If you don’t know Nikki Hank, you should. 

Nikki is a Tierrasanta resident and Cathedral Catholic high school senior who stepped up in a major way recently. While on the way home late one evening, Nikki spotted a woman in crisis on the side of the road. Rather than back away from a difficult moment, Nikki asked her mother to pull over — and rushed to the woman’s aid by sharing personal stories, guiding her through breathing techniques, making sure she had water, and waiting for first responders to arrive. 

Nikki’s random act of courageous kindness towards a total stranger saved the woman’s life. To show our recognition, we invited Nikki and her family to come to City Hall for a meeting — and we had a little surprise for her: we officially declared September 14th, 2025 “Nikki Hank Day” in the City of San Diego. 

Intending to instill fear against our Jewish, LGBT, and black neighbors (among others), faceless bigots targeted District 7 neighborhoods and other areas repeatedly with hurtful, false, and intimidating flyers. They may have thought they could get away with it — but together, we stood firm. Just over two years ago, we called a press conference to state loud and clear not only that San Diego would not stand for hate, but that we were prepared to act. 

It took us working with our state partner Assemblymember Chris Ward to get it done, but one year ago as of last Friday, we passed AB 3024, the Stop Hate Littering Act. This law deters hate by raising the penalty of dropping flyers with the intent to terrorize to $25,000 per infraction. 

Though the work continues to protect our communities from violence and hate, the stakes are now that much higher for those who seek to spread fear. Thank you to all our partners who worked together to make this important legislation possible. 

The students of today are the leaders of tomorrow. That’s why academic opportunities like Francis Parker’s Leadership Course are so instrumental to our future success and progress. Last month, I had the pleasure of speaking at Mr. Yaley’s honors level course for Francis Parker Juniors and Seniors, which is “grounded in diverse modes of leadership—from servant leadership to transformational and team-based approaches” and instructs students to “explore how character, communication, and perspective shape effective leadership” (Kevin Yaley).  

I shared my strategies as a leader with the class. Within my office, I follow the guidelines of Unreasonable Hospitality, written by Will Guidara, which I’ve mentioned here before. As an elected official, I prioritize honesty, integrity, and care for all those I represent. Thank you to Mr. Yaley and to his students for the warm welcome and great conversation! 

On Wednesday, the government shut down, leaving many residents with questions about federal programs and resources. While agencies like the United States Postal Service, Social Security, and all Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities will remain operational, non-emergency departments like the National Parks Service and most federal employees are affected. 

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs recently published a helpful page outlining exactly which services will and will not be impacted, linked here. The page covers frequently asked questions and contact information for her office should you need to reach out with any specific questions.  

Thank you, Congresswoman Jacobs, for your leadership and swift response to residents’ concerns about the shutdown.