR THAT.

YES, I DID GO TO CHINA TO BRING BACK PANDAS TO OUR SAN DIEGO ZOO.

I THINK YOU ALL LIKE THAT.

WAS THE PORTLY, HE DID NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED HIM, ANDREW.

WHAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO SAY IS THAT HE DOES NOT CARE WHETHER YOU ARE SAFE IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE CITY.

I DO.

THAT IS WHY I SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE MAYOR AND YOU SHOULD NEVER GET THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

>> JAMIE, YOU GET TO ASK THE NEXT QUESTION, AND SHE WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND.

>> SURE.

IT IS ABOUT SAFETY, IT IS ABOUT DRIVING AND HAVING A SENSE OF THING WITH THE COST OF LIVING IN SAN DIEGO THAT IS GOING TO THE ROOF.

HAVING OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAVEL SAFER AND HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WE DO NOT RIGHT NOW.

BIKE LANES.

THAT IS IT.

WE HAVE AN NTS SYSTEM THAT IS UNSAFE, DIRTY, WE STILL HAVE PRE-COVID LEVELS OF PEOPLE USING IT, WE SEE EMPTY BUSES DRIVING AROUND, EMITTING HORRIBLE EMISSIONS ALL DAY LONG.

YOU HAVE HORRIBLE ROUTES.

THESE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO.

WE USED TO HAVE A TASK FORCE THAT WORKED WITH THE POLICE AND SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT TO KEEP OUR TROLLEYS SAFE.

WHEN HE CAME IN, HE DISBANDED IT.

LOTS OF SHOOTINGS, LOTS OF CRIME ON THE TROLLEY.

OF COURSE NOBODY WILL USE THAT CHOICE.

>> JAMIE, YOU GET THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT TAXES.

MR. TURNER, YOU SAID YOU DO NOT SUPPORT THE PENNY INCREASE ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.

BUT, REALLY, I WANT YOU TO DIG IN HERE.

WHY DON'T YOU SUPPORT IT?

AND GIVEN ALL OF THE OBLIGATIONS THAT THE CITY IS FACING, INCLUDING BEYOND STORMWATER, THE $6 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, HOW WOULD YOU PAY FOR ALL OF THIS?

>> SO IT IS NOT A ONE CENT TAX.

THAT IS A MISNOMER TO GET PEOPLE TO THINK THAT IT WILL JUST BE A PENNY ON YOUR DOLLAR.

ALL RIGHT?

THAT IS A PENNY ON THE DOLLAR, BUT WE ARE NOT JUST BUYING CUPS OF COFFEE, WE ARE BUYING CARS, WASHERS AND DRYERS, REFRIGERATORS.

AND EVERY SPECIALIST WILL TELL YOU, THE POOREST AMONG US ARE THE ONES THAT SUFFER WITH AN INCREASE IN THE SALES TAX.

THE REST OF US, WE CAN JUST DRIVE TO ANOTHER CITY AND WE DO NOT HAVE TO PAY THAT.

BUT PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY ARE ONES WHO WILL BE HAVING THIS MONEY TAKEN FROM THEM OFF OF THEIR WORK.

I DO NOT WANT TO SEE AN IRRESPONSIBLE MAYOR WHO HAS MADE NUMEROUS POOR DECISIONS ON SPENDING THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT 101 ASH STREET.

YOU DOUBLED THE PRICE OF A LEASE FOR YOU TO PURCHASE IT.

WHY DID YOU PURCHASE IT?

WHY DID YOU PURCHASE 101 ASH STREET?

PERHAPS IT WAS WHEN THE LAWSUIT WAS COMING OUT WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE DEPOSED AND YOU WOULD BE PROVIDING TESTIMONY AND EMAILS TO TALK ABOUT THE BACK ROOM DEAL ON THIS.

THAT IS WHY WE BOUGHT 101 ASH.

INSTEAD OF CONTINUING THE LEASE.

