San Diego’s decision-makers are mostly white, male and economically advantaged, according to a new report released Tuesday.
The 51-page report comes from the Center on Policy Initiatives, a San Diego think tank that has ties to local labor unions. Researchers assessed five governing boards and commissions from September to January, saying they were seeking a broad picture of public leadership throughout the county.
Over the five-month period, researchers reviewed and conducted interviews with leadership from the Escondido Union High School District Board, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, the city of San Diego Planning Commission, the Port Commission of San Diego and the Metropolitan Transit System Board, or MTS.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 46 percent of the county’s population is white. About 34 percent are Hispanic or Latino, 5 percent are black and 12 percent are Asian or Pacific Islander. All five supervisors are white, the report said, adding that current supervisors also have socio-economic backgrounds that fail to represent the average worker in San Diego.
There were some positives. The report said the Port Commission and the MTS board have become more diverse in recent years.
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