In a significant shift, San Diego’s City Council has decided to move the Office of Race and Equity under the oversight of the City’s independent budget analyst, marking a departure from its former structure where it reported directly to the mayor.
This change comes after a series of disputes between councilmembers and Mayor Todd Gloria concerning the office’s performance since its establishment five years ago.
Councilmember Henry Foster III expressed that the move to the independent budget analyst (IBA) was a strategic attempt to ‘salvage what the mayor has left us.’
He highlighted the mayor’s actions, such as redirecting funds for equity-related programs and making personnel cuts, as detrimental to the office’s objectives, stating, ‘The mayor has not furthered the goals and objectives of the office; he has gone backwards.’
A spokesperson for Mayor Gloria, Rachel Laing, defended the decision to house the Race and Equity functions under Human Resources. She emphasized that the office’s critical work had remained uninterrupted, arguing there was no evidence that its operations would benefit from being under the IBA instead.
Since its inception, the Race and Equity office has aimed to dismantle systemic racism within city government by training staff to avoid biased behavior and advocating for fair laws.
However, the office has faced considerable challenges over the past two budget cycles. For instance, last year, the city redirected $3 million that was initially designated for community organizations toward assisting residents affected by severe floods. The mayor also left the department without a director after Kim Desmond’s departure last year, and proposed eliminating the position altogether alongside further staff cuts.
In a memo sent on May 7, Councilmembers Foster and Sean Elo-Rivera criticized the mayor’s decisions, suggesting they ‘undermine’ the intent of the Race and Equity office and raised significant concerns about its ability to fulfill its mission.
The ensuing power struggle led to councilmembers approving the office’s relocation to the IBA as part of the city’s latest budget.
Charles Modica, the city’s independent budget analyst, had previously voiced his concerns regarding the implications of overseeing the Race and Equity team. He noted that the office’s role in producing impartial analyses on policy changes could lead to the IBA being perceived as political.
During a meeting on June 10, Modica underscored his belief in the importance of equity in city operations but stressed the need for the IBA to maintain political neutrality in the matters before the council.
In response to Modica’s concerns, Councilmember Elo-Rivera stated that budget and policy decisions are inherently linked to dismantling institutional racism, arguing that the conversation around race and equity had been weaponized by those in power.
Despite his reservations, Modica has shown a willingness to adapt and collaborate with the incoming Race and Equity staff, indicating potential alignment between their existing work and the IBA’s focus.
The future structure and function of the Race and Equity office remain uncertain at this time. The City Council may consider amending the city charter to grant the office increased autonomy, although such a move would require voter approval.
In the interim, Councilmember Foster expressed his hope that the office would play a vital role in assisting the IBA with its analysis of city policies and budgets.
Foster emphasized his view that equity should be treated with the same importance as budgetary discussions, holding printed copies of council policies he plans to analyze through a race and equity lens.
He underscored the necessity of the office in promoting transparency and building trust while addressing racism within San Diego’s governance.
As the new budget cycle commences, the timeline for the completion of this transition remains unclear. A spokesperson for Council President Joe LaCava indicated that amendments to the city’s code to formalize this change are expected to be proposed after the August recess.
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