The City is taking proactive steps to reduce encampment fires by spraying a citrus-based fire inhibitor to help protect homes and reduce fire hazards near some recently abated homeless encampments, but we need San Diego’s help. Despite our continued outreach and expanded shelter options, some choose to remain in illegal encampments—creating safety risks for themselves and our community. 

Recent fires in Los Angeles and here in San Diego—including the three that started in the city last week near encampments, two of those encampments located outside City jurisdiction on private property—serve as stark reminders that living outdoors is extremely unsafe for everyone. 

For years, I have been clear about the dangers of encampments. I worked hard to pass the Unsafe Camping Ordinance to ensure our public spaces remain safe while connecting people to shelter and services. This ordinance gives us another tool to get people off the streets and out of dangerous conditions. 

Since 2021, we have also more than doubled shelter options, and I continue to push for even more beds—but we need City Council approval to keep expanding options. 

We also understand that people experiencing homelessness are trying to stay warm, but lighting fires in encampments creates extreme risks. That’s why we fund the Inclement Weather Shelter Program, which provides additional shelter capacity on cold and rainy nights. These beds are never full, and San Diegans fund this program to keep people warm and safe.  

Private property owners must also do their part by clearing encampments on their property or working with our San Diego Police Department to help reduce fire risks. Property owners can request a Letter of Agency allow San Diego Police Department officers to more easily enforce trespassing on private property. The City cannot enter private property to remove waste or encampments. Code officers help by communicating with property owners to address concerns, and if needed, issue citations to ensure compliance. 

You can also help by reporting encampments when you see them: 

• Report encampments on City property (our system will let you know if you try to report an encampment on property not within the jurisdiction of the city and offer guidance on where to submit the report instead): https://getitdone.sandiego.gov/TSWNewReport?type=Encampment 

•  Report encampments on State highways, bridges, and underpasses (Caltrans): https://csr.dot.ca.gov/index.php/Msrsubmit 

Your reports help us take action. Let’s all work together to ensure everyone has a safer place to be. 

The City Council voted recently to remove Footnote 7, a little-known 2019 zoning change that reduced minimum lot sizes in the Encanto Neighborhoods Community Plan area without broader public engagement. Brought forward by my administration, this correction aligns with best practices by ensuring that zoning changes impacting specific communities are made with proper outreach, transparency and consideration. 

However, the City Council’s decision to tie this long-overdue fix to a hasty move against the City’s successful ADU bonus program is deeply concerning. 

The ADU program, recognized statewide for creating affordable housing everyday San Diegans can afford without taxpayer subsidies, has helped San Diego build more homes and provide options for families and middle-income residents. It was introduced transparently and has resulted in hundreds of new housing units since 2021, nearly half of which are rent-restricted affordable homes. 

The City Attorney warned the City Council that its decision to restrict ADUs violated California’s open meetings law, yet the council proceeded with the vote without public notice or proper debate. The unanimous vote—taken with Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera absent—came as a surprise, as the ADU bonus program was not listed on the agenda. Under the Brown Act, city governments must notify the public in advance before taking action on policy matters. Because proper procedure was not followed, the item may need to return to the City Council for reconsideration. 

I am reviewing options to ensure that San Diego continues its progress to build more housing and bring down the cost of rent.  

The bottom line is: too many San Diegans struggle with the high cost of rent, and I know many wonder whether they can continue to have a future in this city. I will always fight for the ability of low and middle-class families to call our city home.   

Housing costs are soaring, and families across the country are struggling to find stable, affordable homes. 

In a newly published op-ed, I joined Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann in a bipartisan call for a “Marshall Plan for Housing”—a bold, comprehensive approach to tackling our nation’s housing crisis. 

As mayors, we are doing everything in our power to build more housing, cut red tape, and accelerate affordable housing projects. But cities cannot solve this crisis alone. We need a federal partner that invests in proven housing solutions and gives cities the flexibility to address local needs. 

Our message is clear: Just as the original Marshall Plan rebuilt post-war Europe, a national commitment to housing can rebuild communities, drive economic growth, and restore the American Dream. 

Read the full op-ed here. 

Providing safe, affordable housing for our seniors is one of the most important things we can do as a city. I was proud to celebrate the grand opening of the Paul Downey Senior Residence in Clairemont—78 new homes for low-income seniors that will provide stability, security, and access to vital services. 

Built in partnership with the San Diego Housing Commission, Chelsea Investment Corporation, Serving Seniors, and the County of San Diego, this development is a model for how we can repurpose underutilized land to create much-needed housing. With on-site wellness services, meals, and social activities, these homes are more than just a roof over someone’s head—they are a lifeline for seniors living on fixed incomes in an increasingly unaffordable housing market. 

We need more projects like this. San Diego will continue to push forward policies and partnerships that create affordable housing for our seniors, working families, and the most vulnerable in our communities. Every San Diegan deserves a safe and stable home.