Opening Day is almost here, and you can feel the energy across downtown as San Diego comes together to support the Padres. This team is a source of pride for our city, bringing people together, supporting our local economy, and showcasing San Diego on a national stage. I am grateful for the Padres organization and everything they contribute to our community. 

The excitement around Petco Park also highlights the work we are doing to improve the Ballpark District. Revenue generated from parking meters in the area is being reinvested directly back into nearby streets and infrastructure, funding repairs that residents, businesses, and visitors can see and use every day. That means smoother roads, safer conditions, and a better experience for everyone coming downtown.  

One recent example is the repaving of 16th Avenue between Imperial Avenue and Commercial Street, a key corridor for fans heading to and from Petco Park. Crews have completed paving work, and with final striping to follow. Temporary lane markers are in place to keep traffic moving safely in the meantime.  

From supporting our hometown team to improving the neighborhoods around them, we are keeping downtown ready for everything the season brings. 

We are continuing to work to develop next year’s city budget, and I want to hear directly from you. 

Take the Resident Budget Survey at sandiego.gov/BudgetSurvey and tell us which programs and services matter most to you and where you think we should make cuts. Your input will help guide how we prioritize limited resources and ensure we are delivering on what matters most to San Diegans. 

The City is projecting a $120 million shortfall, driven by rising costs and slowing revenue growth. To balance the budget, we will have to make difficult choices on services the City provides. That is why your feedback is essential. 

This survey is just one way to be engaged in the budget development process. There are key opportunities ahead for public input as the budget takes shape.

The preliminary, draft budget will be released April 15, followed by public hearings in early May where residents can share their perspectives directly with the City Council. A revised budget that includes updated financial information will be released May 13, and the final budget is scheduled for adoption in June. 

We are approaching this process with discipline and a focus on the fundamentals: keeping San Diegans safe, fixing the damn roads, building more housing, and reducing homelessness. 

Your voice will help shape the decisions we make.  

After years of work, the City of San Diego has officially taken ownership of land that will become the future Boston Avenue Linear Park, marking a major step forward in expanding mobility, park space and recreational opportunities in Barrio Logan and Logan Heights. 

The California Transportation Commission approved the relinquishment of the Boston Avenue corridor, transferring the property from Caltrans to the City. This milestone clears the way for long-planned park development, with Phase I construction currently anticipated to begin in 2029 and is funded by a grant from the State’s Strategic Growth Council in partnership with Environmental Health Coalition and The San Diego Foundation. 

The future park will serve the communities of Barrio Logan and Logan Heights, transforming under-used land into a vibrant community space designed to meet the needs of nearby residents. Plans for the site include a multi-use path, open lawn areas, a dog park, playgrounds, picnic areas, and space for community gatherings and events. 

Additional features outlined in the development plan include a community plaza and stage, interactive water play areas, fitness equipment, and connections to regional bike and trail networks—helping improve access, mobility, and quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods. 

This project represents years of coordination between the City, Caltrans, and community stakeholders to bring new park space to an area that has long needed more recreational investment.  

San Diego is continuing work to fix the damn roads, with new resurfacing projects now underway in Serra Mesa, Del Cerro, Lake Murray, Tierrasanta, and Linda Vista. 

Through the City’s slurry seal program, crews are improving street conditions across multiple neighborhoods as part of a broader effort to maintain and extend the life of San Diego’s road network. Last fiscal year alone, the City treated more than 380 lane miles of roadway using this cost-effective approach. 

Slurry seal is applied to streets that are still in good condition to prevent further deterioration. By maintaining roads earlier, the City can avoid more expensive repairs later, saving taxpayer dollars and keeping streets smoother and safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. 

Several projects are happening at the same time and are often paired with additional upgrades that improve safety and mobility. Construction on the first project is already underway and will continue through March, weather permitting, with additional work scheduled through June 30. 

In last week’s trivia feature, we asked: Which San Diego park is home to the famous Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, where thousands of roses bloom each year? 

Here’s how you voted: 

✅▪️ Balboa Park — 92.91% (118) 
▪️ Kate Sessions Park — 4.72% (6) 
▪️ Mission Bay Park — 2.36% (3)  

The correct answer is Balboa Park. Home to the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, Balboa Park features more than 1,600 rose bushes and over 130 varieties. Each spring, the garden becomes one of the most colorful spots in the city and a favorite destination for residents and visitors alike. 

This week’s question: San Diego is known for its stunning coastline and ocean views. Approximately how many miles of coastline does the City of San Diego have? 

▪️ 70 miles 
▪️ 17 miles 
▪️ 40 miles 

Answer below or send your guess to AskTheMayor@sandiego.gov and check back next week to see if you got it right. 

Starting this week, the City of San Diego will begin delivering new light blue recycling bins to households eligible for City-provided trash and recycling service. The updated bins are more durable, easier to identify, and equipped with scannable tags to improve service reliability and accountability. 

Deliveries will take place on regular collection days and continue citywide over several months, with some households receiving their bins later this year. Crews will also remove older dark blue bins, which will be recycled and repurposed. Residents can expect notifications ahead of their delivery and can look up their estimated timeline online. 

After customers receive their new light blue recycling bins, the City will collect only from those new bins. Until then, the City will continue servicing old containers to avoid disruption in customer service. Collection of recycling materials will remain bi-weekly. Weekly recycling service will begin July 1, 2027. 

There is important relief available for San Diego homeowners impacted by the 2024 storms and flooding. 

The Governor’s Office has confirmed that the January 2024 San Diego flood qualifies under the expanded CalAssist Mortgage Fund program. That means eligible disaster-affected homeowners may now receive up to 12 months of mortgage payments, paid directly to their mortgage servicer, with assistance totaling up to $100,000 that does not need to be repaid. 

The expansion increases the relief period from three months to a full year and broadens income eligibility so more families can qualify. This support is designed to help homeowners stabilize while they rebuild, navigate insurance claims, and recover from disaster impacts. 

Homeowners can review the full list of qualified disasters and apply at www.calassistmortgagefund.org. 

Downtown’s Civic Center Plaza is getting a vibrant refresh with Plaza Central — a new series of pop-up events bringing food, music, and art to the heart of the city. The activations are free and open to the public every Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering a lively preview of the area’s long-term revitalization. 

 
Learn more about Plaza Central events.