San Diego residents criticize proposed cuts to underserved communities in 2025 city budget

Kasia Gregorczyk
·2 min read
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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Nearly 100 San Diegans signed up to speak out on things they are passionate about that they do not want to see cut from Mayor Todd Gloria’s 2025 budget.

“You all go back and look at one time in history that these communities ever got what they needed, ever,” said Armand King, creator of Walk With Me Impact.

Overwhelmingly, people spoke about the city’s underserved communities. Nearly $40 million of the proposed $100 million in cuts hits lower income communities the hardest.

Cuts would affect a variety of programs including the Community Equity Fund which creates job readiness, childcare and other programs in low-income areas, as well as the climate equity fund which is spent on things like parks, sidewalks and traffic signals in underserved communities.

“We deserve investment not divestment, we deserve opportunities not obstacles, we deserve programs and not regression, and actually progress and not regression,” Dr. Lashae Sharp Collins said.

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The city is working on a revision to the budget, but cuts are already reportedly being reversed for the Eviction Prevention Program.

“It cost an average of $952 per person for the one-on-one services that the EPP provides to prevent homelessness, whereas if you wait until people fall into homelessness, it cost taxpayers 50 times that amount per year,” said Joanna Franciscus CEO of Legal Aide Society.

Many also spoke out on cuts to art programs and the library budget reduced by $250,000, a budget that funds summer reading, LGBTQ, mental health and other programs.

“Libraries are one of the very few spaces where everyone is welcome,” Pat Wilson said.

The council will receive Mayor Todd Gloria’s revised version of the budget on May 15. The public will have an opportunity to weigh in again before the budget is officially passed mid-June.

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