Homeless Crisis, Housing Part Of County Supervisors' Candidate Forum

SAN DIEGO, CA — More affordable housing, climate change action and ways to ease the homeless crisis were a few of the topics posed for candidates seeking the District Four county supervisor seat during a forum Saturday in City Heights.

Janessa Goldbeck, Paul McQuigg, Monica Montgomery Steppe and Amy Reichert answered written audience questions at the event, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of San Diego and held at the City Heights Recreation Center. According to the LWV, 86 people attended the event.

The four candidates will be on a special-election ballot Aug. 15. Whoever wins a majority vote will replace Nathan Fletcher, who resigned May 15. Should no candidate receive a majority vote next month, the county will then hold a special general election on Nov. 7.

In late March, Fletcher announced that he was seeking treatment out of state for alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder. Fletcher was first elected in 2018 and won his re-election against Reichert in November.

He announced his resignation on March 29 after admitting to an affair with a Metropolitan Transit System employee who is suing him for alleged sexual assault and harassment. Fletcher has denied those allegations.

On May 23, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved holding a special election.

Elizabeth Brady, an LWV member who served as moderator, reminded the audience that Saturday's event was "a forum for the voters -- not a debate between candidates."

She also asked attendees to keep their questions succinct and relevant to the issues.

Goldbeck, a San Diego native and Marine Corps veteran, said she worked in Washington, D.C. and "got the bug for making change at the highest levels of government." She declared her candidacy after Fletcher announced earlier this year that he would run for a state Senate seat. When it comes to serious issues, "the county is where the rubber meets the road," said Goldbeck, who is CEO of Vet Voice Foundation.

A Marine Corps veteran injured during his last combat deployment in 2006 in Iraq, McQuigg said he may be the least-known candidate, but "this is my neighborhood." A federal government employee who also works with veterans' nonprofits, McQuigg said he has "a vested interest in staying in San Diego," and making it a place where people can raise families instead of moving away for more cheaper housing.

Montgomery Steppe, first elected in 2018 to the Fourth District seat on the San Diego City Council, said she is "the only candidate in this race that has actually represented folks." The San Diego native touted her work on the city budget, park improvements, using an equity lens to craft official policy and investing in previously ignored communities.

A San Diego resident since age 4, Reichert said she grew up in Tierra Santa. The private investigator added that her family struggled financially and her father was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Reichert, who publicly criticized some the county's COVID-19 policies, said that she saw "tremendous suffering over the past couple of years," in part because certain public workers -- such as first responders -- faced losing their jobs, in connection with vaccine mandates.

The candidates offered different approaches to easing the homeless crisis: Goldbeck said additional psychiatric beds and using excess county land for more emergency shelter were two solutions.

McQuigg said the county's $8.1 billion budget was not being utilized properly to help the unhoused, and that there are great programs elsewhere in the nation -- including a "stand down" event for veterans -- that could be used in San Diego County.

Reichert said that affordable housing is a root cause, and government leaders need to do better for domestic violence victims, senior citizens and other vulnerable people. She added that while society cannot force people into drug abuse treatment and it's not a crime to be homeless, those who commit serious crimes should have to undergo mandatory treatment.

Montgomery Steppe said mental health issues aside, homelessness is an economic problem and wages have not kept up with the cost of living. Within the next five years, the region will need more than 18,000 behavioral health service workers for a complex problem in which no two people are the same, she said.

When it comes to more affordable housing, Goldbeck, McQuigg and Montgomery Steppe said a faster permitting process is needed, along with building on open county land.

Reichert faulted state Senate Bill 10 for its density requirements. She added that region's real estate market is unhealthy, and that government should get of the way.

Goldbeck said there needs to be more prevention of seniors falling into homelessness, while McQuigg said a screening process is needed for those with drug addiction or mental illness.

The climate change issue came up several times on Saturday, with candidates proposing different methods for helping the environment, including better and faster public transportation options.
Goldbeck said it's possible have increase affordable housing and achieve climate goals, starting with expanding public transit to communities outside the metro region.

McQuigg said the public transit system in the county is broken, with complicated bus schedules as one factor. He said the region has amazing infrastructure, but leaders need to seek input and ideas from elsewhere.

Montgomery Steppe said she supported the county's approval of a vehicle miles traveled standard to prevent unnecessary sprawl in communities, but that shouldn't interfere with building more affordable homes.

Reichert said the VMT policy places caps on building, and because high prices have forced many to commute from southern Riverside County or even Tijuana, that also results in more emissions being pumped into the atmosphere.

Although the supervisors' race is considered non-partisan, the candidates were asked how they would ease strong political divides affecting San Diego County.

Goldbeck said her parents supported her being gay, but not joining the Marine Corps. "It's important that we remember that we are not one thing," she said, adding that even some audience members don't share her views, they're here Saturday because they also care about this district.

McQuigg said that leadership comes from the top, and "the entire county "needs to set the example for those who come after us." He added that District Four is diverse area and considered politically "purple," rather than red or blue.

Montgomery Steppe said her office takes input from residents when it comes to policy. She added her job is all about trust and listening, "not whether we agree on every single issue."

Reichert said it was important to listen to people with a different viewpoint, and called out the Board of Supervisors for not doing that or making eye contact with public speakers during regular meetings.

"I vow I will be professional and civil," said Reichert, who added she won't resort to name-calling in the supervisors' race.

By KAREN WEIL / City News Service