Dear Neighbor, 


My administration has invested millions of the public’s dollars to address San Diego’s homelessness crisis. This includes increasing shelter capacity by nearly 70 percent, doubling street outreach to offer services, and creating specialized shelters for women, seniors, people with mental health and substance use disorders, and those living in their cars. Soon, we’ll be opening a safe sleeping site for those living in their tents to stay while accessing services that will help them end their homelessness.


With so many resources being made available, I am supporting an ordinance to end unsafe encampments that block the public right-of-way. Specifically, the ordinance would prohibit encampments near sensitive uses like schools, shelters and transit hubs and in canyons and riverbeds. 


This past week, we took one step closer to enacting this ordinance after the City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee advanced it to the full Council, which will consider the item in late May.   


I was encouraged by the dozens of members of the public who spoke so passionately in favor of this ordinance. We provide these shelter options, and we expect people to use them and accept the help we offer to end their homelessness. And that's what this ordinance is about. 


Homeless encampments are bad, both for those living and working near them as well as the unhoused people residing in them. Every day someone remains in a tent on the street without services leaves them vulnerable to predatory drug dealers and traffickers, disease and crime — and no closer to permanent housing.  


Once paired with more shelter options like our proposed safe camping site, the ordinance will work to get people out of unsafe and unsanitary street encampments and into shelters so we can get them connected with services and on the path to permanent housing.   


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

Introducing Mayor Gloria’s Proposed ‘Getting It Done’ Budget


I am proud to announce my “Getting It Done” proposed budget for fiscal year 2024, which starts July 1. This budget is a prudent, balanced plan that preserves current service levels in all departments with strategic added spending on top issues like street repair, homelessness and public safety.


The proposal is geared toward delivering on the major investments we made in my first two budgets, which were heavily focused on post-pandemic recovery and infrastructure.


To address homelessness, my proposed budget adds $24.5 million dollars in ongoing spending to maintain and operate the shelter capacity we’ve added, plus dedicates another $5 million to further shelter expansion. 


It also prioritizes fixing our damn roads! We’re allocating nearly $140 million toward street repair and resurfacing. The bulk of that funding – $104 million – is for full repaving and is a substantial increase over last year’s $18 million. This investment in San Diego’s streets will allow us to resurface 157 miles of road – or approximately the distance from here to the Arizona border.


My “Getting It Done” proposed budget also works to help keep our communities safe. This year, we’re adding resources to help our Fire, Police and Lifeguards do their jobs more effectively.


Further supporting our law enforcement efforts, we’ll be deploying of $4.4 million in opioid settlement funds. Of these dollars, $2.7 million will fund harm-reduction and safe-haven shelters. The balance will be split between the PLEADS restorative justice program, fentanyl-detection equipment and our Fire-Rescue department’s Resource Access Program, which is for high-needs frequent emergency medical services users. 


We’re adding two lifeguards to La Jolla Shores, including one for the winter months to give the popular beach year-round coverage, and we’re funding advanced training to make sure we have lifeguards trained to perform some of the most challenging rescues.


This budget is forward-looking, funding reserves at a responsible level and holding back some of our surplus funds in anticipation of a potential softening of the economy in the coming years. We don’t want to be profligate now at the risk of cutting services to address deficits later.


I'm presenting the budget formally to the City Council next Monday, and the City Council’s Budget Review process will consist of department-level public hearings leading up to the release of a revised budget on May 18 that incorporates City Council and community feedback. Final consideration by the City Council will take place in mid-June, with adoption of an appropriation ordinance by June 30.


My colleagues on the City Council, City managers and all our workers are driven by a desire to make San Diego the great city we know it can be. My “Getting It Done” budget helps us get there.

Another Step Toward a New Civic Core for San Diego  


The Civic Center Revitalization project is moving ahead! 


The City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee has pushed forward the plan to invite developers to provide proposals for how they would redevelop six blocks of outdated buildings in Downtown’s civic core into affordable housing, a new City administration center, improved public space and more.


Not only are the City-owned buildings occupying the sites outdated and costly to operate, but this prime site in the heart of Downtown could be doing so much more to serve San Diegans.


The full City Council will vote on the plan on April 24.

City Awarded $24 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Bridge Funding   


We are improving a bridge in Otay Mesa, thanks to a grant from the federal government. 


Last week, the U.S Department of Transportation announced the award of $24 million for the City of San Diego’s Bridge Rehab, Safety and Mobility Project at Palm Avenue / Interstate 805. The Project was awarded funding under the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Bridge Investment Program. 


The grant will help the City deliver a high-quality bridge rehabilitation that improves safety, and adds pedestrian and bike options, which will improve the quality of life and mobility options for residents in the growing community. 

Sunday Service Restored at Libraries 


We have restored Sunday hours at 14 public libraries across San Diego.  

  

That's thanks, in part, to the City of San Diego filling 44 library assistant jobs with some of the people who submitted applications at our first-ever career fair last month.  

