December 2023

Measure X is the half-cent sales tax approved for a period of seven years by Oceanside voters to maintain and improve general city services including police patrols; crime, drug, and gang prevention; fire, paramedic and 9-1-1 response; pothole repair, street maintenance; improved infrastructure; maintain safe, clean parks and beaches; and address homelessness. The funds require citizen oversight by a committee and independent audits. Below are some recent project updates.

Measure X revenue contributes to a wide variety of public safety measures, and over the past four years, the City has assigned over $30 million to enhance public safety, improve emergency response times, provide programs to assist homeless individuals and families, suppress crime, provide gang prevention programs and mentoring for youth, and build first-rate public safety facilities.

According to the San Diego Region Criminal Justice Mid-Year Bulletin, crime in Oceanside has been reduced by 17 percent since 2021. Full report

With the start of Measure X revenue in 2019, the City began its EMT program, hired emergency medical technicians, and purchased ambulances. Aside from the main goal of providing enhanced emergency response, the EMT program has been a successful pipeline for the Oceanside Fire Department at a moment in time when agencies around the country are having staffing shortages. 28 Oceanside EMTs have gone on to become Paramedics, and 20 went on to become Oceanside Firefighters.

Prevention and mentoring programs are also an arm of public safety. City staff are working with community organizations throughout Oceanside to partner on programs with the goal to divert Oceanside youth from engaging in gang and drug activity, which enhances public safety and provides a pathway for brighter futures. Measure X has helped to provide programming to over 800 Oceanside youth since July 1, 2023. Details

RECENT UPDATES: Most recently, staff worked with a local artist to engage in a community mural at the John Landes Community Center in the Tri City neighborhood. Over 150 neighborhood residents came out to paint the mural, which became an intergenerational experience (photos above). The mural titled, “The Heart of the Community” illustrates the coming together of multiple cultures in the Tri-City area, and not only nods to the past, but also represents the future, with a children’s wall and silhouettes of the neighborhood youth taking part in the Community Center activities. The mural project was facilitated by the Art Miles program and was created using community input and feedback from neighborhood residents.

In addition, the Boys & Girls Club of Oceanside’s CanTEEN Food Truck program was recently added as part of the Measure X-sponsored youth programming. Oceanside youth will learn all aspects of running a restaurant business, including menu preparation, food prep and cooking, bookkeeping and advertising.

Oceanside’s Finest Basketball Club has also been expanded with Measure X funding. Staff had the opportunity to attend a skills practice at MLK Middle School in November to see the program in action. Throughout the evening, over 65 youth showed off their incredible basketball skills as the dedicated coaching staff worked with them on balance, coordination and technique.

The Oceanside Youth Partnership (OYP) and officers from the Oceanside Police Department are working with their largest cohort to date.  24 high school students are currently enrolled in the OYP mentoring program. Measure X has contributed to this expansion.

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