Dear Inquirer,
The first week of May, the Budget Review Committee, whose members for the week are the entire City Council, will meet every day to dive into the budget in great detail. Unfortunately, our fiscal situation has made it difficult to create a budget that includes every item desired and yet is balanced, as required by the City's Charter.
Public safety is the first responsibility of the City Government – I am glad to see that our Police and Fire-Rescue Departments will not experience reductions in their budgets that would lead to service-level changes. Homeless services are facing reductions, but will still allow us to reach unhoused individuals where they are and provide the services needed to get them off the streets.
I am grateful that the other Department not facing major reductions in budget is the Transportation Department. Transportation staff are in charge of maintaining our city’s streets, streetlights, and other infrastructure like public sidewalks. Preserving funding for this department is important to address the concerns our residents have about their neighborhood infrastructure.
The Budget Review Committee meetings begin on Monday, May 4 at 9am and will continue every day of that week at 9am and 2pm. In addition to the two that have already occurred, there will be two more evening public comment hearings on May 4 at 6pm and May 18 at 6pm. Please be aware that even if you do not see a Councilmember on the dais or on the televised live stream, they are hearing all comments made at the meeting via loudspeakers behind the dais.
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Councilmember Jennifer Campbell
District 2
San Diego City Council
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FY27 Business Improvement District Budget Appropriation Process
On April 6, the City Council took several actions to approve the city’s Business Improvement Districts, or BIDs, for the upcoming fiscal year. At this meeting, the Council appointed the BID advisory boards, approved the budget reports from last fiscal year, and renewed the partnership with the BIDs for another year. BIDs are a partnership between the City and local small businesses to foster neighborhood identity and promote local business development. There are 18 active BIDs in the City, including Ocean Beach and Old Town in District 2.
Amendments to Rules of Council Consistent with State Senate Bill 707
On April 14, the City Council adopted amendments to the Rules of Council in alignment with the recently-passed Senate Bill 707. SB 707 made changes to the Brown Act, which clarified established rules for public participation in local government meetings.
Assembly Bill 2525 Surplus Lands: Mission Bay Park
I am committed to preserving Mission Bay Park as park space under the City Charter and other local laws that govern its use. AB 2525 does just that – it ensures Mission Bay Park is exempted from the State Surplus Lands Act and protects the Bay for recreational use. Earlier this week, AB 2525 passed the Assembly’s Local Government Committee unanimously, and is now heading to the Assembly’s Housing & Community Development Committee for approval.
Stepping Stone of San Diego 50th Anniversary Day
The City Council proclaimed April 17 as “Stepping Stone of San Diego 50th Anniversary Day” in recognition of their 50 years of dedication to providing compassionate, affirming, and effective substance use treatment services to the LGBTQ+ community. Stepping Stone provides a comprehensive continuum of care, including residential treatment, three- to six-month recovery programs, outpatient services, and sober living opportunities. They have helped over 40,000 people since their humble beginnings in 1976. Congratulations to Stepping Stone and thank you for all your incredible work!
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Rockie's Frozen Yogurt | 3546 Ashford St
Now that the temperatures are rising, Rockie's Frozen Yogurt is a cool place to cool down. Located in East Clairemont, friendly, fast, clean, Rockie's Frozen Yogurt has been serving soft serve in San Diego for over 30 years. Try the fan-favorite strawberry shortcake froyo. Their acai and pitaya bowls are also a staple, along with their milkshakes, coffee shakes, smoothies, frescas con crema, and chamangos. For more information, click the button below.
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Council District 2 Budget Priority Survey
As we enter "budget season" for the City, we must face financial realities and make decisions that are both responsible and fiscally sound. My top priorities for the upcoming budget cycle coincide with what D2 residents have told my office and the Mayor's office and are: Public Safety, Homelessness Solutions, and Neighborhood Infrastructure and Services. If you want to share your ideas and priorities about this year's budget, click the button below and complete the District 2 Budget Priority survey.
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Meeting with Heroic Off-Duty Lifeguards
On March 1, four incredible off-duty City employees saved a man's life in Ocean Beach thanks to their quick action to provide life-saving first aid. Noah, Mitch, Myles, and Griffin exemplify the best of our Fire-Rescue Department, and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. Our lifeguards completed nearly 700 rescues in March and I am grateful for all their hard work keeping San Diegans and visitors safe.
