Dear Neighbor, 

I want to thank every San Diegan for your participation in this year’s election and for making your voices heard. Voting is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I am deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in me to continue serving as your mayor for the next four years. 

As we look to the future, I remain steadfast in my vision of building a San Diego that works for all of us. That means we must continue tackling our city’s most pressing challenges head-on. 

I am fully committed to continue addressing the issues that matter most to San Diegans: keeping you safe, fixing roads, addressing homelessness, and building more housing to bring down the cost of living.  

Thank you again for your engagement, your trust, and your belief in our city. 

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

In a productive roundtable that we convened at City Hall, I welcomed California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and community leaders to discuss public safety challenges that I have been outspoken about as your Mayor — organized retail theft and tackling the scourge of illicit fentanyl and other hard drugs. 

Speaker Rivas, whose leadership in the Assembly was instrumental in passing a series of bills focused on retail theft, has taken the initiative to launch a statewide conversation on public safety, and he began this series here in San Diego. 

During our discussion, we examined the details of these new state laws, which provide stricter penalties for theft, targeting smash-and-grab incidents and car break-ins, and the ability to combine the value of stolen items across different incidents to meet felony thresholds. 

We also discussed the devastating impact of fentanyl and other hard drugs, which has affected all aspects of our community, particularly our unsheltered population. The need to effectively implement these new laws is critical, and we have a responsibility to deliver on these reforms in a way that truly makes San Diego safer. 

I emphasized our City's commitment to protecting public spaces, supporting our law enforcement, and fostering partnerships with local and state agencies to implement these common-sense measures. 

At the end of the day, we must ensure accountability when crimes are committed. Last week, voters echoed this sentiment by overwhelmingly passing Prop 36, demonstrating their strong support for increased public safety measures and accountability. 

I look forward to working together to stand for these kinds of common-sense public safety measures and ensuring San Diego remains one of the safest big cities in America. 

I'm thrilled to announce the return of our “Mayor for a Day” contest!  

San Diego Unified School District students from kindergarten through 12th grade to are invited share their vision for our city and what they would do if they were Mayor for a Day. 

Students can submit their ideas through an essay or video. The winner will have the chance to shadow me for a day at City Hall and participate in my upcoming State of the City address in January.  

This contest holds personal significance for me, as I was once a runner-up in a similar competition when I was a student in San Diego. That’s why I encourage all students to participate.

Entries are due by Nov. 29. For submission guidelines and more information, visit www.sandiego.gov/mayorforaday. 

I joined the Downtown San Diego Partnership and IKE Smart City to celebrate the unveiling of the first digital interactive kiosks in Downtown San Diego.  

These IKE (Interactive Kiosk Experience) kiosks are designed to help residents and visitors navigate our city, discover local businesses, and access essential resources like safe shelter options, addiction recovery programs, food support, and City services such as Get It Done. 

With dual-sided, touch-screen displays, these kiosks provide real-time information on transit options, public safety alerts, and promote diverse mobility solutions. Users can also connect directly with the Downtown San Diego Partnership’s Clean and Safe Team via a call button for safety assistance or late-night escorts within the Downtown area. 

This project, which was supported by our City Council, is expected to generate nearly $15 million for San Diego and $7 million for the Downtown San Diego Partnership through advertising on the kiosks. Over the next two years, at least 50 kiosks will be installed throughout Downtown, from the City Center to the East Village and Convention Center District. 

As the City of San Diego enters the second phase of community listening sessions for enhanced trash collection services and potential new fees, San Diegans are once again invited to participate in the process. During Phase 2 of the Trash Study outreach for residential customers serviced by the City’s Environmental Services Department (ESD), the City will host meetings in each Council District, starting Nov. 12, to share what has been learned so far and to gather additional feedback.   

Phase 2 meetings will consist of a brief overview to include priorities expressed by residents and a comparison of trash and recycling services and charges in nearby cities. An open house will follow, during which participants can review the data, ask questions and provide feedback. Spanish speakers will be on site to provide translation at each meeting. Requests for other language translation services can be made in advance.   

A virtual meeting, in English and Spanish, will be offered on Dec. 6. In addition, community members are invited to take a second questionnaire that builds on an earlier version to help the City better understand their views about trash, recycling and organic waste collection services. Residents who prefer more formal presentations of study information can attend meetings of Community Planning Groups and Town Councils where the Trash Study is on the agenda. The City also continues to host tables at farmers markets and other community events. A complete schedule is available at cleangreensd.org.   

Phase 2 Open House Meeting Schedule:  
· Council District 2: Nov. 18, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Cathy Hopper Friendship Center at the North Clairemont Recreation Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA 92117  

· Council District 7: Nov. 19, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Tierrasanta Recreation Center, 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92117  

· Council District 3: Nov. 20, 4 to 5:30 p.m., San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101  

· Council District 5: Nov. 25, 5:30 to 7 p.m., San Diego Oasis at Rancho Bernardo, 17170 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92128  

· Council District 8: Nov. 26, 5:30 to 7 p.m., San Ysidro Library, 4235 Beyer Blvd., San Diego, CA 92173  

· Council District 9: Dec. 2, 5:30 to 7 p.m., College-Rolando Library, 660 Montezuma Road, San Diego, CA 92113  

· Council District 4: Dec. 3, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Educational Cultural Complex Upstairs Lobby, 4343 Ocean View Blvd., San Diego, CA 92113  

· Citywide: Dec. 6, 10 to 11 a.m., online via zoom. Visit cleangreensd.org to register.  

· Council District 1: Dec. 10, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Pacific Beach/Taylor Library, 4275 Cass St., San Diego, CA 92109 

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