August 2026 Newsletter

OPD National Night Out

National Night Out returns to Oceanside on Tuesday, August 4th, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Oceanside Police Department Headquarters. This annual community building event brings residents together with officers and city staff for an evening of food, community resource booths, free games, raffles, live music, K-9 demonstrations, station tours, and the always popular Dunk-a-Cop dunk tank. The first 400 attendees will receive free food vouchers while supplies last. The event is free and open to the public, and families are encouraged to attend. For more information, please visit the event page here.

Reveille!

Updates regarding military/Veterans affairs in Oceanside

Marine Corps League BBQ Competition

The 5th Annual Oceanside Marine Corps League BBQ Competition takes place Saturday, August 22nd, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Veterans Association of North County, 1617 Mission Avenue. Hosted by the Marine Corps League of Oceanside – Camp J.H. Pendleton Detachment 21, the event brings together local barbecue teams for a day of competition, food, and community. The public is welcome to attend, sample food available for purchase, and support our local veterans organizations. More information on attending, please visit the event page here

Mobile Home Updates

August Community Events

 Getting Out in the Community in July

This year marks 138 years since Oceanside was incorporated on July 3, 1888. I got to celebrate that milestone in the best way possible, surrounded by neighbors with a great view of the fireworks at El Corazon. It was a fitting way to kick off the Fourth of July weekend. Events like this are a reminder of what makes Oceanside so incredible. I'm grateful to the city staff, public safety crews, and volunteers who put in long hours to make the night safe and enjoyable for everyone. Here's to the next 138 years!

I had a great time out at the El Camino Country Club for the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce's 130th Anniversary Golf Tournament. It's always fun to spend a day on the course with fellow community members and local business leaders, all in celebration of the Chamber's 130 years of service to Oceanside. Beyond the golf, the event supported something worth highlighting: a silent auction at the post-tournament reception benefiting the Chamber's Rising Star Program, which provides scholarships to local students who've overcome real adversity. Thanks to the Chamber and everyone involved in putting together a great event.

I attended the ceremony marking the official partnership between Sharp HealthCare and Tri-City Medical Center, celebrating the hospital's new name, Sharp Tri-City Medical Center. The event marked the start of a 30 year partnership approved by voters through Measure H, bringing over $100 million in infrastructure and seismic upgrades to the North County hospital, along with the planned restoration of labor and delivery services and enhanced cancer care in the coming months. It was a meaningful occasion for our community and I look forward to seeing these improvements benefit Oceanside residents and the surrounding area for years to come.

I had the opportunity to attend several events during this year's 38th Annual Oceanside Samoan Cultural Celebration, held July 5th through July 12th across the community. The week included a full slate of activities honoring 38 years of Samoan heritage in Oceanside, from the Youth Rugby Clinic and Opening Choir Service to daily sports clinics, basketball and volleyball tournaments, and the signature Cultural Celebration at the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheater, featuring Polynesian music, dance, food, and special recognitions. The week wrapped up with the Cupstack Championship, celebrating Oceanside's homegrown sport. It was a wonderful reminder of the strength and unity the Samoan community brings to Oceanside, and I'm grateful to the volunteers and organizers who make this celebration possible each year.

I had the pleasure of attending the swearing-in ceremony for Oceanside's new Fire Chief, Jess Specht. Chief Specht joined the Oceanside Fire Department in 2003 as a firefighter/paramedic and has spent 23 years rising through the ranks, most recently as deputy chief, before succeeding retiring Chief Dave Parsons. As chief, he's already spoken to his priorities of investing in training and mentorship, expanding the Lifeguard Division to meet growing beach visitor demand, and supporting the physical and mental health of our first responders. It was a special occasion celebrating both Chief Specht's well earned promotion and Chief Parsons' decades of service to our community, and I look forward to seeing the department continue to thrive under his leadership.

We hosted another Senior Scam Stopper Summit in July at the El Corazon Event Center, in partnership with Assemblymember Laurie Davies. The free event drew seniors, caregivers, and families eager to learn how to protect themselves from fraud, with presentations from San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan and the FBI's Elder Abuse Task Force. More than $130 million was scammed from San Diego County seniors in the past year alone! Speakers shared statistics along with practical tools for spotting and reporting scams before it's too late. It was a well attended, valuable morning, and I'm grateful to Assemblymember Davies and all the presenters for bringing these resources directly to our Oceanside seniors.

I had a wonderful time attending the Oceanside Museum of Art's "Illuminate" Gala in July. The evening began with a sunset cocktail reception at OMA, followed by an open air dinner, dancing, immersive art experiences, and auctions at the Oceanside Civic Center Plaza. The event came at an exciting time for the museum, following the announcement of a major campus expansion that will grow OMA by nearly 50 percent, adding new galleries, a sculpture garden, and expanded community spaces to make it a true anchor of our Cultural District. Proceeds from the Gala support OMA's exhibitions, arts education, and community programming. It was a joy to celebrate this milestone alongside so many local artists, patrons, and community leaders.

I attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony in July celebrating the completion of Phase 1 of the Sunshine Brooks Theater Revitalization Project, held at the historic theater downtown. A large crowd of community leaders, arts advocates, donors, and supporters gathered to mark the milestone, part of the $2.2 million Revitalize the Brooks Capital Campaign, the largest investment in the nearly 90 year old, city-owned theater in decades. Phase 1 brought expanded restroom capacity, a new HVAC system, a more open and accessible lobby, an enhanced concessions area, and upgrades to Studio 219. It was a proud moment for the Oceanside Theatre Company, which has stewarded the Brooks since 2011. I'm grateful to everyone whose partnership and support made this progress possible as work continues toward the next phase of this beloved cultural landmark's transformation.

The Oceanside Utilities Commission also met in July. The Commission approved professional services agreements for construction management, inspection, and testing services to support upcoming water and sewer infrastructure projects. They also reviewed updates on a recycled water main rehabilitation project, recent sewer system reporting, and upcoming Green Oceanside events happening through mid-September. It was a productive meeting focused on keeping our water infrastructure projects moving forward.

I attended the community meeting at the Libby Lake Community Center in July, hosted by the City's Housing & Neighborhood Services department. Those in attendance received an update on a number of projects and voiced their concerns on a few issues the neighborhood is facing. I always appreciate these opportunities to hear directly from our community and I look forward to seeing the ideas from this gathering put into action.

Council Update

There were no City Council meetings in July. Our next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, August 5th at 5:00pm.

For summaries of all City Council meetings, please click here.