Sidewalks should be smooth and even for all to use, not cracked and crumbling — and the $7.5 million contract that the City Council awarded today will help repair many segments of sidewalk all over San Diego. As your Councilmember, I’m committed to upgrading and maintaining our neighborhood infrastructure, including sidewalks and roads.

Earlier this week, the City Council discussed San Diego's processes for filling potholes and explored ways that we can improve upon the progress that we have made over the past few years. As David Garrick's article about this discussion in the Union-Tribune notes, “San Diego has made significant progress in recent years speeding up pothole repairs and handling them more efficiently.” 

While I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, there’s still much more to do. During my recent visit to the Chollas Operations Yard, I saw firsthand how our outdated facilities impact the efficiency of our repair crews. As the aforementioned U-T article notes, “Four out of nine patch trucks were out of service for repairs more than 20% of the time during a recent 15-month audit.” We have to fix up these facilities so that more trucks can be out on the road repairing more potholes.

Maintaining our infrastructure, including reducing potholes, remains one of my top priorities. The improvements we’ve made on streets like Navajo Rd (pictured below) are a source of pride and hope for the future, but all San Diegans will agree that our roads need much more work. Please continue to use the Get it Done app to report potholes, and do not ever hesitate reach out to my office if you need assistance with any constituent issue.

Parks and libraries are vital community spaces where we learn, play, and connect. It’s important that these spaces are well-maintained and reflect the standards our community deserves.

Since my election, I’ve worked hard alongside so many dedicated community members to secure park improvements across District 7, including new spaces like the Tierrasanta Tot Lot, the Linda Vista Community Garden, and the Allied Gardens Off-Leash Dog Park.

I’m also proud to have secured funding to begin planning and construction of the new San Carlos Library, including the purchase of an adjacent lot that is critical in driving the project forward.

I’ll continue to champion improvements to our parks, libraries, and all neighborhood infrastructure, including roads, streetlights, and sidewalks.

Homelessness remains a significant challenge in our city, with many people ending up on the streets as a result of the high cost of living, behavioral health struggles, and a lack of affordable housing. However, there are promising solutions like the Safe Sleeping Sites, which provide our unhoused neighbors with a safe space to stay, along with access to meals, showers, and services.

These sites are not intended to replace permanent housing, but they fill an important gap by offering personal space in a safe, supportive environment. When the Safe Sleeping Sites were first proposed last year, I was a leading voice in favor of them -- and I continue to be a firm supporter of them now. The City Council’s decision to expand the program by adding 235 new spots across two sites — at the O Lot and 20th & B -- is a good one.

Our local Kiwanis groups exemplify what it means to give back to the community. It was an honor to join the Tierrasanta Kiwanis last week and receive a Certificate of Appreciation for my work during my first term. District 7 is a better place because of their dedication, and I’m grateful for their partnership in serving our community.