In the News

Coleen Cusack a “Worthy Challenger”

The OB Rag co-endorses Coleen Cusack as a worthy challenger to current Councilmember Stephen Whitburn.

— Feb. 28, 2024

Meet the candidates for San Diego City Council District 3: Q&A with Coleen Cusack

Coleen Cusack, an attorney and homeless advocate, is challenging Councilmember Stephen Whitburn for his seat representing neighborhoods downtown and around Balboa Park.

— Feb. 20, 2024

Endorsement: Coleen Cusack for San Diego City Council, District 3

Governing bodies benefit from having members who question the status quo. On housing in particular, Cusack would challenge the city’s claims of genuine progress.

— Feb. 16, 2024

San Diego District 3 Race Spotlights Homelessness Crisis Amidst Contrasting Policies

The contrast between Stephen Whitburn's enforcement-centric policies and Coleen Cusack's call for systemic change highlights the divergent paths before the electorate.

— Feb. 16, 2024

Questions surround meals served at San Diego’s Safe Sleeping site

"Pop-Tarts in the morning and a small dish for dinner are not adequate meals for the day,” said Coleen Cusack, a local advocate who is running for San Diego City Council.

— Dec. 5, 2023

San Diego ramps up arrests of unhoused people: ‘Harder to survive’

Their attorney, Coleen Cusack, has been showing up in court on their behalf, and the resolution has almost always been the same: “Case is not filed,” meaning the city attorney’s office declined to prosecute.

— Aug. 17, 2023

San Diego trash-can case dismissed against unhoused woman

“This is not an appropriate case for criminal law,” Cusack said, adding that homelessness is a health care and social problem. “We shouldn’t be using criminal courts to fight societal ills.”

— Aug. 10, 2023

Attorney for Unsheltered San Diegans Wants to Oust Downtown Councilman

Coleen Cusack, a pro-bono attorney who has long opposed the city crackdowns on homeless residents, is seeking the District 3 City Council seat. 

— July 11, 2023

Homeless advocates to protest citywide encampment ban

Cusack says the city is "basically setting up a poverty-apartheid in San Diego where people who are poor are not even allowed in some areas of the city without being subjected to arrest."

— May 23, 2023

Opinion: Here are real steps San Diego leaders can take to reduce homelessness and save lives

All it takes is political will to stop our fellow human beings from dying needlessly on our streets. Will San Diego meet the challenge?

— Dec. 29, 2022

San Diego attorney fights for evidence in minor infraction cases

Cusack is — and has been — trying to extrapolate evidence from the San Diego Police Department and the City Attorney’s Office on all of her pro bono cases.

— July 20, 2022