Dear Neighbor,

So far, 28 people experiencing homelessness are now spending the night at our new Safe Sleeping site at the 20th and B Operations Yard.

We look forward to welcoming many more in the coming weeks.

Our Safe Sleeping program provides people who are currently sleeping in unsafe and unsanitary sidewalk encampments with access to clean new tents, cots (so they are not on the asphalt), sleeping bags, daily meals, bathrooms, as well as access to showers, laundry and supportive services that will help put them on a path to permanent housing.

These tents are not designed to be anyone’s permanent home -- they are meant to keep people safe and get them connected to the kind of services that will help end their homelessness.

We’re ramping this new Safe Sleeping site up in a thoughtful way, just as we do with any new City program. The operator, Dreams for Change, is addressing issues as they arise and making improvements to the site based on residents’ feedback.

As is the case at all City shelters, people are admitted to the Safe Sleeping site through homeless outreach workers. People can call 2-1-1 and ask to be connected to a homeless outreach worker. Those outreach workers will then walk folks through the process of getting enrolled.

In the fall, we’ll open a new Safe Sleeping site with up to 400 tents at Lot “O” on the outskirts of Balboa Park, near the Naval Hospital.

We are also increasing the number of beds at other shelters throughout the City. We are looking for every solution for faster, temporary shelter while continuing to work to build and fast-track more affordable housing.

As always, it’s an honor to serve as your Mayor.

Celebrating Pride in San Diego is More Important Than Ever

San Diego’s LGBTQ Pride celebration is one of our city’s most popular and beloved annual traditions.

It’s the time of year when LGBTQ people and allies come together to celebrate love and the progress the LGBTQ community has made over the years.

However, it’s also a time to recognize that these rights are always at risk, which is why we must all be vigilant in protecting them.

Just last month, the Supreme Court put our right not to be discriminated against at risk in a ruling that said someone can decline to serve LGBTQ people if it violates their religious beliefs. The ruling is a major setback after all we’ve fought for and won on LGBTQ equality, and it undermines the fundamental promise of America. It also comes on the heels of a record-breaking number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in state legislatures across the country, including Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, Tennessee's bills that would ban drag performances and anti-trans bills in Texas.

As your Mayor, I am committed to stand up for the civil rights of all people – and particularly those of the LGBTQ community. We will always ensure that LGBTQ people are safe and can build a future here in our city.

The City has been busy showing our full support for Pride.

We helped get Pride festivities going at my third annual City of San Diego Pride Kickoff event in Balboa Park. At the event, we unfurled the Progress Pride flag, which now hangs from the California Tower in Balboa Park through July 16. Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell, accompanied by Councilmembers Stephen Whitburn, Marni von Wilpert, Kent Lee and Council President Sean Elo-Rivera officially proclaimed July as Pride Month in the City of San Diego. This year, given national anti-drag legislation, we also made sure to highlight some of our local drag queens at the kickoff.

Pride is absolutely a time of celebration, but it is also a call to action to continue fighting for a better life for LGBTQ people – and frankly, all Americans.

Our City Needs Smart Streetlights to Help Solve Crimes

Smart Streetlights can improve public safety and our ability to solve crimes. That has been demonstrated time and time again in modern cities across the world, including right here in San Diego.

A little more than 3,000 Smart Streetlight video cameras were deployed across our city before being deactivated in 2020 due to concerns over how the program was rolled out and questions about privacy protection.

Prior to that, Smart Streetlights data had been used to help solve and investigate more than 400 crimes, including 56 murders or attempted murders, 26 hit-and-runs, 55 robberies/burglaries, 19 sex crimes and 10 carjackings.

For example, on April 20, 2019, Smart Streetlight data was used when an assault with a deadly weapon occurred in Bankers Hill. The Smart Streetlight technology was able to provide evidence that the District Attorney called “crucial” in the prosecution of the crime, and the defendant was sentenced to six years in prison as a result.

