Last month's adoption of the 2021-2022 budget moves us closer toward an equitable recovery that will enable us to rebuild healthier and stronger communities.

Thank you to everyone who joined us throughout this process to share their input. I am proud that the $7.23 billion budget reflects the needs, values, and priorities of our residents.

The work to uplift our communities continues! 

For more on the adopted budget, visit the County's budget portal.

Last week I was proud to introduce with Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, an initiative to advance inclusion of our LGBTQ+ community in San Diego County.

The initiative reaffirmed the  County’s commitment to fostering an environment  of  inclusiveness and belonging, especially  among our LGBTQ+ community including our LGBTQ+ county employees. 

Additionally, we are advocated for the passage of the Equality Act which explicitly prohibits discrimination in all states and protects those regardless of who they are or whom they love. 

To access the board letter click here.

For the first time in San Diego County’s history, we will have a central hub of services and information for our migrant and refugee communities. Last month, we created the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to fill that void and to connect families and individuals with the resources they need to easily integrate and thrive in our community. This office will focus on uplifting immigrants and refugees in our region while emphasizing the positive economic and cultural impact they have. As an immigrant myself I am proud that the County is taking a lead in this role being that we live in a region with the busiest port of entry in the Western Hemisphere.

To access the board letter click here.

In late June, I had the honor to join Local and State representatives, as well as Mexican officials to sign an MOU agreement to complete construction and open the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry by 2024. The new port of entry will enhance regional mobility and fuel economic growth and binational trade. It will also provide fast, predictable, and secure border crossings, all while improving wait times and improving air quality along our border communities. As we work towards economic recovery, I will continue to make this one of my top priorities for the advancement of our region.

Thank you to everyone who joined us!

I was so proud to have the opportunity to celebrate the amazing work we have accomplished together with county staff, residents, and community organizations, to ensure our hardest hit communities were not left behind.

We celebrated:

• South Region leading the county in vaccination rates with over 85% of our eligible population already vaccinated with at least one dose.
• Community organizations who partnered with us in the fight against the pandemic, also stepped up to offer a welcoming environment full of care, resources and programs to our unaccompanied minors at the SD Convention Center. Supervisor Fletcher and I had the chance to recognize the outstanding work by MAAC, SBCS, San Ysidro Health, and Casa Familiar.
• Opening our doors for community members to visit the chambers, our District 1 office, and most importantly get to know my amazing team who come to work everyday to serve you.

Last Friday, I was proud to join my colleagues and members of the community in celebrating diversity and inclusion by raising the Progress Flag for the first time at the County Administration Building. 

The flag-raising was a step towards elevating the LGBTQ+ community and a demonstration of building a more welcoming San Diego.