License plate readers are one of the tools that help keep San Diego one of the safest big cities in America. This technology has helped safely locate missing seniors, apprehend criminals, prevent kidnappings and recover stolen vehicles. In many of these cases, license plate reader data was the only realistic way to solve the case.
Recent news coverage has raised understandable questions about how this system works and how we protect your rights. You deserve direct answers.
Last year, a configuration error allowed law enforcement agencies within the State of California to run license plate searches against our database for a brief amount of time. That breach should never have happened. We have since shut off that feature and strengthened user access, and now conduct weekly auditing of the system to ensure compliance.
Importantly, license plate reader data is not shared with federal immigration agencies, and it cannot be used to track people seeking reproductive care. Data is only kept for 30 days, access is limited to trained users, and every search is logged and reviewed.
It’s also important to separate the City’s system — which uses fixed cameras, strict retention rules, and public oversight — from the private networks highlighted in recent reports. Those networks are not governed by City of San Diego or State of California policies, and they operate under different rules.
On Tuesday at 2 p.m., the City Council will hold its annual public review of license plate readers and other public safety technologies. As Mayor, I believe these are critical tools for our police officers to solve crimes and keep our communities safe. I encourage San Diegans who share that view to show up, speak out, and voice their support.
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your Mayor.
|
City Recommends $15 Million Investment to Build 528 New Affordable Homes Across San Diego
|
My administration looking to invest $15 million in Bridge to Home funding to help build 528 new affordable homes for San Diegans — including families, seniors, and people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This latest round of funding continues our work to build more homes and keep residents from falling into homelessness in the first place.
Bridge to Home is the City’s gap-financing program that accelerates construction by filling funding shortfalls that would otherwise delay or derail the construction of affordable housing. Since 2021, the program has supported 24 developments and helped advance more than 2,100 affordable homes citywide.
This new recommendation supports four new affordable housing communities in neighborhoods across the city. Global Village in Redwood Village would build 137 homes and deliver community amenities like a childcare center, open space, and a global market. The Joule in Grantville would provide 208 homes in a high-resource area close to schools, jobs, and transit, reflecting strong partnership between the City and the County. In Hillcrest, the Promenade Apartments would create 94 homes, including permanent supportive housing for residents experiencing homelessness. And in East Village, the Salvation Army Rady Center would add 89 homes for seniors as part of a larger campus that includes a health clinic and supportive services.
These investments not only create urgently needed homes — they provide stability for people who need it most. City staff will brief the City Council’s Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee this Wednesday at 2 p.m., with each project loan agreement to be considered by the full City Council.
|
San Diego Selected as the New Home of the Flagship Annual TED Conference
|
Big news! The City of San Diego has been chosen as the new home of the flagship TED conference beginning in 2027, bringing one of the world’s most influential gatherings of innovators, creators, and problem-solvers to our city!
The annual event will take place at the San Diego Convention Center and other local venues, positioning our region as a global stage for ideas that shape the future.
This announcement reflects what San Diegans already know: our city is a world-class destination. It is a place where groundbreaking science, creativity, and collaboration thrive. From world-class research institutions to an ever-growing innovation economy, San Diego continues to attract leaders who are driving progress across technology, medicine, climate, and the creative arts.
Securing TED’s move to San Diego was a true partnership effort. I’m grateful in particular to the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, the San Diego Convention Center, the San Diego Tourism Authority, and the Prebys Foundation for their work to bring this opportunity to our region.
Hosting TED will create new opportunities for local businesses and workers, draw global attention to our innovation ecosystem, and elevate San Diego’s voice on the world stage.
This is a milestone for our city — and another sign that San Diego’s future is bright.
|
Federal Housing Boom Act Aligns with San Diego’s Push to Build More Homes
|
Senator Adam Schiff has introduced the Housing Boom Act — federal legislation that would help communities across the country accelerate the production of affordable and workforce housing. It focuses on expanding rental assistance, increasing financing for new construction, and converting under-used buildings into homes that families can actually afford.
These strategies closely align with the work we are advancing in San Diego. Through local initiatives like Bridge to Home, Complete Communities, and our efforts to rebuild the missing middle of for-sale homes, we are tackling the housing crisis with a focus on results rather than rhetoric. The Housing Boom Act reinforces these goals by providing new tools to build more homes, stabilize neighborhoods, and keep residents in the communities they love.
The proposal also supports veterans, seniors, and people living on fixed incomes — groups who are often at the greatest risk of being priced out. By pairing local innovation with federal partnership, this legislation would help strengthen housing security for the people who make our city work.
Further, this bill is an important step to nationalizing the conversation on building more homes. The cost-of-living is an issue affecting every state, and virtually every community. It’s long past time legislation of this kind becomes the law of the land.
|
❄️ Mayor’s Mix: Winter in San Diego Edition! ❄️
|
Last week, we asked: Which mountain community in the San Diego region recorded the largest single-day snowfall on record?
Here’s how you voted:
▪️ Mt. Laguna — 30.60%
▪️ Julian — 17.91%
▪️ Palomar Mountain — 51.49%
The correct answer is actually Cuyamaca — which recorded 36 inches of snow in a single day in 1922, the highest one-day total ever measured in San Diego County. We mistakenly didn’t include Cuyamaca among the options, and we apologize for that oversight. Looks like we accidentally created a trick question.
