We recently wrapped a series of Executive Budget Review meetings, where every City department presented its proposed reductions, tactical equity plans, and fiscal outlook. These conversations mark the official start of the City's annual budget process.
The numbers are clear. We are facing a projected deficit for next year of about $110 million. Now City leadership will get to work closing that gap and delivering the core services San Diegans rely on every day. That means staying focused on the fundamentals: fixing the damn roads and other infrastructure, keeping San Diegans safe, and building more housing, much faster to help lower the cost of living.
Your input is a vital part of this process. My office is launching a digital survey so you can share your priorities and feedback. That survey will be one way to engage, but there are other ways to participate in the budget process:
The City Charter also requires public hearings before the Council votes to modify or adopt the budget. Those hearings are specifically designed for public input.
Please mark these key budget dates to stay engaged:
February – Department directors present proposed department budget requests and reductions to the Mayor and the City’s Executive Management Team.
February to March – Department of Finance updates revenue projections based on the most current economic conditions and incorporates budget decisions to develop a balanced draft budget.
April 15 – The Mayor releases his draft budget based off current revenue projections, expenditures, City Council and public priorities. He will present it to the City Council on April 20.
May – Series of public budget hearings held May 4-8 to obtain San Diego residents’ input on spending priorities. Revised version of the budget is released May 13.
June – Final changes to the revised budget are implemented based on City Council modifications. The City Council adopts the final budget.
July 1 – New fiscal year begins.
The budget process will be challenging. Tough decisions are ahead, and some services and programs may not continue at their current levels. Our focus is on responsibly prioritizing the fundamentals and maintaining the essential services residents depend on.
If we stay focused, engaged, and honest about the challenges ahead, we can navigate this moment together and continue building a city that works for all of us.
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your Mayor.
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Parking Meter Revenue Helps Deliver 3,500 Neighborhood Repairs in Just Three Months
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When the City Council reallocated $1.8 million in parking meter revenue to our Transportation Department, we put those dollars to work immediately. In just three months, City crews completed more than 3,500 neighborhood repairs in Downtown, Mid-City, Pacific Beach, and Uptown with the help of these funds. To date, about a third of those funds has been used, primarily for overtime staffing so crews could accelerate streetlight and pothole repairs.
That includes more than 1,200 streetlights repaired and nearly 2,300 potholes patched, along with sidewalk repairs already underway in Downtown and Uptown. For years, available funds in the community parking district program went unspent while infrastructure needs grew. By redirecting these resources to our in-house crews, we are delivering faster, more visible results in the neighborhoods where the revenue was generated.
This is about making smart investments that deliver real results for San Diegans. We’re focused on the fundamentals, including fixing the damn roads and maintaining the infrastructure people rely on every day.
In a tough fiscal environment, prioritizing core services like streetlights and sidewalks, with a dedicated source of funding like parking district dollars, ensures we are protecting what matters most to residents while staying disciplined with every dollar.
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SANDAG Awards $6.9 Million for Transportation, Planning, and Climate Projects Across San Diego
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The City has secured $6.9 million from the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) through the TransNet Smart Growth Incentive Program to advance five projects that improve mobility, support new homes and jobs, and protect neighborhood quality of life across our city. From Rancho Bernardo to the South Bay, this regional investment helps us keep critical work moving forward. At a time when we are facing a projected deficit and making difficult choices, outside funding like this allows us to advance priority projects without placing additional strain on the General Fund.
More than $3.5 million will support the Chollas Creek to Bayshore Bikeway, connecting Southeastern San Diego and Barrio Logan to San Diego Bay with Complete Streets improvements along Main Street, including a separated bikeway, traffic calming, and accessibility upgrades. City Planning will use $3.4 million to update key plans, including the Balboa Park Master Plan, the Otay Mesa–Nestor Community Plan, the Rancho Bernardo Community Plan, and our Climate Action Plan.
These investments help us build more homes near jobs and transit, improve how people move around our neighborhoods, and align our climate goals with the latest data and state targets.
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Slurry Seal Advances Road Repairs Across San Diego Neighborhoods
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Road repair work is continuing across San Diego through slurry seal projects in Downtown, North Park, Bankers Hill, Southcrest, City Heights, and Rolando Village. This cost-effective pavement treatment helps extend the life of streets that are still in good condition, slowing deterioration and reducing the need for more expensive reconstruction later.
Last fiscal year alone, City crews applied slurry seal to more than 380 miles of roadway.
We all know our roads need a lot of work, which is why we’re using every tool available, including preventive treatments like slurry seal, to fix the damn roads in a smart and responsible way while stretching taxpayer dollars as far as we can.
Please continue reporting potholes and other issues through Get It Done so our crews can respond quickly. Especially during the rainy season when potholes can quickly pop up, your reports will help our teams know exactly where to send our pothole teams. And as we move through the budget process for next year, road repair and infrastructure funding will be important in the tough decisions ahead. Safe, well-maintained streets are a core service San Diegans depend on every day.
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Mayor’s Mix: Presidents’ Day Edition
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In last week’s trivia feature, we asked: Which famous San Diego coastal landmark was originally developed as a private romantic estate in 1915, featuring Japanese-style footbridges and “temples” carved into the cliffs for the developer’s wife?
✅ Sunset Cliffs — 43.55% (54)
▪️ La Jolla Cove — 36.29% (45)
▪️ Torrey Pines — 20.16% (25)
The correct answer is Sunset Cliffs. In 1915, developer Albert Spalding began creating a dramatic seaside estate for his wife along the Point Loma coastline, complete with ornamental bridges and cliffside features. While the original structures did not survive, the breathtaking bluffs remain one of San Diego’s most iconic and cherished coastal landscapes.
This week’s Presidents’ Day-related question: Which U.S. President visited San Diego in 1970 and delivered remarks at what is now known as Naval Base Coronado?