WE ALSO HAD A FREE SPORTS ARENA OFFERED TO SAN DIEGO.

ANYONE CAN READ ABOUT THIS IN DETAIL.

THE PRENSA DOES SOME HARD- HITTING INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

INSTEAD, MR. TREMAIN, WHO OFFERED THE MAYOR AND HIS LARGEST CONTRIBUTION TO HE GETS A CONTRACT FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO REBUILD THE SPORTS ARENA.

THESE ARE THE KINDS OF POOR MISMANAGEMENT, POOR SPENDING THAT I DO NOT WANT TO SEE CONTINUE IN SAN DIEGO.

IF WE GIVE HIM THE MONEY, THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE DOWN THAT PATH.

I WOULD JUST TELL YOU THIS, HE HAS RAISED WAGES OF HIS STAFF BY 44%.

SORRY, 44%.

WITH THAT IN ALL OF THE INCREASES IN PAY THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO OVER HIS TENURE, THAT IS A $500 MILLION INCREASE IN OUR OBLIGATIONS IN PAYCHECKS.

SO, IF THIS TAX WENT INTO PLACE, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 450, $500 MILLION THAT THE CITY WILL GET.

THAT WILL ONLY COVER HIS INCREASE IN PAY.

I WAS EVEN TOLD THIS WEEK THAT ALL DIRECTORS IN THE CITY ARE LOOKING AT 15% CUTS ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> I'M SORRY TO CHECK IN, BUT WE HAVE TO WRAP IT THERE.

I WILL GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS TO RESPOND TO WHAT MR. TURNER JUST SAID.

AND THEN YOU CAN TAKE JIMMY'S QUESTION.

>> THERE IS A LOT IN THERE THAT IS NOT, BUT I THINK THE QUESTION IS, HOW ARE WE AS A CITY GOING TO HANDLE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT?

HE DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT LET ME SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU.

IT IS A $9 BILLION PRICE TAG.

AS HE STARTED THE BEGINNING, OUR CITY'S IS $90.

IT GETS A $2 BILLION GENERAL FUND, WE WILL NEVER GET AHEAD OF REPAIRING OUR RESIN FIXINGS FROM CHANNELS, REPAIRING PUBLIC FACILITIES WITHOUT NEW RESOURCES.

HOW MANY MAYORS HAVE TOLD YOU THAT THEY WILL GET AROUND TO IT AND IT NEVER HAPPENS?

THIS MAYOR IS ABOUT SOLVING THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL.

>> I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

>> I'M SORRY, WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.

>> MAYBE WE WOULD BUY IT, WE WOULD.

BUT YOU DID NOT EARMARK IT FOR INFRA STRUCTURE.

IF WE REALLY COULD TRUST YOU, WE COULD VOTE FOR IT AGAIN.

>> MR. TURNER, WE REALLY HAVE TO MOVE ON.

WE HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK MAYOR GLORIA.

>> THANK YOU.

MAYOR GLORIA, YOU HAD 30 SECONDS TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE.

MY QUESTION IS THE SAME.

WHY DO YOU SUPPORT THE SALES TAX?

WHY DOES THE CITY NEED IT SO MUCH?

AND WHAT WOULD YOU TELL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT WILL BE SPENT?

BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ACTUALLY REQUIRED TO SAY BEFORE THE VOTE.

>> WELL, I HAVE BEEN UNEQUIVOCAL AND VERY CLEAR, THIS IS TO ADDRESS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT.

AS I MENTIONED JUST A MOMENT AGO, I SAID IT THE FIRST TERM AS MAYOR, QUANTIFYING THE SIZE OF OUR INFRA STRUCTURE DEFICIT, THAT NUMBER IS ABOUT $9.3 BILLION IN COSTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

WE DO NOT HAVE $9.3 BILLION.

FOR ALL OF YOU RIGHTFULLY UPSET AT THE POOR CONDITION OF OUR CITY ROADS, LET ME TELL YOU.

