Dear Neighbor, 

I hope you were able to enjoy the holidays with your family, friends, and loved ones.  

As we head into the New Year, this is a time to reflect on how far we've come and set goals for the year ahead. As your Mayor, I'm grateful to be in a position to serve you, even in these incredibly challenging times. Knowing that San Diegans are pulling for us to tackle our challenges successfully motivates me and our entire city workforce to work harder and to sustain our efforts when the results we want don't come quickly or easily.   

This year, we made a huge amount of progress on issues like homelessness, adding over 600 shelter beds and financing low-income and supportive housing that’s under construction now. Even so, there is so much more to do before San Diegans see the results we are working toward. Know that I will not stop pushing forward until we have everyone living on our streets in a home and are able to keep residents from falling into homelessness due to high costs and inadequate tenant protections. We see what needs to be done, and we’re doing it.  

I want to thank you for caring about our city and supporting our dedicated city employees as they work to address San Diego’s big challenges and make it a place that works for all of us.   

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

Mayor Gloria to Give State of the City Address on January 11  

Please join me for the State of the City Address on January 11, 2023 at 6:30 PM at the San Diego Civic Theatre. 

After two years of holding this address virtually, I’m excited to have it be back in-person. I’m even more excited to share with you the progress we’ve made and what we have planned for the year ahead.  

RSVP to attend the State of the City Address here: https://sandiego.seamlessdocs.com/f/2023_sotc_rsvp.

The annual address will also be broadcast live via City TV.  

New Shelter for Homeless Seniors in Little Italy Opens  

We have officially opened the City’s newest homeless shelter. The 33-room, non-congregate shelter prioritizes seniors 55 and over who have already been matched to rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing or a housing voucher. This will provide them a safe place to stay until their permanent home is ready. 

While at this shelter, residents here will have access to:  

• health resources, including mental and behavioral health care;  
• case management, counseling and housing navigation;  
• daily meals;  
• showers, restrooms, laundry services and storage;  
• hygiene products, basic first aid supplies and cleaning supplies; and 
• telephone access and mail services. 

The new shelter is another step forward in getting folks off our streets and connected with the services and housing that will end their homelessness. In 2022, we have made an additional 645 shelter beds available to bring people in off the streets and get them on a path to housing. 

In September, we opened the 150-bed Rosecrans Shelter in Midway with immediate access to behavioral health care.  One day later, we announced the expansion of one of the City’s Safe Parking lots to 24 hours a day, making the program accessible to more people who are living in their vehicles.  

Last week, in partnership with the County, we opened a Safe Haven for folks struggling with substance abuse and mental illness. Soon, we will open the Old Central Library as a temporary shelter for up to 30 people. And early next year, we’ll open a new shelter with private rooms for families.  

Projects in San Diego Region Get $221.7 Million in Latest Federal Funding Bill

Once again, San Diego’s Congressional delegation delivered for our region, securing more than $221 million across 49 local community projects as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 federal appropriations bill.  

This year, our congressional delegation delivered nine community projects for the City totaling $21.19 million dollars. From renovating libraries to repairing streetlights to childcare support for City workers, these investments will help make a direct impact in the lives of San Diegans and continue to transform our community for decades to come. 

To view a list of projects that were funded, click here: https://www.sandiego.gov/outreach2-article/san-diego-leaders-thank-federal-representatives-delivering-221-million-community 

VA Celebrates 50th Anniversary and Renames Medical Center After U.S Army Capt. Jennifer Moreno  

I had the honor of attending the renaming ceremony for the San Diego VA after San Diego hero, U.S Army Capt. Jennifer Moreno who gave her life during combat operations in Afghanistan. This is the first VA facility named for a woman veteran of color and the third facility in the United States named after a female veteran. I want to thank Congressman Mike Levin for leading the legislation that helped rename this facility after Captain Moreno. 

Fixing Our Streets: 35 Miles of Streets to Be Resurfaced in North Park, College Area, Otay Mesa 

Right now, 35.7 miles of streets are being resurfaced in North Park, College Area, Otay Mesa and in Balboa Park over the next few weeks. This past week, Vermont Street, and Lincoln and Johnson Avenues in Hillcrest were resurfaced.  

Up next: From January to April 2023, we’ll resurface an additional 97.3 miles across the city.  

Slurry seal is a cost-effective, pavement preservation method consisting of asphalt emulsion, sand and rock. This mixture is applied to the street surface at an average thickness of a quarter inch and extends the life of streets that are already in good condition. It provides a durable surface, addresses existing surface distress on streets and is a vital program in maintaining the more than 2,800 miles of roadway in the city. 

We're Getting it Done, San Diego! 

View a map of street repair in your neighborhood by visiting streets.sandiego.gov.