Dear Neighbor,

 

Few people have left a mark on San Diego as lasting as former San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler. His compassion, generosity, and unwavering belief in this city made him more than a baseball executive — he was a civic leader who cared profoundly about the people who call San Diego home. 

Last week, we honored Peter’s legacy by dedicating one of the streets that runs alongside Petco Park as “Peter Seidler Way.” It’s a fitting tribute to a man who used his platform to bring people together — not just to cheer for the Padres, but to care for one another and work toward a city where everyone belongs. 

Peter was well known to be about action over talk. Where others saw a hopelessly intractable homelessness problem, he saw people who deserved dignity and compassion. He inspired government, business, and community leaders alike to step up and meet this challenge with humanity and urgency. 

Renaming this street is both a commemoration as well as a commitment to carry Peter’s work forward — to lead with heart, to serve our neighbors, and to keep building a San Diego that works for everyone. 

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

License Plate Reader Technology Delivers Real Results for Public Safety
 

The rollout of Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology has already delivered proven results for public safety in San Diego. Since we reintroduced this crime-fighting tool in December 2023 with stronger privacy safeguards, the San Diego Police Department has used it to: 

 

• Make more than 420 arrests 
• Aid in over 600 criminal investigations 
• Recover more than $5.8 million in stolen property, including over 440 stolen vehicles 

 

This technology delivers real outcomes — from apprehending a suspect in two attempted kidnappings at a Mission Valley mall to helping locate missing persons and solve cases involving homicides, sexual assaults, and armed robberies. 

 

The City’s Public Safety Committee will review updates on Automated License Plate Recognition technology at its November 12 meeting at 2 p.m. If you believe in a safer San Diego, I encourage you to attend and speak in support of this proven public safety tool. Your voice can help ensure our officers have the resources and technology they need to protect every neighborhood.

 

San Diego is one of the safest big cities in America — and we’ll keep it that way by using every effective tool responsibly and transparently to prevent crime and protect our communities.
 

Long-Awaited Park Improvements Completed in Scripps Ranch

After nearly three decades, Jerabek Park in Scripps Ranch has been revitalized with nearly $8 million in improvements that make the park safer, more accessible, and more enjoyable for families. 

 

The project, made possible through a combination of local and state funds — including $4 million secured by former Assemblymember Brian Maienschein — adds two new children’s play areas, outdoor fitness equipment, a comfort station and concession building, a picnic shelter, accessible sidewalks and bleachers, and a resurfaced parking lot. 

 

Jerabek Park has long been a gathering place for Scripps Ranch families, and these long-awaited upgrades ensure it will continue to serve as the neighborhood’s centerpiece for generations to come. While most areas of the park are now open, final landscaping work is being completed and will reopen soon. 

 

These improvements reflect our City’s commitment to maintaining quality public spaces where San Diegans can stay active, connect with one another, and take pride in their community. 
 

Planting the Future: Students and City Staff Celebrate Kate Sessions Day in Oak Park

In celebration of Kate Sessions Day, I had the pleasure of joining students from Oak Park Elementary School and City staff to plant 30 new trees at Oak Park Neighborhood Park — continuing our shared commitment to a cleaner, cooler, and greener San Diego. 

 

Kate Sessions, known as the “Mother of Balboa Park,” transformed San Diego’s landscape through her passion for trees and horticulture. Her legacy lives on through our Ready, Set, Grow San Diego program, which is planting thousands of trees across the city to expand our urban canopy and improve air quality. 

 

Supported by a $10 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this program has already planted more than 2,200 trees in communities including Otay Mesa-Nestor, Bay Terraces, Paradise Hills, Linda Vista, Encanto, and City Heights. 

 

By growing our urban forest, we’re taking action to combat extreme heat, enhance neighborhood beauty, and ensure future generations inherit a healthier, more sustainable city. 
 

Mayor’s Mix: Saluting Our Heroes Edition!

Last week, we asked: In San Diego, one public park was converted from an old cemetery and still holds more than 800 human remains beneath its lawns. Which park is it? 

Here’s how you voted: 
 
▪️ “Pioneer Park” — 54.93% ✅ 
▪️ “Balboa Park” — 3.76% 
▪️ “Presidio Park” — 41.31% 

The correct answer is Pioneer Park! The site in Mission Hills was once Calvary Cemetery, and though headstones were removed in the 1970s, more than 800 people remain buried beneath its lawns. 

This week’s question: San Diego is proud to be home to thousands of veterans and active-duty service members — and one special memorial honors every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. What is it called? 

▪️ The Veteran’s Memorial Garden Balboa Park 
▪️ Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial in La Jolla 
▪️ Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma 

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

GETTING IT DONE - FIXING OUR STREETS
 

Freshly Paved Streets in Rolando Village 

Rolando Village residents are driving on smoother, safer streets thanks to new asphalt overlay work completed following an underground utilities project. These improvements are part of the City’s plan to resurface 145 lane miles this fiscal year — creating cleaner, longer-lasting roads across San Diego’s neighborhoods. 

Stanley Avenue in Rolando Village
 
 

MAYOR GLORIA AROUND TOWN
 

Honoring Service at the Mt. Soledad Veterans Day Ceremony

At the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in La Jolla, I joined veterans, military families, and community leaders to honor those who have worn our nation’s uniform. This year’s ceremony also celebrated the 250th anniversaries of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard— branches whose strength and service are woven into San Diego’s identity. 
 

