It's been a busy month for San Diego Interim Mayor Todd Gloria — who took over running the city after Mayor Bob Filner resigned after a wave of sexual harassment allegations.
During that stretch of time, Gloria has tackled a few popular policies put in place by the former mayor, including medical marijuana dispensaries and food trucks.
Gloria argued the decision to reexamine these policies is based on Bob Filner ignoring the law, not Gloria's personal politics. In reference to Filner, he stated, “We must follow the laws that are on the books. And if we don’t like them, we should repeal them.”
Gloria said he will be issuing ordinances for both policies to the city council for their consideration. For medical marijuana that will include permitting dispensaries in certain parts of the city.
In the meantime, San Diego has resumed enforcing medical marijuana zoning restrictions. Gloria has also ordered the enforcement of laws banning food trucks on private property.
“I support our thriving food truck industry,” said Gloria. He said his ordinance is directed at changing the code to allow carts on private properties, like parking lots owned by Ace. But he argues it will take time.
“Certainly a longer way to go about it, but it's one that is the right way and allows public input. And for whatever reason, Bob Filner didn't see that was the right way to do it.”
During his first media briefing last week, Gloria was vocal about Mayor Filner's underestimation of the amount of money it would take to keep the year-round homeless shelter open past next April.
Gloria said he would visit homeless shelters “in the next few days,” and look for other sources of funding.
He has visited the shelter in Sports Arena, but has yet to go to Barrio Logan. Regarding the million dollar hole, Gloria said the money would be hard to find. “They should be open for longer periods of time. But I don't necessarily have the money to do that”
Later this week, Gloria is leading a delegation to Washington D.C. They will lobby for funding to extend the trolley up to UCSD, as well as for border infrastructure. But at the top of Gloria’s agenda is making San Diego’s presence known.
“Leaders in Washington have been watching what's going on, and they need to know there's someone in control here and we are moving toward.”
