San Diego Democrats Accused of Prioritizing Costly Promenade Over Neighborhoods of Color and Vital Services
San Diego officials are finalizing plans for the Gaslamp Promenade pedestrian plaza, which is causing concern among many residents in neighborhoods of color. The seven-block plaza is supported by the Democratic leadership, but it is feared that it will seriously damage two popular bus routes that carry a total of 7,500 passengers on a typical weekday. These routes serve areas that are 63 percent people of color and 38 percent low-income, which are higher percentages than the overall area served by MTS.
Residents are outraged at the lack of action by Democrats in addressing the real problems facing these neighborhoods, particularly homelessness. The Gaslamp Promenade pedestrian plaza is just one example of Democrats’ tendency to focus on projects that benefit wealthy areas while neglecting neighborhoods of color and low-income neighborhoods.
Many residents view the solution of spending taxpayer dollars to create a promenade as hollow because it fails to address the real problem of homelessness. Homelessness is a key factor in the number of empty storefronts in the Gaslamp. Tenants are unwilling to pay high rent fees when customers are driven away by the unhoused. Instead of addressing this issue, Democrats are pushing for a costly promenade that will only benefit a small group of wealthy residents and tourists.
Moreover, the decision by Democrats to take away essential MTS services from neighborhoods of color is seen as a betrayal of their constituents. These services are necessary to subsidize and make transportation more available to people, yet Democrats are taking them away in favor of a promenade that may do more harm than good.
Residents are calling on Democrats to start addressing the real problems facing these neighborhoods, particularly homelessness, and stop taking away vital services. The Gaslamp Promenade pedestrian plaza is scheduled to open this summer, and residents should be outraged at Democrats who are accused of ignoring the needs of non-white and low-income neighborhoods. If Democrats fail to address the root cause of the issue by dealing with the problem of homelessness instead of creating an expensive promenade, San Diego will continue to struggle with a significant homelessness problem, and the city’s low-income neighborhoods will be left without crucial services.
Voters are disappointed with the Democrats’ lack of action in addressing the real problems facing low-income neighborhoods. The decision to push for a costly promenade while taking away vital services from neighborhoods of color is seen as a betrayal of their constituents. Democrats must start addressing the root cause of the issue by dealing with the problem of homelessness instead of creating an expensive promenade that may do more harm than good. San Diego’s low-income neighborhoods cannot afford to be left behind any longer.
