Dear Neighbor, 

I had the privilege of swearing in Robert Logan II as San Diego's 19th Fire Chief at a ceremony held at Bayview Baptist Church in Encanto. Chief Logan has dedicated nearly three decades of his life to the safety and well-being of our community. His leadership and experience will be critical as we continue to enhance our public safety efforts and adapt to the evolving needs of our city. 

Chief Logan’s vision for the department focuses on ensuring that our firefighters are equipped with the best resources and training to protect every resident of San Diego, and I’m confident that under his leadership, San Diego Fire-Rescue will continue to strive for and achieve the highest standards of excellence in public service. 

There is no more important role for government than keeping the public safe, and Chief Logan's appointment is an important step in our ongoing mission to ensure San Diego stays one of the safest big cities in the country.  

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

Casa Familiar, in partnership with Hitzke Development Corp., has secured $33.7 million in funding from the State of California’s Strategic Growth Council for their Avanzando housing project in San Ysidro. This project will create 103 rental units — 101 of them reserved as income-restricted affordable — located near vital public transit routes, including the Trolley’s Blue Line and key bus routes. 

The City of San Diego is a sub-recipient in this project, receiving funds to further enhance transportation infrastructure surrounding the development. Our planned improvements include the development of ADA-accessible sidewalks and upgrading existing bike lanes. These enhancements will ensure that residents have safe and convenient commuting options. 

Since taking office, my administration has helped secure nearly $75 million in Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) funding, which has already helped to build 293 homes. Casa Familiar’s Avanzando project is yet another example of how we’re working to create equitable and sustainable housing opportunities for all San Diegans.  

Tackling the housing crisis requires a collective effort, and this project is a perfect example of how the City and community partners like Casa Familiar can come together to make a real impact. By working collaboratively, we’re creating sustainable, equitable housing solutions that will benefit San Diegans for generations to come. 

Construction on the long-awaited Beyer Park in San Ysidro has officially begun!  

This project — a community vision for more than 50 years — marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing high-quality recreational spaces for every San Diegan. Thanks to a collaborative effort between the City, the State of California, and federal partners, Phase 1 of Beyer Park will bring 8 acres of new parkland with ball fields, a dog park, walking trails, a skate park and public art. Completion is expected by 2026. 

Beyer Park is set to be the first new public park in San Ysidro in over 25 years, and it's being funded, in part, through my Parks for All of Us initiative, as well as grants from the California Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program and funds secured by Congressmember Juan Vargas. 

This project is more than just a park—it's a testament to what we can achieve when the City, County, and community partners work together.  

I’m proud that we are bringing this long-overdue vision to life and providing San Ysidro with the park it has deserved for decades. 

San Diego is taking a monumental step forward on shaping our arts and culture landscape with the launch of "Creative City," the City’s first-ever cultural plan to ensure arts and culture are integrated into every neighborhood. 

This plan is the result of 18 months of dedicated effort, involving hundreds of stakeholders and extensive community input. 

The vision behind "Creative City" is to ensure that arts and culture are not just accessible, but woven into the fabric of our city, fostering creativity and inclusivity for all San Diegans.  

Study after study shows the positive impact of arts and culture on cities and their residents – from spurring economic development and improving educational outcomes for youth. As Mayor, I want to help make sure every San Diegan, regardless of their neighborhood, has the opportunity to experience and participate in cultural activities. 

The “Creative City” plan outlines guiding principles for public investment. in arts and culture, providing a roadmap to strategically prioritize these investments and quantify their impact. It's a vision for how arts and culture can uplift and connect all of our communities. 

The plan is still a draft, so I want to encourage San Diegans to share their feedback on the plan and help us shape a vibrant and inclusive creative future for our city. 

Visit sdcreativecity.com to review the draft plan and provide your input by October 7.  

This funding is a significant boost to our ongoing efforts to improve transportation throughout San Diego.  

San Diego residents receiving trash and recycling services from the Environmental Services Department (ESD) are invited to share their input through public meetings, questionnaires, and focus groups starting in early August. This initiative aims to evaluate and improve services while developing a cost-recovery fee structure. The first in-person meeting will be held on Aug. 5 at Logan Heights Library, with additional meetings scheduled across various Council Districts. A virtual meeting will be held on Aug. 24 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. 

In-person Community Meetings by Council District (CD); 5:30 to 7 p.m. 

• CD7: Tuesday, Aug. 27, Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Library, 9005 Aero Drive, 92123 

• CD5: Tuesday, Sept. 3, Scripps Miramar Ranch Library, 10301 Scripps Lake Drive, 92131 

• CD1: Monday, Sept. 9, La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave., 92037 

For more information and to stay updated, visit cleangreensd.org.  

The City of San Diego just began an update to its Bicycle Master Plan. We are inviting you to visit our new website to learn about the plan update and provide feedback. 

On this website, you'll find information about the project background, its timeline, a fact sheet and interactive tools so you can provide your input. These tools are: 

• Interactive Feedback Map: Please use the map's markers to show us where you think the current bicycle system works, needs improvement or has barriers to using it.  

• Interactive Trip Map: You can also show us where you typically begin and end your bike rides so that we get a sense of the journeys you're making. 

• Quick Online Surveys: Respond to these quick surveys so that we can learn more about you, your bicycle use, and your perspective about the City’s bicycle infrastructure. 

The surveys and maps will be open for input through Tuesday, Sept. 10. 

Your opinion matters to us and will help us prepare a plan that is informed by the community. For questions, please contact sustainability@sandiego.gov. 

The Legal Aid Society of San Diego (LASSD) is a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services to lower income San Diego residents. They work to empower clients to access and effectively participate within the legal, governmental and social systems and encourage self-empowerment in the fight against poverty and injustice. 

LASSD is asking questions to find out the most common legal problems in the community. This survey will help LASSD learn how to make their legal services easier to find and use. Your responses help meet these goals! 

The survey takes 10 minutes to complete. You can choose to remain anonymous or provide your contact information for follow-up and to be entered in a drawing to receive one of five $100 gift certificates. 

Share your voice and take the 10-minute survey about our community’s legal needs here.  

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is gearing up for the summer of 2025 by recruiting seasonal lifeguards. Swim tryouts are scheduled for Sept. 12, 13, 14, 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.