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Dear Neighbor,
Our beloved giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, will be ready for all to see at the San Diego Zoo starting this Thursday, Aug. 8! This momentous occasion is a testament to the strong partnership and collaboration between our City and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. I had the privilege of working closely with both Chinese and zoo officials to help facilitate the return of these magnificent creatures to our city.
Our partnership with China Wildlife Conservation Association has allowed us to bring back these incredible animals, continuing a nearly 30-year tradition of conservation and research.
The return of the pandas signifies not only a triumph for conservation efforts, but also an exciting addition to our community. The pandas' presence reflects the dedication and hard work of many individuals and organizations committed to wildlife preservation.
I encourage you to visit the zoo and welcome Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to San Diego. Please plan ahead and consider taking public transit or using ride shares to help with the traffic and parking challenges that may come with the pandas’ public unveiling.
Let’s celebrate this significant achievement together and continue to support our zoo’s efforts in making San Diego a leader in global conservation.
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your Mayor. |
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City Council Approves Vision for Future Development in Hillcrest, University City |
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The City Council has approved transformative updates to the community plans that guide land-use policies in Hillcrest and University City. The updates that I proposed make critical changes that will improve the lives of the people who live, work and play in these neighborhoods.
The University Community Plan and the Hillcrest Focused Plan will guide how these neighborhoods change over the next 20 to 30 years, helping with job growth and fostering more vibrant, sustainable communities.
The Hillcrest Focused Plan Amendment will add capacity for 17,200 new homes for working people, such as the healthcare professionals working right around the corner at UCSD Health and Scripps Mercy, while also paving the way for public spaces to be incorporated into new development that will be coming soon.
The plan envisions wide pedestrian promenades along University and Robinson Avenues, creating a more walkable community. It establishes a first-of-its-kind LGBTQ+ cultural district that spans from Normal Street along University Avenue down to Fifth Avenue, which will cement the identity of this neighborhood as the center of LGBTQ+ life in San Diego.
It also creates a commercial and entertainment district to reinvigorate the small businesses and nightlife in Hillcrest. The objective is to strengthen Hillcrest’s entertainment sector, paving the way for more good jobs in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.
The University Community Plan Update allows for up to 29,000 new homes and 72,000 jobs, reinforcing the area as a major employment hub across various sectors, including office, retail, scientific research, technology institutions and healthcare.
With the approval of the University Community Plan Update and the Hillcrest Focused Plan Amendment, over the past four years my administration has now successfully updated four community plans – Barrio Logan, Mira Mesa, University City and Hillcrest. These plans are instrumental in creating jobs, reducing harmful emissions, and making our neighborhoods more equitable and sustainable.
The plans are consistent with the Blueprint SD initiative that was adopted by the City Council in July. Blueprint SD is an amendment to the General Plan that will bring these plans and future community plan updates into alignment with Climate Action Plan goals to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by placing new homes and jobs near existing and planned public transit, parks and other daily needs.
These huge planning milestones represent significant progress, but our work continues as we update the community plans in Clairemont, the College Area and other neighborhoods with outdated frameworks.
This forward-thinking approach ensures that growth meets the needs of our diverse communities and enhances quality of life for all San Diegans. |
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Mayor Gloria's Annual Back-to-School Celebration Brings Joy to Clairemont |
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Our fourth annual Back to School Celebration was a success! This year, we served over 300 students from Clairemont and surrounding communities by providing free backpacks and school supplies.
Partnering with the San Diego Unified School District, local nonprofits, and community leaders, we ensured our students are set up for success as they head back to school later this month.
My team helped distribute essential supplies like backpacks, notebooks, folders, pencils, and markers to hundreds of students. The event was packed with fun activities, meet-and-greets, and giveaways. The San Diego Seals lacrosse team, San Diego Padres baseball team, San Diego Legion rugby team, San Diego FC soccer team, San Diego Wave FC soccer team, and the City’s Parks and Recreation Department all joined in to create a fun experience for our kids.
The spirit of the Clairemont community was palpable, and everyone there shared the commitment to coming together to support our youth. Thank you to everyone who made this event a success and to all the families who participated.
Here's to a fantastic school year ahead for all San Diego students! |
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Honoring Exceptional Leaders: Kim Desmond and Fire Chief Colin Stowell |
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We took a moment at City Council last week to honor two exceptional leaders who have made profound contributions to our City.
Kim Desmond, San Diego’s first chief race and equity officer, is moving on from her role at the City to make a global impact on equity and inclusion.
Over the past three years, Kim has built a strong foundation for fairness, equity and inclusion in every department across the City. Her leadership in addressing historic oppression, systemic racism and implicit biases has been instrumental in shaping our City’s future. Her efforts have touched every aspect of City governance, from budgeting to employee training.
While we are sad to see her go, we are immensely proud of her accomplishments and confident that she will continue to drive positive change on the global stage.
The City has launched our search for a new chief race and equity officer.
