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Dear Neighbor,
Over the past several weeks, I’ve joined residents from around San Diego to highlight the impacts of homeless encampments on public health, safety and our economy and quality of life – and I’ve done so to demonstrate why the City Council should pass the Unsafe Camping Ordinance.
The ordinance will ban encampments at all times in key sensitive areas like schools, parks, canyons, waterways, homeless shelters and transit hubs.
Encampments pose serious public safety risks to people inside and outside of them – risks like fires, diseases like hepatitis, violence and drug overdose. These makeshift living arrangements also wreak havoc on our parks and canyons – at our river parks, for example, more than 80% of our park staff is focused on addressing encampments. And firefighters have had to respond to nearly 2,600 fires in canyons and open space thought to have originated from cooking or warming fires in encampments over the past two years.
And then there’s the impact on our businesses and schools. Children shouldn’t have to walk out into the street because the sidewalk leading to their school is covered in tents, and business owners shouldn’t be losing customers and employees because they’re afraid to walk through encampments.
While sleeping on our streets and public spaces is already illegal, settlements of lawsuits by homeless advocates as well as a 2019 Supreme Court ruling has prevented the City from enforcing illegal lodging laws. The Unsafe Camping Ordinance will protect these key public spaces while keeping us in compliance with local and federal legal restrictions.
It’s for all these reasons that I am urging the City Council to pass the Unsafe Camping Ordinance. I encourage you to voice your opinion at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 13 by providing public comment either in-person or virtually.
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your Mayor.
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City’s New Comprehensive Shelter Strategy Details Current and Future Needs
The City’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department will share the new Comprehensive Shelter Strategy in a presentation to the Council at noon tomorrow.
The strategy details the short, medium and long-term solutions for shelter, safe camping, safe parking and outreach needs in the City of San Diego.
Key elements of the comprehensive strategy include expanding shelter options to fit the specific needs of veterans, seniors, youth and others; expanding services that provide compassionate and equitable services to each individual experiencing homelessness; and engaging with regional partners to identify sites for additional shelter, safe camping and safe parking needs.
The strategy also outlines immediate steps being taken to provide relief to more San Diegans in need, including:
- Opening 42 rooms for families at a former Travelodge motel in Barrio Logan by July 2023.
- Opening Safe Camping sites for up to 536 spaces at 20th St. and B St. and “O” Lot by fall 2023.
- Enhancing the existing and successful Family Reunification Program to connect individuals with their families and personal support systems.
- Expanding the existing Safe Parking Program Lots and siting additional lots.
The City of San Diego has adopted different homelessness plans over the years, but this is the first-ever strategy focused specifically on shelters. This strategy articulates the complexity of homelessness, takes inventory of the shelter capacity we’ve recently added, and, most importantly, it lays out a path forward with solutions to our homelessness emergency.
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Latest Homelessness Report: San Diego Bearing an Outsized Burden of Region’s Crisis
This latest Point-in-Time count confirms what we’ve long suspected: The City of San Diego is doing the heavy lifting when it comes to sheltering our region’s homeless population.
The count shows that out of 21 San Diego cities and regions included in the tallies, only the city of San Diego and four other cities have responded to the 22% overall increase in homelessness across the region since last year by adding shelter beds.
In fact, only 10 cities in the County provide any shelter at all. The majority of our local cities and regions have zero shelter space for the residents who become homeless there.
My message: Other cities need to step up and take care of their people, instead of exporting their homelessness to San Diego. The numbers show that San Diego is serving the region’s homeless because of the outsized amount of shelter and services we are providing compared with other cities in our region.
This cannot continue. The City of San Diego cannot shelter the entire region’s homeless population.
These numbers also demonstrate why we must pass the Unsafe Camping Ordinance in the City of San Diego to set clear expectations of what’s allowed on our streets.
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Repairing Downtown Streetlights
We are busy addressing the backlog of streetlights that are out across our city. A group of private contractors hired by the City started work on Downtown’s non-functioning streetlights a few weeks ago, and folks who live and work in the neighborhood are already seeing a difference.
The backlog of streetlight repairs across the city is primarily the result of not having enough electricians working for the City to keep up with the demand over several years. To help solve this issue in the short-term, I announced in February that we have a one-year contract with a private electrical contractor to help reduce the backlog. We anticipate this will result in roughly 800 additional streetlights being repaired over the next year.
