SAN DIEGO — The next few days could be critical when it comes to funding a new shelter that would be the largest in the City of San Diego.
On Friday, a budget review committee will discuss Mayor Todd Gloria’s desire to spend millions on the new facility. Then on Tuesday, the budget goes before the entire City Council.
When Gloria shared his vision for a new homeless shelter near the airport last April, he caught several city council members off-guard.
So will they be supporting the nearly 65,000-square-foot facility as key budget talks heat up over the next week?
“We have too many people who are out on the streets,” said Councilmember Stephen Whitburn. “Many of them want to go into a shelter, but we don't have enough space for them.”
According to newly released documents that show his spending priorities for the coming year, he is willing to fully fund the $1.9 million needed to run the shelter.
“Making sure we get people experiencing homelessness into shelter is an absolute necessity,” Whitburn added. “It is not something we can cut.”
But right now, Whitburn seems to be in the minority. Councilmember Henry Foster's budget modification memorandum recommends cutting that $1.9 million out of the budget and restoring all money to the San Diego Housing Commission.
Council President Sean Elo-Rivera mentioned nothing about funding the shelter in his memorandum, but he too wants more money going to the San Diego Housing Commission.
“We do need more shelter beds and just because we need more shelter beds doesn't mean we should accept any deal,” he said. Elo-Rivera also said he could still be open to funding a shelter at Kettner and Vine, just not for the terms of the lease currently on the table.
Mayor's response
So is the Mayor's office concerned it might not be funded this fiscal year?
When CBS 8 asked Gloria's office for a comment, a spokesperson responded and said, "This is quite an assumption! The budget is not finalized until it's voted on and signed."
Bottom line, expect a lot of negotiating over the next few days as the mayor’s office tries to keep the new shelter proposal alive.
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