Smart Streetlight technology was also used on October 10, 2018, when Ghedeer “Tony” Radda was shot and killed during a brazen robbery at his flooring supply business in East Village. Surveillance video from within the store showed two suspects entered the business wearing Halloween-style masks, which is why the private video surveillance footage alone did not provide the clues necessary to identify the suspects. Within hours of receiving the Smart Streetlight evidence, however, investigators were able to identify the suspects, which quickly led to their arrests. The images captured by the Smart Streetlights were critical in solving this case.

The Police Department plans to present the proposal to get San Diego’s Smart Streetlight program back up and running to the City Council’s Public Safety Committee on July 19.

SDPD has worked diligently to comply with the City’s new Privacy Ordinance. They presented to several community groups across the City, made additional feedback forms available online, and responded to more than 100 questions and requests for information posed by the Privacy Advisory Board and community members.

San Diegans are strongly supportive of Smart Streetlights. Based on 914 surveys taken by San Diego residents, the overwhelming majority said they support the use of these streetlights to help solve crime and keep San Diegans safe.

Smart Streetlight technology is a necessary tool for modern law enforcement and are widely used across the United States, and civil-liberties protections are in place. I urge the City Council to put justice for victims at the forefront of their decision to vote to bring Smart Streetlights back as an essential tool for public safety in San Diego.

More About Streetlights: Hundreds of Downtown Streetlights Fixed

More than 400 streetlights in the Downtown communities of East Village and Gaslamp Quarter are back up and running thanks to a collaboration between our Transportation Department and the Downtown San Diego Partnership.

The work on these Downtown streetlights started in May and will be completed soon. By the end of summer, a total of 600 streetlights Downtown will be repaired and functioning properly.

Many of the issues were caused by vandals who broke into the light poles and damaged or removed the structure and wiring of the streetlights. City crews and contractors are making repairs that include installing anti-theft covers to protect the newly repaired lights from any future tampering.

Our Transportation Department maintains more than 60,000 streetlights citywide and has made progress in addressing an existing backlog of approximately 6,000 streetlights in need of repair or replacement. In January 2022, the Transportation Department reorganized its repair teams into north and south crews and changed repair prioritization from a chronological “oldest case first” model to a geographical location-based priority model developed by the City’s Performance and Analytics Department (PandA). The change has helped us to work faster and more efficiently.

To continue reducing the streetlight repair backlog, the budget includes an additional $2.3 million for supplemental work performed by City-managed contractors who will help our City electricians. We will also be introducing a new streetlight safety priority score criteria, which will consider project-prioritization factors such as historic service levels, communities of concern, liability and claims, proximity to schools and parks, and crime rates.

Empowering (and Paying) Our Future City Leaders

The City’s Summer Civics internship program is in full swing.

Made possible through state “Californians For All Youth Jobs Corps” funds, this eight-week program gives 100 interns the opportunity to learn what it’s like to work at the City.

Over the next two months, interns are conducting research and presenting solutions to actual City challenges. They are also learning about the roles and responsibilities of various City departments and independently study courses related to working in local government.

As part of our Employ & Empower program, these summer interns help get us closer to my goal of ultimately empowering 1,000 young people through paid public service internships with the City of San Diego.

This important program is designed to employ and empower the next generation of public servants at the City. Anyone between the ages of 16 and 30 who is enrolled in an academic or training program is eligible to apply. Applicants who come from historically disadvantaged communities will be prioritized.

Since launching Employ & Empower last summer, we have paid 518 interns, and roughly 32% of our interns have been promoted to full-time employment at the City!

As Mayor, I have made investing in our youth a priority. The end goal is to show young San Diegans the public-service opportunities that are open to them while they earn a paycheck and gain skills they can ultimately use in their careers.

GETTING IT DONE: FIXING OUR STREETS

Smoothing Out a Rough Ride in P.B.

Heading to Pacific Beach on Mission Bay Drive and Garnet Avenue used to be a rough ride. This busy area has a new look and feel after getting some much-needed Asphalt Overlay following a vital pipeline project.

MAYOR GLORIA AROUND TOWN

Celebrating Communities Coming Together on Independence Day

San Diegans gathered at community events held across the City to celebrate the birth of our great nation. I was thrilled to join residents in Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch, and San Carlos to take part in parades and community celebrations. It’s always so fun and heartwarming to see our communities come together through neighborhood gatherings like these!

