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Dear Neighbor,
On Thursday, I announced a historic opportunity to get more than 1,000 people off the streets and connected with the services needed to end their homelessness. My plan will convert a 65,000-square foot former printing facility in an industrial neighborhood on Kettner Boulevard into the City's largest full-service shelter.
Like all City shelters, it would provide on-site security, meals, housing navigation and case management services. Improvements will include adding showers and additional restrooms, a commercial kitchen, laundry facilities and dining and recreation areas.
This plan would fulfill the promise I made in my State of the City address in January to add 1,000 new beds to the City’s shelter system this year. It also fulfills the request by members of the City Council to expand shelter options when they passed the Unsafe Camping Ordinance last summer, banning camping on all public property when shelter beds are available.
The building improvements and shelter operations will be funded through a combination of local, state and federal funds, along with significant contributions from generous local donors
Homelessness is our city’s biggest challenge. San Diegans from across our city have told me they want and appreciate aggressive actions like this to tackle homelessness, and we’re leaving no stone unturned to deliver solutions.
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your Mayor.
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Opening Doors: Nestor Senior Village Provides New Homes and Hope for Seniors
Building more affordable housing is central to confronting our city’s most daunting challenges — and that’s especially true for addressing homelessness.
That’s why I was thrilled to join the City of San Diego’s Housing Commission and National CORE to celebrate the grand opening of 73 new homes in Nestor for seniors who were previously homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Rents for the Nestor Senior Village apartments are restricted to a level that’s affordable to extremely low-income seniors.
The City of San Diego was a partner on the project, providing vouchers and a $3.3 million loan from our Housing Commission and $1.2 million in development impact fee relief. The apartments will remain affordable for 55 years for seniors with income up to 30 percent of San Diego’s area median income, which is currently $28,950 per year for a one-person household.
All 73 apartments are already leased, with residents identified through the Regional Task Force on Homelessness’ system that screens people experiencing homelessness for the most appropriate housing options based on those most in need.
One of the residents, Teretha, spoke at the celebration about her journey to becoming a resident, ending a two-year period of living in her car.
“I have my own space again where I can cook for myself, where I can take a shower with warm running water, where I can have a bed that I can sleep comfortably on — a place where I feel safe. Things can only go up from here,” Teretha said.
Nestor Senior Village is on land leased by Nestor United Methodist Church, fulfilling one of my goals of putting to work underused land at churches, commercial properties and public properties across San Diego.
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Employ + Empower Program Recruiting Service-Minded Students for Paid Internships at the City
California’s Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday was in town last week to promote recruitment under way in San Diego for opportunities with the California Service Corps.
The program is a unique opportunity for young Californians to gain meaningful work experience while making a positive impact in their communities and earning a paycheck.
The City of San Diego has deployed $18 million in grant funding through the California Service Corps to create our Employ + Empower program, which has so far provided paid internship opportunities to more than 800 young people across 40 different City departments and teams.
The great news is that nearly 20% of those students have already been promoted to permanent employment at the City.
I’m grateful to the state for investing in our communities and providing thousands of service opportunities to help bring about positive change across California.
Local students can learn about and apply for these paid service opportunities here.
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Regional Realtor Associations Offering Assistance to San Diegans Whose Homes Were Damaged in January Storms
The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors and the San Diego Association of Realtors, have jointly received a $1.16 million grant from the Realtors Relief Foundation to deploy to assist with home repairs and housing assistance.
The two realtor associations are offering grants of up to $2,900 to homeowners who were displaced after flooding damaged their homes in Southeastern San Diego, Lemon Grove, National City and Spring Valley.
The grants, which are funded by donations by realtors across the nation, add to help available to homeowners through the City, County, FEMA and other government resources.
Flood victims can find more information about the application process here.
Reminder for flood victims: The deadline for San Diegans affected by the January storms to apply for FEMA assistance is April 19. You can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA's phone helpline at 800-621-3362 daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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GETTING IT DONE: FIXING OUR STREETS | |
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Freshly Paved Streets from Carmel Valley to Kearny Mesa
A break from the rain has allowed road-repair projects around the City to move forward, like these newly smooth streets in Carmel Mountain Ranch and Kearny Mesa. There’s more on the way as we continue to make record investments to give some love to our long-neglected roads.
