I am proud to have led the City in bringing World Design Capital to San Diego-Tijuana because we are one binational region where so many of us are connected economically, culturally, and interpersonally to those on the other side of the border. World Design Capital underscores that we are not defined by the barriers that separate us; far from it, we are strengthened by our identity as the most populous urban area along the U.S.-Mexico border. 

The EXCHANGE Pavilion, which was unveiled this week at the Plaza de Panama in Balboa Park, will inspire San Diegans to reflect on that premise as it hosts nearly 50 events over the coming months. To view a list of the upcoming events, which range from artist spotlights to free crafts for children, take a look at the World Design Capital website here. 

During my visit to Fire Station 31 in Del Cerro a couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of chatting with Battalion Chief Shimoguchi about important steps you and your family can take to prepare for fire emergencies. 

Battalion Chief Shimoguchi recommends having an established exit plan to practice in your home and just outside your property, ensuring that all of your smoke detectors and alarms are working, and preventing accidental fires, such as those caused by unattended food, through awareness and caution. For more details, view a short video of our full conversation here! 

School is back in session for San Diego Unified School District families! With the new school year comes new discussions about how educators can cultivate a healthy and nuanced learning environment for their students. SDUSD’s answer to the call might have to do with their cell phone policy.  

Voice of San Diego reports that, following Los Angeles Unified’s sweeping ban on cell phones, SDUSD officials are weighing the potential benefits and costs of a similar policy. Given how much research has emerged about the wide range of negative effects social media has on mental health and the negative impact cell phones have on learning outcomes, it’s worth exploring ways to evolve our education system to protect students from harm. I’m curious to see what they find and ultimately implement. As a father and former educator, the health and wellbeing of our future generation is top of mind for me, as I’m sure it is for many of you! 

San Diego should be an affordable place for people to not just live, but actually prosper and raise a family – and that’s why one of my biggest focuses on the City Council has been increasing access to quality and reasonably priced childcare. The extreme costs of childcare – around $1000 per month per child according to Tootris and a survey conducted by SmartAsset  -- are an enormous barrier for many families to get ahead. 

I recommend checking out this recent article in the New York Times, which goes into the effects that our childcare crisis has on women and their ability to participate in the labor force. We have to do more to expand access to affordable childcare in order to create an economy that truly works for everyone, not just the highest earners. 

Supporting working class families is one of my top priorities. I’m constantly exploring ways to protect workers’ rights and wellbeing through my role on City Council, as well as working on intragovernmental solutions with colleagues at the County and State. I’m glad to hear that the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office received a grant to increase investigations and prosecutions of wage theft, an unfortunately common crime.  

KPBS reported on the grant and 5 common examples of wage theft; I highly recommend giving the article a read, as you or someone you know might be experiencing one of the situations described. Wage theft can be reported many places, including the state Labor Commissioner’s Office or the City of San Diego’s Compliance Department.