Honoring Congresswoman Susan Davis

The Rolando Post Office has been officially renamed the Susan A. Davis Post Office, in honor of the San Diego Congresswoman’s many years of public service. Throughout her tenure in the House, Congresswoman Davis was a tireless advocate for her constituents and a champion for important causes, from education and healthcare to supporting our armed forces. Congresswoman Davis also happens to be one of the most important mentors in my life. I proudly served as her District Director, and she had a huge impact on me and helped get me to where I am today. I saw firsthand how hard she worked to improve the lives of those she served, and I have no doubt that her dedication and unwavering commitment to public service will inspire generations to come.

The Many Talents and Contributions of LGBTQ+ Women and Non-Binary People

Thousands of people participated in this year’s She Fest – one of the first LGBTQ Pride events. The community-powered celebration helps kick off San Diego’s Pride week and gives all San Diegans the chance to recognize and honor the many talents and contributions of our city’s LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people.

Launching ‘Leave No Veteran Homeless’ Initiative

Last week, I joined a County Supervisor Nora Vargas to announce a County-led effort to get landlords, nonprofits and other community partners involved in helping address veteran homelessness. The County officially launched an ambitious new initiative to end veteran homelessness in San Diego. Called “Leave No Veteran Homeless,” the County will be taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to end veteran homelessness through a coordinated effort that will include various agencies across the region – including the City of San Diego – working more closely together to achieve this important goal.

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Celebrate Pride with Your Library

The City of San Diego Public Library (SDPL) invites San Diegans of all ages to celebrate Pride at the library. From a limited-edition Pride library card to family fun at this year’s Pride festival, SDPL has a full week of events planned to celebrate San Diego’s LGBTQIA+ community and this year’s Pride theme: “Thrive.”

As part of this year’s celebration, SDPL will host a family-friendly Pride-themed storytime on Wednesday, July 12, at the Oak Park Library at 10:30 a.m. It will focus on celebrating diversity and individuality through age-appropriate stories and songs.

SDPL will also offer a limited-edition Pride library card. After receiving 89 submissions in the 2023 Pride Library Card design contest, this year’s winning design was created by Claude Castañeda. It features a performer, a Pride flag, music notes and a sun and moon.

For the design, Castañeda took inspiration from the theme of this year’s Summer Reading Program, “Find Your Voice.” Patrons can pick up the Pride library card for free at any library location while supplies last. The card will also be available at the SDPL Lit Café at the San Diego Pride Festival at Balboa Park on July 15 and 16.

The Lit Café will host Pride storytimes, rainbow craft times, face painting and interactive workshops. Visit the SDPL Pride page for more information on the library’s Pride celebration, book recommendations and community resources.

World Design Capital

The public submission form for World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 (WDC 2024) is now open!

World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 is excited to invite the regional community to participate by showcasing your rich design history and how it is transforming the region. Your contributions will mean we can reach more people, communities, and areas by creating volunteering and partnership opportunities, and offering a diverse, eclectic, informative, and exceptional array of programming. Submit your ideas for activations, events, exhibitions, projects and more to be considered in World Design Capital programming.

‘Parks After Dark’ Free Summer Fun Starting this Week!

The San Diego Parks Foundation, the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, and Price Philanthropies have launched the second annual Parks after Dark summer program. This is an eight-week series of free, outdoor, multicultural, and multigenerational community celebrations held at four City of San Diego parks: City Heights, Linda Vista, Memorial, and Skyline Hills.

Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, from July 6 through August 26, Parks After Dark provides families in San Diego communities with free summer outdoor music, theatre, movies, arts and crafts, games, sports clinics, tournaments, resources from community-based organizations, and free food for children at four City of San Diego parks.

Check out the schedule here and please come join us this summer!

‘Parks After Dark’ Free Summer Fun Starting this Week!

Check out the schedule here and please come join us this summer!

Help Prevent Fires Sparked by Lithium Batteries

Fires ignited by Lithium-ion batteries are happening more often in San Diego and beyond.

Many of these fires are due to improper storage, overcharging and damaged batteries. There are many precautions people can take when using lithium-ion batteries, including always following the manufacturer’s recommendations.

