Council District 9 News
April 11, 2024
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Hello Lydia,
Diverse and frontline communities bear the brunt of climate change and generations of underinvestment and disinvestment have resulted in vast disparities in the resources available to different San Diego communities to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. This is true for San Diego and around the world.
With Earth Day coming up (Monday, April 22nd), we have a moral imperative to take all necessary steps to overcome the climate crisis and we cannot waste any more time. Too often, we think of the burdens associated with climate action, but there is so much for us to gain - cleaner air and water, dignified and well-paying careers, less traffic, more green space and trees, and all of this while healing the wounds of racial injustice.
With equitable climate action, we can improve communities so residents can safely get to school and work without the need for a car. We can provide park space in every neighborhood. We can ensure clean air is can be breathed by people in all neighborhoods.
In this week’s newsletter, you can learn about some of the ways you can take climate action and get involved. I hope to see you at a future community cleanup!
With gratitude,

Sean
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Let's Celebrate Earth Month | |
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April is Earth Month! It’s a time to celebrate our planet and take action to protect it. Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd and is one of the largest civic events in the world. All month long, there are opportunities to connect with nature, get outdoors, and protect the planet for future generations to come.
Thanks to the Sierra Club, here are 5 things you can do for Earth Day!
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Get Outside - Whether it’s a short walk or a challenging hike, here are our pro tips for getting outside with young kids: www.sierraclub.org/sierra/pro-tips-for-hiking-young-kids
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Protect Public Lands - Public lands provide a home for wildlife, protect against climate change, and give us a way to enjoy nature. Yet we are losing precious public lands to fossil fuel exploitation and unchecked development. The Sierra Club is fighting back against the ongoing destruction. Learn how here: www.sierraclub.org
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Connect With The Next Generation - Share your love for the planet with our children and youth through engaging activities! Here are a few to check out: Free Coloring Pages | Earth Day Activities
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Take Action to Support Clean Energy - Clean energy fights climate change and protects our communities from pollution. But these policies are under attack from the fossil fuel industry. Learn how you can get involved HERE.
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Attend a Local Earth Day Event - Celebrate Earth Day with our community! All throughout Earth Month, you’ll find events across San Diego. Join a local hike, volunteer in a neighborhood clean-up, or attend a rally. Below are a few of the events happening in the next few weeks:
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Saturday, April 13th
Earth Day in Kensington & Normal Heights
Trees KenTal is excited to announce the third annual, free, KenTal Earth Day Celebration, Saturday April 13, from 11 AM to 2 PM, at the Kensington-Normal Heights Library Park. Fun activities for all ages are planned, as well as drawings for FREE TREES and other giveaways brought by exhibitors.
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Saturday, April 20th
22nd Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup
Celebrate Earth Month by volunteering at the 22nd Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup! With nearly 100 sites across the region, Creek to Bay is San Diego’s largest environmental cleanup effort during Earth Month.
Find a location to volunteer and register at CleanSD.org/CreekToBay
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Saturday, April 20th
Corridor Neighborhood Cleanup
Join the Corridor Neighborhood Association for a community cleanup in the Corridor neighborhood. The group will be meeting at Teralta Park (Polk Avenue & 40th Street) and then venturing into the neighborhood. Following the cleanup, the Corridor Neighborhood Association will be hosting their monthly neighbor mixer!
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Saturday, April 20th
Mt. Hope Earth Day Celebration
Project New Village has a great day planned for the community! This year, they’re partnering with Tree San Diego and giving away 100 fruit and shade trees. The celebration will also feature informative workshops, community gardening activities, food and music, and cultural sharing that will highlight the importance of stewardship and our environment.
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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
College Area Neighborhood Cleanup
On the last Sunday of each month, the College Area Community Council is asking neighbors to take a Sunday walk and pick up trash for a block or two near your home. Take a selfie with your trash bounty and email it to collegeareacc@gmail.com to be entered into a monthly drawing for a gift card from a College Area business!
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In the fight for climate resiliency, we especially want to emphasize the importance of including youth voices in environmental advocacy. Despite having the most at stake, youth have been historically left out of of the conversation. This is another reminder that youth are our future AND our present. | | |
 
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Cardinals Interact Program
A BIG thank you to all the students in the Cardinals Interact program who spent one of their Saturdays learning about canyon conservation, hosting a canyon cleanup, and planting native plants in Cooper Canyon! Their leadership in stewarding these efforts is truly inspiring.

We also want to thank the Cardinals staff members for helping support the youth throughout the day, Ocean Discovery Institute for the hands on learning, and community members like Linda Pennington and Jody Carey for volunteering your time and energy to caring for our canyons.
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USD Upward Bound & Avenues for Success Program
We also want to give a shoutout to the students and youth at the University of San Diego’s Upward Bound Program and Avenues for Success Program for their continued partnership with GEM Coffee and the Tranqui Foundation on monthly cleanups in the Talmadge and Teralta neighborhoods. Together, they pick up over hundreds of pounds of trash from our communities as well as submit GetItDone reports.
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Youth vs Oil
Youth vs Oil (YvO) is a group of passionate high school students dedicated to stopping the issuance of new oil and gas permits. YvO started in the summer of 2020 and have been taking action in our community since. YvO puts climate justice work at the core of their campaign in order to stand in solidarity with the frontline communities most impacted by oil drilling. By educating San Diegans’ about oil extraction, they hope to create an intergenerational movement against the fossil fuel industry to mitigate the climate crisis.
Learn more about Youth vs Oil at youth4climate350.org
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Council District 9 Updates | |
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Budget Update
Since we are a few months into 2024, we wanted to provide you with an update on what's ahead in the development of the City of San Diego's Fiscal Year 2025 budget.
- The Mayor is scheduled to release the FY25 Proposed Budget tomorrow, (Friday, April 12th)
- The Budget Review Committee Hearings, where City departments provide an overview of their respective budgets, are scheduled for May 1-7, 2024.
- The first public input budget hearing will happen on Wednesday, May 1st at 6pm.
- The second public input hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8th at 6pm.
- The Revised Budget is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, May 14th.
View the previously submitted District 9 budget memos, as well as additional budget resources, by visiting sdd9.info/budget
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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)
More event details to come so please stay tuned! In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact us at SeanEloRivera@sandiego.gov.
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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 topmost issues that our office has heard from our communities. Council President Elo-Rivera takes all traffic safety concerns seriously and advocates on behalf of all of District 9 residents for safer streets.
Please take the quick survey down below to share with us what you believe are 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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Rolando Street Fair
Stop by the 26th Annual Rolando Street Fair this Sunday (April 14) from 10AM – 6PM on Rolando Boulevard! There are exciting things lined up like a FREE all day concert, kids zone, beer garden, local vendors, and more.
For more information on the street fair, checkout rolandocc.org/rolando-street-fair
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Fire-Rescue Chief Survey
The City of San Diego seeks an outstanding and forward-looking leader to step into the role of Fire-Rescue Chief. We are in search of a dynamic, collaborative, and seasoned individual capable of engaging with our diverse community. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in resource management and implementing innovative business solutions.
San Diegans are invited to participate in an online survey will be available for community members to provide input and share their priorities for the next Fire-Rescue Chief. Final interviews with top candidates will be held in May 2024.
Take the survey at sdd9.info/firechief
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National Conflict Resolution Training
Checkout this FREE training opportunity provided by the National Conflict Resolution Center! The training focuses on how landlords and property managers can have better interactions with tenants, and what you need to know about renting to refugee tenants. Visit their website to enroll in a free workshop and earn your Inclusive Housing Provider badge!
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