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San Diego’s beloved holiday bash could be headed for the chopping block, and furious locals are already turning their anger toward City Hall.
Mayor Todd Gloria is proposing to axe the city’s iconic December Nights festival as part of sweeping budget cuts aimed at plugging a massive $146 million deficit — a move that has locals fuming over the potential loss of one of San Diego’s biggest Christmas traditions.
The annual two-night extravaganza at Balboa Park reportedly draws around 300,000 people with twinkling lights, international food booths, holiday performances and free entry to museums. Under Gloria’s proposed spending plan, the city would eliminate the staff and funding needed to run the mega-event, saving roughly $1.5 million.
Now, fed up locals are sounding off online — with some even calling for Gloria to be booted from office.
“I think it’s time to consider a recall for Mayor Gloria,” one person commented on Instagram.
“Maybe rather than arguing of where the cuts should be made, perhaps we should just vote new people in. How about that,” another commenter fumed. Others blasted city leaders for targeting community events instead of what they see as government waste and mismanagement. Disgruntled Redditors even referred to the Mayor as “Todd the Tyrant.”
For years, December Nights has transformed Balboa Park into a winter wonderland, turning it into one of the city’s biggest tourist draws of the year.
According to a recent analysis by the office of Independent Budget Analyst, many of the budget cuts were found to disproportionately hit lower income neighborhoods and communities of color, where city-funded recreation programs, libraries, and cultural events serve as critical gathering spaces.
San Diego officials say brutal financial realities are forcing them to make hard choices. The city has been grappling with deficits tied to slowing tax revenue growth, rising pension costs and mounting operating expenses.
Under the current proposal, the city would also reportedly eliminate the staff positions dedicated to organizing December Nights, making it difficult for private groups to try and recreate something that resembles the massive festival locals and visitors are used to.
Gloria’s proposal still faces weeks of City Council meetings and public hearings, where members could attempt to restore funding or identify alternative revenue sources to save the event.
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