One year in, Mayor Gloria looks to focus on more than just the pandemic

Speaker 1: (00:01)

A look back at mayor Todd Gloria's first year in office,

Speaker 2: (00:04)

The duties upon which I'm about to enter. Congratulations, mayor Gloria

Speaker 1: (00:09)

I'm Jade Henman. This is KPBS midday edition K PBS, Metro reporter. Andrew Bowen has a conversation with mayor Todd, Gloria, about what's ahead for San Diego.

Speaker 3: (00:32)

I think that we've been able to, uh, be leaders in this space of recovery and I'm anxious to put the pandemic behind us and

Speaker 1: (00:39)

A look at the art scene in your week of end preview that's ahead on midday edition. Today marks one year San San Diego mayor Todd Gloria took office to become its 37th mayor. Here he is. After being sworn in last December. Today

Speaker 2: (01:11)

Is a day that marks a new chapter in San Diego's history. Today is the day that we start building a San Diego. That truly is for all of us.

Speaker 1: (01:21)

K PBS Metro reporter, Andrew Bowen caught up with the mayor to take a look back at the year he's had, along with the current issues he's working on as he starts his second year in

Speaker 4: (01:31)

Office. Mayor Gloria, thank you for joining us today. Thank you for having me. It's been about a week now since your COVID vaccine requirement for city employees took effect. And this is something that the police officers union had tried to fight. How are those last minute holdouts who were still UN vaccinated responding to this policy so far?

Speaker 3: (01:50)

Well, we're seeing some progress in just the five days after the council adopted the vaccine mandate over 400 reported becoming vaccinated. We've gotten additional numbers in the last few days and I'm encouraged by that. I'm hopeful that the remainders of folks will choose to get vaccinated for themselves, for their coworkers and for their city. My goal is not to terminate employees. It may come to that. My preference is that folks get vaccinated, uh, so that they are not at risk of both acquiring COVID 19 and to spreading it to their coworkers, into the public that we're entrusted to

Speaker 4: (02:23)

Serve. The pandemic has made this quite a first year in office for you. When you look at what you set out to accomplish in that first year, and you compare it to what you actually were able to accomplish, how would you rate yourself? ?

Speaker 3: (02:37)

Well, I'll leave ratings to, uh, folks like yourself and to the general public who are my boss, but you know, these are very difficult times. You know, I ran to bring transformational change on homelessness, housing infrastructure climate. We've been able to make progress on all those fronts, but of course the main focus has been on defeating the pandemic and restarting our economy and from the unanimous BI powder and passage of my back to work SD budget that invested millions of dollars in economic recovery to our relatively high vaccination rates. I think that we've been able to, uh, be leaders in this space of recovery and I'm anxious to put the pandemic behind us and focus all of our time, attention and resources on the crisis. That is our homelessness situation, our housing affordability crisis, uh, as well as the need to invest in infrastructure. I feel like when we hit our spot, our marks, when it comes to housing and to infrastructure, we will, of course be making progress on climate action, which is, uh, an urgent need.

Speaker 4: (03:34)

Last month, the state of California put out a call for ideas on how to read the developed two blocks of property downtown. Now you've had your eye on this piece of land for several years. You authored a bill on it, uh, when you were in the state assembly, but because this land is actually owned by the state government, you as mayor, don't get to have final say over what happens there. What would you like to see happen on this property? Well,

Speaker 3: (03:59)

I Don final say, but thanks to an exceptional relationship with governor Newsom, we will have some say in this process, and these are two full city blocks in downtown San Diego that are only occupied by a small office building on one half of one block. Uh, this is in the context of a housing crisis where we have people who are not just living on our streets, but are struggling, uh, to make ends meet month to month. And don't know if they too may end up homeless. I believe these public assets need to be used to their highest and best use. Um, I believe that that will naturally include a substantial amount of housing housing that should be affordable, not just to extremely low and low income San Diegos, but also middle income San Diegos, uh, who I think we need to do a lot more, uh, for when it comes to housing production.

Speaker 3: (04:42)

And again, because of that, uh, strong relationship with our governor, uh, I believe that the city of San Diego will have input in this process to make sure, uh, that this meets our expectations as a city, when it comes to infrastructure, housing and climate action. I'm hopeful that we can get swift action, uh, on these parcels, the crisis as I is here, it is now it is present. And government has to lead by example, as we ask communities and private property owners to do their part, to help solve our housing affordability crisis, naturally government must do the same. And I believe this is an area where we can, uh, lead by example, actually be class leading when it comes, uh, to the provision of additional housing that is attainable to most San Diego.

