SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - A new San Diego City Council will be inaugurated Monday. Three new members and two incumbents will be sworn in and all have a host of issues they want to tackle during their term in office.
The top three issues heard repeatedly on the campaign trail were homelessness, infrastructure and affordable housing and Monday will be their first chance to settle into the roles and start work on their agendas.
“I think we have a lot of hard work to do at the city council. The three things I want to hit really hard tomorrow are affordable housing, workforce housing, really having a serious dialogue on getting to talk about the needs of our city, infrastructure and homelessness.” said councilman-elect, Chris Ward.
Adequate representation for all communities was also a priority for some neighborhoods.
“A lot of the voices in my district have been ignored for far too long are influencing policy,” said Georgette Gomez who will take over in District 9. “I want to make sure that I'm bringing myself, my team to the community on that every day basis, but also bring those discussions that are being held downtown into the neighborhood.”
Term limits forced three members of the current council out of office, but the political makeup remains the same.
The newest members say they think they'll have no problem finding their place.
“We may have different political beliefs, but at the end of the day I think we all want a better San Diego that is treating its residents fairly that is doing the right thing,” continued Gomez.
“I think we all bring lots of different skill sets to the table into the business of the council, so we've got all that we want to work on and areas of economic development, public safety and I think that we have a good spread of individuals that want to make contributions. I can't get wait to get to work with them,” said Ward.
Monday’s inauguration begins at 10 a.m. at the Balboa Theater. After the ceremony, the council will adjourn until 3 p.m. when the new members will begin deliberations to select a new president.
