In our efforts to address the neighborhood impacts of homelessness – particularly encampments and the trash and unsanitary conditions that result from them – our crews are finding an increase in hording behaviors and anti-social behavior such as vandalism and unwillingness to put trash in available nearby receptacles,” she wrote. “As Voice of San Diego has covered, people living on the streets since the pandemic seem to be in worse straits than ever, with more behavioral health and substance abuse issues than we’ve seen prior to the pandemic.
The mayor’s staff sent over a long response meant to convey they got it – “Bill’s frustration over our homelessness crisis is shared by people across our city, including the mayor himself, and in cities across the United States,” wrote Rachel Laing, the director of communications for the mayor.īut, as ever, it’s a very complicated issue and the pandemic made it worse, she said. He mentions enforcement he would like to see. He mentions a law in Los Angeles recently passed that prohibits encampments near schools. Walton does not outline what exactly he wants the mayor to do. “your lack of action is unacceptable, as is the conduct of the homeless population.” “you speak of the rights of the homes, what about our rights, we follow the rules of a functioning society, why are others allowed to disregard those rules,” Walton wrote, Aug. In fact, I could not think of, or find, anything negative Walton has ever said about San Diego or a cause someone was pursuing here or a political leader in town. Photo by Ariana DrehslerĪll this shows Walton is not a gadfly or a persistent critic of Gloria’s. A homeless man’s shoes at an encampment near the San Diego Zoo on Park Boulevard on Sept. He asked her to address homelessness above all to his gathered friends and neighbors. Just recently, Walton held a fundraiser for Councilwoman Jen Campbell. Since then, he’s been a convener of support for the political network that helped Gloria become mayor. When former Mayor Bob Filner resigned, there were rumors Walton would consider running for mayor. His politics are generally in line with Gloria’s. (He’s a current donor to Voice of San Diego and has recorded promotional videos for our fundraising campaigns – though he declined to comment on his correspondence with the mayor.) If there’s a cause in San Diego that needs a boost, Walton is almost always ready to help with a testimonial, cut a ribbon or hand out an oversized check. But his role here, as a citizen, is as the captain of the hype squad for San Diego.
Walton’s career is as a broadcaster and promotor. They are a big deal because Walton may be the biggest San Diego booster around. They’re not a big deal because Walton is famous. “once again, you’ve done, and continue to do, nothing.”īut the emails are not a big deal because they reveal anything we don’t already know. “once again, while peacefully riding my bike early this Sunday morning in Balboa Park, I was threatened, chased, and assaulted by the homeless population, in our Park,” he wrote Aug. He complained of bad personal encounters he had. “you have failed, us and yourself,” he wrote in one, Sept. ‘You Have Failed, Us and Yourself’ – Bill Walton Has Had It with the Mayor’s Approach to Homelessness | Voice of San Diego Closeįor the last several weeks, Bill Walton, the basketball legend, Grateful Dead fan and avid bicyclist – perhaps San Diego’s most famous resident – has been sending Mayor Todd Gloria emails about the homeless crisis in San Diego.
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