District 2 Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell said on Aug. 26 she met with the California Coastal Commission to help the sidewalk vendor ordinance move forward so it can be implemented citywide. As a result, she noted the commission has asked the City of San Diego to withdraw the pending request for review to avoid confusion on the ordinance’s implementation timeline. By withdrawing the request for review, the ordinance can take effect citywide.

“From the start, I worked closely and negotiated the terms of the sidewalk vendor ordinance with community members, and I met with the Coastal Commission to ensure the ordinance went through the due process,” said Campbell. “I want to thank the Coastal Commission for helping the sidewalk vendor ordinance move forward so that it can be implemented citywide, including in the beach areas.”

In response, Mission Beach Town Council president Larry Webb issued this statement: “Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilmember Jennifer Campbell should be taking no credit for having taken the step of removing the request for California Coastal Commission review. Instead, they should be issuing an apology to the beach area communities and the families throughout the San Diego region for having impeded their rights to coastal access for not beginning enforcement on June 22. For several months prior to June 22, it was made clear to Gloria and Campbell that Coastal Commission approval was not needed as many cities small and large up and down the coast had implemented similar ordinances without Coastal Commission approval and had not received any pushback from the Coastal Commission.”