This is a particularly packed round-up this week – please forward it to a friend or family to get the important messages out (and there’s a survey at the bottom you’ll only need 30 seconds to fill out). 

 

Of course, it remains your go-to source for the latest news, updates, and insights from our community and City Hall.     

Yesterday, I brought forward my 5/5/5 proposal forward to cut in half the $10 per hour price during Padres games and concerts. It would also shrink the zone and timeframe you’d have to pay.   

 

My fellow committee members expressed they also thought $10 per hour was too high and the zone was too big. They voted in favor of working on this policy further to find the right balance. They weren’t ready to endorse my 5/5/5 plan as proposed, but I am thankful they agree that changes do need to be made.  

 

We’ve heard from workers, small business owners, and residents across San Diego that the current special event parking rates downtown are not working. I'll continue to work on common- sense reductions across the board that will ensure people continue to patron businesses and visit our vibrant downtown. 

 

As a part of my research, I walked the length of the current special events parking zone firsthand, which you can check out below. 

Celebrations a plenty in Serra Mesa this week! 

 

We kicked off the week with a groundbreaking of housing for homeless veterans, a critical development that prioritizes our most vulnerable neighbors. No one, especially those who have sacrificed to serve our country, should ever have to worry about having a safe place to call home.  

This morning, we celebrated the ribbon cutting of Ruffin Canyon Trail, a project the community has eagerly waited for! Thank you to the Parks and Recreation staff and community members, especially Kevin Johnston, for getting this project over the line.  

 

This project did not happen by chance. It was through years of persistence, advocacy, and partnership. I am thrilled to see this complete. 

This week, the City Council celebrated Dispatcher Week to recognize the everyday bravery and compassion of our police and fire dispatchers.  

 

At peoples’ worst moments – the moments they pray their guardian angel shows up – a dispatcher’s voice comes through the line. These are the people who bring calm, clarity, and direction when it matters most. It is a demanding and high-stakes job that too often goes unseen. 

 

We gave a special shoutout to someone from our own office who recently stepped into the role of Public Safety Dispatcher: Izzy Rojas. Izzy served as an intern in my office from September 2022 to September 2023 and grew professionally since then at the County of San Diego and the private sector. She returned to the City of San Diego to continue her public service as a Public Safety Dispatcher, and I have no doubt that she is built to excel in this role.  

 

Thank you, Izzy, and all of the dispatchers we are so lucky to have, for the vital work you do every day to keep our community safe.   

“There are simple pleasures in life, and one of them is coming to our beach, which we are so well known for... they already started charging at Balboa Park, which is something I used to do with my group of friends.” 

 

“I have a growing family and going out to these public beaches and parks, especially where there is no parking fee right now, lets us feel more free to come out and have a good time.” 

 

“I come down to the beach six days a week...I coach youth sports and one of the main reasons I come here is because I do things for free, out of the kindness of my heart, and I know money is a big factor for a lot of families. I don’t want to see people priced out... [if I had to pay for parking] I’d have to start adding up how much I could afford to do this. We’d consider moving, moving out of state.” 

One of my guiding philosophies as an elected representative is that, while I was elected to serve for a four-year term, it doesn’t mean that public opinion is stagnant during those four years. How you felt in 2024 is almost certainly different than how you feel now. So, I’d like to check in with you to keep up with the issues that are most important to you. 

 

If you have a neighbor, friend, or family member in the City that might be interested in sharing their thoughts, you are always welcome to forward this to them. My team and I are receptive to everyone's’ ideas and concerns.