Dear Neighbor, 

New national data show San Diegans are among the most satisfied residents of any major U.S. city. As your Mayor, I’m grateful people feel good about America's Finest City — reflecting progress on the fundamentals that matter most, especially in keeping our communities safe. Homicides in our city have dropped 24 percent, and robberies and aggravated assaults are also down. This is the result of focused work by our tremendous San Diego Police Department, investments in technology, and my commitment to you that lawlessness will not stand in our city.

At the same time, the world continues to look to San Diego as a place where big things happen. Our sports teams are surging, our tourism economy is strong, and we’re hosting more major international events than ever before.  

I’m particularly excited about the arrival of WWE’s Survivor Series at Petco Park later this week. This is the first time this professional wrestling event will take place in a stadium, and we expect over 30,000 wrestling fans to watch the event at Petco. It is the latest example of our city’s reputation as a global destination. These events bring big energy to our neighborhoods, support our local businesses, and showcase San Diego on the world stage. There is more work ahead, especially as we continue to move the needle on housing, homelessness, maintaining public safety, and fixing the damn roads. But the momentum is real, and San Diegans are feeling it. 

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

New Trash and Recycling Bins Rolling Out Citywide — and Old Bins Are Being Recycled into New Products
 

Our Environmental Services Department is in the middle of one of the largest upgrades to our residential waste-collection system in decades. 

 

More than 225,000 households are receiving brand-new gray trash bins, with over 65,000 already delivered since the rollout began last month. Every eligible home will have new trash bins by March 2026, followed by new light-blue recycling bins by late summer. 

 

For most residents, delivery happens on their regular trash day. Crews drop off new bins and remove the old ones the same day to minimize disruption. We know there will be occasional delays due to traffic, construction, or access issues, and our teams are ready with backup routes and quick turnaround plans. Residents can always check their scheduled delivery date online and use Get It Done or reach out to trash@sandiego.gov or 858-694-7000 if they need help or miss their pickup. 

 

A major part of this effort is reducing waste and supporting a cleaner environment. Instead of sending old black trash bins to the landfill, the City is partnering with Rehrig Pacific Company to recycle them into new products. At our Miramar operations yard, crews clean and disassemble every bin. So far, we've removed and recycled more than 58,000. Wheels and metal bars are recycled separately, and the plastic bodies and lids are put through an industrial chipper. Those plastic chips are then processed into new bins, pallets, totes, and other reusable products — creating a true closed-loop system that keeps materials in use and out of the landfill. 

 

These new gray and light-blue bins will improve service and reduce breakage by replacing older, worn-out containers. Many of the older bins have been in circulation for more than 20 years. The updated labeling makes proper sorting easier, the new colors help drivers quickly identify what to collect, and each bin includes a scannable tag so we can track performance and make sure bins stay with the homes they’re assigned to. 

 

Delivery of these new bins will continue through late summer 2026, and until then, old bins will still be serviced to avoid any interruption in collection. Residents who haven’t set up an account in the Waste Collection Services Portal are encouraged to do so — it’s the easiest way to get notifications and stay updated throughout the rollout. 
 

ALPR Technology Helps Close a Dangerous Robbery Case in Mira Mesa

The story begins at a small business in Mira Mesa, where an armed suspect walked in, pointed a gun at the store’s clerk, and disappeared just as quickly — leaving behind only a grainy surveillance video clip and a shaken community. 

San Diego Police Department detectives had clear images of the suspects, but the getaway car’s license plate was unreadable, and the case stalled for days. This is the kind of moment that, not long ago, might have led nowhere. 

 

But the break came from the Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) network our city deployed last year. A detective reviewed camera data from the surrounding area and spotted a single, crucial match: a vehicle with the same make, model, and distinctive features seen in the surveillance video. The system had captured it passing through the neighborhood around the time of the robbery. That evidence became the thread investigators needed. 

 

Patrol officers used the ALPR system to narrow their search and pinpoint recent detections. On Sept. 10, just over a week after the crime, officers located the vehicle exactly where the data suggested it would be. They moved in, detained the suspect, and turned over evidence that ultimately led to a conviction.  

 

This is the kind of precise, fast, and accountable policing we envisioned when we brought this technology online in San Diego. And in this case, it meant an armed suspect was taken off the streets before he could strike again. 

 

Some folks want to end this technology, but it is a proven tool to keep our city safe.  

Public safety is my top priority. Safe streets, clean neighborhoods, and thriving communities — that’s what we’re delivering for San Diego thanks in part to ALPR technology. 
 

Mayor for a Day Contest Now Open

Each year, the Mayor for a Day contest gives San Diego students the chance to share their ideas for the future of our city. It’s a program that means a lot to me personally. When I was 10 years old growing up in Clairemont, I was the runner-up in a similar contest. Thirty-two years later, I was sworn in as San Diego’s 37th Mayor. Experiences like that can spark a lifelong interest in public service, and that’s exactly what this contest aims to do. 