Speaker 4: (05:22)

There's been a legal setback recently to some of your plans for the midway district. A judge last week issued a tentative ruling that could block the city from implementing measure E and this of course is the ballot measure that voters approved last year that would lift the 30 foot height limit in midway. If that ruling is finalized, what happens next?

Speaker 3: (05:43)

We'll fight. And we'll fight like, hell, this is important. The revitalization of the midway district is critical to the future of our city, not just for a new sports venue, but again, for the provision of housing that is attainable to low in middle income, San Diego. And as you mentioned, the, the ruling is tentative. We will know soon, uh, a final ruling. If it does not go our way, we will appeal it, uh, and we'll fight it. And I believe that we'll be successful. The future of the midway district is in, uh, at that site. Uh, we want it to be catalytic. We want it to, uh, help accrue, create not just relief for our housing crisis, but to bring revitalization to entire community. And I have to point out, um, that ballot measure was passed by a strong vote of San Diego, uh, voters, uh, last year. Um, I think that is worth something. I believe that we are, uh, in a strong position on the legal merits of our case, and we will, uh, fight that as much as we need to fight it in order to get the, the change that the people of the city voted for, that the residents of that community want. Uh, and frankly, what will help us to address our urgent homelessness and housing affordability crisis? Well,

Speaker 4: (06:46)

As you noted, the timing of this ruling was particularly ironic because the city was just about to receive proposals for redeveloping, the sports arena and those proposals, pretty much all of them include affordable housing market rate housing, a new sports arena, retail and office space. And it's likely none of those ideas would work without the ability to build taller than 30 feet on that land. So how concerned are you that this ruling could be a real setback to your desire to redevelop the sports arena property? It

Speaker 3: (07:18)

Would be a setback if it was the final word, but we do have the appellate process if it is necessary to pursue. And I think that the fact that we've gotten such robust interest, um, from a multitude of high quality partnerships that really could help us drive the kind of change that San Diegos wanna see on that site, uh, gives me optimism. Yeah, the, the tentative ruling, uh, is not, uh, good news for us, but I think the responses we received, um, is good news. Uh, I choose to focus our attention there and know that, uh, in concert with our city attorney and with the city council, uh, that we will push this issue as far as it needs to be pushed in order to get the change that we need on that site. The future of the midway district is not a handful of retail uses and large, uh, expanses of surface parking.

Speaker 3: (08:01)

The future is a, a fair amount of housing, a sports venue, uh, that can attract high quality, talent, and the kinds of quality of life, uh, things that, you know, make us a destination, not just for residents, but for tourists. Um, an iconic development that people can be proud of. This cannot become a San Diego specialist, something we just continue to discuss, uh, ad nauseum. I'm gonna do everything in my power to make sure that we get a resolution to this litigation. And then ultimately we get some shovels in the ground shovels that will produce the housing that average San Diego can afford to live

Speaker 4: (08:31)

In. It's a big day at the SANDAG board of directors. You're going to be voting on the 2021 regional transportation plan. You've been a supporter of this vision for a long time. Why? Because

Speaker 3: (08:43)

I am a native San Diego, and I know where our city has been. And, uh, it also informs where I think it needs to go. And that is not a status quo approach to mobility, but one that really recognizes the dynamic nature of the way people get around these days. You know, just a few years ago, we didn't have a host of options that San Diegos use all the time. Now, whether that's mobility apps and, uh, Uber, Lyft, scooters, and other things, we have to have a regional transportation plan that takes into account the innovation that's happening in this space that accommodates our needs to have, uh, aggressive climate. And it helps us to facilitate the housing and infrastructure that we need to maintain our quality of life. I believe this plan can do that. It is bold. It is audacious and some see that as something to, uh, criticize.

