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A Message from Stephen

Dear Neighbor,

The recent devastation caused by the brush fires in Los Angeles County and throughout our region serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of fire preparedness.

As a member of the Council's Public Safety Committee, I remain committed to ensuring our district is ready for fire-related emergencies and that our San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) has the tools, personnel, and resources needed to prevent and respond to wildfires. To address this, I have called on the City to immediately hire critically needed SDFD personnel, particularly those focused on brush management and other fire prevention efforts. These proactive measures are essential to keeping our communities as safe as possible.

As a part of this commitment to increase fire safety awareness, I am pleased to invite you to a Fire Safety Town Hall on Thursday, February 13, at 6:00 PM at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom (2150 Pan American Rd W, San Diego, CA 92101). Representatives from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and I will both be in attendance to discuss fire safety related topics.

Please RSVP here.

For additional resources and tips on preparing for wildfire season, I encourage you to visit the District 3 Fire Preparedness Information section on my website.

Together, we can ensure our neighborhoods are ready and resilient.

Yours in service,

Stephen

2025 We All Count Point in Time Count

The District 3 Team and I participated in the 2025 Point-in-Time Count, helping our region gather valuable data to be able to secure important funding and resources where they’re needed most to address homelessness across San Diego County.

Thank you to Regional Task Force on Homelessness, volunteers, and city staff for your dedication to this regional crisis.

It was great to see so many residents at community events in January. I appreciated our conversations about how we can keep improving our neighborhoods. Below are highlights of some of those January events.

NECA Board of Directors Gala

A big thank you to San Diego NECA for being a vital partner in shaping our community through innovative and sustainable projects in the electrical industry.

I appreciate the leadership of Board President Earley and the Board of Directors—their continued partnership makes a real difference in our communities.

District 3 Community Team with Councilmember Whitburn

Swearing-in Ceremony for new Port of San Diego Chair

Congratulations to Danielle Moore on her appointment as Chair of the Port of San Diego for 2025!

Thank you to outgoing Chair Frank Urtasun for his dedication and leadership throughout 2024.

Press Conference with Local Human Rights Organizations

I was proud to stand alongside civic and community leaders to reaffirm our commitment to protecting our most vulnerable residents.

I am grateful for the Center's partnership in defending the rights of San Diegans across our region.

Councilmember Stephen Whitburn at South Park Dayside Walk

Officer David Sirwilo Day

Congratulations to Officer David Surwilo on his retirement from the San Diego Police Department!

Officer Surwilo has been a dedicated community relations officer in District 3, and we are grateful for his tireless work to enhance public safety in District 3 and throughout our city.

My team and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Saint Augustine Students Visit City Hall

It was great to welcome Saint Augustine High School students to Council Chambers!

I enjoyed sharing insights on our work at City Hall and discussing the importance of local government.

Thank you to the students and teachers for your engagement in our community.

Tour of Father Joe’s Villages Sober Living and Detox Facility

I was pleased to join Deacon Jim Vargas, CEO of Father Joe's Villages and Councilmember Raul Campillo for a tour of the Father Joe’s Villages Sober Living and Detox Facility.

Thank you to Father Joe's Villages and Councilmember Campillo for their partnership to address our region's shortage of behavioral health beds that provide crucial benefits for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Other Highlights

Mayor Gloria signing the FY25 Budget with city leaders at his side

Launch of Route 910

In my role as Chair of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, I am proud that on Sunday, January 26, MTS launched Route 910, an overnight bus service, a first in agency history, that runs between downtown San Diego and San Ysidro.

Lunar New Year Celebration

Happy Lunar New Year!

Thank you to the Lucky Lion Dancers for their beautiful traditional Lunar New Year performance and to the community leaders and organizations who shared the importance of this special celebration.

Litte Italy in District 3.

Upcoming Events in District 3

Our District is the perfect place for entertainment, dining, and sightseeing! Check out all of the upcoming events and get to know all that District 3 has to offer:

District 3 Fire Safety Town Hall with the San Diego Fire Rescue Department - Thursday, February 13, 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm. Balboa Park Ballroom, 2150 Pan American Rd W, San Diego, CA 92101.

In the News

Throughout the month of January, I had the opportunity to appear on local news outlets to speak on important topics such as The City of San Diego's Fire Safety Preparedness and the 2025 Point in Time Count.