We also honored Chief Colin Stowell, who is retiring on Aug. 24 after 34 years of dedicated service with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, including six years as chief.
Chief Stowell has been a steadfast leader, guiding our city through significant challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and severe weather events. His commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community has been unwavering. His leadership and partnership have been invaluable, and we wish him a happy and healthy retirement.
The City Council has confirmed Robert Logan II as the next Fire-Rescue chief. Logan, a 24-year veteran, takes over on Aug. 24. His leadership and experience will enable him to continue the excellent service that Chief Stowell has provided.
Both Kim Desmond and Chief Colin Stowell have set high standards for leadership and service. Their contributions have made San Diego a better place, and their legacies will continue to inspire us all. |
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GETTING IT DONE - FIXING OUR STREETS |
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Smoothing Commutes in the College Area |
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We’ve been hard at work improving the streets in the College Area just in time for the back-to-school rush. Our crews have applied slurry seal to key roads, including Aztec Circle Drive, Montezuma Road and College Avenue. These improvements will ensure safer, smoother commutes for students, parents and faculty as they head back to campus. |
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MAYOR GLORIA AROUND TOWN |
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San Diego Hosts Major League Rugby Championship Game |
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San Diego proudly hosted the Major League Rugby Championship Game at Snapdragon Stadium. The Seattle Seawolves faced off against the New England Free Jacks in an exhilarating match. Special thanks to the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team and Marshmello for their impressive performances at the game. This event highlighted both the growing popularity of rugby and the continued popularity of San Diego as a city worthy of hosting the biggest sporting events in the world! Congratulations to both teams for their incredible performance! |
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Breaking Ground on Community Resiliency Center in San Ysidro |
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Casa Familiar has broken ground on the La Semilla Community Resiliency Center in San Ysidro. This project represents a significant investment in environmental justice and climate resiliency for the community. By focusing on these critical areas, we are planting the seeds for a brighter, more resilient future. This center will serve as a hub for community engagement and education, empowering residents to take part in sustainable practices and climate-resilience efforts. Together, we're building a stronger, greener San Diego. |
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Showcasing San Diego as a Major Sports Town |
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The Manchester United vs. Real Betis soccer match at Snapdragon Stadium was an incredible evening that showcased San Diego as a premier sports city! This event, organized by Sports San Diego, highlights our city’s growing prominence in the world of sports tourism. Thank you to Qualcomm for sponsoring this unforgettable night – and to everyone who came out to support both teams. |
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Celebrating Community at New Creation Church |
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I had the honor of attending New Creation Church of San Diego's Sunday worship service. It was an incredible event celebrating and welcoming their new Senior Pastor, Brent Murphy. This church has been a cornerstone for spiritual growth and community support for decades. It's inspiring to see their dedication to expressing their faith and serving the community, and I look forward to seeing the church continue to serve our community under Pastor Murphy’s leadership. |
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COMMUNITY UPDATES |
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City Seeks Community Input on Trash and Recycling Services |
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San Diego residents receiving trash and recycling services from the Environmental Services Department (ESD) are invited to share their input through public meetings, questionnaires, and focus groups starting in early August. This initiative aims to evaluate and improve services while developing a cost-recovery fee structure. The first in-person meeting will be held on Aug. 5 at Logan Heights Library, with additional meetings scheduled across various Council Districts. A virtual meeting will be held on Aug. 24 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
In-person Community Meetings by Council District (CD); 5:30 to 7 p.m.
For more information and to stay updated, visit cleangreensd.org. |
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World Design Capital 2024 Pavilion Open House Celebration |
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Join the City on Saturday, August 10, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Plaza de Panamá in Balboa Park for the opening of the World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 “Exchange” Pavilion.
This community-focused event celebrates creativity, collaboration, and cultural exchange under the theme “Powered by Community, Connected by Design.” Highlights include exhibitions, panels, a surprise guest speaker on the importance of community and design, and live music by Jehlad Akin.
The event is free. RSVP today! |
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Midway Rising Informational Workshop |
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Join the Midway development team on Aug. 7, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at The Heights Golf Club, 16066 Bernardo Heights Pkwy., for an informational workshop about the Midway Rising project.
This event will provide updates on the transformation of the San Diego Sports Arena and the development of 2,000 affordable homes, a 16,000-seat entertainment center, and a mixed-use entertainment district in the Midway neighborhood. Complimentary parking is available.
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Learn More about Serving Your City |
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San Diegans, here's your chance to make a difference in our community!
The City has 49 Boards and Commissions that advise my administration and the City Council on a wide range of important issues. We are looking for dedicated individuals to join these groups and help shape the future of our city. If you're passionate about contributing to San Diego's progress, apply now! Simply fill out the application form, and we’ll get in touch with you soon.
Learn more about our boards and commissions here. Let’s work together to make San Diego better for everyone!
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Get the latest news from the City on Inside San Diego |
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