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Dining Out For Life | April 23
Each year, many restaurants across San Diego participate in Dining Out For Life, a fundraiser where local restaurants contribute a portion of their sales to the San Diego LGBT Community Center for their HIV prevention and treatment programs. This year, on April 23 you can Dine Out For Life at Doc Holliday's in Old Town. 25% of their sales that day will be given to the Center. For a full list of participating locations around San Diego, click the button below.
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San Diego Community College District Now Accepting Applications for San Diego Promise Program
The San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) is now accepting applications for their tuition-free San Diego Promise program for the fall 2026 semester. This program provides up to two years of free tuition and health fees, and book grants for students with demonstrated financial need, removing financial barriers and opening the doors to higher education opportunities at San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar community colleges. Students are encouraged to complete the enrollment process, submit their Promise application, and complete admission requirements by May 22, 2026. For more information and to complete an application, click the button below.
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Tax Files Recycling at Miramar Recycling Center
Dispose of your old tax files safely and securely during the City's free Tax Files Recycling event. Limit one banker's box of documents per person or household. The confidential documents will be stored, shredded, then recycled. Residents of San Diego can drop them off at the Miramar Recycling Center between April 16 and 23 (7am to 4:30pm) Monday through Saturday.
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Laura's Legacy of Love Plaque Dedication
Over the weekend, we honored my friend and the former CEO of Home Start, Laura Tancredi-Baese for 18 years of incredible leadership. In gratitude for her years of service, Home Start will be installing a “Laura’s Legacy of Love” plaque on the first of their safe homes for women and children escaping domestic violence. Congratulations to Laura and thank you again for everything you have done for our community!
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Library Patron Satisfaction Survey
The Library Department is conducting their annual Patron Satisfaction Survey from now until May 2, and they want to hear from you! Click the button below to share your thoughts about programming and services offered at your local branch library.
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Emilio Nares Foundation "Healing Through Nature" Program
The Emilio Nares Foundation is now accepting families to join the spring and summer classes for their Healing Through Nature Program, a free and family-centered wellness program for families of children in cancer remission or recovering from a life-threatening condition. The program includes guided outdoor experiences, therapeutic nature-based activities for children and caregivers, financial education, and mindfulness resources all offered in both English and Spanish. There is no income requirement, and the program is open to families with a child aged 0-18 in any stage of survivorship from childhood cancer or a life-threatening condition. For more information, click the button below.
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Solid Waste Management Fee Financial Assistance Program
The City of San Diego and the Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty (MAAC) have partnered to launch the Solid Waste Management Fee Financial Assistance Program to help eligible homeowners reduce out-of-pocket costs for their trash and recycling fees. Assistance is first-come, first-served through April 2026. You may be eligible if you own and live in your home as your primary residence, receive City trash and recycling service, and you either have a household median income that meets the threshold below, or someone in your household is enrolled in Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKS, or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Anyone who has questions about these programs can call 211. To learn more and apply, click the button below.
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San Diego Housing Commission First-Time Homebuyer Program
Homeownership in the City of San Diego is within reach for middle-income families with assistance available from the San Diego Housing Commission’s Middle-Income First-Time Homebuyer program. Eligible households can receive a low-interest, deferred-payment loan and a grant toward closing costs – a total of $50,000 to support their home purchase. To learn more, click the button below.
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Delivery of New Recycling Bins Has Begun
The City’s Environmental Services Department will begin delivering new light blue recycling bins this month to households eligible for City-provided trash service. Customers can look up when the delivery of new blue cans will occur for their neighborhood, and crews will remove the old blue bins on that same day. The delivery process is expected to continue over the course of several months, and Environmental Services will notify customers about their bin delivery date through mailers to the property owner’s address. To learn more about the delivery of new bins and see when your bin delivery date will be, you can click the button below or look online through your Residential Waste Collection Services Portal.
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Have a question or need assistance from the City? Contact your respective Community Representative from my Office. Please note that some staff changes have occurred, and your Community Representative may be different:
- Manuel Reyes: Ocean Beach and Mission Bay
- Carrie Munson: Clairemont
- Seamus Kennedy: Midway District
- Margaret Doyle: Point Loma
- Guillermo Castillo: Old Town and Mission Beach
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If you need assistance with non-emergency community concerns, please use the Get It Done App or you can call my office or email me directly.
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Office of Councilmember
Jennifer Campbell
City Administration Building
202 "C" Street, 10th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
619-236-6622
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