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Across from Vons in Plaza Center t.PTUWFIJDMFT &1"DIBSHF Expires 11-04-19 Expires 11-04-19 SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER GROUP FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2019 BEACHANDBAYPRESS.COM Filippi’s Pizza Grotto® & Italian Restaurant A Nice Family Restaurant Senior Discount Save 10% Dine in only if ordering pizza, small pizza only 962 Garnet Ave., San Diego 92109 • 858-483-6222 MBHS students join global walkout Pacifi c BeachFest set for Oct. 5 SEE PAGE 11 SEE PAGE 12 Mayoral LET’S TACO ’BOUT BLISS candidates have their say at debate By DAVE SCHWAB | BEACH & BAY PRESS ix months before the March 3, 2020 primary, mayoral candi- Sdates Barbara Bry, Todd Gloria and Tasha Williamson squared off in a far-ranging debate at Mission Bay High School on Sept. 18. The trio addressed numerous prepared questions covering a broad swath of con- troversial coastal issues including crime, electric scooters, affordable housing, short-term vacation rentals, water quality and homelessness. Bry representing District 1, including La Jolla, is a tech entrepreneur and San Diego City Council president pro tem. She previously was a journalist for The Sacramento Bee and the L.A. Times. She has been involved in tech companies Connect and ProFlowers.com. She also Jenny Milkowski and Danielle Radin bite into Gringo and Garnet Vampire tacos at Backyard Kitchen & Tap. THOMAS MELVILLE / BEACH & BAY PRESS co-founded Atcom/info, one of the first companies to develop technology for high- speed Internet access in hotel rooms. Tasting San Diego's favorite food on National Taco Day Gloria was a former aide to Congress woman Susan Davis and a San Diego City ‘I think I’ve tried every kind of taco – from tongue to stomach, Council person representing District 3. He to head tacos. I’ll taste anything at least once.’ – JENNY MILKOWSKI is now California State Assembly member for the 78th Assembly District. That dis- By THOMAS MELVILLE | BEACH & BAY PRESS trict is comprised of the cities of Coronado, pastor tacos in the busiest, noisiest, and Del Mar, Imperial Beach, Solana Beach rowing up in the suburbs of a probably, best taco spot in Tijuana. Tacos and the central coastal communities of Northeastern city in the 1980s El Franc is a must-visit for any fan of the the City of San Diego. Gmeant tacos came out of a box authentic street taco – the ambiance, the Williamson is a community activist shelved in the “international” aisle at a smells, and the flavors can’t be beat. who works with families who have lost grocery store. One day a week – usually But up here in the beach communities members from police violence. She held Wednesdays – we were exposed to “tacos” of San Diego, National Taco Day (Oct. 4) is her own against her more-practiced com- with greasy ground beef, shredded iceberg celebrated a little differently as local restau- petitors during a two-hour debate that lettuce and mounds of mozzarella stuffed rants think outside of the box. There are drew frequent applause from a well-at- into delicate hard shells. cauliflower tacos, vampire tacos and even tended crowd. It was a fun mess and about as close to poke tacos – and we tasted them all. Immediate past District 1 Coun- Mexican food as we got. But, like tacos, we Our tasters, known for their taco in- cilmember Sherri Lightner and Pacific evolve. fatuations, were Danielle Radin, digital See DEBATE, Page 2 Just last weekend we were ordering al The octopus taco at Oscar’s Mexican Seafood. See TACOS, Page 13 FRIDAY · OCTOBER 4, 2019 2 BEACH & BAY PRESS NEWS point B. I have the experience to get that job done.” DEBATE >> Taking an environmental and inclusionary bent, CONT. FROM PG. 1 Williamson said: “We need to protect and restore our ecosystems. We need to have more people sitting SDCNG launches Beach Town Council president Brian White moder- at the table of government. People come first. The ated the PBTC-sponsored debate. people’s voice should be heard.” According to a 10News/Union-Tribune poll con- “Our planning groups, town councils and business ducted earlier this month, Gloria has a big early lead improvement districts are the basis of our grass-roots among the three democrats running for mayor. He democracy,” said Bry of her political underpinnings. new publication to polled 31 percent support compared with Bry at 15 “We have to make sure we hear the voices of the en- percent and Williamson with 8 percent. The poll how- tire city. It’s also important that the state legislature ever suggests half of likely voters are still undecided. not take away