Thanking Our Fire-Rescue and EMS Heroes

I stopped by the Fire-Rescue Training Center to thank our San Diego Fire-Rescue and EMS professionals for the courage and commitment they show every day. Their service helps keep our neighborhoods safe and makes San Diego one of the safest big cities in America. 
 

Appreciating Our City’s Veteran Employees

At the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce Member Breakfast, I highlighted our progress advancing infrastructure and trade—from completing $60 million in La Media Road improvements to moving forward on the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry. These investments strengthen our binational economy and create good jobs for San Diegans. 
 

Celebrating Tourism’s Impact on San Diego’s Economy

At the San Diego Tourism Authority’s Annual Meeting held Downtown, I joined partners from across the hospitality industry to celebrate our city’s growing global reach. Tourism fuels good jobs and local businesses—and we’re ensuring that its benefits reach every San Diego neighborhood.
 

SAN DIEGO ON THE GLOBAL STAGE 
 

Germany's Atlantik-Brücke: Strengthening Transatlantic Partnership and Investment 

San Diego was selected as one of only two U.S. cities visited by a high-level business and policy delegation from Atlantik-Brücke — Germany’s leading professional network — underscoring our growing global stature. I made clear why San Diego remains a premier partner for German investment — already a top 5 source of foreign direct investment in our region – and a strong ally advancing shared prosperity and innovation. By strengthening these transatlantic relationships, we’re supporting good-paying jobs, fueling our world-class innovation economy, and securing San Diego’s leadership on the international stage. 

COMMUNITY UPDATES
 

Join the La Jolla Shores Planned District Advisory Board

We invite you to consider joining the La Jolla Shores Planned District Advisory Board. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of our beloved community while helping to preserve its distinctive character.

Why Your Involvement Matters:

Protect Our Community: Help safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare of La Jolla Shores by maintaining property values and enhancing our residential charm.

Enhance Our Environment: Play a key role in controlling land development to protect our ocean-oriented setting and architectural identity.

Preserve Our Heritage: Ensure that La Jolla Shores remains one of the premier residential areas along the Pacific Coast.

Board Responsibilities:

Review and provide recommendations on permit applications, including Planned Residential Developments (PRDs), to the Planning Director.

 

Advise on necessary regulatory changes for effective execution of our community's plans.

Use established architectural criteria to assess development proposals.

This is a wonderful chance to make a meaningful impact on the future of La Jolla Shores. If you are interested in serving on the board, please reach out for more information.

 

To Apply Visit: https://onboard.sandiego.gov/board/3392
 

Help Shape the Future of Recreation Programming in San Diego

The City’s Parks and Recreation Department is inviting residents to help shape the future of recreation in San Diego. Community input will guide how recreation centers operate, what programs are offered, and how residents receive information about them.

 

Join an upcoming in-person Town Hall to share your ideas and feedback. Each event will include a presentation, Q&A session, and interactive tables for participants to provide input. Light snacks and childcare will be provided, and attendees will have a chance to win a $25 gift card.

Upcoming Town Halls

The Parks and Recreation Department is also inviting community leaders and representatives to 45-minute Zoom focus groups to share ideas, flag barriers to participation, and improve how we communicate about programs. Sessions include a brief presentation, Q&A, and an interactive survey. Registration is required. 

Upcoming dates (by Council Districts): 
 

Upcoming Virtual Focus Groups

  • Friday, Nov. 7, 2025: Council Districts 3, 6 and 7
    11:30 a.m.
  • Monday, Nov. 10, 2025: Council Districts 4, 8 and 9
    11 a.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025: Council Districts 1, 2 and 5
    11:30 a.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025: Council Districts 4, 8 and 9
    4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025: Council Districts 3, 6 and 7
    3:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025: Council Districts 1, 2 and 5
    4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026: All Council Districts
    11:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026: All Council Districts
    4 p.m.

 

Questions: sdparksneeds@keenindependent.com 

 

You can also take the Community Recreation Needs Survey at sandiego.gov/parksurvey by February 28, 2026.
 

SDPD Adopts Statewide Portal for Sexual Assault Survivors 

The San Diego Police Department is now using the California Department of Justice’s Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Tracking (SAFE-T) system, which allows survivors to securely check the status and location of their evidence kit online. This change ensures transparency and privacy while helping survivors stay informed throughout the process. Survivors can visit oag.ca.gov/victimservices for more information. 
 

Resources for San Diegans Impacted by the Federal Shutdown 

The federal government shutdown is creating deep uncertainty for thousands of San Diegans — especially military families, veterans, and civilian federal employees who help keep our nation running every day.  

 

San Diego is a proud military town, and our community is stepping up to help.  

The San Diego Military Advisory Council has compiled a list of local and national resources for those impacted by the shutdown. In addition, organizations across our region are ready to offer financial assistance, food support, and counseling services to those in need.  

 

Additional Resources:  

Food Resources:  
 

Civic Center Plaza Comes Alive with Plaza Central Pop-Ups 

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. 
 

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From community updates to important City announcements, Inside San Diego is your go-to source for staying engaged and informed as a resident.

 

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San Diego, CA 92101
619-236-6330

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