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 College Affordability and Access. Illustration by Luke Bradbury/City Times Media

WHAT THE CANDIDATES SAY: College affordability, access on the City College Community Agenda, November 2024

Debates, forums yield insights on issues important to you

Vince Outlaw, Editor

November 4, 2024

When business major Sandra Santivanez identified “College Affordability and Access” as one of the City College Community Agenda issues she wanted candidates to address ahead of the November 2024 election, she had one specific question for the candidates.

“What are your plans to make student life better?” she asked.

To address community members’ questions and provide insight into candidates’ plans to address College Affordability and Access, 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.

College Affordability and Access were identified by 50% of the respondents to the City College Community Agenda survey as an issue they would like to hear candidates talk about.

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

On the app? Can’t see the graphics below? Click here.

President of the United States

The candidates did not address the issue in the debate and speech analyzed.

Donald Trump, R, left, and Kamala Harris, D, right, compete to be the next President of the United States. Source: campaign websites

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

United States Senator from California

The candidates did not address the issue in the debate analyzed.

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

Mayoral candidate Larry Turner, left, challenges incumbent San Diego City Mayor Todd Gloria, right, for the city's top job. Source: Campaign Websites

San Diego Mayor

The candidates did not address the issue in the debate analyzed.

Mayoral candidate Larry Turner, left, challenges incumbent San Diego City Mayor Todd Gloria, right, 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

The candidates did not address the issue in the forum

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

Sean Elo-Rivera, D:

“Cannot be that we have a major university here and only 10% of students there believe that they have a future in the city. We have to be better than that.”
“Everyone, whether an (SDSU) student or a long-time resident, deserves to feel safe as a basic human right. So again, we need to approach it from that situation, recognizing the human needs of students and non-students. The past few years, we’ve worked really hard to build stronger collaboration between San Diego State, San Diego State Police, SDPD, our developmental services department, the mayor’s office, and our office. We’ve convened a meeting that did not exist before to try to get ahead of issues. First, to respond to some of the issues that were happening, and now get ahead of it.”

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

Donate to City Times

Your donation will support the student journalists of San Diego City College. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment, cover the cost of training and travel to conferences, and fund student scholarships. Credit card donations are not tax deductible. Instead, those donations must be made by check. Please contact adviser Nicole Vargas for more information at [email protected].