local control of land use. We should Underdog Williamson, touting herself as the “no-non- decide what gets built in our neighborhoods.” sense” candidate, portrayed herself as a populist pro- The candidates addressed homelessness. cover College Area claiming, “The people should be above the mayor.” “We can end chronic homelessness,” vowed Gloria, Bry, a proponent of stricter regulations for short- who has long experience with homeless issues. “If San Diego Community Group to discuss the possibil- term rentals and an outspoken critic of electric you want to end homelessness — send a homeless Newspaper Group (SDCNG) con- ity of extending the territory scooters who has asked for a moratorium on them, advocate to the mayor’s office.” tinues its 2019 growth spurt with of one of their other papers repeatedly referenced her entrepreneurial experience “People with mental illness and drug addiction the addition of a new publication (Mission Times Courier, La while attacking Gloria as a “career politician.” need to get the support and wraparound services — College Times Courier. Mesa Courier) to include the Pointing out he actually served as interim mayor they need,” said Williamson. “We also need to make The new community news- College Area,” wrote Collee of San Diego from the August 2013 resignation of sure there are no gaps. The government has been paper will cover news from the Area Community Planning Mayor Bob Filner until the March 2014 inaugura- great about having gaps in everything they create.” College Area and Rolando and Board president Jose Renoso tion of Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Gloria spoke of his In closing remarks, all three candidates played to will publish on the third Friday in a column for the inaugural long-term “vision” for San Diego. He claimed the their strengths. of every month. issue of College Times Courier. nation’s eighth-largest city suffers from a “small- “I’m running for mayor because upward mobili- “I feel this is a good addition “Fortuitously, the publisher felt town mentality.” ty cannot end, it must continue,” said Gloria. “This to our community coverage of that we are a unique communi- During one of the debate’s more poignant mo- City can end chronic homelessness, build world-class the east side of San Diego. It ty and the fact that we are cur- ments, when the candidates were asked if they could public transportation. We need to transform our bridges the gap nicely between rently undertaking a communi- be influenced by special interests, Bry responded: small-town thinking into forward progress.” the Mission Times Courier to ty-generated community plan “You can’t buy my vote. Just ask Campland, Airbnb, “I am no-nonsense, I talk the talk and walk the the north of Interstate 8 and update to create and implement Lime and Soccer City (lobbies she opposed).” walk,” said Williamson. “The City is corrupt, racist. east with La Mesa Courier,” the vision that the community Gloria, a third-generation San Diegan who is the We’ve got to stop the shenanigans, the parlor tricks. said SDCNG publisher Julie has for itself, warranted a paper son of a maid and a gardener, claims to be the candi- I want you to support the first black woman mayor Main. “There are a lot of school dedicated to the community.” date with the inside political savvy and networking in the City of San Diego.” districts and shared interests College Times Courier’s ed- connections to tackle San Diego’s perplexing prob- “I’ve spent my life challenging the status quo, between these well-established itorial team will be led by Jeff lems, like housing and homelessness. standing up for others and getting things done,” communities.” Clemetson who is currently ed- “Homelessness is the number one issue facing our said Bry. “I used to be a single, working mom living The College Times Courier itor of Mission Times Courier community,” he argued, noting there’s a tie-in with paycheck to paycheck, not knowing what the future was created in response to com- and La Mesa Courier. San Diego's housing crisis. “We have to make space would bring. I will be open and transparent at city munity members and business “I love the fact that College in our neighborhoods for working- and middle-class hall. My goal is to be relentless for you, really protect leaders from the College Area Area communities are nestled San Diegans. We need to build a world-class tran- every neighborhood. We want to make this a city we who approached Main about between the regions I already sit system with real choices getting from point A to can all be proud to live in.” returning coverage and dis- cover.