Dear Neighbor,

San Diego is moving forward. As I said in my recent State of the City address, together we have made progress, and together we will overcome the challenges ahead.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

Crime is down, with homicides dropping nearly 30%.

Roughly 8,500 new homes were permitted last year, according to preliminary numbers, helping address our housing crisis.

A record 188,000 emergency calls were answered by our incredible first responders.

We’ve resurfaced more than 25% of our entire road network in just four years.

I also announced a new housing program I intend to roll out soon that will incentivize the construction of row homes, townhomes, and condos, which can serve as starter homes for first-time home buyers. These projects will create affordable homeownership opportunities and generational wealth for San Diegans—an essential step in addressing our housing crisis.

At the same time, we face a $258 million budget deficit. Tackling this challenge will require tough decisions and innovative solutions. I’m committed to reimagining how we operate, prioritizing essential services and ensuring we deliver for every resident.

We’ve made tremendous progress, but we can’t keep facing our greatest challenges alone. I’m calling on the County, the State, and our regional partners to step up and do their part to address homelessness, expand behavioral health services, and build the housing we need.

No matter the obstacles, we are doubling down on our priorities: keeping San Diegans safe, reducing homelessness, building more housing, and fixing the damn roads.

Together, we’ll meet these challenges head-on and continue to move our city forward.

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

Comic-Con Commits to Staying in San Diego Through 2027

For more than 50 years, Comic-Con has been a part of San Diego’s identity, and I’m thrilled to share that it will remain in our beautiful city through 2027.

This world-renowned convention isn’t just about celebrating creativity and fandom—it’s also a major economic driver, supporting local businesses and shining a global spotlight on our city.

In 2024 alone, Comic-Con generated more than $160 million in regional economic impact and millions of dollars in tax revenue to fund vital City services like public safety and road repairs.

Securing Comic-Con’s future in San Diego took teamwork, and I want to thank the San Diego Convention Center, the San Diego Tourism Authority, and our hospitality community for making this possible.

I can’t wait to welcome fans from around the world to our great city this July!

San Diego Firefighters Deploy Innovative Solutions to Prevent Wildfire Disasters

San Diego is stepping up its wildfire prevention efforts with the use of Citrotech, a citrus-based fire retardant developed by Mighty Fire Breaker. This cutting-edge solution, capable of withstanding extreme heat without sustaining combustion, is being applied to high-risk areas to safeguard homes and critical evacuation corridors.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation got a $366,949 grant through the San Diego River Conservancy’s Direct Grant Program, which helped the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) acquire the equipment and fire retardant needed to proactively address wildfire threats.

When fire danger is high, SDFD crews are also being pre-staged in areas most at risk, allowing for rapid response when a fire breaks out. This proactive measure can help contain brush fires quickly.

Fire crews are also partnering with City teams to clear encampments and reduce fire hazards in canyons. In recent days, encampment-related complaints dropped from 155 to 53, showcasing the City’s commitment to reducing risks through active collaboration and outreach.

The results are making a difference but our work is not done. The City is taking proactive measures to reduce the risk of encampment-related complaints though our reporting system Get it Done. For any similar requests related to State Highways, Bridges and underpasses they can be submitted to California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

Stay Ready:

With a wind advisory in effect, I urge to help by making sure you are prepared for extreme fire conditions. High winds, dry vegetation, and low humidity increase the wildfire risk. SDG&E has initiated Public Safety Power Shutoffs in vulnerable areas, with updates available at sdge.com/ready.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department encourages residents to follow the Ready, Set, Go guide:

Ready: Prepare your home by creating defensible space and hardening it with fire-resistant materials.

Set: Pack emergency supplies and stay informed through trusted sources.

Go: Follow your wildfire action plan promptly to ensure safety and support firefighters and heed the instructions of public safety officials

For updates, follow SDFD (@SDFD) and SDPD (@SanDiegoPD) on social media. I also encourage you to download the Genasys Protect App and the SD Emergency Mobile App. Share these resources with neighbors to help keep our communities well informed of emergency notifications like red flag warnings, active wildfires and/or evacuation orders.

Together, we can reduce wildfire risks and protect San Diego’s future.

Progress Report: Advancing Housing Solutions for a Stronger San Diego

Following the incredible year we had in 2023 in issuing permits for new homes, we made significant progress in 2024 toward ensuring every resident has a roof over their head at a price they can afford.

Here's a snapshot of some of the milestones achieved:

Permitting More Homes

San Diego issued permits for approximately 8,500 new homes, a major leap from prior years, continuing the momentum set in 2023 with nearly 10,000 homes permitted. Programs created through two of my executive orders have helped by speeding up permitting for 33 projects with more than 3,500 homes – and we have another 3,500 in the pipeline.

Policy Breakthroughs

Housing Action Package 2.0 encourages innovative housing solutions like repurposing parking lots and shopping malls, incentivizing student housing, streamlining project approvals, and more.

Complete Communities Now was launched, requiring City departments to review qualifying housing projects within 30 days, accelerating housing near transit and building on the success of 2023’s Affordable Housing Permit Now program.

Direct Investments in Housing

The Bridge to Home program awarded $24 million in its fourth round of funding, supporting affordable housing developments. Since its inception, the program has invested $90 million into 22 projects, creating nearly 2,000 affordable apartments in neighborhoods from Rancho Bernardo to San Ysidro.

Comprehensive Planning Updates

Key community plan updates for Hillcrest and University City increased housing capacity while supporting local industries. Blueprint SD, a forward-thinking update to the General Plan, prioritized housing and job growth near transit.

Streamlining Housing Approvals

Enhancements to permitting programs, such as rapid review and self-certification, accelerated timelines for eligible projects, making it easier for residents to do projects like remodeling homes or installing solar panels.

State Recognition

State leaders praised San Diego for its leadership in streamlining housing policies, setting a gold standard for cities across California.

From building more housing to passing reforms that make housing construction easier and faster, 2024 demonstrated my commitment to tackling the housing crisis head-on.

GETTING IT DONE - FIXING OUR STREETS

Targeted Repairs Bring Safe, Smooth Roads to Tierrasanta

The City's own mill-and-pave teams performed some targeted resurfacing work on the small but heavily damaged roadway of Quito Court in Tierrasanta. This stretch of road had a PCI score as low as 8.1, but it’s now safe and smooth for the surrounding community. If you ever see City crews out in your neighborhood and you want to know more about what’s going on, the City's Project Finder Map keeps you in the know! Visit sandiego.gov/projectfinder to check out what’s going on near you.

Comic-Con Commits to Staying in San Diego Through 2027

San Diego Firefighters Deploy Innovative Solutions to Prevent Wildfire Disasters

Progress Report: Advancing Housing Solutions for a Stronger San Diego

GETTING IT DONE - FIXING OUR STREETS

Targeted Repairs Bring Safe, Smooth Roads to Tierrasanta

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