While we are getting contractor help this year, we're also hiring more City electricians to maintain streetlights going forward.
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Speeding Up City Construction Permitting Services
During my State of the City, I announced that I had signed an executive order to expedite permitting for 100% affordable housing projects. In response, the City’s Development Services Department created the “Affordable Housing Permit Now” program.
The program launched on March 15, and it is already helping applicants meet project deadlines by guaranteeing review turnaround times of no greater than 30 business days, assigning specific subject-matter experts to the reviews and providing close coordination to address issues and questions that come up during the review process.
There are 10 affordable housing projects currently in the new program’s pipeline. Once permitted, these 100% affordable housing projects will create 1,061 affordable homes in neighborhoods across San Diego.
DSD staff, with the help of contract reviewers, are also successfully reducing other permit backlogs. Our new as-needed consulting teams, along with the 120 new department hires this fiscal year, have made great progress in reducing the backlog of project reviews like plumbing and electrical permits.
You can stay up to date on this kind of permitting progress by subscribing to the Development Services Department's “Construction Insider” newsletter. The seasonal newsletter includes information and articles to keep you up to date on new department programs and other helpful construction industry news.
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Undergrounding Utility Lines
I joined other City representatives and San Diego Gas & Electric crews in La Jolla Shores last week to celebrate the removal of the La Jolla Shores neighborhood's last overhead utility pole. Undergrounding utilities helps beautify neighborhoods and makes the utilities more durable and reliable.
The City and SDG&E are working together to complete undergrounding projects across San Diego. We currently relocate approximately 15 miles of overhead utility lines underground throughout the City every year.
To look up the current undergrounding status of your neighborhood, check out the Undergrounding Information Map. Just type in your address or scroll and zoom to your property, or you can call 619-533-3841.
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GETTING IT DONE: FIXING OUR STREETS | |
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Repaving in Swan Canyon
Olive Street in the Swan Canyon neighborhood suffered from extreme "alligator cracking" before it recently got a nice, new asphalt overlay as part of a project resurfacing eight miles of pavement in Golden Hill, Mid-City and City Heights. See you later, alligator
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Creativity and Commerce in Mission Hills
I had a great time celebrating the Mission Hills Art Walk! I hope this newly revamped event will continue to encourage creativity, community and commerce in the Mission Hills neighborhood or years to come.
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Liberty Station Turns 100
Now one of San Diego's most vibrant attractions, the former Naval Training Center celebrated its Centennial last week, and I was glad to be there to mark the anniversary of the place where so many San Diegans – including my grandparents – started their lives in our great city. We are a proud military town and this new exhibit does a great job preserving and sharing some of our rich military history.
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The San Diego Black Arts + Culture District’s One-Year Anniversary
It’s been on year since the City of San Diego officially designated an area in Encanto as the San Diego Black Arts + Culture District. This emerging cultural district is a wonderful community asset, and I’m excited to see it continue to blossom and grow!
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Exploring Opportunities in Public Safety
The San Diego Police Department is hiring! Over the weekend, SDPD held its second annual Pave the Way Career Expo where people learned about working patrol, becoming a detective or crime lab specialist and other exciting careers with the department that keeps San Diego one of the safest big cities in America.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 5, 2023 from 6 to 7 p.m.
July 19, 2023 from 6 to 7 p.m.
Free informational in-person workshops – “Your Home’s New Green Bin”
Point Loma Library (3701 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107)
June 10, 2023 from 11 a.m. to noon
Pacific Beach Library (4275 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109)
June 17, 2023 from 11 a.m. to noon
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
Register for the workshops and webinars here.
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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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City Adopts New Economic Development Strategy
To plan for a prosperous future, the City of San Diego adopted a new three-year Economic Development Strategy (EDS) this week. The plan will establish the City as a global leader in sustainability, trade, innovation and equity-centered change.
The City’s Economic Development Department administers grant funding to City programs that bolster small businesses, affordable housing and more. The EDS is aligned with the City’s Strategic Plan and Climate Action Plan and includes an identified mission, vision, objectives, focus areas and performance measures to help track progress on initiatives and resources to drive additional economic value to San Diego.