▪️ Richard Nixon
▪️ Lyndon B. Johnson
▪️ Gerald Ford
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GETTING IT DONE - FIXING OUR STREETS
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Market Street Resurfaced Downtown
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We resurfaced Market Street in Downtown with slurry seal ahead of last week’s rain as part of our ongoing effort to fix the damn roads across San Diego. Crews are completing similar maintenance work in North Park, Bankers Hill, Southcrest, City Heights, and Rolando Village to preserve streets and prevent more expensive repairs later.
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Lunar New Year Festival Brings Culture and Community Together in City Heights
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The 2026 San Diego Lunar New Year Festival filled the City Heights Performance Annex with music, tradition, and community pride. Hosted by the Little Saigon Foundation, the three-day Tet celebration honored Vietnamese culture and this year’s theme, “Be Kind.” I joined the opening ceremony and recognized Luan Nguyen and Si Lam for their leadership and service strengthening civic engagement across generations in our Vietnamese American community.
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New Sharp Rees-Stealy Facility in Kearny Mesa
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Sharp HealthCare opened a new integrated facility in Kearny Mesa, bringing multiple campuses together under one roof. The site improves coordination of care and will serve as a central hub for occupational medicine, supporting an estimated 8,000 patients each year. Investments like this strengthen both community health and our regional economy.
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Commercial Real Estate Leaders Discuss Housing and Growth
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At NAIOP San Diego’s Annual Breakfast in Downtown, commercial real estate leaders gathered to talk about housing, public safety, and the fiscal challenges ahead. Cutting permit delays and advancing community plan updates are key to building more homes and supporting responsible economic growth in every neighborhood.
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Defense Innovation in Focus at WEST 2026
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At the San Diego Military Advisory Council breakfast during WEST 2026, regional leaders discussed the future of defense and innovation. Defense supports nearly a quarter of our regional economy, powered by service members, families, and civilian professionals. We are focused on infrastructure, workforce development, and strong partnerships to keep San Diego the nation’s premier defense innovation hub.
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SAN DIEGO ON THE GLOBAL STAGE
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Strengthening San Diego’s Partnership with Canada
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I welcomed Canadian Consul General Sylvie Bédard to San Diego and discussed the strong ties that connect our communities through tourism, education, innovation, and defense. As a proud military town and a global leader in clean energy and life sciences, we’re continuing to build partnerships that create jobs and expand opportunity for San Diegans. With the Canadian Olympic Team set to train in our region for the 2028 Games, we’re honored to host our friends from the north and to show the world that San Diego is open for business and collaboration.
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SERVING SAN DIEGO: BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
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The City of San Diego Wants You to Serve
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I have appointed Dr. Joann Chen to serve on the City’s Privacy Advisory Board. Dr. Chen is an assistant professor of computer science at San Diego State University whose research focuses on differential privacy, privacy-enhancing technologies, and privacy in machine learning. Her work bridges theory and real-world applications, helping organizations better understand and manage privacy risks. Dr. Chen brings expertise in data protection, network data systems, and responsible technology deployment. She will serve a two-year term through March 15, 2027, in the Equity Focused Organization Seat.
San Diegans are encouraged to apply for open seats on City boards and commissions. These roles offer a direct way to give back, share your perspective, and help shape decisions that impact our neighborhoods and our future. A wide range of opportunities is available across City departments. Learn more and apply at onboard.sandiego.gov.
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Join the Conversation on Accessing City Council Information
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The Office of the City Clerk is hosting community listening sessions to hear directly from residents about how they access City Council agendas, notices, and public information. These sessions are an opportunity to share what works, what can be improved, and how the City can make it easier for people to participate in local government. Community members are encouraged to attend in person or virtually and complete the public engagement survey to help shape future improvements.
Upcoming Community Listening Sessions:
Thursday, February 19, 2026, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Tierrasanta Recreation Center
11220 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92124
Attendees are also encouraged to complete the Public Engagement Survey to share their experiences and ideas for improving public access.
Survey links:
Residents are encouraged to attend in person or participate virtually through Zoom at www.sandiego.gov/listening or by telephone at 1-669-254-5252 Meeting ID: 160-023-4308.
To contact the Office of the City Clerk about this event—or if you are requesting a translator for the in-person session—please email cityclerk@sandiego.gov or call 619-533-4000.
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Online Portal for Balboa Park Parking
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Modifications expanding free parking for verified residents in Level 2 and Level 3 lots are anticipated to take effect March 2, and updates to the portal are still being implemented. In the meantime, parking passes for Balboa Park are available through an online portal, allowing visitors and residents to manage parking options in one place.
Parking revenues will be reinvested directly into park operations and maintenance, helping preserve this treasured public space for generations to come.
Learn how to get started:
• Learn How to Pay for Parking at a Meter Kiosk
• Learn How to Use the Online Portal, including step-by-step instructions to verify residency and purchase parking passes
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Civic Center Plaza Comes Alive with Plaza Central Pop-Ups
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Downtown’s Civic Center Plaza is getting a vibrant refresh with Plaza Central — a new series of pop-up events bringing food, music, and art to the heart of the city. The activations are free and open to the public every Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering a lively preview of the area’s long-term revitalization.
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Stay Informed with Inside San Diego
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Stay up-to-date with the latest news and information about our city through Inside San Diego, our new hub for all things San Diego.
From community updates to important City announcements, Inside San Diego is your go-to source for staying engaged and informed as a resident.
Don’t miss out on critical alerts and updates—sign up today to receive notifications via email or text message.
It’s a simple way to stay connected with everything happening in our great city. Subscribe now!
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Get the latest news from the City on Inside San Diego
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Sign up for the “From the Mayor’s Desk” newsletter
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