Photo: Adbar / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Each January, the mayor of San Diego delivers a State of the City address, a speech that reviews the past year and previews the mayor’s priorities for the year ahead. Because San Diego has a strong-mayor system, in which the mayor proposes the budget and runs city departments, the speech is a useful early signal of what will show up in the budget proposal released in the spring.
A brief history
Kevin Faulconer became mayor after winning a special election in February 2014, following the resignation of Bob Filner in 2013. He delivered his first State of the City address in January 2015, focusing on neighborhood infrastructure, street repair and city services. He was re-elected in 2016 and served until December 2020.
Todd Gloria, a former council president and state Assemblymember, took office as mayor in December 2020 and was re-elected in 2024. His addresses have focused on housing, homelessness, infrastructure and the city’s budget.
What to listen for
- Budget signals. New programs announced in January need funding in the budget the mayor proposes in April, which the City Council must adopt by June.
- Ballot measures. Mayors often preview measures they want voters to consider.
- Infrastructure. Streets, storm drains and water and sewer pipes are perennial themes.
How to watch
The address is streamed by the city and broadcast on CityTV, and the text is typically posted on the mayor’s website afterward.
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