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Raising the Transgender Pride Flag
I had the honor of commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Transgender Day of Empowerment alongside Project TRANS and the San Diego LGBT Community Center by raising the Transgender Pride Flag in Hillcrest. This meaningful event is a reminder that San Diego is a city that proudly stands with and supports our transgender community. It's a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and respect for all of us.
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Celebrating Filipino Traditions and Community Spirit
I was delighted to join the Los Chabacanos organization in celebrating their annual Easter celebration. Representing our city's vibrant Filipino community, the event was a heartwarming celebration of culture, family, and tradition, complete with a potluck of Filipino delicacies, Easter basket distribution, and an egg hunt for the kids.
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Pedaling Towards a Cancer-Free Future
At the Padres Pedal the Cause event, I was honored to stand alongside the Padres and Curebound to celebrate their incredible efforts to fund cancer research. Cancer touches us all, and in San Diego, our thriving life-sciences industry plays a pivotal role in the quest for cures. The annual Padres Pedal the Cause event is a great way to remember those we've lost from the disease while also looking towards a future free from cancer.
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Honoring Future Leaders
I was honored to support the extraordinary young men honored this year by The Links Incorporated San Diego Chapter. This event, a testament to leadership and success, showcases Black male seniors who exemplify excellence in their academic and community endeavors. Their journey underscores the vital work The Links do to help empower our youth.
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City Reveals Preferred Design Concept for Potential Ocean Beach Pier Replacement
Following more than a year of community engagement and public input, the City of San Diego revealed the preferred design concept for a potential Ocean Beach Pier replacement.
The concept captures the features that San Diegans expressed they would like to see in a new pier.
Learn more about the design on Inside San Diego.
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Traffic Advisory: Sewer Main Project Impacting Travel Along Harbor Drive
The City of San Diego is advising visitors about traffic impacts in Downtown and Barrio Logan as work on an underground sewer project along Harbor Drive prepares to move to a new phase. Anyone heading to the Embarcadero or harbor areas, including Petco Park, the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park and the Convention Center, is encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra time, find alternate routes or use public transportation.
Currently, traffic in both directions on Harbor Drive from Park Boulevard to Beardsley Street is reduced to one lane and the southside sidewalk is closed. When Phase 4 begins, all southbound vehicle and bicycle lanes will be closed to allow for tunneling operations. All traffic will be moved to the two northbound lanes, with one lane of shared vehicle and bicycle traffic in each direction.
Access for area businesses and residents will be maintained, but traffic delays are expected. Commuters are advised to use alternate routes around the construction area or use public transportation. The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has several options that are just a short walk from the impacted area, including the 12th & Imperial Trolley Station with access to all three trolley lines and the Green Line Trolley’s Gaslamp Quarter Station, as well as several bus routes. For more information on MTS services, visit the MTS trip planner.
To ensure everyone’s safety, drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians should follow all posted signage and detours. Traffic control officers will help direct the flow of traffic during events in the area. Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times. For more information, visit the project webpage.
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City's New Neighborhood Crime Dashboard
The City has launched a new Neighborhood Crime Dashboard.
This tool is intended to inform the general public regarding the makeup and general location of reported crimes across the City of San Diego.
Check it out here, or watch a video on how to use it here.
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Emerging Business Leaders Training Program
T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined is an executive-level training series designed to develop strong leaders and accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses across the United States.
Since its inception as E-200 in 2008, the series has trained more than 8,000 small business owners, creating over 11,000 jobs, generating nearly $1 billion in new financing, and securing over $4 billion in government contracts.
The program runs June 18 through December 10, 2024. Join a brief informational webinar on the T.H.R.I.V.E. program. Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 2 PM. Click here to register for the webinar.
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2024 Arbor Day Event: Volunteers Needed
The City of San Diego is on a mission to plant 100 trees, and we need YOUR help to make it happen! Sign up to volunteer for our Arbor Day event here. Together, we'll beautify our community and create a healthier environment for generations to come.
