Mayor Todd Gloria Nominates Bethany Bezak as Chief Operating Officer as San Diego Advances $4.2B Midway Rising Project

Mayor Todd Gloria Appoints Seasoned Engineer Bethany Bezak as Chief Operating Officer

SAN DIEGO, California — Reinforcing executive administration inside the San Diego Civic Center, Mayor Todd Gloria announced the formal nomination of Bethany Bezak as the city’s next Chief Operating Officer (COO) in mid-October 2026. A registered professional civil engineer who previously directed the Transportation Department and led complex municipal logistics, Bezak was tapped to manage day-to-day operations across 40 city departments and over 11,000 municipal workers upon City Council confirmation.

Mayor Gloria noted that reinstating a dedicated COO provides laser-focused operational oversight across capital infrastructure delivery, customer utility software modernization, and interagency coordination as San Diego manages long-term fiscal responsibilities.

Full Council Prepares for Historic Vote on $4.2 Billion Midway Rising Plan

The leadership appointment coincides with the San Diego City Council preparing for a decisive floor vote on the $4.2 billion Midway Rising redevelopment project, which recently received unanimous approval from the Land Use and Housing Committee. The project transforms the 48-acre Sports Arena site into a walkable, transit-oriented community delivering more than 4,200 new homes, including over 2,000 deed-restricted affordable residences for working families.

The master plan also features a modern 16,000-seat sports and entertainment arena, 20 acres of public park plazas, and ground-level commercial boulevards connecting directly with regional transit hubs near Old Town.

Accelerating Stormwater Infrastructure and Municipal Efficiency

City leaders emphasized that rigorous civil engineering expertise is indispensable to executing accelerated stormwater drainage projects and repaving neighborhood arterials across San Diego County. Community coalitions and business chambers commended the synchronized focus on administrative stability and landmark transit housing.