Speaker 3: (09:25)

I actually think that's a good thing. You know, this plan ought to be bold. San Diego is moving forward. We're a big city and we need to have a, a regional transportation plan that reflects eyes and greatness of this community. I believe, uh, this plan, uh, when adopted and implemented, uh, will make sure that we can continue to retain, uh, high quality jobs and employers in our community, uh, help us meet our obligations, uh, when it comes to climate action and will maintain our quality of life. Uh, so I have long been a strong supporter. Uh, my hope is that we can adopt this, implement it and show San Diegos what can happen when you're actually finally given choices when it comes from getting from a to B. I think we all know that for most part, we really just have one way to get around and that's a private vehicle. And the good news is under this plant. You'll continue to have that option. But in addition, you'll have a host of other good options like walking in your community on something other than a busted sidewalk that you could take high quality, public transit to get where you need to go in a reasonable amount of time, and you can ride a bicycle without taking your life in your hands. I think, uh, Sans are owed these kinds of options, and I believe this plan can deliver it to them.

Speaker 4: (10:28)

You surprised a lot of people last week, when you announced you were opposed to a part of the transportation plans, funding strategy, it's specifically a 2 cent charge for every mile that a person drives in San Diego county. We've known about this charge as part of the plan for months, if not years. And I can't recall you ever expressing any doubt or skepticism about it. Why did you wait until the week before the plan was up for a vote to suddenly oppose this charge?

Speaker 3: (10:55)

I certainly have had concern about how this is implemented. I think that there are really basic questions about how, uh, a fee of this kind would be assessed, how it would be done fairly and equitably and whether or not we could answer those questions on a, on the timeframe of this existing plan. I believe that, uh, the recent passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill at the federal level will provide us some relief when it comes to funding the projects that are envisioned in the plan. And I believe that staff, uh, have it, the ability, uh, to present the board with other options on a go forward basis, uh, make no mistake, you know, how support the regional transportation plan. I believe it's necessary for us to adopt it on Friday in order to make sure that we continue to be able to be competitive for state and federal funding.

Speaker 3: (11:35)

Uh, so that's, that's important. Uh, but I think with, with a funding source, uh, like a, a road user charge where we have a lot of questions about how it would actually be assessed, whether or not it could be assessed on the timeframe of the plan. And importantly, the context we find ourselves in, where we are struggling to, uh, escape a pandemic, uh, and the resulting economic challenges that have come from it. I think we would do ourselves a service to, uh, take into account other new funding sources that have come, uh, into focus in recent weeks, uh, and rely upon those. While we ask our federal and state partners to continue their work on trying to figure out how they actually would implement this. I believe we have some other options here locally that will help us to make this plan a reality for San Diegos

Speaker 4: (12:17)

Transportation is really the crux of whether San Diego succeeds or fails at the climate action plan goals that you yourself have had such a key role in crafting. Of course, transportation's the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions here. Do you think that we can meet those goals, that your set and by the way, there are 50% of all trips in the city being via something other than a car. Can we meet those goals with all carrots and no sticks? In other words, incentives to bike walk or take public transit, but no disincentives to driving.

Speaker 3: (12:48)

I think it's gonna take a lot to make these, uh, ambitious goals and never been unclear on that. And in terms of the methods that we will use to get there, I mean, this plan continues to have, um, a lot of options inside of it, but I would caution anyone from believing that the regional transportation plan by itself is how we will achieve our climate action plan goals. This is gonna require the city, uh, to, through its planning and development services department, to provide more housing, uh, close to it. Uh, it's gonna require our streets department to take a more proactive approach in the installation of bike lanes. Like what you've seen on Persing on 30th street, north park and portions of downtown. It's gonna take an all hands on deck approach. It's not just the responsibility of SANDAG. It's gonna be the responsibility of the air pollution control district of MTS, of the city of San Diego, the county of San Diego.

Speaker 3: (13:34)

What I like about our potential of actually reaching these goals is the fact that, uh, in many of these agencies, we have an alignment in terms of our philosophies, our belief, uh, that climate change is real and that we must take action on it. Um, and so while the goals are certainly ambitious, I think the leadership is up to the task and we have made, I think, modest steps in this direction in just the last year. I think we can take more aggressive steps in the year, head in a new regional transportation plan certainly will help. Uh, but it is not the entirety of how we will meet our obligations under the climate action plan.

