“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. »
This quote has been attributed to both writer Samuel Johnson and advice columnist Ann Landers — but no matter who said it, we can agree: Peter Seidler delivered.
Seidler, owner of the San Diego Padres, died on November 14. He purchased the team with Ron Fowler in 2012 and bought out Fowler’s stake in 2020. Much to the delight of the Padres
fans, Seidler has invested in the team: Its $258 million payroll last season was the third highest in Major League Baseball. He also invested in Petco Park, which USA Today named the best baseball stadium in MLB.
The tributes to Seidler have been heartfelt. However, many people will remember him, not for his baseball ties, but for his second calling. Seidler has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of homeless people, some of whom sleep on the sidewalks near Petco Park. He was a member of the executive committee of the Lucky Duck Foundation and co-founded the Tuesday Group, advocating for homeless San Diegans and funding high-impact programs to alleviate their suffering.
Lucky Duck called Seidler the “heart and soul of our organization” and pledged to “continue his deep commitment and passion to helping our most vulnerable neighbors.”
I met Seidler in 2018, when the National Conflict Resolution Center honored him with our Philanthropy in Peacemaking Award, alongside Dan Shea, for their efforts to combat homelessness. We were inspired to see two business leaders commit to this cause – not with platitudes, but with practical solutions.
Yet San Diego has found that dogged determination alone cannot solve the homeless crisis. October was the 19th consecutive month in which the number of newly homeless people (1,159) exceeded the number of people finding shelter (855), according to the Regional Homeless Task Force. This unfortunate calculation means hundreds more people spent this Thanksgiving weekend in their cars, in shelters or on the streets.
The RTF report shows 28,815 “active clients” in the Homeless Management Information Services database, which tracks activities within our region’s homeless response system. A third of clients are seniors (55 or older), the largest cohort in the system.
Just last week in the Union-Tribune, Blake Nelson reported on the perilous conditions facing our unhoused neighbors. Some 550 have died since January, according to preliminary data from the San Diego County medical examiner’s office. This is the third year in a row that the number of deaths has exceeded 500. Causes include drug overdoses; diseases, such as COVID-19; and encounters with trucks, trains and carts.
Sobering statistics have never deterred Peter Seidler. He persevered, as leaders do. And there have certainly been some successes, as Nelson cited: rental assistance for elderly people facing eviction; an enhanced housing voucher program for members of the military; the opening of San Diego’s second secure campsite.
Progress could also be on the horizon. A popular idea called Sunbreak Ranch is gaining traction with civic leaders and citizens of San Diego. Sunbreak would provide a safe space where homeless people could reside in tents, with access to restrooms. There would be designated and protected areas for families, seniors, people with dogs and others as needed, as well as a range of services available, including transportation; 24-hour security; medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment; and professional training.
But the idea is only gaining ground with the cooperation of the federal government. Sunbreak visionary George Mullen wants to locate Sunbreak Ranch at MCAS Miramar on 2,000 acres of federal land, which will be leased for $1 a year. He imagines the tent city built by the American military and security services, using surplus equipment from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Mullen recognizes the importance of philanthropy in launching the initiative, but describes the estimated start-up cost ($275 million) as minimal compared to the amount of money spent to address homelessness in our community. Then, of course, there’s the question of the proposed venue: NIMBYism (not in my backyard) might prove to be the biggest obstacle of all.
With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, it’s time to make a Christmas wish. Mine has two parts: a World Series victory for the Padres and a significant drop in the number of homeless San Diegans. There could be no better way to honor the memory of Peter Seidler.
I’m glad to have known him.
Dinkin is president of the National Conflict Resolution Center, a San Diego-based group that works to create solutions to difficult problems, including intolerance and incivility. To learn more about NCRC programming, visit nrconline.com