UNDER HIS PLAN, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE POTHOLE FILLED STREETS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.

UNDER MY PLAN, IF THIS PASSES IN NOVEMBER, IT IS UP TO THE VOTERS TO DO IT, WE WILL FINALLY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THIS.

EVERY YEAR, WE BALANCE THE CITY'S BUDGET.

WE PAY OUR PENSION BILL ON TIME AND WE PAY OUR BILLS ON TIME.

BUT THE WAY THAT WE DO IT IS BY PUTTING OFF THE COST YOU MIGHT DO IN YOUR OWN HOME.

MAYBE THIS IS NOT THE YEAR THAT YOU CAN AFFORD TO PUT ON A NEW ROOF.

THE CITY HAS BEEN MAKING THAT DECISION FOR DECADES.

AND YOU SEE IT ALL OVER THE CITY.

OUR OCEAN BEACH PIER IS SHUTTERED WITH NO HOPE OF REOPENING UNTIL WE FIND A LOT OF MONEY.

BALL FIELD LIGHTS ALL ACROSS THE CITY AND EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE OUT AND DO NOT CURRENTLY FUNCTION, THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED.

OF COURSE, OUR PUDDLES AND STORM CHANNELS, PUBLIC FACILITIES, ON AND ON.

LOCKER ROOMS THAT ARE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEED TO BE REPAIRED.

BUT WITH THAT DEFICIT I HAVE DESCRIBED TO YOU, THERE IS NO WAY TO FEASIBLY DO IT.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO MAKE THE TOUGH CHOICES.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HONEST WITH MY CONSTITUENTS.

WHEN YOU SEE THE SIZE OF THE PRICE TAG AND YOU KNOW WHAT OUR CURRENT BUDGET IS, YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO TIGHTEN THIS TO RESOLVE IT.

IT IS A RECIPE FOR CONTINUED DETERIORATION OF OUR PUBLIC ASSETS.

I DO NOT WANT THAT.

WE HAVE GIVEN THE VOTERS OF SAN DIEGO THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER HOW TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

I ASKED SAN DIEGANS TO VOTE CAPITAL YES ON ISSUE E. AND WE CAN FINALLY REPAIR THE ROADS THAT HAVE, FOR SO LONG, BUT POTHOLES ALL OVER THE CITY.

>> I HAVE TO ENDED THERE WITH YOU, MAYOR GLORIA.

SCOTT, YOU HAVE A FINAL QUESTION.

EACH OF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER.

>> MAYOR GLORIA, THE CITY IS ABOUT TO PUT A FEE ON TRASH COLLECTION FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.

MOST SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, THE CITY IS ABOUT TO CONTINUE INCREASING WATER RATES SHARPLY.

WE PAY SOME OF THE HIGHEST ELECTRICITY RATE, GAS PRICES, WE TALKED ABOUT THE SALES TAX THAT COULD GO UP.

WHAT RELIEF CAN YOU REALISTICALLY TELL SAN DIEGANS IS ON THE WAY FOR THEIR ENORMOUS COST OF LIVING?

>> I APPRECIATE YOU LISTING THOSE.

FIRST OFF, I HAVE USED THE CITY'S VOTING POWER AT THE VOTING AUTHORITY TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE NECESSARY RATE INCREASES.

WE HAVE DONE IT SUCCESSFULLY.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN AS BIG AS A PROPOSED.

THAT IS PUT MONEY BACK IN THE POCKETS OF SAN DIEGANS.

WITH ELECTRICITY, WE SET UP SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY POWER TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE IN AN ENERGY SPACE TO BRING DOWN AND PROVIDE SOME COMPETITION IN THAT SPACE.

WITH REGARDS TO GASES, I HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO THE VEHICLE MILE FEE.

I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO DO AT A REGIONAL LEVEL WITH A GAS TAX.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE HIS POSITIONS, BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN MEET AND MEET IN THIS TOWN.

