Giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao have arrived!  

 

Currently, both are acclimating to their new home and will be ready to meet the public later this summer.  

 

The arrival of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao has been months in the making. We have held numerous meetings with Chinese conservation officials and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance to secure this partnership. The work culminated in my traveling to China last week with Zoo Wildlife Alliance officials to participate in the farewell ceremonies for the pandas before they made their journey to the San Diego Zoo. 

 

Moreover, the pandas' arrival underscores our commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship. The San Diego Zoo has long been a leader in wildlife conservation, and hosting these pandas will enhance our efforts to protect endangered species and educate the public about the importance of preserving our natural world. 

 

As always, it’s an honor to serve as your Mayor.  
 

City Leads the Way in County Surge of Housing Permits, Setting a 17-Year Record

The City of San Diego led the region as we  achieved a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to tackle the housing crisis, permitting more housing units in 2023 across the county than in  the past 17 years. 

 

Last year, the county issued a total of 11,673 building permits, marking a 21% increase from 2022. The City led this surge by permitting 9,691 of these homes, accounting for 83% of the county’s total. 

 

This achievement is a testament to our ongoing commitment to building more housing that all San Diegans can afford. It also serves as a call to action for other cities and unincorporated areas to step up their efforts in addressing a housing shortage that is driving up rents and home prices and causing many lower-income San Diegans to fall into homelessness. 

 

The rest of the county needs to follow San Diego’s lead in creating more housing opportunities and implementing innovative programs to encourage residential construction. 

 

Together, we can continue to make strides in solving our housing crisis and ensuring that every San Diegan has a place to call home. 
 

Expanding Shelter Options: Hope @ Vine Campus Lease Will Have a Public Hearing Soon 

The vision for the City’s new Hope @ Vine Campus on Kettner Boulevard in Middletown is coming into sharper focus, and expected to be considered in public by the City Council later this month.  

 

As part of our continued commitment to address homelessness and get people off the streets and connected to care, this new shelter initiative will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to serve over 30,000 San Diegans over the next decade, offering case management, employment training and behavioral health treatment for individuals and families who’ve become homeless and setting them on a path to permanent housing.  

 

Spearheaded by our Homelessness Strategies and Solutions and Economic Development Departments, the Hope @ Vine Campus proposes to feature a commercial kitchen, laundry facilities, outdoor patios, recreation areas and gardens, ensuring a supportive and secure environment for residents. Additionally, 24-hour staff and on-site security measures will enhance the safety of the shelter. 

 

We’ve already made significant progress expanding shelter options in San Diego, with the addition of our successful Safe Sleeping program and expansions of various other shelters. 

 

The Hope @ Vine Campus will be designed in a way that appeals to people who do want to enter shelter. With 48% of people experiencing homelessness in Downtown San Diego responded “yes” when asked in survey if they would accept shelter at a congregate site, we expect this new campus will help bring in large encampments off the streets.   

 

We have asked City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera to docket Hope @ Vine for a hearing in July. As we move forward, we continue to work closely with the San Diego Housing Commission, local service providers and other City departments to finalize design, layouts and operational plans. This collaboration ensures that our shelters not only provide immediate relief, but also foster long-term stability and growth for our residents.

 

Read the rest of my most recent homelessness and housing newsletter here.   
 

State Budget Secures Critical Funding for Homelessness Programs

Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Legislature have finalized a budget deal that includes a significant victory for our efforts to combat homelessness: $1 billion in funding for the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program. 

 

This is a crucial win for us, as these funds are essential for expanding homeless shelter capacity, increasing street outreach to people experiencing homelessness, and creating more temporary and permanent housing solutions. 

 

I’ve always believed that budgets are statements of priorities, and that there is no higher priority in California than reducing homelessness. That’s why I worked tirelessly with my California Big City Mayors group over the past few months to advocate for the inclusion of this funding.  

 

This funding is a testament to our collective commitment to making homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring. 

 

One-time funding alone will not solve the statewide housing and homelessness crisis. We need sustained and substantial investments to address these challenges fully. 