Speaker 4: (14:05)

What are you most looking forward to in 2022,

Speaker 3: (14:08)

I'm hopeful that we can get into a place, uh, where our vaccination rates are so high, uh, that COVID is seen as a manageable illness and that we can devote all of our time and attention to the things that I'm passionate about. I am like most San Diegos unhappy with the current state of affairs when it comes to homelessness, we need to transition more people off of our streets and into housing. I think in the coming days and weeks, uh, you'll see an expansion of shelter opportunities, the allocation of more dollars for more affordable housing, uh, for these folks, uh, I'm really anxious to make tremendous progress on that issue. And then to transition to my homes for all of us proposal, uh, which is a series of, of reforms that we believe will create more housing for everybody. But particularly for those in San Diego who earn too much to qualify for the programs that we offer through our housing commission, but don't earn enough to afford the market rate housing.

Speaker 3: (14:58)

That seems to be plentiful in San Diego. That's where our focus is. And I believe that we'll be having some key votes, uh, on that policy package early in 2022. Um, the sooner we can implement those, the quicker we can actually start bringing housing on online that people can afford. That is what motivates me to do this job every day. Uh, I'm proud to be the mayor of my hometown. I'm delighted to pick up everyone's garbage once a week. Um, but I'm really here to try and drive change when it comes to issue of housing and homelessness. And I believe that, uh, with, uh, a pandemic more under control, uh, we'll have more time, attention and, uh, resource to do that.

Speaker 4: (15:32)

Lastly, on the surprise news this week, any thoughts on Sean E. Rivera taking over as city council president? First

Speaker 3: (15:38)

Off, I wanna thank former council, president Dr. Jennifer Campbell for her leadership of the council over the last year, as you noted, this has been an extraordinary year to be in a position of leadership. And Dr. Campbell, uh, is, uh, been a wonderful partner in leading city with regard to council, president, uh, ILO Rivera. I will just say very directly. I have come to really enjoy working with him over the last year. We have grown close together. We've been able to work on a multitude of issues, uh, uh, of importance to San Diego, whether it be homelessness, uh, accessory, dwelling, units, housing affordability, our priorities align extremely well. Uh, and I think that that bodes well for 2022, uh, in a year where I wanna see, uh, important change on housing and homelessness on infrastructure, uh, on climate, I believe Sean's gonna be a great partner in that regard.

Speaker 3: (16:22)

He's already been a great partner, uh, Lee and the council, uh, can only make that better. Um, and so, uh, I, I think this is a, uh, a good thing. Um, I, I admire Sean, uh, personally, he achieved a lot, uh, in a very short amount of time. Uh, and I think that, uh, as mayor of San Diego, having a council that's running, uh, aggressively on a, a progressive platform of policy ideas that align with mine. I like that a lot. And I think, uh, San Diego should stay tuned to see a lot of positive progress in our

Speaker 4: (16:47)

City. I've been speaking with San Diego mayor, Todd, Gloria, Mr. Mayor, thank you. And happy holiday

Speaker 3: (16:53)

Sent to you. Andrew,

Speaker 1: (17:05)

You're listening to K PBS midday edition. I'm Jade Henman in our weekend arts preview. You can get your holiday events fixed with some festive music and dance, but we also have a few options that have nothing to do with the season from a gifted, double based musician to a radio style, play to some free opera. Joining me with all the details as K PBS arts editor and producer Julia Dixon Evans. Welcome Julia.

Speaker 5: (17:30)

Hi Jay. Thanks for having me. So let's start

Speaker 1: (17:33)

With Katherine Shuma Meister and her concert of double bass music. Tell us about this performance.

Speaker 5: (17:39)

Sure. Katherine Schulmeister is a San Diego double bass player, and she'll be performing tonight at the museum of making music in Carlsbad. You can buy tickets for the in-person performance or just watch the free live stream from home. So it's really great that they're keeping that option. It'll be all music that showcases the broad range of the base. There's experimental, contemporary, and even traditional music. And she'll also bring in soprano, Jasper, Sussman, pianist, Nick Sanders, and drummer, Julian, Ken, Tom, to play with her, I recently watched and was completely transfix by this video of sch Myer. Performing a series of short compositions that were written for her by Joanne are now Pez, who is a composer. And it is that any of the technical wizardry that you're hearing could somehow be transcribed on a sheet of music. And schmeer also revealed in a recent discussion with the museum of making music that she'll perform a piece with Susman that's called in old Virginia, and that's by contemporary composer, Sean Yeager, which was by Southern Appalachian folk music. And there'll also be some more traditional selections, like some arrangements of WC for bass and piano.

Speaker 1: (19:20)

That's Katherine shell Meister performing tonight at 7:00 PM at the museum of making music, which will also be livestreamed in the visual arts. Now, painter N is opening a solo exhibition at thumbprint gallery in LA Jolla. What can we expect?

