'Wrong,' San Diego mayor says of analysis of proposed mega shelter

4 months ago 8

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A criticizing report on the City of San Diego's plan to build a 1,000-bed homeless shelter in Middletown is being met with criticism from Mayor Todd Gloria.

There are conflicting messages within city hall regarding the city's proposed 1,000-bed homeless shelter at the corner of Kettner Boulevard and Vine Street.

A report from the city's Independent Budget Analyst showed criticism of the plan overall, but the mayor is pushing back.

In an interview in Gloria's office Wednesday afternoon, the mayor said, “with all due respect to our independent budget analyst, he’s wrong" regarding the report's finding that the building is more than market value.

The independent review shared the upfront cost of the project is $13 million to turn the 64,000-square-foot property into a place to house 1,000 homeless.

The analysis reports the 30-year lease is above market rates. The mayor refutes that.

“It's not above market it is not too expensive, and this is the right thing to do for the most pressing issue for our city right now," the mayor said.