To see the complete plan, visit sandiego.gov/economic-development/edstrategy.
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Keeping our Streets Clean in North Clairemont
Heads up! The City has updated signage in the North Clairemont community along Limerick Avenue and surrounding streets to reflect new limited-hour parking restrictions during posted street sweeping times.
The changes follow a data-driven analysis on current street sweeping practices that recommended frequency changes to maximize citywide collection of pollutants and trash along roadways. By implementing posted signage, the street sweeper vehicles will be able to better collect debris, protect our waterways and improve water quality.
There will be a 30-day grace period following sign installation for areas with new parking restrictions. Limited-hour parking restrictions will begin on June 15.
Please visit ThinkBlue.org for specific information about street sweeping changes. You may also call 619-527-3482 or email swppp@sandiego.gov. Follow @ThinkBlueSanDiego on Instagram and Facebook to stay up-to-date.
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Join the City as a Pool Guard this Summer
Are you passionate about safety and fun? The City of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation Department is currently hiring seasonal and year-round pool guards for its 15 swimming pool facilities.
The department is hosting a hiring fair from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 24, at the Allied Gardens Pool, 6707 Glenroy Street.
Aquatic Pool Guard and Swimming Pool Manager positions are open on a continuous application period. These positions are part of a tentative labor agreement between the City and the Municipal Employees Association (MEA) which recently announced a negotiated 26% pay increase over the next three years.
Before attending the hiring fair, interested candidates must apply online for a Pool Guard I or Pool Guard II position. To encourage more applicants for Pool Guard positions, candidates who meet the age requirements for the Pool Guard I position do not need to be certified prior to applying. Successful candidates will be offered training and required certifications once hired. Applicants must be 16 years of age.
The City is also offering preparation opportunities for individuals who want to learn to swim and prepare for a job in aquatics. Anyone who is interested in becoming a Pool Guard but can't yet meet the required skills is invited to practice and prepare at any City pool during designated hours at no cost. Visit the City’s Pool Guard Prep webpage for locations and drop-in hours.
Working for the City of San Diego offers the potential for career growth and advancement, with opportunities to promote to positions throughout Parks and Recreation and other various departments. More information about a career in aquatics with the City of San Diego can be found at sandiego.gov/parksjobs.
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Claim Your Money
The City of San Diego is urging anyone who did business with the City to check and see if you might be owed a refund or payment. According to the City’s Unclaimed Monies Report, there is $833,165 in unclaimed monies that can be returned to more than 900 people and businesses. Check amounts range from $1 to $80,600. Updated quarterly and free of charge, anyone can review the Unclaimed Monies Report at any time or file a claim.
Unclaimed monies are checks owed to people or businesses due to refunds or vendor payments. The City regularly issues checks based on the addresses it has on file and, on occasion, receives returned checks that are undeliverable by the U.S. Postal Service. Checks that are returned to the City and remain uncashed after six months become unclaimed monies.
Payees have approximately one year after check issuance to claim their money. For checks issued before April 1, 2022, the last day to submit a claim is Monday, June 19, 2023. Unclaimed funds will be transferred to the City of San Diego General Fund on July 1, 2023. To search for unclaimed money or to file a claim, visit sandiego.gov/finance/unclaimed.
To submit a claim, print and complete the Unclaimed Monies Form and mail it to:
City of San Diego, Department of Finance
Unclaimed Monies Claim Processing
202 C St. – Mail Station 7A
San Diego, CA 92101
Once the claim is verified, a check will be issued in three to four weeks. Questions about unclaimed monies may be submitted to DoF@sandiego.gov or 619-236-6310.
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Help the City Invest in Arts and Culture
The City has launched an effort to engage communities across San Diego on how we should invest in arts in culture across our city. It’s San Diego’s first-ever cultural planning process, and once complete, it will guide our investments in arts and culture in every community.
Called “The Creative City,” this cultural planning process will result in a seven to 10-year plan aligning art and culture with the priorities of the City.
All San Diegans are encouraged to get involved in the engagement process, which starts in June and will include two Creative City public forums. Public discussion pop-ups will also be held in all nine City Council districts through July, along with the launch of a public survey.
Here’s how you can get involved.
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Office of the Mayor
202 C St., 11th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
619-236-6330
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