 

This move helps provide access to in-person library services every day of the week. It’s the last step to bringing library service hours back to pre-pandemic levels. 

 

The City is excited to restore these vital library services to San Diegans.  


GETTING IT DONE: FIXING OUR STREETS

Vista San Simeon and Vista San Rafael

in Ocean View Hills


Two neighborhood roads in the Ocean View Hills neighborhood of Otay Mesa just got a fresh new slurry seal: Vista San Simeon and Vista San Rafael. This work is part of a City project called Slurry Project S2124, which includes resurfacing 36 miles of road in the Uptown, College, Rolando and Otay Mesa neighborhoods.

MAYOR GLORIA AROUND TOWN

Celebrating Crucial Services for San Diegans in Need 


I got to stop by one of my favorite venues, the Rady Shell, to celebrate the work of Jewish Family Service of San Diego. They are crucial partners for the City, helping us address homelessness by operating our Safe Parking Program, which will have its fourth location in Clairemont opening soon. 


Cultural Hub for San Diego’s Portuguese Community Turns 75 


 

The United Portuguese SES Hall is 75 years old! I was thrilled to help mark the occasion this weekend by stopping to help celebrate and unveil a beautiful new mural for this important cultural center. For over a century, the Portuguese community has been a pillar in San Diego, carrying forward their traditions and sharing their culture with our region, and this hall is an important hub for gatherings and celebrations.  


Encouraging Girls to Explore a Career in Fire-Rescue 


I’m committed to diversifying the City’s workforce to reflect the neighborhoods we’re privileged to serve and making sure opportunities are widely available, so I was thrilled to see the enthusiastic participation of so many young San San Diegans at the Fire-Rescue Department’s Girls Empowerment Camp over the weekend. These girls learned is that there is a place for them in the fire-rescue service.  


COMMUNITY UPDATES 

City of San Diego Hosts Earth Month and Arbor Day Events


The month of April is Earth Month and the City of San Diego has upcoming events and activities for both Earth Day and Arbor Day to highlight environmental stewardship, the benefits of trees, and to remind San Diegans how to be we can be climate resilient.


Arbor Day Celebration Event – Saturday, April 22, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.  

Join the City of San Diego at the 2023 Arbor Day Event in Mission Bay’s Vacation Isle, located on Hibiscus Lane, as volunteers and City leaders plant trees and beautify the park, reminding us of the benefits of trees and our urban canopy. Reminder: San Diego residents can request a free street tree through the Free Tree SD program.


Creek to Bay Cleanup – Saturday, April 22, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.   

Join Think Blue San Diego and partner I Love a Clean San Diego for the largest cleanup in San Diego County this Earth Day. Choose from 4,000 cleanup sites to volunteer and beautify our local environment.


Click here for a full list of Earth Day and Arbor Day events.

Show Us Your Cat Videos!


The San Diego Public Library ‘s first-ever #aCATemyAwards contest is underway. Submit your cat videos for judging and your cat might just win an aCATemy Award! Even if you don't have a video to submit, you can still enjoy some cat-related events throughout the month of April. The submission period runs through April 20. Only the first 75 submissions will be accepted. 

Celebrate Arts and Culture This Month 


April is Arts, Culture & Creativity Month! The City is celebrating San Diego's cultural ecosystem and the impact the arts bring to neighborhoods. Join the conversation and see how arts and culture add value to our communities by signing up for the Commission for Arts and Culture newsletter and following the #ACCM2023 hashtag. 


New Shuttle Service Coming Soon to Pacific Beach  


The City, in partnership with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), is launching a neighborhood electric vehicle shuttle service in the Pacific Beach community this summer

 

The all-electric, low-speed shuttle will provide a new, fun and sustainable way to travel to popular beach destinations. The shuttle will also provide a convenient and direct connection to and from the Balboa Transit Station, helping folks better move around the region without relying on a car. 

  

Help the City understand your transportation experience in Pacific Beach by taking this short survey

  

Use this interactive map to identify potential route stops. Once community feedback is received, the City will put the information — and the shuttle — to use. 


We also need your help naming our #PacificBeach neighborhood electric vehicle shuttle service. We’re down to the top four names. Which is your favorite? Submit your vote at here. 

Provide Feedback and Ideas on Planning Initiatives 


The City has been busy putting together plans, big and small, that will ultimately shape the future of San Diego. Now, we need the community’s feedback and input on some of them: 


Mission Bay’s De Anza Cove: The City recently released more details about its future long-term plans for De Anza Cove. The plan works to balance recreation, natural habitat and visitor accommodations and access. View the plan and submit your comments here. 


Blueprint SD: The City of San Diego is urging residents to make their voices heard about the “Blueprint SD” initiative, which will encourage sustainable growth and help the City achieve its climate goals and improve opportunities to walk, roll, bike and take transit. Learn more about the initiative and help rank priorities through the City’s newly launched engagement website


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San Diego, CA 92101

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