BUT THE REAL ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, WE HAVE TO GET CONTROL OF THE COST OF HOUSING IN HIS COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO GROW THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING TO BRING DOWN RENT AND TO MAKE UP FOR SALE PRICES MORE AFFORDABLE.

YOU HAVE SEEN MY ADMINISTRATION WORK AGGRESSIVELY TO BUILD MORE HOUSING AND DO EXACTLY THAT.

MY OPPONENT IS SAYING THERE IS NO HOUSING CRISIS.

HE HAS NO UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOU AND I ARE ARE PAYING FOR HOUSING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS THAT THE MAYOR CAN HELP BRING DOWN THE COST OF LIVING IN OUR CITY.

>> MR. TURNER, YOU SUGGESTED ONE WAY THE CITY COULD OPPOSE THIS DEFICIT IS TO LOOK AT ALL THE CAPITAL FUNDS SET ASIDE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, BALL FIELDS, LIGHTS, BRIDGES, ALL KINDS OF THINGS ACROSS THE CITY .

YOU WOULD DEPLETE THOSE AND USE THOSE FOR THE DEFICIT.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE BEEN HOPING FOR SO MANY OF THOSE PROJECTS FOR SO LONG?

>> IF WE ARE REALLY IN AN EMERGENCY, WHICH I THINK WE ARE, WE HAVE HUMANS DYING IN THE STREETS, OVERDOSES, CRIME INCREASED.

WE CANNOT SURVIVE AS A CITY UNLESS WE TACKLE THIS.

SOME OF THOSE SPECIAL FUNDS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT IF IT IS AN EMERGENCY, WE WILL NOT RAISE TAXES OR GET A BOND, WE WILL TRY TO ACCESS AS MUCH IS THAT AS HE CAN.

THERE IS ABOUT $1 BILLION IN THERE.

WE CAN MAKE REALLY GOOD IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ROADS WITH THAT.

HAVE PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE STATE, IF I WANT TO BRING THEIR ORGANIZATIONS INTO SAN DIEGO, BECAUSE OF THE CRIME, HOMELESSNESS ON THE STREET THAT NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, IF IT IS A CRISIS, WHICH I THINK IT IS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT CHANGING THOSE.

BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND REALLY FOCUSING ON THAT, IT IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, IT IS PART OF THE CITY'S BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A MAYOR NEEDS TO DO.

MAKING PEOPLE SAFE AND HAVING INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE FAILED ON THAT AND WE HAVE HAD TO HEAR -- >> WE HAVE TO GET TO CLOSING STATEMENTS.

AS WE COME TO THE END OF THE HOUR, IT IS NOW TIME FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS FROM THE CANDIDATES.

EACH OF YOU GETS 90 SECONDS TO MAKE THE CASE TO SAN DIEGO VOTERS.

FIRST UP IS LARRY TURNER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.

GETTING BACK TO VISIONS AND TALKING ABOUT A VISION, THE MAYOR HAS HAD A VISION FROM FOUR YEARS AGO AND HE DID NOT GET THERE.

THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HIS LEADERSHIP, ABOUT EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT.

IF HE HAD A VISION AND HE DID NOT GET THERE, WHICH I THINK HE CAN ADMIT THAT HE IS NOT WHERE HE WANTED TO BE AT THE END OF HIS FOUR-YEAR TERM, IT IS A FOUR-YEAR TERM, IT IS NOT HAVE DONE, HE IS NOT GUARANTEED EIGHT.

IT IS TIME TO LOOK ABOUT GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

IF HE WANTS TO CHANGE HIS VISION AND SELL YOU ON THAT WITH MISINFORMATION, GO AHEAD AND VOTE FOR THAT.

