This week, I was inspired by the story of a local ultra-runner, Louka Dlagnekov, who set out on an extraordinary challenge right here in our community. After canceled races derailed his plans, he created his own adventure: running every single trail in Mission Trails Regional Park in one day, covering 85 miles and over 17,000 feet of elevation gain in one epic push.

December 31st marked 50 years since Cowles Mountain was preserved as public land, laying the foundation for Mission Trails Regional Park. In 1974, as development threatened this natural treasure -- known as S Mountain back then -- dedicated community leaders fought to protect it. Thanks to their work, Cowles Mountain was not only saved, but they laid the groundwork for Mission Trails Regional Park to be created. On the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation’s website, Ruth Alter relays this history in much more detail.

As we reach this milestone, it’s a good moment to reflect on the future of Mission Trails Regional Park. I’m proud to serve as the Chair of the Mission Trails Regional Park Task Force, where I’ve focused on priorities like expanding the park and ensuring it is well-preserved for generations to come.

Cowles Mountain is a symbol of our City’s deep commitment to preserving the natural beauty and outdoor spaces that define our region, and as we head into the future, let’s recommit ourselves to safeguarding and improving Mission Trails for all.

As we usher in the new year, it’s important to be aware of new laws going into effect. The Union-Tribune did a nice roundup of everything to be aware of, from the new ‘daylighting’ law to a law that makes it easier to opt out of subscription renewals and more.

When it comes to the daylighting law, which makes it illegal to park within 20 feet of any intersection across California in order to promote pedestrian and driver safety, please note that citations can be given even when there is no red painted curb or sign. However, enforcement will not begin in San Diego until March 1st; until then, warnings will be issued.

As the article also notes, San Diego County will now begin enforcement of SB 43, which gives first responders the ability to forcibly bring people with severe mental health and substance use disorders into civil detainment. By beginning enforcement of this law, which I have been a supporter of since day one, we give ourselves an important tool to deliver care to and manage some of the high-needs folks mentioned in Blake Nelson’s article about the homelessness study.

Last week, Blake Nelson of the Union-Tribune reported on the idea of conducting a comprehensive study on the cost of homelessness in the San Diego region. By that, Nelson means not just the cost of contracts relating to homelessness, but a true assessment of the full picture of homelessness, including costs for “officers patrolling encampments or cleanup crews scrubbing sidewalks or paramedics waiting outside backed-up emergency rooms,” among other things.

In the article, Nelson cites Santa Clara County as an example of where a study like this was conducted. That study concluded that more than half a billion dollars was being spent per year, that “health care was by far the biggest budget item,” and “that a large amount of the overall price tag was driven by a relatively small group of people.”

Santa Clara County’s result tracks with what I’ve been hearing from community members and the folks on the ground that deal with homelessness directly. Our hospital systems, paramedics, and first responders repeatedly have to deal with extremely high-needs individuals, which not only increases wait times for everyone due to the strain placed on the entire system, but also results in these individuals not getting the specialized care they need, often ending up in repeated cycles of medical crisis.

For this exact reason, I’ve been vocal about ways to reform our behavioral health system, including the successful passage of Prop 1 in 2024 and the common-sense changes that I pushed through the City Council to loosen our Land Development Codes to allow for easier permitting for behavioral health permitting.

I hope you are as excited to ring in the New Year as Rafael is. Happy New Year!