Fifty-six years ago last week, on March 31, 1968, then President Lyndon B. Johnson announced to the world that he would not run for reelection.
Historians say he was reacting to the existential crises that plagued America, from the War in Vietnam to the racial unrest that four days later would leave Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dead.
Todd Gloria has chosen a completely different course in San Diego.
While our once-great city crumbles, burns and disintegrates into chaos, anarchy and misery under the crushing, self-inflicted wounds of homelessness, crony-capitalism, financial dealing, corruption, deceit and deception, Gloria has chosen to focus on his own future.
Gloria is a career politician who has represented my Hillcrest neighborhood his entire political career.
I originally supported him every step of the way, including for mayor. I voted for him, and I raised money for him. But this has been one of the greatest mistakes of my lifetime.
Now I believe that Gloria is incompetent and incapable of true leadership.
There were 165 homeless deaths in the San Diego region in 2019. In 2023 there were 624 homeless deaths. That’s a 280% increase during Gloria’s short time in office, Â
People are now dying en masse in my once beautiful San Diego,
How do you sleep at night, Todd? LBJ couldn’t in 1968.
So Gloria must act in the best interest of San Diego and withdraw now from this election.
We need real leadership, and Larry Turner can provide that. But only if Gloria steps down.
Bill Walton is a former NBA basketball player and Hall of Famer, and a leader of Sunbreak Ranch.