San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s FY24 Proposed Budget excludes most of the items our coalition included in our People’s Budget, despite support from the City Council and broad community support. In rejecting the Community Budget Alliance’s recommendations, Mayor Gloria is choosing not to fund programs, services and projects that community members have been asking for for years. His budget does not prioritize the health and well-being of Black, Latinx, refugee, immigrant, LGBTQ+, youth, housing insecure, low-income, and other historically disempowered communities.
While we acknowledge the City’s Office of Race and Equity has introduced a budget equity framework into the budget process, the framework is not the same as taking actions to eradicate inequity. For decades the City engaged in forms of systemic discrimination, racist land use and budgeting practices. Today’s practices of criminalizing poor people, increasing policing, and minimally funding critical infrastructure, programs, and services is a continuation of shameful and oppressive practices.
We call on the San Diego City Council and the Mayor to include more of the CBA People’s Budget Priorities in the May Revise and Final FY24 Budget. By including these priorities in the FY24 City Budget, City officials can demonstrate a commitment to listening to community input and centering equity in the City of San Diego.
