A Minute with Todd Gloria in North Park

District 3 councilmember Todd Gloria walked up 30th Street in North Park on September 15, with some constituents tagging along, to test a new Android app called “BestWALK” from WalkSanDiego. The free app (downloadable here) allows walkers throughout San Diego to rate our sidewalks and help create a regional Walk Scoreboard.

Kathleen Ferrier, policy manager at WalkSanDiego, explained that the app's crowd-sourced data will contribute to a map of improvements and influence future spending.

The walk took place before Gloria held one of his regular community coffees, this time at Caffé Calabria. About 22 people attended.

In response to a question about crime in North Park, Gloria emphasized the necessity of “the relationship with the police department and the community. We have people with different language abilities who work for the police department. It's really helpful...and incredibly important.”

The Reader asked Gloria his views on the hoped-for Chargers stadium. Gloria said, “I am true to the stereotype of having no interest in sports [ostensibly a reference to his being gay, and a comment that drew laughter]. It's not going to be an emotional decision for me,” he said. “It's going what's [to be] in the best interest for the city, both from a morale and financial standpoint.”

Gloria added that we've got to find some way to build the stadium “because my father is the world's largest Charger fan. That's the basic reality of it.”

Gloria said he's talked to downtown residents, and “the preponderance of opinion” is that they want the stadium downtown. "We are a big city, and we should have professional sports.”