Politics

Mayor-Elect Todd Gloria On San Diego's COVID-19 Response

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Pat Finn / Producer

Published December 4, 2020 at 11:43 AM PST

This story was published more than 3 years ago.

Assemblymember Todd Gloria speaks to the media after he took a strong lead in the mayor's race, Nov. 4, 2020.

Mayor-Elect Todd Gloria On City's COVID-19 Response

Mayor-Elect Todd Gloria, who takes office this coming Thursday, talked with KPBS's Maureen Cavanaugh about what actions he might take and what aid he might be able to offer as the pandemic continues and San Diego faces another lockdown.

Offering San Diegans a message of hope even as San Diego County faces another coronavirus lockdown, San Diego Mayor-elect Todd Gloria talked with Maureen Cavanaugh about what he faces when he is sworn in on Dec. 10.

Saying financial aid for businesses or people in need would have to come mostly from the federal government, Gloria urged San Diegans to contact their senators and representatives to urge passage of the stimulus bill currently under consideration.

Cavanaugh asked him whether or not he would cease to offer the Convention Center as a site to house the homeless during the pandemic. The mayor elect noted that the city had feared an outbreak of the virus among the homeless, but because many were housed in the Convention Center, cases were kept to a minimum. He said that housing the homeless in the Convention Center was a success he would like to continue as long as the facility is not useable for events.

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Gloria urged San Diegans to have hope and look ahead to the pending arrival of a vaccine.

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Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Pat Finn

Pat Finn previously served as a producer for KPBS Midday Edition and KPBS Evening Edition. Finn began her career in broadcasting at KTLA and KCET in Los Angeles. In 1979 she became KPBS’ Public Information Director, then Director of Advertising and Promotion, Program Director, and Director of Broadcasting. She oversaw the station’s local and national productions, including the one-hour documentary Los Romeros: The Royal Family of the Guitar, and Child Protective Services, a one-hour look inside the San Diego County agency responsible for the welfare of at risk children. Both programs also aired on public television stations nationwide. Finn has earned honors from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

See stories by Pat Finn