Council District 9 News

July 13, 2023

Hello Lydia,

One of my favorite community organizing activities is envisioning the community we want – “the world as it should be.” The rules are simple. We ask for folks to frame their suggestions in the affirmative (e.g. “I want to see ___” instead of “I don’t want to see ____”) and that nobody dismiss another person’s vision. Obviously, this is a subjective exercise and there is no “right” or “wrong” response.

Despite the subjectivity, the results are incredibly consistent no matter which community I talk to. Folks want health, they want security, they want safety, and they want opportunity. Typically, conversations then turn to the policy changes or budget investments necessary to bring the community’s vision to life. However, oftentimes there are also steps that can or must also be taken by the community.

Offering decent pay to City pool lifeguards can help make those positions more attractive, but community members can play a role in encouraging family and friends to pursue those jobs, so we have the guards we need to keep our pools open and safe. Lighting and sufficient public safety staffing are critical to public safety, but there are few things that enhance safety more than a well-engaged community that spends time out and about in their neighborhood. Regular community walks, cleanups, and weed clearing can do wonders for safety.

The District 9 our office wants is the District 9 we hear that our constituents want. We want a healthy and safe community with security and opportunity. We’ll keep fighting for the budget and policy wins to make our hopes a reality and invite you to join us in the other ways we can individually and collectively create the community we want.

With gratitude,

Sean

Council District 9 Updates

Welcome to the Team!

German Partida | Pronouns: (he/him)

Community Representative

We are excited to welcome German Partida to the team as the Executive Assistant. Born in Boyle Heights, CA and raised in La Puente, he has spent most of his life in the Los Angeles area. He enjoys running, spending time with friends and family, as well as traveling. In his role as Executive Assistant, German will provide high-level direct support to the Council President and our Chief of Staff.

Join us in welcoming German to the District 9 Team!

July Office Hours

The District 9 Office is still taking requests to meet with Council President Elo-Rivera during our July Office Hours – happening this week! These are opportunities reserved specifically for D9 residents to speak directly with the Council President for a 15-minute one-on-one meeting.

Office Hours will be held on Friday, July 21st from 9:30am-12:00pm either in-person or virtually, and appointments are RSVP-ONLY. To be added to the interest list, please email your Community Representative (find yours here) with the following information:

Full name
Email address
Phone number
Preferred time

Your Community Representative will then follow up on your submission and the scheduling team will follow up on availability for this month’s Office Hours. We look forward to hearing from you!

Fire Preparedness Can Save Lives and Property

Summer has officially arrived! While the sun and heat are a relief from months of unseasonably cool weather, it also brings the danger of wildfire. We’ve already seen many brush fires throughout the County in recent weeks and it’s important to be prepared for peak fire season.

Here are some basic things to do:

Prepare an emergency “GO” bag with your most important documents and items
Create an emergency plan – What to do, where to go in an evacuation
Clear dry brush and create defensible space around your home to help firefighters

Please review the “Ready, Set, Go!” guide for Wildfire Preparedness which is available in English and Spanish . You can also share and discuss this with your friends and neighbors. Please stay safe!

Lifeguards Needed

Looking to make a splash this summer? The City of San Diego is seeking enthusiastic individuals to join our team as pool lifeguards!

As the warm sun shines down and residents flock to our pools and beaches our lifeguards are at the heart of the action, ensuring everyone's safety and enjoyment.

Dive into a fulfilling job where you can make a real difference in your community. With comprehensive training, competitive pay, and flexible schedules, this is the perfect opportunity for strong swimmers who thrive in a team environment.

Apply today and jumpstart your summer adventure!

City Infrastructure Priorities Survey

Community members wanting to submit infrastructure ideas for their neighborhoods now have until Aug. 15, 2023, to fill out the survey to be included in the fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025) budget process. The City of San Diego extended the deadline for the Infrastructure Priorities Survey to give San Diegans more time to provide staff with ideas for new or upgraded parks, libraries, streets and sidewalks.

Any survey information submitted after Aug. 15, 2023, will be considered in the following annual update to the Five-Year Outlook.

You can learn more about this process and complete the survey here: www.sandiego.gov/planning/programs/work-programs/infrastructure-prioritization-engagement

Swimming Safety and Pool Security

Many drowning incidents involve swimming pools and spas. Drowning is a silent and sudden event. Nationwide, 300 children under the age of five die each year in swimming pools and 2000 more are taken to emergency rooms with pool-related injuries. Here are some tips to help keep your pool area safe:

Always practice constant adult supervision around any body of water. Older children should not be left in charge of younger children in the pool area.
Position gate latches out of the reach of young children.
Clear debris, clutter and pool toys from the pool deck and adjoining pathways to prevent falls.
Enroll non-swimmers in swimming lessons taught by a qualified instructor. Pediatricians recommend that children ages 5 and older learn how to swim.

For even more water safety tips visit: sandiego.gov/poolsafety

Housing Commission - Renter Survey

Calling all renters in the City of San Diego! Share your experience as a residential renter by completing a short survey. Responses are anonymous. Results could inform housing policies and programs.

Visit sdd9.info/rentsurvey

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¡Llamando a inquilinos en la Ciudad de San Diego! Comparta su experiencia completando una breve encuesta. Sus respuestas son anónimas. Los resultados podrían informar las políticas y programas de vivienda.

Visite sdd9.info/rentsurveys

Parks After Dark Program

Parks are essential and provide an environmental and recreational good to our communities. That’s why we were grateful to join our City, County, and community leaders in announcing the return of the Parks After Dark program earlier this week.

Parks After Dark will bring family fun activities (live entertainment, activities for all ages, games and free meals for kids) every weekend to City Heights, Linda Vista, Logan Heights, and Skyline through the end of summer.

For more information about Parks After Dark, visit sdd9.info/parksafterdark

Grant Opportunities

Far South/Border North Round II

Calling all nonprofit organizations, units of government, and tribal governments, don’t miss your opportunity to apply to be part of Far South/Border North.

The application for Round II of Far South/Border North: Artists and Cultural Practitioners in Community (FSBN) will close Wednesday, July 19. This opportunity allows nonprofit organizations, units of government and tribal governments in San Diego and Imperial counties to hire artists and cultural practitioners from San Diego and Imperial counties.

FSBN -Round II is the second phase of a job creation program designed to increase opportunities for artists and cultural practitioners to engage in public work. FSBN grants enable mentoring, professional development, and jobs that pay artists and cultural practitioners a livable wage. Artists and cultural practitioners use their creativity to develop and implement public awareness projects that relay meaningful messages about the most pressing challenges in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Learn more about the program and grant opportunity here.

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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 for inclusion in our regional year-long program. Click HERE for the WDC 2024 Submission Form