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New San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s place in city history dating back to 1850 is assured as its first openly gay mayor and first mayor of color. But, as he told the national news site Huffington Post, he wants to be known as a mayor measured by accomplishments “who happens to be Brown and gay.”
It’s early, but he’s eyeing big changes. In a Zoom interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board on Thursday morning, his 42nd day in office as Gloria told us twice, he made it plain that in addition to focusing on multiple crises including COVID-19, climate change and a large city budget deficit that rivals the one in the Great Recession he expects to be a change agent on two huge issues.
SAN DIEGO
New San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria plans to take bold steps on homelessness, climate change and social equity during his first year in office, but he says the city is in a “fragile” state because of the COVID-19 pandemic and financial problems.
Gloria used his State of the City address Wednesday to make San Diegans aware of the challenges they face and his plans to address them with what he described as more substantive and proven solutions than predecessor Kevin Faulconer.
The new mayor also laid out several other priorities, including law enforcement reform, shrinking the city’s digital divide, boosting housing affordability and providing aid to businesses and residents most affected by the pandemic.
The day after new San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria signed an executive order for more enforcement of coronavirus-related health orders, many La Jolla restaurants said they are complying with state and local mandates to close onsite dining.
Gloria’s order went into effect late Dec. 30, just before midnight. Gloria also urged people not to gather for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
“I have ordered the San Diego Police Department and asked the city attorney to pursue fines and potentially other enforcement action against public nuisances who choose to endanger the lives of others and blatantly and egregiously defy the provision of state and county public health orders,” Gloria said.