Dear Neighbor, 

I’m excited to share a significant milestone in our ongoing effort to improve San Diego’s infrastructure: the City has surpassed 1,650 miles of street repairs since I took office. That’s 25% of the city’s entire street network—a major step forward in reversing decades of underinvestment in our roads. 

I travel all over the city, and I’m as frustrated as you are about the state of our roads. That’s why I’ve made road repair such a high priority in our annual budget. We’ve made record investments in street repair, allocating $140 million for two years running to put hardworking City crews to work making much-needed repairs in neighborhoods across San Diego. 

While we’ve made significant progress, our work is far from over. We have comprehensive data on every mile of street in San Diego to guide our investments going forward. According to our Pavement Management Plan, we'll need to invest $188 million annually over the next eight years to ensure all of our streets are in satisfactory condition. With over 6,600 lane miles of roads, we’re committed to continuing to tackle this at the highest level possible to complete upgrades to our road network and continue maintaining it so that we never have to play catch-up again like we’re doing now. 

You can track road-repair progress and explore upcoming paving projects through our interactive StreetsSD platform, which provides detailed information on street conditions and scheduled repairs in your neighborhood. 

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

Governor Newsom has signed two critical bills – Assembly Bills 2501 and 3227 – that will streamline and enhance our ability to maintain and clear stormwater channels, which are vital to preventing floods. 

In partnership with Assemblymember David Alvarez and sponsored by the City of San Diego, these two bills represent a huge step forward in our stormwater infrastructure. These new laws will help ensure we can tackle water quality projects quickly and efficiently. 

AB 3227, the “Streamlining Storm Water Channel Maintenance Act,” will help eliminate the bureaucratic delays that have historically hindered routine storm channel maintenance. With this legislation, we can act more swiftly to ensure our stormwater systems are ready to handle future weather events without unnecessary delays from the California Environmental Quality Act. 

Assembly Bill 2501, the “Cutting the Green Tape” bill, authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board and the Regional Water Quality Control Board to accept funds from the City of San Diego and other public agencies for permitting and technical assistance work on projects that relate to storm water channel clearance and other water quality projects. 

This year’s devastating winter storms proved the need for immediate and proactive action when it comes to our stormwater channels. The flooding impacted more than 800 households, some experiencing water levels over five feet. These new laws will help us better protect vulnerable neighborhoods like Southcrest, which suffered the worst of the flooding, and prepare our city for future storms caused by our changing climate.  

This legislation marks a critical turning point in how we manage and mitigate flood risks in San Diego, and I want to thank Assemblymember Alvarez for his partnership and Governor Newsom for signing these important bills into law. 

Together, we’re making our city stronger and more resilient in the face of climate change.  

We’ve officially started the second phase of construction at Mira Mesa Community Park! 

This project has been years in the making, and the Mira Mesa community has waited more than two decades to see these long-overdue improvements become a reality. 

This major redevelopment will bring new amenities to the park, including a state-of-the-art aquatic complex; an all-wheel plaza for skateboards, scooters, bikes, and wheelchairs; upgraded sports courts; new children’s play areas; and much more. With a total investment of $55 million, this project will transform Mira Mesa Community Park into a hub of recreation for all ages and abilities. 

This project also includes critical upgrades to the Mira Mesa Recreation Center, ensuring it’s ready to serve the community for years to come. Once completed in 2026, residents will have access to a 14-lane competition pool, an activity pool, a splash pad, and a variety of open spaces for sports and relaxation. 

We’re not stopping here! There’s even more to come for Mira Mesa, with Phase III of the project already in the works. 

Since 2021, we have will have begun construction on 65 new or improved parks. I’m excited to continue delivering the quality parks and recreation facilities every San Diegan deserves. 

City crews, along with community partners, conducted a major cleanup at Wightman Street Neighborhood Park in City Heights. In total, more than 8,000 pounds of trash, furniture, and bulky items were removed, helping to restore this valuable green space for the families who rely on it. 

For too long, illegal dumping and encampments in the park and nearby Auburn Creek corridor created unsafe conditions. Thanks to the hard work of our Environmental Services Department, Stormwater Department, and partners like Urban Corps and Alpha Project, this community space is now safer and cleaner. 

Removing large appliances, mattresses, and even hazardous waste like syringes not only improves the environment but also ensures our stormwater systems are clear and ready for the upcoming rainy season. 

We can all help keep our parks clean. I encourage all San Diegans to report illegal dumping through the Get It Done app so that we can maintain safe, healthy spaces for all San Diegans. 

Today marks a long-awaited milestone for our region as we broke ground on essential repairs to the International Wastewater Treatment Plant. This project is a critical step toward addressing what has been a longstanding environmental disaster for our South Bay communities, and I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who has tirelessly advocated for this issue. 

South of the border, Mexican officials broke ground earlier this year on a long-awaited replacement for their failing and outdated San Antonio de los Buenos treatment plant in Punta Bandera. This plant has regularly been releasing millions of gallons of sewage into the ocean and its eventual replacement will be another critical step in solving this binational crisis.  

I especially want to thank our federal delegation for their leadership in bringing us to this pivotal moment. While this groundbreaking on the International Wastewater Treatment Plant is a significant achievement, it is only the beginning of the work that lies ahead. This project represents our collective commitment across all levels of government, on both sides of the border, to protect the health of our communities and our natural environment. 

San Diegans in the South Bay deserve real, long-term solutions to this problem. Tomorrow, I’ll join Councilmember Vivian Moreno to urge our City Council to pass a resolution calling for a federal state of emergency, which will unlock the additional resources we need to fully address this crisis. 

We will continue to push for comprehensive solutions, working alongside county, state, and federal partners to protect the Tijuana River Valley and the health of all residents in our region. 

Mark your calendars for this Wednesday, Oct. 2, because MTS Free Ride Day is back! Thanks in part to MTS sponsor, Mission Federal Credit Union, all MTS Trolleys and buses, as well as the NCTD COASTER, SPRINTER and BREEZE, will be free to ride all day (no PRONTO card needed). 

Free Ride Day is also held in conjunction with California Clean Air Day, a time for residents across the state to take steps to reduce their carbon emissions. 

Whether trying a new way to commute to work, heading out on your lunch break, or taking some time in the afternoon and evening to try a new restaurant, Free Ride Day is a great way to explore San Diego. 

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is gearing up for the summer of 2025 by recruiting seasonal lifeguards. Swim tryouts are scheduled for Oct. 10, 11, 12, and Jan. 16, 17, 18, 2025, at 8 a.m. at Ventura Cove. 

To qualify for an interview, candidates must swim 500 meters in under 10 minutes. 

With over 40 miles of shoreline to patrol, SDFD lifeguards are essential to ensuring the safety of millions of visitors. Interested candidates should apply online two weeks before their tryout date.