Onto the next step to keep beaches and bays free in San Diego!

This week, I brought forward an initiative to the City Council’s Rules Committee that would place protections directly into the City’s Municipal Code to ensure that parking at local beaches and bays shall remain free unless and until the voters decide otherwise.

The Committee voted in favor of the proposal, deciding to advance the item to a second Committee discussion for further consideration. If approved at the second reading, the item would advance to the full City Council for final approval and be placed on the ballot in November.

I’m thankful for my colleagues’ support in moving this forward. I’m also grateful for local news coverage on the item, which features San Diegans enjoying the beach and affirming their interest in keeping parking free. You can watch that clip below!

What you’re saying

“Raul – I went to your Navajo town hall. I appreciate your attitude towards the job and commitment to making life better. The potholes + streets are a big issue for most of us, I hope we can see some more $ be available for fixing those.” – Ariel

I’ve learned in my conversations with you at our Community Town Halls that you are not looking for much – you're looking for core services delivered reliably and with quality in mind. As we approach budget discussions, know that I will keep your interests in mind and I will stand firmly beside the City’s ability to stand by our most basic obligations and deliver those core services before adding new ones.

Keeping the Padres in San Diego

Some of you may have seen the Union Tribune or Sports Illustrated articles discussing my memo to Mayor Todd Gloria urging city leadership to work diligently on keeping the Padres in San Diego as the team navigates a sale.

Not only are the Padres a culturally and socially integral piece in San Diego’s history – they are an economic engine, as the Padres fan base continues to grow and pack Petco Park to the brim. As the Union Tribune article notes, the Padres have had record attendance for several years in a row, consistently ranking top 5 in the MLB.

These are numbers that I, as the Chair of our Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, cannot ignore. I also cannot ignore just how important the Padres are to so many San Diegans, myself included. If you have ever been to my office, you know I have well over 20 bobbleheads watching over my work.

With Opening Day just around the corner, I’m excited for another season of baseball at Petco Park and many seasons to come. Go Padres!

We’re lowering speed limits on 20% of city streets

The following comment was asked on a video about my e-bike regulations proposal: “Why are cars allowed to drive well over 100mph? Cars are way less safe. Work on reducing speed limits and enhancing pedestrian spaces.” – Sam

Sam, thank you for your question and insight. You’re absolutely right that reckless driving and unsafe traffic conditions are part of the equation, and it’s why I’m a firm proponent of Vision Zero. Vision Zero is the City of San Diego’s plan that is dedicated to: “Improving road safety [through] ... enhancing separation and visibility, reducing user speeds through thoughtful road design and environmental modifications, implementing systemic safety measures that account for human error and injury tolerance, and minimizing conflicts at intersections.”

This week, City Council voted unanimously to reduce speed limits on about 20% of streets, especially those in school zones, to make progress on our Vision Zero goals. Keeping cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers safe is a multifaceted effort and I’m glad the City of San Diego is taking this step.

Axios: San Diego’s rising childcare costs squeeze San Diego families and providers

As costs rise across the board, organizations and businesses are strained and passing costs along to consumers – a trend that childcare has not escaped.

Axios reports that “San Diego parents can expect to spend between $16,500 and $21,100 for one year of infant care, and about $15,000 annually for a preschooler... That's more than double the cost of undergraduate tuition at San Diego State University.”

A growing issue is that “many middle-class families don't qualify for financial support. There's a very large childcare chasm between those that can actually afford to pay for childcare and those that are income-eligible and can access subsidies.”

I’ll continue to support and explore policies that increase childcare availability and ease costs. Affordable, quality childcare is good for our economy, it’s good for our communities, and it’s good for the future of San Diego.

Sincerely,