Candidates for office, clockwise from top left, Adam Shiff (U.S. Senate), Sean Elo-Rivera (District 9), Steve Garvey (U.S. Senate), Terry Hoskins (District 9), Donald Trump (President), Todd Gloria (Mayor), Stephen Whitburn (District 3), Butch Ware (President), Coleen Cusack (District 3), Larry Turner (Mayor), Kamala Harris (President) respond to questions regarding Housing and Homelessness. Illustration by Luke Bradbury/City Times Media

WHAT THE CANDIDATES SAY: Housing, homelessness on the City College Community Agenda, November 2024

Debates, forums yield insights on issues important to you

Vince Outlaw, Multimedia Journalist

October 29, 2024

When cybersecurity major Quinn Welsh identified “Housing and Homelessness” as one of the City College Community Agenda issues he wanted candidates to address ahead of the November 2024 election, he added a specific question relevant to his fellow San Diego City College community members.

“How will our leaders make housing and home buying more affordable for young people?” Welsh asked.

To address Welsh and other community members’ questions and provide insight into candidates’ plans to address Housing and Homelessness, City Time Media analyzed statements made by candidates for U.S. President (Democrat and Republican parties, Green party), U.S. Senator, San Diego Mayor, and San Diego City Council Districts 3 and 9 during debates, forums and speeches.

Housing and Homelessness were identified by 62% of the respondents to the City College Community Agenda survey as an issue they would like to hear candidates talk about, making it the most selected issue.

In the surveys, which are still available in both English and Spanish, some of the respondents, like Welsh, took the additional step of providing questions and comments further indicating exactly what they wanted to hear.

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President of the United States

Nadia, foreground left, and Nyhia watch former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris at the presidential debate watch party presented by the San Diego City College political science program on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. Photo by Vince Outlaw/City Times Media

United States Senator from California

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

San Diego Mayor

Larry Turner, left, and Todd Gloria, right, compete for the city’s top job. Source: Campaign Websites

Coleen Cusack, left, challenges incumbent Stephen Whitburn, right, for representation of District 3. Source: campaign websites.

San Diego City Council District 3

Coleen Cusack, D:

“I’m not saying people can go wherever they want and set up an encampment. I’m saying that the shelters the city provides should be safe, sane and voluntary, not forced with the point of a gun. … There are entire populations of people that can’t even bother asking because there are no beds for them. There are no beds for caretaker couples. There are no safe beds for seniors. (Seniors) are required to be on a bottom bunk and most of the beds that open up on a daily basis are top bunk, so they’re not eligible for them. There is a waiting list of 300 people. There are people that want options: safe, sane and voluntary, and so it doesn’t make any sense that we’re paying police $28 million a year to force people into shelters when there are no beds.”

Stephen Whitburn, D:

“I hope you noticed that there was not one word in that answer about what my opponent would actually do to address homelessness. We’re not going to solve homelessness with a chronic naysayer on the city council. We’re going to address homelessness by putting forward real proposals, real action like I had done on the city council, including the safe sleeping sites, which have gotten over 1000 people off the streets and into safer and healthier places. And with the encampment ordinance that I got through the city council, by one vote mind you, that has reduced the number of encampments citywide; including here in District Three, by 9.5%. We have a lot more to do, but you will recall it wasn’t that long ago when we were seeing more and more and more and more encampments. We have turned the corner. We are seeing a reduction in the number of encampments. We need to continue that work”

Coleen Cusack, left, challenges incumbent Stephen Whitburn, right, for representation of District 3. Source: campaign websites.

Sean Elo-Rivera, left, and Terry Hoskins, right, compete to be the next San Diego District 9 City Council member. Source: campaign websites

San Diego City Council District 9

Development along transit corridors (San Diego City Complete Communities – Housing Solutions):

Development impact fee waivers as a way to spur affordable housing development:

Plans to protect renters from displacement and gentrification, including supporting protections against no-fault evictions:

Stance on analysis of the city’s Accessory Dwelling Unit program:

Update, Nov. 2, 5:07 p.m.: Story updated to include candidate party affiliations.

Sean Elo-Rivera, left, and Terry Hoskins, right, compete to be the next San Diego District 9 City Council member. Source: campaign websites

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