Council District 1 elected officials and their representatives discussed legislative priorities for 2024, as well as fielding questions about crime, homelessness, and local government at a La Jolla Town Council meeting on Jan. 11.
The panel discussion was followed by a group meeting with residents debating what qualities would be desirable in hiring the next police chief to replace Chief David Nisleit, who is retiring in June. The City is gathering public feedback on recruiting a new police chief in the City’s ongoing nationwide search to replace Nisleit.
The panel included District 1 Councilmember Joe LaCava, Assemblymember Tasha Boerner representative Mariah Kallhoff, Mayor Gloria representative Emily Piatanesi and Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer’s representative Celsey Taylor.
La Jolla Town Council president Treger Strasberg introduced the panelists and implored the council board and audience to behave respectfully during a Q&A panelist discussion. The panelists, in turn, were initially asked to discuss legislative priorities for their respective offices for the upcoming year.
“I’m looking to enforce regulations we have on the books for street vending, beach fires, and short-term vacation rentals,” said LaCava. “Public safety in the City, and La Jolla as well, is my top priority, especially with the coming budget season (June deliberations). I want to make sure police, fire, and lifeguards have the tools and resources they need.”
“It’s a high-level priority for Mayor Gloria to get public feedback on the character and qualities you are looking for in our next police chief,” said Piatanesi noting a similar process will be instituted to replace City Fire Chief Colin Stowell, who will also retire later this year. “Besides public safety, the mayor’s top priorities are addressing homelessness, housing and infrastructure.”
“The (state congressional) session for 2024 has reconvened,” noted Kallhoff about the assemblymember’s 77th District. “E-bike safety is a top priority, and we are working on requiring e-bike licenses for children ages 13 to 15 ½, to get them educated on safety laws and the rules of the road. A second priority is a California Public Utilities Commission audit being done on behalf of consumers, who are concerned about the fairness and cost of their energy bills. We’re going to be having a town hall next month with CPUC staff, who will help explain what we found in the audit.”
“The supervisor’s priorities are both housing and the homelessness crisis,” said Taylor noting their 3rd Supervisorial District, which stretches along the coast from Carlsbad to Coronado. “The County is putting money into (new) housing and is especially looking at County-owned properties (for development). We’re also concerned about homelessness, particularly seniors over age 55, making sure the unhoused have continuing access to mental health services.”
Following the panel discussion on District 1 legislative priorities, La Jollans in small groups discussed what they’d like to see in a new chief of police, coming up with a “wish list” of preferred leadership qualities. That preliminary list included characteristics such as humility, transparency, and employing a collaborative approach to decision-making, as well as possessing the communications skills necessary to bridge the gap between disparate communities.
