One has to wonder why San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria is in opposition to La Jolla’s desire to become its own city (“San Diego lodges objection to La Jolla cityhood signatures,” May 8, La Jolla Light).
After five years as mayor, he has continued to oversee the decline of our community, particularly in the areas of infrastructure (streets, curbs, sidewalks, streetlights, electrical undergrounding, etc.), which is most visible, and in the presence of law enforcement, increasing homelessness and questionable housing policies.
The City Council and mayor have shown themselves incompetent in their ability to correctly allocate tax dollars to move the city forward. The malfeasance continues many years of decline when Gloria was also responsible as a city councilman, serving for eight years from 2008 to 2016, including a stint as interim mayor after the resignation of Bob Filner in 2013.
Thus, during 13 years of involvement in San Diego City Hall (over the past 17 years), where has the city of San Diego seen any level of improvement? “America’s Finest City” lives on in name only while the city continues to rot from the inside.
Now he is working to prevent our community from trying to improve itself. Why?
There is one reason La Jolla citizens have gone to the time and expense to try to form their own municipality: San Diego city elected officials have proved themselves incapable of managing city affairs and providing the services to La Jolla as it is obligated by charter.
Finally, after years of obvious decline, citizens have had enough and want to chart their own destiny. Why would the mayor want to deny people the opportunity to improve their community if they are willing to pay for it? If the city of San Diego is made whole economically, why would it matter to Mayor Gloria if La Jolla is part of the city of San Diego, particularly because in 2028 he will no longer be mayor since he is termed out?
What is the point of keeping La Jolla in its fold if the city cannot maintain it? It is likely that if the city of San Diego was relieved of the oversight of La Jolla, it would improve its ability to take care of itself, with one less community to worry about. Has Gloria considered these benefits?
Is Gloria worried about a self-determining La Jolla showing how poorly the city of San Diego has managed its affairs and what effect it might have on his quest for higher office? Is it purely ego? Is he protecting District 1 council President Joe LaCava?
One has to wonder why a mayor wants to punish people for improving their lives. If it is vindictive, shame on him. If there are merits to his objection, please explain.
In the meantime, our community rots away as summer tourists begin to descend, overtaxing already degraded infrastructure, which the city continues to ignore.
Mayor Gloria, if you and your associates in City Hall continue to show contempt for and lack of interest in providing obligated services to our community, why not allow us to seek our own destiny and improve our neighborhood? It is the American way!
If not, please state clearly what your goal is and why. Is this too much to ask?
Ted Levis is a commercial real estate professional with Emerald Properties in La Jolla. ♦
