Rep. Adam Schiff, left, and Steve Garvey, right, compete to be California’s next senator. Source: campaign websites

ANALYSIS: Did California senate candidates tackle issues San Diego City College values most?

Adam Schiff, Steve Garvey laid out competing visions for the future of the state and the country

Bailey Kohnen, Yonatan "Yogi" Hernandez, Tresean Osgood, Danny Straus, Luke Bradbury, and Nathan Fernandez

October 22, 2024

Adam Schiff (D) and Steve Garvey (R) took the stage Oct. 8 to make their case to the public as they compete to be California’s next senator.

Over the course of the almost hour-long debate hosted by ABC 7 and the League of Women Voters, the candidates discussed a number of issues that appear on the City College Community Agenda, including climate change, the economy, immigration and housing.

The two men are competing for the seat currently held by Laphonza Butler, who was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom upon the death of Senator Diane Feinstein.

Schiff currently represents California’s 30th District in the House of Representatives. He gained national prominence for his role in the first impeachments of President Donald Trump.

Steve Garvey is a former professional baseball player and businessman who has never held elected office.

Garvey called for free trade and reduced regulation to combat what he called “schifflation.” He also sought to paint Schiff as a radical, repeatedly accusing him of planning to pack the courts and “deconstruct the constitution.”

Schiff emphasized his record, which he contrasted with Garvey’s “inexperience,” and argued for higher taxes on the wealthy, increased housing assistance and a “humane” border policy.

City Times Media listened to this debate and identified statements from the candidates that describe their plans if elected. CTM has organized these statements based on issues raised in the City College Community Agenda and listed them below.

CTM did not include statements by the candidates that were not directly related to their plans. The goal is to identify the policies the candidates want to implement.

The City College Community Agenda is an ongoing survey of City community members, in both English and Spanish, asking what issues and questions they want candidates to address as they compete for their votes. If you have not submitted your issues and questions to the survey, please do so today.

CTM has previously analyzed the presidential and mayoral debates using the same format. Look out for upcoming breakdowns of the San Diego District 3 and District 9 candidate forums.

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Housing and Homelessness

A man, who gave his name as Russell, works on fixing a phone across the street from the future site of City College’s 800-student affordable housing complex, Tuesday, Oct. 15. Photo by Danny Straus/City Times Media

Protestors march during Climate Strike at Mission Bay

Climate Change and Environment

Climate Strike at Mission Bay, September 2019. Photo by Meslisa Cabello-Cuahutle/City Times Media (Melisa Cabello-Cuahutle)

Jonathan Tyler, a student in the esthetician program, walks into the financial aid office to work on FAFSA, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. Photo by Keila Menjivar Zamora/City Times Media

Economy and Taxes

Schiff:

“I want to keep this technology in these jobs in California, because it’s a force multiplier for our economy. But I want to make sure that it’s well-regulated. We protect workers and we protect the workplace. I want to make sure that workers can unionize, get good contracts and have negotiating power with their employers so that they can fight for good wages, health care and good benefits.”

“I do support targeted tariffs when China is dumping steel, or dumping other products or dumping technology to try to drive American businesses out of business. Then you’re darn right we slap tariffs on China, but we should do it strategically and not indiscriminately across the board, which would simply result in higher taxes for Americans.”

Jonathan Tyler, a student in the esthetician program, walks into the financial aid office to work on FAFSA, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. Photo by Keila Menjivar Zamora/City Times Media

Gun Control

Joel Rodriguez, an 18 year old student leader at Prospect High School, leads the crowd in calling for gun reform during the March for Our Lives event in San Jose, California on March 24, 2018. By Heather Wied/ City Times

Healthcare and Reproductive Rights

Sirad Shirdon gives a flu shot to City College student Jett Brazeau at the Student Health Clinic-sponsored vaccination event in D-121, October 16, 2023. Photo by Tresean Osgood, City Times Media

Groups of women, families and individuals turned out for the Women's March in San Diego to protest President Trump, January 21, 2017. Photo by Melissa Gutierrez de Pineres/City Times Media

Civil Rights and Inequalities

Civil Rights were only mentioned in relation to the filibuster, and how it has stopped civil rights legislation from being passed. When asked whether they would abolish the filibuster, the candidates said this:

Groups of women, families and individuals turned out for the Women’s March in San Diego to protest President Trump, January 21, 2017. Photo by Melissa Gutierrez de Pineres/City Times Media

Academic Counselor Gabriela Sotogaribay (right) and Program Coordinator Magaly Corro Flores (left) chat with a student during the Undocuchats and Crafts event Thursday, Sept. 9 2024. Students and staff fill out coloring books to build community. Photo by Luke Bradbury/City Times Media

Immigration Reform

Schiff:

“We need to get control of the border. We need a strong policy, which will require, first and foremost, more personnel along the border. We need better technologies to interdict both people and narcotics when they are being smuggled. But we also need a comprehensive immigration policy that treats those trying to immigrate as human beings, consistent with our values. We need a solution that provides relief for Dreamers and for farm workers who put food on our table. It ought to be comprehensive to be effective. I met a gentleman at a roundtable in Calexico who walks across the border every day to work on a farm in the U.S., in 100-degree heat, then returns to his family in Mexico. One of the hardest-working people I’ve ever met. Someone like that should have a pathway to citizenship and be treated with respect and dignity. We can have both a strong border and treat people as human beings. That’s the kind of policy I support.

Academic Counselor Gabriela Sotogaribay (right) and Program Coordinator Magaly Corro Flores (left) chat with a student during the Undocuchats and Crafts event Thursday, Sept. 9 2024. Students and staff fill out coloring books to build community. Photo by Luke Bradbury/City Times Media

Foreign Policy

Protesters rally in front of the Annual Health and Wellness Fair during the Student Walkout for Palestine, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Photo by Bailey Kohnen/City Times Media

What about the rest of our most important issues?

College Affordability and Access

The candidates did not address this during the debate.

Election Reform

The candidates did not address this during the debate.

Update, Oct. 23, 9:20 p.m.: The story has been updated to include the election button and rename the immigration reform section.

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Stephanie Kohnen • Oct 23, 2024 at 6:33 am

Thank you for this series. It really helps to read what the candidates say about issues (or don’t say) without all the extra noise.

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