Council District 9 News
April 26, 2024
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Hello Lydia,
There is arguably no greater responsibility for the City Council than our role in the budget process. Each year we are tasked with deciding how to allocate finite resources to a city with expansive needs; such a task is never easy. This is especially true in tough budget years and this is a very tough budget year.
Decades of irresponsible governance has meant the City has been underfunded and important work was left undone. The can was kicked, and costs piled up. Now, the City of San Diego faces a $137 million dollar deficit in the next budget year. This will require Council to make tough decisions as we are finalize the budget in June. It also presents an opportunity for a long overdue discussion focused on what kind of city we want San Diego to be.
With the hard choices ahead of us, we need to be in dialogue with residents and stakeholders about the programs and services that are most important, weigh the costs of providing them, and move forward together on attaining the necessary resources. Some needs are well-documented and are issues that constituents bring up to me every day.
Most constituents I hear from want San Diego to be a city where every resident has a safe, affordable home. They want our beaches, rivers, and canyons to be clean and enjoyable to all for generations. They want every neighborhood to have the parks, libraries, and safe streets that they deserve. Achieving all of this will require more revenue. In the meantime, we will be faced with making difficult decisions.
In this newsletter, you’ll find ways for you to become involved with and engage in the budget process; that is how you can let us know what kind of city YOU want San Diego to be and how best the City of San Diego can serve our residents. I encourage you to come to a budget forum, attend a session (or all) of the Budget Review Committee hearings, or speak with the Community Representative that supports your neighborhood. We want to hear from you.
With gratitude,

Sean
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Council District 9 Updates | |
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D9 Budget Forums
Save the Date! You are invited to join us for our annual District 9 Budget Forums. The forums are an opportunity to learn more about the budget process and hear from Council President Elo-Rivera and our Independent Budget Analyst about the FY2025 proposed budget.
The following are the dates for the upcoming forums:
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Saturday, May 11th - Budget Forum #1 (in person, Spanish)
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Thursday, May 16th - Budget Forum #2 (virtual, English with translation available if requested)
RSVP now and let us know you’re coming: sdd9.info/rsvp
For questions, please contact us at SeanEloRivera@sandiego.gov.
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Budget Review Committee Schedule
The City Council will be holding Budget Review Committee (BRC) hearings starting next week (Wednesday, May 1st).
What happens during BRC hearings? Each City department will present their respective budgets to Council and the public.
Check out the schedule for the department presentations by visiting sdd9.info/brc
Here are some of the opportunities for you to participate:
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IBA Review of the Proposed Budget Released
Today, the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) released their review of the Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget. In the report, the IBA provides an analysis of the Mayor’s Proposed Budget for the City Council and the public – reviewing expenditures and revenues, consistency with City Council and community priorities, identifying service level impacts, ensuring the application of City budget policies and best practices, and pointing out potential impacts on future years.
The IBA is crucial to keeping the City’s decision-making transparent, accountable, and accessible to the public. View the report at sdd9.info/iba
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Bike Anywhere Day
Join the District 9 Council Office, along with thousands of San Diegans, on Thursday, May 16th for Bike Anywhere Day! Bike Anywhere Day (formerly Bike to Work Day) is an opportunity to ride to work, school, the beach, or . . . anywhere.
Here’s how to participate:
- Sign up to participate in the event. Everyone who signs up will be automatically entered for the chance to win one of three e-bikes, courtesy of Velotric.
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Plan your route by using our bike map and pit stop map (coming soon).
- Bike to one of our 100 pit stops between 7 and 10 a.m. to pick up a free t-shirt.
For more information on SANDAG Bike Anywhere Day, visit SANDAG.org/BikeMonth
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Safe Streets for All Survey
Council District 9 is committed to having clean, safe, and healthy communities for all. A cornerstone of a healthy community is Safe Streets. Safe Streets promote walkable neighborhoods and increased accessibility for everyone.
Traffic safety concerns are among the most important issues our office hears about in our communities. Council President Elo-Rivera takes all traffic safety concerns seriously and advocates on behalf of all District 9 residents for safer streets.
Please take the quick survey down below to share with us what the most important aspects of street safety are for you. This will provide our office the best insight on how to approach making streets in District 9 safer for everyone.
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Community Events & Updates | |
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Jokes, Jazz & Razzmatazz - A Multimedia Art Installation
The City Heights Atelier is an ongoing experimental workshop about concepts, materials, and media. Artists from City Heights and across the county collaborate in the development of personal and collective works, both permanent and temporary.
Their latest installation explores the concept of “razzmatazz." Four comedians will perform on Saturday from 8:00PM to 9:00PM followed by a live jazz jam from 9:00 to closing at 2:00AM. The artists reception will be Saturday from 6:00 to 9:00PM. Funding by the Synergy Arts Foundation.
Participating artists include Jim Bliesner curator, James Halfacre, Dorothy Annette, Karl Gmonik, Lisha Newman, and August Schutte. Jazz performance by the Antar Martin Aggregation and attending soloists. Comedy hosted by Carlos Figueroa including Jarwan Nelson, Taliana Cwiklinski and Allyson Vastano.
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Youth Opportunity Pass Verification Event
The Youth Opportunity Pass (YOP) turns 2 in May! To continue riding for free, ALL YOUTH must get their accounts verified by June 30, 2024. On behalf of Mid-City CAN and MTS, you are invited to their PRONTO Verification Pop Up event on Tuesday, May 7 from 4-6pm at Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park in City Heights (4455 Wightman St, San Diego). Get your PRONTO Youth, Senior, Disabled and/or Medicare (SDM) discount account verified by MTS staff, to continue riding for free with YOP or with SDM discount! RSVP: www.midcitycan.org/0507
This event is FREE and open to the community with free ice cream provided! Contact Mid-City CAN Transportation Organizer, Guadalupe Rojas, at grojas@midcitycan.org for more information.
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San Diego Remarkable Teens Nominations
Everyone knows a young person who deserves special recognition for their determination, sense of purpose, and exemplary effort. Join in supporting Public Defender Paul Rodriguez as they present the sixth annual 25 Most Remarkable Teens in San Diego.
The aim of the 25 Most Remarkable Teens is to provide an opportunity for youth in San Diego to be celebrated for their positive accomplishments and to showcase the many ways in which they contribute to their homes, schools and communities. Nominations are open to youth ages 13-19 who live in San Diego County. Checkout the link below to complete your nomination by July 15, 2024: sdd9.info/teen25
The 25 Most Remarkable Teens in San Diego ceremony and presentation will be held at the San Diego Central Library on Tuesday, November 18, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
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Volunteers Needed for Balboa Park Rose Garden
The Balboa Park Rose Garden Corps is looking for volunteers, beginners or experienced to help maintain the beautiful garden at 2125 Park Blvd. The group volunteers weekly on Tuesdays or Thursday mornings for 2-3 hours removing dead blooms, pruning, weeding and more. Volunteers act as good will ambassadors to the many visitors to this world class garden. Interested? Contact bprosegardencorps@gmail.com
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Saturday, April 27th
Teralta Neighborhood Cleanup
Join GEM Coffee SD for a community clean up! Meet at GEM Coffee (4412 Euclid Ave) between 8-10am and lend a hand in beautifying our neighborhoods.
If you have questions or need more info, email mgonzalez@gemcoffeesd.com
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Sunday, April 28th
Community Cleanup at Euclid Gateway
Join the Friends of Fox Canyon and City Farmers Nursey this Sunday from 8:30-11am! Together, help tidy and tame the landscaping at the Home & Euclid intersection. They'll provide tools and take the trash, recycling and green waste. Join neighbors by coming out and lending a hand!
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