Why this matters

The Office of Race and Equity aimed to “address all forms of disparities experienced by individuals in San Diego” by dismantling any unfair policies, procedures and budget decisions that perpetuate systemic racism, according to its mission statement.

San Diego’s Office of Race and Equity no longer reports to the mayor. Now, it’s up to the City Council on how to shape what remains of the department.

Councilmembers last month voted to move race and equity staff under the city’s independent budget analyst — a position that’s meant to provide unbiased analysis and reports to the council. The decision came as some councilmembers blamed Mayor Todd Gloria for the office underperforming since he created it five years ago. 

Gloria proposed eliminating the department and had already shifted its employees under human resources amid the city’s budget crisis.

Councilmember Henry Foster III said moving the office under the IBA was the council’s way to “salvage what the mayor has left us.” He cited moves such as redirecting funds for equity-related programs elsewhere and personnel cuts within the office.

“The mayor has not furthered the goals and objectives of the office,” Foster told inewsource. “He has gone backwards.”

Rachel Laing, a spokesperson for Gloria, wrote in an email to inewsource that Gloria “strongly believes the Race and Equity function is far better suited to operate under the Human Resources Department.”

She said the office’s “critical work continued without missing a beat” when the Race and Equity team was moved to Human Resources in February.

“There is no evidence that this team’s work has been anything less than effective in accomplishing its intended purpose — or that it would be better conducted under the IBA,” Laing said.

Since its inception, the Race and Equity office has been tasked in part with dismantling systemic racism within city hall. This looked like training city employees to avoid prejudiced behavior or suggesting how local laws can become more fair.

But the past two budget cycles have hit the office. Last year, the city redirected $3 million in grants that the office was supposed to award community organizations, instead using the money to help residents secure housing after devastating floods. The mayor also did not replace the department’s director, Kim Desmond, who left the position last year, and then proposed eliminating the position altogether, along with cutting more staff.

Foster and Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera told Gloria in a May 7 memo that some of the decision “undermines” the Race and Equity office’s intent and “raises significant concerns” on whether it could fulfill its mission.

Gloria responded in a memo nearly two weeks later telling the councilmembers he disagreed, launching the power struggle over who has authority over the office. Councilmembers approved the office’s move to the IBA in the final version of the city’s latest budget.

Charles Modica, the city’s independent budget analyst, had previously raised concerns about taking on the Race and Equity team. Citing the office’s publishing of impartial analyses on potential policy changes, Modica said the move could risk the IBA “becoming or appearing to be politicized.” 

Modica pointed to other concerns, too, such as being newly tasked with hiring a race and equity director and then evaluating that director’s performance and lacking the “ability to compel departments to take trainings.”

“I want to stress very clearly, I deeply believe in the importance of equity and city operations,” Modica said during a June 10 meeting. “I also believe in the importance of my office, both being and appearing to be politically neutral in matters that are coming before you.” 

Elo-Rivera responded in another June meeting that budget and policy decisions are “inherently tied to whether or not we are dismantling institutional racism.” 

“The issue has become political because very, very bad people in positions of power have decided to weaponize this conversation and turn it into a political one,” he said.

In an interview with inewsource, Modica said the next several weeks and months will yield a significant exchange of knowledge between his office and the incoming Race and Equity employees. 

Despite his reservations, Modica repeatedly expressed a willingness to make the transition work if that’s what the council wants. He said he sees some alignment.

“There is a lot of work that they currently do that I think probably fits fine and well within the IBA’s kind of current purview,” he said.

How the Race and Equity office will be shaped is still up in the air. The council could explore amending the city charter if it wanted to give the office even more autonomy, a move that would require voter approval. 

For now, Foster said he wants the office to assist the IBA’s scrutiny of city policies and budgets.

“I view equity no different than the dollars we discuss,” Foster said on a weekday afternoon in his council office. He had six printed council policies on hand — some of which he said he’s considering for a race and equity analysis. These policies included subjects on people with disabilities, employment opportunities for women, housing markets and more.

“I think it’s a necessary move to continue to build trust, to continue to be transparent, and to continue to address racism within the city of San Diego.”

The Race and Equity office’s existing five employees did not respond to requests for an interview.

As the new budget cycle begins, it’s unclear when the transition will be completed. A spokesperson for Council President Joe LaCava said he plans to bring forward amendments to the city’s code to formalize the change after the August recess.

Type of Content

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Crystal Niebla joined inewsource in June 2022 focused on infrastructure and government accountability in the San Diego region. Today, she writes hyperlocal stories about communities in the South Bay. Her position is partly funded by Report for America, a national program that supports local journalists. At...