IF YOU WANT CHANGE IN THE CITY, YOU WANT TO SEE US BRING BACK THE SAN DIEGO WE ALL REMEMBER SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN GO TO THE PLAYGROUND WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE, WITHOUT ARMED PRIVATE SECURITY BEING AT THE PARK IN THE RESTROOMS, THAT IS THE KIND OF CITY I WANT TO COME BACK, THE ONE I REMEMBER GROWING UP IN PEER SO THAT I CAN BRING MY KIDS TO THE PARK, I CAN LET THEM ENJOY THE BEACHES.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN OPINION HERE ON THE WAY THAT WE SHOULD RUN A CITY.

I LOOK AT IT AS, THE BEST IDEAS COME FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE PLANNING GROUPS AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS.

YOU ALL KNOW WHAT YOU NEED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

JUST BECAUSE YOU BECOME A MAYOR, IT DOES NOT REALLY INCREASE YOUR IQ.

WE WANT A MAYOR WHO IS NOT GOING TO DO THINGS TO US, BUT DO THINGS FOR US AND HELP EMPOWER US.

THE RESIDENTS IN SAN DIEGO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THEY KNOW HOW TO TURN ON ECONOMIC ENGINES OF THE CITY AND RELEASE HER TO REVIVE THEM FROM HER GREEN AND EVERYBODY'S POCKET.

WE NEED A MAYOR WHO WILL DO THAT AND DO THE BASICS.

I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, DOES ANYONE OUT THERE REALLY FEEL SAFER?

>> THINK YOU, MR. TURNER.

MAYOR GLORIA?

>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD TONIGHT ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT VISIONS FOR OUR CITY.

MINE IS GROUNDED IN FACTS AND REAL SOLUTIONS, WITH A COMMITMENT TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES AND THE EXPERIENCE TO PUT OUR CITY ON A BETTER PATH.

I STOOD FIRM ON PUBLIC SAFETY, I SUPPORTED OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

AS A RESULT, SAN DIEGO IS ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN AMERICA.

I TACKLED HOMELESSNESS HEAD-ON, EXPANDED SHELTER AND SERVICES -- AND CABINS AND REFORMED MENTAL HEALTH LAWS.

I'M DOING THE WORK TO BUILD MORE HOUSES THAT YOU CAN AFFORD TO CALL THE SEE YOUR HOME.

AND I HAVE INVESTED IN INFO STRUCTURE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, ROSIE PARKS, STREET LIKES TO SIDEWALKS.

THIS IS WHAT I HAVE DONE AS YOUR MAYOR.

IT IS WHY I HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PLANNED PARENTHOOD, FIREFIGHTERS, LIFEGUARDS, AND TEACHERS.

MY OPPONENT HAS NO REAL PLAN FOR YOU OR FOR YOUR FAMILY.

HE HAS NO SOLUTIONS TO THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE FACE TO BRING DOWN THE COST OF LIVING.

HE IS VERY GOOD AT POINTING OUT PROBLEMS, BUT HE HAS NO IDEA HOW TO FIX THEM.

SAN DIEGO DESERVES A FUTURE THAT IS BRIGHT, BOLD, AND FULL OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES, NOT ONE THAT HOLDS ONTO THE PAST.

I LOVE MY HOMETOWN.

AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE WORK TO DO, BUT WE HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR PROGRESS TO KEEP YOU SAFE, TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS, AND TO FIX OUR ROADS.

LET'S CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD THE GREAT CITY THAT I KNOW THAT WE CAN BE.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR GLORIA.

THAT CONCLUDES THE KPBS 2024 SAN DIEGO MAYORAL DEBATE.

WE WANT TO THINK THE CANDIDATES, TODD GLORIA AND LARRY TURNER, OUR PANELISTS , ANDREW BOWEN, JAMIE SELF , SCOTT LEWIS .

YOU CAN ALSO LEARN ABOUT ALL OF THE RACES ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT BY VISITING KPBS.ORG AND CLICK VOTING HUB.

BALLOTS ARE ON THE WAYS TO VOTERS.

NOW THAT CANDIDATES HAVE HAD THEIR SAY, IT IS YOUR TURN TO HAVE YOURS BY VOTING.

GOOD NIGHT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.