 

K–12 students who live in San Diego are invited to submit an essay or video describing what San Diego would look like if they were Mayor for a day. We’re looking for creativity, leadership, and a clear vision for how to make our city better for everyone. The selected student will shadow me at City Hall and be recognized at the State of the City address in January 2026. 

 

Applications are due by Dec. 5 by 11:59 p.m. For questions about submissions, students and families can reach out to Community Representative Korral Taylor at TaylorK@sandiego.gov. I look forward to hearing from the young San Diegans who want to step up and lead. 
 

🦃 Mayor’s Mix: Thanksgiving in San Diego Edition! 🦃

Last week, we asked: In what year did the infamous “Hatfield Flood” occur — the massive storm event that caused the catastrophic failure of the Lower Otay Dam? 

Here’s how you voted: 

▪️ 1884 — 11.34% 
▪️ 1916 — 69.07% ✅ 
▪️ 1932 — 19.59% 

The correct answer is 1916 — when San Diego hired “rainmaker” Charles Hatfield, whose efforts coincided with torrential storms that devastated the region, including the collapse of the Lower Otay Dam. It remains one of the most dramatic chapters in our city’s history. 

This week’s question: As families across San Diego get ready for Thanksgiving tables, here’s a local Turkey Day trivia special. Which neighborhood was once home to one of the largest turkey farms on the West Coast? 

▪️ Clairemont 
▪️ Valley Center 
▪️ Otay Mesa 

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
 

Smoother Streets in Chollas Creek 

City crews are continuing to repair and resurface roads across San Diego. Ogden Street in Chollas Creek is one of the latest streets to receive a full repaving, transforming a rough, deteriorated roadway into a safer, smoother surface. Our teams rely on the Citywide Street Condition Assessment, the Pavement Management Plan, and real data on past pothole repairs to guide this work. These permanent mill-and-pave repairs strengthen the roadway and significantly reduce the need for future pothole fixes on these segments. 

Ogden Street in Chollas Creek

 
 

MAYOR GLORIA AROUND TOWN
 

Julia Legaspi’s Legacy Lives On in Mira Mesa

The Mira Mesa community gathered to unveil an honorary street sign for Julia “Jhigs” Legaspi, a beloved LGBTQ+ and AAPI leader whose generosity and spirit shaped the neighborhood for decades. Family, friends, and community partners shared stories of her life and the impact she made through her entrepreneurship, her advocacy, and her mentorship. It was powerful to see the community come together to celebrate a woman left her city better than she found it. 
 

Thanksgiving Support for Military Families and Southeast Communities

San Diegans came together across the region to support families ahead of the holiday. At Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) volunteers and community partners distributed food to military families, easing financial strain and offering connection. In the Emerald Hills and Encanto area, the Peacemaker Project Partners, San Ysidro Health, San Diego Police Department, and dozens of volunteers provided 1,000 turkeys and helpful resources to neighbors. These efforts showed the strength and generosity of our communities. 
 

Honoring Trans Lives at the San Diego LGBT Community Center

The Trans Day of Remembrance gathering at The LGBT Community Center in Hillcrest brought San Diegans together to mourn, reflect, and uplift the trans and nonbinary community. The program — featuring performances, shared stories, and the reading of names — was shaped by local leaders, advocates, and families committed to creating a safer, more supportive city for everyone. Their courage and compassion continue to guide this work. 
 

Celebrating Education and Culture at the Sneaker Ball Gala

The Sneaker Ball brought together students, alumni, faith leaders, and educators to celebrate the partnership between Bayview Baptist Church and Huston-Tillotson University — the first HBCU partnership of its kind on the West Coast. The energy in the room reflected a shared commitment to opportunity, achievement, and cultural pride in Southeastern San Diego, with community leaders lifting up local students and their futures. 
 

SAN DIEGO ON THE GLOBAL STAGE 
 

Welcoming Our Partners from Sasebo, Japan 

I welcomed a delegation from Sasebo, Japan — one of San Diego’s sister ports and a community that shares our strong maritime and military identity. After greeting the group, I asked our Economic Development and Veterans Engagement teams to provide an overview of our region’s growth, innovation, and civilian–military collaboration. Their visit opened the door for future partnership, particularly around economic and defense-related opportunities that could benefit both of our cities. 

COMMUNITY UPDATES
 

Your Parking Meter Dollars at Work

Parking meter revenue stays right where it’s collected — paying for improvements in the same neighborhoods where San Diegans feed the meter. The City is directing those funds toward streetlight repairs, sidewalk fixes, and other upgrades that make our streets safer and more accessible.

City crews are already getting to work, including tackling the significant streetlight backlog and completing other repairs in parking district areas across the city.

 

Residents can continue to report issues through Get It Done so we can keep making progress block by block.
 

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

  • 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. 
 

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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