Mon Sep 09 15:16:04 UTC 2024: ## San Diego City Council Delays Emergency Powers for Mayor Amid Housing Crisis

**San Diego, CA** – The San Diego City Council has delayed a vote on an agenda item that would have given Mayor Todd Gloria expanded authority to address the ongoing homelessness and housing crisis. The item, proposed by Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, aimed to expedite housing permitting and homelessness spending during a declared emergency.

The proposal faced immediate criticism from Mayoral candidate Larry Turner who accused Gloria of a “power grab” and attempting to avoid accountability for his administration’s shortcomings.

The potential emergency powers would have allowed the Mayor to:

* Issue orders and directives during a declared housing and/or homelessness emergency.
* Procure contracts for homeless services without City Council approval for projects under $5 million.
* Accept and spend grant money for emergency response.

The proposed powers would only be activated under specific conditions, such as:

* The unhoused population exceeding twice the city’s shelter bed capacity, which currently stands at 2,508.
* A citywide increase in the homeless population exceeding 20% in a single year.

The Council’s decision to delay the vote comes amidst a growing housing crisis in the city. Several shelters are scheduled to close in the coming months, resulting in a significant reduction in available beds. The City is also facing the potential loss of over 650 beds at the Golden Hall, Father Joe’s Paul Mirabile Center, and the Rachel’s Promise Shelter.

In response to the situation, the city has put out a call for property owners to offer up locations as future shelter sites.

Mayor Gloria has expressed his commitment to addressing the crisis, stating that “We’ve doubled capacity at our sheltering options, but clearly more needs to be done.” He emphasizes that while building more affordable housing is the ultimate solution, immediate action is required to address the current situation on the streets.

The Council has indicated that the agenda item will be revisited as soon as possible. However, the debate surrounding the proposed emergency powers is likely to continue.

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