Speaker 5: (19:36)

So this exhibition is called Saban layers of corrections and N Cristos work in the show is really informed by, by layers. He was born and raised in our rural town, in the Philippines, and in Tagalog, the word Sapen means an underlay or, or beneath. And I love Christa's work. His paintings are full of texture and detail and layers of curiosity. And the exhibition will be on view through January 2nd, but there is an opening reception this Saturday from five to 10:00 PM.

Speaker 1: (20:12)

No, Crito open Saturday at thumbprint gallery. Also Eckles Oregon pavilion will hold some special festive concerts this weekend. Huh?

Speaker 5: (20:21)

Yeah. So the first is a collaboration with the San Diego opera and the San Diego ballet, as well as with San Diego civic, organist, Raul PTA Ramirez. It's an evening performance at five 30, and it'll be outdoors at the Oregon pavilion in BBO park. The dancers and the opera singers are gonna perform some holiday favorites like handles Messiah some selections from the Nutcracker suite and also box Christmas or plus they'll do some traditional carols too. And especially since December nights was relegated to a drive through, again, this feels like, like an even artsy way to bundle up and go to Babo park for the holidays

Speaker 1: (21:02)

That Saturday at five 30 at the Eckles Oregon pavilion, and there's even other program the Oregon society is putting together on Sunday. Tell us about that.

Speaker 5: (21:10)

Right. That's Sunday at two o'clock and it will be more of a sing along local performer. Lauren Lee Martin will be joining RA Preto Ramirez on the Oregon and together they'll do some holiday tunes. Then both of these shows everything performed at the Oregon pavilion fact. They're free to the public.

Speaker 1: (21:29)

Moving on to the theater Moonlight stage productions is producing a special adaptation of miracle on 34th street. What do you know about this?

Speaker 5: (21:39)

This will be performed at the AVO Playhouse in Vista, and it's an adaptation that was inspired by the old radio show format, but performed with a full set on stage. And in fact, it was inspired by one specific radio show, the 1947 Lux radio theater production of miracle on 34th street. So this was adapted by playwright, Lance Arthur Smith, who lives in Oceanside and adapted into this fully stage musical with music by John Lawrence. And it debuted in 2016 and has since been performed across the country. It's the, the famous story of hope and believing, and it has familiar carols. And even some me songs too Christmas

Speaker 6: (22:23)

E don't Macy, Santa Claus, to have a lot of the hearing, extra, extra,

Speaker 7: (22:29)

We all about it. The headlights just get crazy. Every time that we shouted Christmas is becoming a comical caper. Read all about it for

Speaker 1: (22:38)

A nickel. All right, miracle on 34th street, a musical radio play run through December 23rd. And this weekend's performances are tonight at seven Saturday at and 8:00 PM. And then Sunday at 2:00 PM. Finally, the Menga is celebrating the traditional parole festival from the Philippines this weekend with a family workshop, an exhibition and an evening of performances. Tell us about this.

Speaker 5: (23:04)

So the parole is a lantern and it's traditionally made out of special paper and, and bamboo, and then lit by a candle or some other light source. And these lanterns signify the star of Bethlehem and, and the Philippines. They've also come to mean unity and pride among families and neighborhoods they're carried during the religious procession and then hung outside the home as decoration. And you can learn how to make your own parole out of, out of more and pull materials in the men. Gay's free family workshop on Sunday, that's every hour from noon to 4:00 PM. And then on Monday, the 25th annual festival will take place at the Menga from three to nine. And they're displaying an exhibition of rolls, including a display that's just outside the main entrance. And then they'll even be a huge eight foot tall roll. And this is organized by PACA, which is a San Diego Philippine performing arts group. They'll also hold performances of dance and traditional coral music in the men gates theater. That's beginning at 6:30 PM. Those performances do require a ticket, but the whole exhibition, the rest of the afternoon is free.

Speaker 1: (24:14)

The parole festival takes place Monday from three to 9:00 PM at the Menga. You can find details on these and more events or sign up for Julius's weekly arts newsletter and pbs.org/arts. I've been speaking with K PBS arts editor and producer Julia Dixon Evans. Julia, thank you. Thanks

Speaker 5: (24:33)

So much, Jade. Have a good weekend. You too.