 

This budget is a step in the right direction, and together, we will keep striving to build a better San Diego for everyone.  
 

GETTING IT DONE - FIXING OUR STREETS
 

Repairing Clairemont Mesa Boulevard 

Clairemont Mesa Boulevard is shining with a brand-new surface this summer! Construction crews are wrapping up asphalt overlay work on a segment from Shawline Street to Kearny Mesa Road in Kearny Mesa. This project is another example of my “Sexy Streets” initiative that’s working to improve our roads. Read more about this project on Inside San Diego. 
 

MAYOR GLORIA AROUND TOWN
 

Welcoming Future Leaders: Aaron Price Fellows at City Hall

In 1993, I joined the Aaron Price Fellows program, which sparked my passion for public service. Recently, I had the honor of welcoming this year’s fellows to City Hall. These talented students are the future leaders of San Diego, and I’m thrilled to see how they are already making a positive impact on our city! 
 

Kicking Off Pride Celebrations in San Diego 

It’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month in San Diego! Councilmember Stephen Whitburn and other City leaders kicked off this year's LGBTQ+ Pride festivities at City Hall. We celebrated the 50th anniversary of San Diego Pride and honored key stakeholders and the 2024 Pride Honorees. This annual kickoff event highlights our City’s commitment to inclusivity while also recognizing the many important contributions of our LGBTQ+ community.  
 
 

COMMUNITY UPDATES 
 

Fourth of July Traffic Advisory for Harbor Drive

The Fourth of July will be on full display in and around Downtown, and with so much going on I encourage you to leave early to make sure you have enough time to reach your destination. Here’s a sample of what to expect on Independence Day around the bay:

 

The “Big Bay Boom” fireworks show is anticipated to attract hundreds of thousands of people to the waterfront. While the fireworks show is from 9 to 9:20 p.m., expect crowds to form all day long.

 

In addition, the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park will be featuring a concert from 7:30 to 9 p.m., with the gates opening at 5:30 p.m.

 

Plan ahead: Due to an ongoing sewer main replacement project, traffic along Harbor Drive from Park Blvd. to Beardsley St. is reduced to one lane in each direction and the southside sidewalk is closed. While there will not be active construction, the traffic control pattern will remain in place.

 

With all these activities happening at once, traffic delays will be a certainty, with the most challenging being after the fireworks show concludes. Allow lots of extra time, and, if possible, find alternate routes or use public transportation. Also, after the show, you might want to stay and relax a while before getting into the departing traffic.

 

Please be patient, be understanding of your fellow San Diegans enjoying the fun, and, above all, be safe!

 

More Fourth of July safety reminders for San Diegans here. 
 

Free Summer Meals for Kids  

FREE summer meals for your kids are available this summer for ages 18 and under! 

 

The San Diego Unified School District is once again partnering with the City of San Diego and the California State Library to offer nutritious and delicious food during the summer months. 

 

Meal locations include select San Diego Unified schools, libraries, parks & recreation centers, and other community sites. 

 

The Summer Feeding Program kicks off June 10 and continues through August 2, open Monday through Friday. Times and locations listed here. 
 

San Diego Regional Cyber Lab Supports Local Businesses with Cyber Security Needs

The City of San Diego’s Cyber Lab has launched "My eCISO," an AI-powered web-based resource designed to help public and private organizations enhance their cybersecurity. This chatbot assists users, such as small business owners, in developing a cybersecurity program by evaluating their current defenses and providing actionable steps for improvement.

 

The initiative, created in collaboration with California Polytechnic State University and Amazon Web Services, aims to support organizations without a dedicated Chief Information Security Officer.

 

Users can interact with the AI chatbot through a natural language interview to assess their cybersecurity status and receive a detailed report card with recommendations based on NIST guidance. Prioritizing security and trust, My eCISO ensures that only the original data submitter can access their information, with conversations automatically deleted after 30 days. This tool is part of San Diego’s Regional Cyber Lab offerings, which provide cybersecurity training and resources to the local community.

 

To get started, visit myeciso.com.
 

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