All types of batteries are considered hazardous waste in California, and, according to state law, batteries and other types of hazardous waste must be handled properly and are not allowed to be disposed of at a solid waste landfill. Proper disposal of batteries is key to preventing fires that endanger our firefighters and members of the public.

The City’s Environmental Services Department provides information on its webpage on recycling events and appointments to recycle batteries and other hazardous products at the City of San Diego’s Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility. The City offers several collection events throughout the year.

Residents can also make an appointment using the Get It Done app to dispose of batteries.

San Diego is a Public Art Challenge Finalist City!

We are thrilled to announce that Bloomberg Philanthropies has selected San Diego as one of 17 finalist cities in the running to receive up to $1 million as part of its Public Art Challenge.

This unique grant program supports public art projects that address important local civic issues in cities across the country. The City of San Diego’s proposed project, “To Draw a Circle on the Earth,” with interdisciplinary arts collective Postcommodity and implementation partners Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego and Museum of Us, would bring people together to address equity through community-driven public art. Specifically, the project would create a platform for Indigenous arts, cultural programming by the Kumeyaay people and other Indigenous communities.

San Diego was selected as a finalist from more than 150 project proposals received from cities in 40 U.S. states. This fall, Bloomberg Philanthropies will select up to 10 winning cities to execute their projects over the next two years.

Visit publicartchallenge.bloomberg.org to learn more about the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge and stay tuned for updates on our city’s proposed project.

Defining the Future of the Mira Mesa Epicentre

The County of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department would like to know what you'd like to see at the City-owned Mira Mesa Epicentre.

The County has secured $8 million dollars in funding to reactivate the building and create a youth-focused community center that will serve the neighborhood.

Now the County wants to hear from you about what you want from the space. Join the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Department at an upcoming event to provide your feedback on the project.

When: Thursday, July 6 from 4 – 6 p.m.

Where: Mira Mesa Recreation Center, 8575 New Salem St. San Diego, CA 92126

RSVP here.

What Do You Want for Your Neighborhood?

Does your neighborhood need better sidewalks? Park updates? Library upgrades? The City’s planning department wants to hear from you

Infrastructure is not just the buildings, roads and spaces that surround us—it is the essential fabric that connects us to opportunity. Our city's infrastructure - roads, sidewalks, parks, libraries, public safety facilities, water facilities and more - shapes the health, safety, economic vibrancy, environmental well-being and overall quality of life in our neighborhoods. Because of this, equitable infrastructure investment is essential to achieve equal opportunity to employment, health, education, recreation and more for all San Diegans.

The City wants your input to help prioritize infrastructure investment and ensure infrastructure goes where it will best meet community members' needs and improve their lives.

Give us your input by filling out the survey in English or Spanish.

Help Inspire San Diego’s Creative Future

We have launched our engagement efforts for the citywide cultural plan. We’ll host our first public events to help shape Creative City, the City of San Diego’s first-ever citywide cultural plan.

The cultural plan's development starts with a robust community engagement process to hear what San Diegans envision for their creative lives and to set a strategic framework for guiding the arts and cultural sectors. Discover our Creative City June schedule of forums and public pop-ups across the city. Creative City public events are free and open to all.

All San Diegans are invited to join the launch of the cultural planning process tonight, Tuesday, June 20, and the Pop-Ups happening June 21-22. Click here for details.

Be Part of Our Far South/Border North Grant Opportunity!

The City’s Far South/Border North program provides grants to artists and cultural practitioners living and working in San Diego and Imperial counties to support the creation of media, outreach, and engagement campaigns that increase public awareness of pressing challenges facing the region via a regional, open-call process.

In the first phase, which is now closed, grants were awarded through a competition open to individual artists and cultural practitioners. In the second phase, now open, grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations, units of government and tribal governments to participate in Far South/Border North and hire artists and cultural practitioners from San Diego and Imperial counties.

The second phase of the Far South/Border North application ends on at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 19. Apply now.

Partnering for Progress

The City of San Diego’s Planning Department is launching a new initiative called “Partnering for Progress” to bring the City and community organizations together to improve planning and implementing infrastructure projects.

