So many folks have been struggling with paying high prices for everything from housing to childcare to gas and groceries over the last few years, so it is nice to see some good news for a change: inflation is down to 2.5%, a 3-year low, and the Federal Reserve just announced that they are lowering interest rates by half a percentage point, which should provide more relief for American families.

This token of good news is not to say that things are easy for working families; it’s clear that there is lots more work to do to bring down costs, and I’m focused on doing everything I can here at the City level to make things like housing and childcare more affordable. However, you have to celebrate good news when you see it. Hopefully, we continue to see inflation stay low and interest rates come down along with inflation.

If there’s one thing I hear from my constituents every day, it’s that we need to fix the roads – and I agree! I’m focused on doing everything I possibly can to fix your roads, and I’m so encouraged by the progress we’ve made, like fixing large stretches of Navajo Road and Tierrasanta Blvd this year, for example.

At the City Council, we passed the Pavement Management Plan (PMP) this past year, which creates the blueprint for how we can get San Diego’s streets up to a much better level than they are now. I talk a lot about the PMP because it is a clear and comprehensive roadmap (no pun intended) for taking a data-driven approach to fix our streets in the immediate future. In fact, you can go to streets.sandiego.gov and view planned road repaving projects in your neighborhood.

If you’ve read the Raul Roundup the last few weeks, you’ll have seen that each week I am releasing videos of me speaking directly to you in my own words about the most important issues I see affecting our neighborhoods and what I’ve done to address them over my first term, plus looking ahead to my second term and what I intend to accomplish.

Most recently, I released a video talking about public safety. As a former deputy city attorney who prosecuted DUIs and gun violence restraining orders, I’ve been focused on public safety long before I first took office — and I’ve continued holding public safety as an important priority over the past four years as San Diego City Councilmember.

I’ve been a leading advocate on the City Council and as a member of the Public Safety Committee for fully funding our Police and investing in innovative technology like Smart Streetlights. And over my next term, I’ll continue to prioritize public safety as the City’s first responsibility. San Diego is statistically one of America’s safest big cities, and I intend to ensure it stays that way.

Thank you all who joined Coffee with Campillo for some great conversations this past Saturday about roads, public safety, and more. Being your elected representative means creating space to actively listen to your concerns and to answer your questions, and that’s why I hold regular coffees and town halls all across District 7.

If you weren’t able to make it, I hope to see you at the next one — and you’re always welcome to contact my office with any questions, comments or constituent requests here: https://www.sandiego.gov/citycouncil/cd7/contact

One last reminder for all San Carlos residents that we will be hosting a bulk trash drop off event tomorrow! Please see here for more details on what you can and cannot bring. We will be there from 8:30am to 11am. Hope to see you there!