Dear Neighbor,

Guess what's on track to making a roaring comeback to the San Diego Zoo? The giant pandas could soon be making their grand return!

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance recently spilled the bamboo-flavored tea, sharing the news that San Diegans might soon be welcoming back some giant pandas from China. 

I had multiple meetings with both Chinese officials and the San Diego Zoo Alliance to help advocate for the pandas’ return. 

This big news is a true testament to the nearly 30-year partnership the San Diego Zoo and Wildlife Alliance forged with China to successfully protect these magnificent creatures.

I am so pleased that this positive relationship and our advocacy have resulted in this major announcement.

I know San Diegans look forward to welcoming the pandas back to America’s Finest City.

As always, it’s an honor to serve as your Mayor. 

Here’s Everything Storm-Impacted San Diegans Need to Know About Applying for FEMA Support  

I have to confess to getting a little emotional when I got the call that President Biden approved a FEMA designation for San Diego.

I’ve been on the ground in the impacted communities since the day the rain event occurred. I’ve had many conversations with residents and seen the devastation the storm caused. And that’s what I’ve been relaying to our Governor, to our Members of Congress, and to the Vice President as we’ve tried to secure this: Our residents need this help and assistance.

I’m extremely thankful that the Biden-Harris administration made this declaration, and to all of our partners at the local, state and federal level who helped make the case for this designation, including Governor Newsom, Senator Atkins and our local Congressional delegation. 

This really is an acknowledgement by the federal government that what we saw on Jan. 22 was a natural disaster – and that people here in San Diego deserve the kind of assistance that you see folks in the Midwest get after a tornado or in the southern coast like Florida get after a hurricane.

But, most importantly for me as your Mayor, it means more of our residents are going to get help covering the expenses involved in rebuilding and restoring their homes and property damaged by the rain and flash flooding on January 22.

These federal resources are very welcome and will greatly support our efforts to help people get back on their feet. 

What the FEMA declaration does is provide financial assistance to residents for damage not covered by insurance, including:  

• Hotel expense reimbursement for uninsured or underinsured applicants who can't return to their home due to disaster-related damage  
• Home repair/replacement assistance for disaster losses not already covered by another source  
• Rental assistance for alternative housing  
• Personal property assistance to repair or replace essential, uninsured personal property damaged by severe storms and flooding  
• Transportation Assistance for primary vehicles damaged by the disaster 

People can start applying for FEMA assistance now. Go to DisasterAssistance.gov, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or download the FEMA App for information and to start your application.

The FEMA registration deadline for San Diegans is April 19.

Read more about applying for FEMA support on Inside San Diego.  

Smart Streetlight, License Plate Recognition Technologies Solving Crimes, Advancing Investigations 

Just two months ago, I signed the Smart Streetlight and Automated License Plate Recognition program into law to help make our communities safer.

Already, these critical crime-solving tools have been used to solve and advance multiple investigations.

Over 100 cameras operational so far have aided police with more than 22 homicide, robbery, burglary, assault and stolen vehicle investigations. A dozen stolen vehicles so far have been recovered using this technology, with 11 suspects in custody from these investigations.

It's clear that Smart Streetlight and ALPR technology is already making our city safer. And with the level of transparency and accountability driving the use of these technologies that we have in place guided by our Privacy Ordinance, we’re able to also strike the right balance between San Diegans’ safety and protecting their privacy rights. 

Read more about San Diego’s Smart Streetlight and License Plate Recognition tools on Inside San Diego.  

Build. More. Housing.  

There are more than 4,000 new apartments opening across San Diego County in 2024, with nearly half being built in our city’s downtown urban core, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune. 

This is news worth celebrating. The law of supply and demand applies to housing just as much as anything else, and our region’s incredibly short supply of housing means sellers and landlords can push prices and rents higher.

The fact is that the addition of any and all housing types in San Diego ultimately helps increase overall supply and helps drop rental prices.

While this surge in downtown construction addresses the growing demand for housing in San Diego for some, the focus on high-priced luxury apartments and condos is why I’ve worked so hard to remove barriers and create incentives for developers that build affordable housing. 

This current boom in construction is a positive step forward, and a good reminder that with strategic planning and policy interventions, the City can continue to enact policies that help ensure housing remains accessible for all.

Budget Update: This Coming Budget, We Must Focus on Funding Core Services and Infrastructure

This coming fiscal year, the City is facing a significant structural budget deficit. This means our spending and revenue sources aren't harmonizing, and adjustments are necessary.

In other words: It’s time to stop kicking the can down the pothole-filled road and prioritize core services and infrastructure needs while tightening our belts at City Hall when it comes to everything else. 

We must suspend non-essential expenditures and protect basic services like infrastructure that contribute to the well-being of all San Diegans. It means making tough decisions, evaluating programs, and prioritizing initiatives that yield the most significant returns for the most amount of residents.

You know that everything costs more these days. The same is true for the City. You might be facing a structural budget deficit in your own home, too, so you understand the need to reprioritize, ensuring that limited resources are channeled into things that matter most.

This is my call to action to everyone involved in the budgeting process to work together for a balanced budget that isn't just about numbers but about building a stronger, more resilient community for us all.

Working Together to Get Roofs Over Heads at Prices We Can Afford 

I attended the Building Industry Association Installation Dinner with a simple message that we all can — and should — agree on: we have to build more housing. Together, we can put a roof over every San Diegans' head at a price they can afford. At the event, new BIA Board Officers were announced. I look forward to working with them, and all San Diegans to help create a future with more housing for everyone.  

An Exciting Opening Day for Scripps Ranch Little League 

I had a great time at the Opening Day celebration for Scripps Ranch Little League. I love how sports give our youth the chance to come together to build camaraderie and teamwork. Every swing of the bat, every catch in the field, and every cheer from the sidelines helps build their confidence and reminds each kid of the supportive community they have all around them.  

Connecting with Hillcrest Business Owners  

I was happy to connect with the Hillcrest business community to celebrate the Hillcrest Business Association's successes and learn more about the projects the HBA is working on to help boost economic activity in one neighborhood. 

Celebrating 30 years of the Challenged Athletes Foundation  

Happy 30th anniversary to the Challenged Athletes Foundation. I was thrilled to help celebrate the nonprofit’s 30 years of empowering lives through sport. The Challenged Athletes Foundation provides exciting opportunities and quality support to people with physical challenges, helping people pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics, which can increase self-esteem, encourage independence and enhance quality of life.