This week, Mayor Todd Gloria released his revised budget – and unfortunately, the cuts to Lake Murray remain. That does not mean that the fight is over, however. At this stage, the budget is in the City Council’s hands – and we have the discretion to make changes of our own, if we identify revenue to support those priorities. 

As I mentioned in a post on Nextdoor last Friday, all of your outreach – nearly 400 public comments submitted to Budget Review Committee last week, and nearly 4000 signatures on the change.org petition – is making a difference. Several of my colleagues on the City Council have already spoken out in favor of our proposal to keep the lakes open, but I need the community’s continued help to fight to keep Lake Murray open. 

Your voice is more important now than ever. Here’s what you can do: 

1. The best thing you can do is show up and give public comment in person or virtually at City Council, this Monday, 5/19. At 6pm, the City Council will be holding a Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 Draft Budget and May Revision. Remember that us City Councilmembers are literally required by law to listen to members of the public give comment – and if hundreds of passionate residents show up to deliver testimony, I assure you that it will make a difference. 
    
   To deliver testimony in person, show up at City Hall at 6pm at the following address: 
    
   City Administration Building 
   City Council Chambers- 12th Floor 
   202 C Street San Diego, CA 92101 
    
   (And if you need a reminder on how to make public comment, watch our ‘How Do I’ video here!) 
    
   To deliver testimony virtually, navigate to this link and raise your hand to offer public comment. 
    

2. Another helpful action is to email all of the City Councilmembers and ask them to keep Lake Murray open. You can find their contact information here. 
    

3. Finally, you can submit written public comment using this link. Hit ‘oppose’ to indicate you do not stand with the closure of Lake Murray. 

I am so proud of this community for standing up together for what we believe in. We are going to keep fighting until Lake Murray is open to the public 7 days a week for all to enjoy. Thank you for making your voices heard. 

This week, we made important progress on Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulations at the Land Use and Housing Committee. I want to thank everyone who shared their perspectives, both at the meeting and over the past several years. I have been deeply critical of the negative outcomes we have seen across San Diego because of the Bonus ADU program. Your input has been essential in shaping a balanced approach that addresses both the need for affordable housing as well as the preservation of the unique character of our neighborhoods and our collective public safety. Two months ago, I voted no on the very limited changes we saw coming to the program, and this Thursday’s meeting saw many good changes. I will fight for even more as the final proposal comes to the full Council later this summer. 

I’ve heard from residents worried about oversized developments changing the unique character of their neighborhoods and put public safety in jeopardy. I’ve also heard from families and young people who see ADUs as a lifeline or a first step— a way to support aging parents, help adult children get on their feet, or save for a future home.  

The changes we discussed include dozens of solutions like strictly enforcing fire safety standards, dramatically reducing the scale of ADU projects, and preventing large-scale ADU developments on cul-de-sacs and in high or very high fire zones – of which District 7 has many. We’re also ensuring safe evacuation routes in fire-prone areas, protecting environmentally sensitive zones like canyons and steep slopes, adding parking requirements where state law allows, and setting reasonable height limits—two stories only—to preserve neighborhood integrity. 

These steps are practical and reflect the feedback I’ve received from our community. As the proposal moves to the full City Council, I’ll keep advocating for common-sense regulations that expand housing opportunities without sacrificing what makes our neighborhoods special. 

This week, I was proud to bring a proclamation to the City Council officially recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month in San Diego. May is a great reminder to check in on the people we care about; sometimes, just a quick call or text can make a world of difference. 

To that point: I recently saw a great video from the English Premier League where players call up their loved ones just to see how they’re doing. It’s such a simple but powerful idea – and I’m not just plugging it because I am a big soccer fan. 

Whether it’s a teammate, an old friend, a family member, or a neighbor, we all know someone who could use a little extra support. Mental health can be tough to talk about, but letting people know they’re not alone can make all the difference. 

So take a cue from soccer superstars this month: pick up the phone, send a message, and check in on someone you care about. It might just be the highlight of their day. 

Let’s keep looking out for one another, not just in May, but all year round