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Annual High School Registration Challenge
The City launched the Shirley N. Weber Voter Registration Challenge for high schoolers!
This month-long challenge aims to encourage students to register to vote and eligible students ages 16 and 17 to pre-register.
Get the details on Inside San Diego.
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FEMA Assistance for Storm-Impacted San Diegans
Homeowners and renters in San Diego County who had damage or losses caused by the Jan. 21-23, 2024, severe storm and flooding may apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The deadline to apply is April 19, 2024.
There Are Several Ways to Apply:
Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov
Use the FEMA mobile app.
Call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. PT daily.
Visit a Disaster Recovery Center: Get help applying for federal assistance and loans.
Mountain View Community Center
641 South Boundary Street
San Diego, CA 92113
Spring Valley Library
836 Kempton Street
Spring Valley, CA 91977
Both centers operate from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, daily unless otherwise noted.
For the latest FEMA information on the Jan. 21-23, 2024, San Diego County severe storms and flooding, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4758.
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Replace Your Commercial Diesel Equipment and Upgrade to Electric
The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District is currently offering grants and incentives for the following:
• School Buses Off-Road Construction and Cargo Handling Equipment
• Agricultural Equipment
• Commercial Harbor Craft
• Locomotives Fueling or Energy Infrastructure to power covered sources
• On-Road Trucks (very limited eligibility, contact the District for details)
Call (858) 586-2600, email cleanairgrants@sdapcd.org or go to sdapcd.org/grants for details.
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San Diego Urges Residents to Report Illegal Trash Dumping into Storm Drains and Channels
If you see someone dumping trash into a storm drain or flood channel, the City of San Diego wants you to report it! The City is calling on residents to help track down illegal dumping violations, and to report trash in or near creeks and other stormwater infrastructure like storm drains and channels.
Illegal dumping is dangerous to the environment, contaminating soil and water. It also risks clogging critical stormwater infrastructure which can increase the risk of localized flooding. Stormwater runoff enters storm drains untreated, and that runoff collects pollutants and carries them into local waterways and beaches, which can harm wildlife and negatively affect the health of a community. Violators can face fines of $1,000 for disposing trash and other materials into the stormwater system.
Following the storm that hit the San Diego region on Jan. 22 and caused flooding in several southeast and southern neighborhoods, crews cleared tons of storm debris and trash from more than 14 miles of storm channels under the emergency order. The emergency declaration allowed the City to complete the channel clearing work expeditiously while complying with streamlined regulatory processes under emergency federal permits.
The City’s massive stormwater system requires regular, proactive maintenance – such as clearing trash and debris, and inspecting and cleaning pipes – to keep runoff flowing properly and to ensure public safety.
Cases of illegal dumping can be reported on the City’s Get It Done app, by calling 619-235-1000 or emailing swppp@sandiego.gov.
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City Aquatics Division Hiring Seasonal Pool Guards
Summer will arrive in San Diego before we know it and the City of San Diego’s 15 swimming pool facilities will need to be staffed up for the influx of seasonal visitors. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department is currently hiring seasonal and year-round benefited pool guards and is conducting a series of hiring events to assist interested candidates through the application process.
To encourage more applicants for Pool Guard positions, candidates who meet the age requirements for the Pool Guard I position can be certified after applying. Successful candidates will be offered training and required certifications once hired. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age.
The City also offers preparation opportunities for individuals who want to learn to swim and prepare for a job in aquatics. Anyone 16 years old and older interested in becoming a Pool Guard but still needs to meet the required skills is invited to practice and prepare at any City pool during recreational swim hours at no cost. Visit the City’s Pool Guard Prep webpage for locations and hours
The City of San Diego offers the potential for career growth and advancement, with opportunities to promote to positions throughout Parks and Recreation and other various departments.
Aquatic Pool Guard and Swimming Pool Manager positions are open on a continuous application period.
Additional hiring fairs will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 23, and Saturday, April 27. Those interested in an aquatics position must apply online in advance to receive an invitation.
More information about a career in aquatics with the City of San Diego can be found here.
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Office of the Mayor
202 C St., 11th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
619-236-6330
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