Why should our government be paying for arts and culture and for libraries?

“Why should our government be paying for arts and culture and for libraries. Who doesn't have a cell phone with access to everything today? Why do we need to have socialization run by the government? Reducing those payments is a good thing.” – Richard

I hear this sentiment in conversations with some community members. It’s not that they think we shouldn’t have arts or libraries, but when it comes down to the wire, their opinion is that other things are absolute necessities.

But arts and culture also bring millions of dollars of revenue to our city through sales tax and especially through our TOT (tourism) tax. When folks visit San Diego, they visit for a concert, play, museum, and more. Before that event, they visit a restaurant for dinner. After the event, they stay in a hotel.

That is funding the City relies on and it is an engine that creates thousands of jobs, from the artists themselves to the restaurant, hotel, and event production workers. In a broad sense, I believe arts are essential because they allow us to afford other essentials.

Libraries bring up generations of youth who use it as their third space in addition to their home and work (which reduces crime and spending on public safety), as their resource center for learning, and as a launchpad for success. Libraries create a pipeline for youth development and a place for community building for seniors.

To divest in these areas would be shortsighted and hurt our budget down the line just to patch it together now.

How then would you balance the budget?

“How then would you balance the budget? It is irresponsible to criticize the proposed cuts and, previously, the revenue measures without offering an alternative.” – Robert

I agree that criticism without solutions is unhelpful. This is why the next month is going to be a critical time for the Council to identify and agree on the adjustments that we feel more appropriately balance this budget.

I’ve said in newsletters before, one area I am looking at very closely is our supervisorial positions, which are filled by outstanding people with expertise we do not want to lose; however, the trade-off between three public-facing employees, such as librarians and maintenance workers, and a single individual with a less-public-facing role is an imbalance to be considered.

Cutting supervisorial positions alone is not going to balance our budget. As we go to review this budget department by department, I will be asking two essential questions: What is the impact on residents today? What is essential for the City’s future? We have to find the optimal balance between current needs and future investments, and we must have the guts to cut the spending that does not fit into either one of those categories.

**We should have never charged for parking in Balboa Park**

Back when paid parking at Balboa Park was proposed, I asked City staff if we did analyses on what the City stood to lose if it implemented metered parking at one of our city’s most prominent public spaces.

When their answer to me was “no,” I voiced my concern that in gaining the revenue generated by paid parking, we could lose sales tax revenue from reduced spending in the park, attendance at institutions, and trust from the public. I am disheartened to see updated data that my predictions are increasingly realized.

This week, the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership shared that “average attendance is down nearly 34% at museums and other park venues in the months since paid parking began Jan. 5, compared with the same period last year...revenue is down $5 million total across its organizations year-over-year and [the Partnership is] predicting revenue will be down $10 million for the calendar year.”

I hope we can work together to find a solution that is both mindful of revenue needs and sensitive to the experiences of stakeholders and patrons at Balboa Park.

Axios: E-bike crashes surge

Axios reported this week that recent SDPD data shows E-bike crashes surging in San Diego – an unsurprising, but absolutely concerning, fact.

“E-bike collisions across San Diego have nearly quadrupled over the past five years, police data obtained exclusively by Axios shows.”

We’ve all seen it. Kids piggybacking and flying through stop signs at 30 mph. Weaving between cars. Hospitals have shared with me that young people are coming in with significantly more traumatic injuries due to e-bikes, and it’s time to do something to keep them safe.

My e-bike policy proposal is currently moving through the processes so that it can be brought before the full Council soon. I’ll continue to update you on where it’s at.

Stamp out world hunger this weekend

This weekend, join the San Diego Food Bank in “the largest one-day food drive in the nation” in by donating your non-perishable food goods. It is easier than ever to make a difference: “Place a bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox and your letter carrier will do the rest. All donations will directly support the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, helping provide nutritious meals to neighbors facing food insecurity across San Diego County.”

As more Californians face nutrition insecurity in the wake of federal funding cuts, we have the opportunity to make a difference for our neighbors. I look forward to learning how much food is collected through this important effort.

Sincerely,