This week’s question: Our regional beaches have appeared in countless films — and one became the backdrop for a Hollywood classic. Which shoreline was used as a key filming location in “Some Like It Hot”? 🍿🌊
▪️ Coronado Beach
▪️ Torrey Pines
▪️ Mission Beach
Answer below or send your guess to AskTheMayor@sandiego.gov — and check back next week to see if you got it right!
|
GETTING IT DONE - FIXING OUR STREETS
|
Mill and Pave Crews Complete Permanent Repairs on Saranac Street in Rolando
|
One of our City’s Mill and Pave team completed permanent repairs along Saranac Street between 70th and 72nd Streets in Rolando — a stretch that had long needed attention. These repairs were selected using the Citywide Street Condition Assessment, the Pavement Management Plan, and data on past pothole activity to guide where in-house teams can make the greatest impact. By fully resurfacing these segments, we improve street quality, extend pavement life, and reduce the need for future pothole repairs in the years ahead.
|
Saranac Street in Rolando
|
December Nights Brings Holiday Magic to Balboa Park
|
December Nights filled Balboa Park with the energy and joy that make this city special. Families, neighbors, and visitors came together for music, performances, food, and the annual tree lighting — turning the park into a true winter gathering place. I’m grateful for the City staff, partners, and sponsors whose hard work brings this tradition to life each year and creates a welcoming holiday experience for our community.
|
Marking Bishop Roy Dixon’s 90 Years of Leadership in Oak Park
|
Bishop Roy Dixon’s 90th birthday in Oak Park reflected the deep impact he has made on our city. His leadership in ministry, civic life, and economic opportunity has opened doors for families and strengthened our collective commitment to justice and inclusion. I appreciated the chance to recognize his decades of service and the example he continues to set for San Diego.
|
Community Ride and Toy Drive Supports Local Families
|
Families joined Fire Chief Robert Logan and our San Diego Fire-Rescue teams for a meaningful “Bike with the Fire Chief” event focused on safety, healthy living, and giving back. Partners across the community helped support the annual Jackie Robinson YMCA Toy Drive, ensuring more children experience joy this holiday season. I’m grateful to everyone who donated and took part in this effort.
|
Burn Institute Holiday Gathering in Mission Valley
|
The Burn Institute Holiday Party at Fire Station 45 in Mission Valley brought together survivors, families, firefighters, and volunteers for an evening centered on strength and connection. I thanked Peter Calstrom, the Burn Institute team, and Chief Logan for their decades of service supporting survivors and leading prevention programs that save lives. This gathering reflects the compassion and resilience that define our community during the holidays.
|
SAN DIEGO ON THE GLOBAL STAGE
|
Welcoming Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force
|
I was honored to recently welcome Rear Admiral Hiroshi Watanabe, Commander of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Training Squadron, and to receive a letter of friendship from the Mayor of Yokosuka thanking San Diego for hosting the Squadron during its global tour. This visit highlighted the strength of the bond between San Diego and Japan - ties rooted in shared security, innovation, and deep respect between our communities. As a proud military town, we are honored to support these vital navy-to-navy partnerships that help keep our region and the world safer.
|
Mayor for a Day Contest Now Open
|
Each year, the Mayor for a Day contest gives San Diego students the chance to share their ideas for the future of our city. It’s a program that means a lot to me personally. When I was 10 years old growing up in Clairemont, I was the runner-up in a similar contest. Thirty-two years later, I was sworn in as San Diego’s 37th Mayor. Experiences like that can spark a lifelong interest in public service, and that’s exactly what this contest aims to do.
K–12 students who live in San Diego are invited to submit an essay or video describing what San Diego would look like if they were Mayor for a day. We’re looking for creativity, leadership, and a clear vision for how to make our city better for everyone. The selected student will shadow me at City Hall and be recognized at the State of the City address in January 2026.
Applications are due by Wednesday, Dec. 10, by 11:59 p.m. For questions about submissions, students and families can reach out to Community Representative Korral Taylor at TaylorK@sandiego.gov. I look forward to hearing from the young San Diegans who want to step up and lead.
|
Help Shape the Future of Recreation Programming in San Diego
|
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department is inviting residents to help shape the future of recreation in San Diego. Community input will guide how recreation centers operate, what programs are offered, and how residents receive information about them.
Join an upcoming in-person Town Hall to share your ideas and feedback. Each event will include a presentation, Q&A session, and interactive tables for participants to provide input. Light snacks and childcare will be provided, and attendees will have a chance to win a $25 gift card.
Upcoming Town Halls
The Parks and Recreation Department is also inviting community leaders and representatives to 45-minute Zoom focus groups to share ideas, flag barriers to participation, and improve how we communicate about programs. Sessions include a brief presentation, Q&A, and an interactive survey. Registration is required.
Upcoming dates (by Council Districts):
Upcoming Virtual Focus Groups
- Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025: Council Districts 1, 2 and 5
4 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026: All Council Districts
11:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026: All Council Districts
4 p.m.
|
Civic Center Plaza Comes Alive with Plaza Central Pop-Ups
|
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.
|
Stay Informed with Inside San Diego
|
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!
|
Get the latest news from the City on Inside San Diego
|
Sign up for the “From the Mayor’s Desk” newsletter
|
|
.png)
.png)