Partnering for Progress will allow public, private and nonprofit entities to collaborate and help the City better understand and identify deficiencies and barriers that individuals and organizations face when working on an infrastructure project with the City. We welcome the public to share their experiences of working with the City on public projects by completing this survey by July 31. Questions and comments are welcome by email to publicspaces@sandiego.gov.

Easily Track Your Permit Requests’ Progress

The City of San Diego is excited to announce the launch of the Permitting Center Dashboard, a dynamic, interactive platform designed to provide up-to-date information on DSD's permit, inspections and code enforcement activity. This tool, part of the #DigitalDSD initiative, aims to enhance transparency, increase access to essential data and empower users with valuable insights into DSD's operations.

Navigating the dashboard is simple and intuitive, with options to switch between different permit categories, including overall permitting applications, residential permitting applications and Accessory Dwelling Unit/Junior ADU applications. Users can filter the data to match their needs, using the search parameters section.

Host Operating Requirements of STRO Ordinance in Effect as of May 1

The Building & Land Use Enforcement (BLUE) Division of DSD is now enforcing host operating and licensing requirements for the Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) Ordinance. The STRO Ordinance requires a license when renting a dwelling unit, or part thereof for less than one month within the City of San Diego. To determine if your property is located within the City, reference the City of San Diego Council District Map.

Short-term rentals can only occur at a dwelling that was built with all permits, approvals and inspections and at a dwelling free of code violations. Accessory Dwelling Units, Junior Accessory Dwelling Units, affordable housing units, guest quarters, tiny homes and outdoor tents/sleeping areas are prohibited from being used as short-term rentals.

BLUE will focus enforcement mainly on STRO licensing and operation requirements. The enforcement team includes five field staff personnel who work Wednesdays through Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Complaints about violations can be submitted through the Get It Done app.

Get to Know Your Green Bin

The City of San Diego is hosting a series of free informational presentations for residents on the new green bin and collection schedule.

These presentations are offered as virtual Zoom webinars or in-person workshops at select locations. Residents are encouraged to register after they have received their official notifications from the City that their home will be onboarded into this new service.

Translation services are available upon request; attendees must let their language preferences during registration at least 3 days in advance of the event to provide time to book an interpreter. If you have special language needs or require additional assistance, please email sdrecyclingworks@sandiego.gov or call 858-694-7000.

Free informational Zoom webinars – “Your Home’s New Green Bin”

July 19, 2023 from 6 to 7 p.m.

Free informational in-person workshops – “Your Home’s New Green Bin”

Rancho Bernardo Library (17110 Bernardo Center Dr, San Diego, CA 92128)

July 15, 2023 from 11 a.m. to noon

Mira Mesa Library (8405 New Salem St, San Diego, CA 92126)

July 29, 2023 from 11 a.m. to noon

Summer Reading Program Begins!

Grab a new library card and get reading during the City of San Diego Public Library’s 2023 Summer Reading Program! This year’s theme is “Discover Your Voice” and readers of all ages are encouraged to share their stories, express themselves and spark change.

The program began June 1 and runs through Aug. 31. Participants can earn prizes by completing 10 books, 10 hours of reading or a combination of reading and activities. Activities include attending a library storytime or Summer Reading event, starting a journal or recommending a book to a friend.

The Summer Reading Program offers age categories for children (ages 0-5 and 6-11), youth (ages 12-17) and adults (ages 18 and up). After completing the program, readers will be eligible for prizes including free books, meal vouchers and passes to local museums. Reading and activities can be tracked online or on paper logs printed at home or picked up at any SDPL location.

Last year, more than 24,000 people participated in the Summer Reading Program, reading nearly 366,000 books. To register online and view lists of recommended books and activities, visit sandiego.gov/summerreading.

Also, for the first time, the library is offering a Padres-themed library card for patrons this summer. Starting Monday, June 5, new users can get the Padres card by signing up for a library card for free at any of the City’s 36 libraries. Existing patrons can replace their current cards at no cost.

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Office of the Mayor

202 C St., 11th Floor

San Diego, CA 92101

619-236-6330

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