The City Council will vote on a historic 25-year lease agreement tomorrow for the WorldBeat Center in Balboa Park. My administration has been working hard on this agreement collaboratively with the WorldBeat Center to ensure that this vital cultural institution continues to thrive.
In 1995, the City granted a right of entry permit to the WorldBeat Center with the intent to ultimately enter into a long-term lease. In the nearly three decades that have followed, the WorldBeat Center has been a beacon of cultural education and diversity, offering programs, classes, and events that celebrate the African diaspora and Indigenous cultures. This lease agreement, which has been long overdue but was finally prioritized through my admiration's focus on equity, will enable the nonprofit to continue their important work and expand their offerings for San Diego residents and visitors alike.
I’m grateful to WorldBeat founder Makeda ‘Dread’ Cheatom and our City staff for dedicating the time and building the trust necessary to get this historic deal done.
I am confident that the continuity provided by this lease agreement will ensure that the WorldBeat Center will continue to thrive well into the future.
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your Mayor.
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Hope @ Vine Shelter Campus Proposal Scheduled to Return to City Council in September
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After extensive discussions with the landlord and considering feedback from the recent City Council hearing, we have mutually agreed to revisit the Hope @ Vine Shelter Campus proposal in September.
During this time, we will work closely with the City Attorney’s Office to address the City Council’s feedback and convene a working group to develop a comprehensive design and preliminary operations plan for the shelter campus.
As your Mayor, I remain steadfast in my commitment to expanding shelter options because the current situation on our streets is simply unacceptable.
When we work together, we can and will make San Diego a better place for all of us.
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Smart Streetlights and License Plate Readers Enhance Crime-Solving Efforts
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Since reintroducing the Smart Streetlights and Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, these tools have significantly aided our San Diego Police Department in solving crimes throughout the city.
In 2024 alone, these technologies have aided officers in 153 total criminal events, resulting in 109 arrests.
This technology also assisted in solving a series of armed robberies in San Diego and El Cajon, resulting in the arrest of a suspect who was linked to the crimes through the license-plate system.
In another case, the Smart Streetlights and license-plate readers helped locate a missing elderly man, ensuring his safe return. Additionally, these tools have facilitated the recovery of stolen vehicles and helped officers apprehend suspects involved in multiple felonies, including possession of illegal firearms.
The success of these technologies underscores our commitment to leveraging innovation to enhance public safety and ensure San Diego remains one of the safest big cities in the country.
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San Diego City Council Approves Blueprint SD, A Major Update to our City’s General Plan
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The City Council has approved Blueprint SD, an important update to our City’s General Plan. This is the first time in 15 years that the City Council has adopted an amendment to the general plan and is a significant step toward creating an equitable and sustainable future for all San Diegans.
Blueprint SD is designed to address climate change, create more housing, help job growth, and create a more equitable city. By guiding new homes and jobs near transit, parks, and services, Blueprint SD aims to meet our city's equity, climate, and housing goals.
The updated policies will help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by encouraging development near public transit and ensuring infrastructure investments are prioritized where needed most. This plan also emphasizes building new homes for people of all incomes, particularly in high-resource areas with access to good jobs and schools and reduced environmental hazards.
This refresh aligns with our Climate Action Plan goals and addresses the urgent need for more housing to tackle our housing and homelessness crisis.
By approving Blueprint SD, we are ensuring that our city grows in a way that benefits everyone, now and in the future.
Thank you to our City planners, the City Council, and all involved for supporting this crucial initiative.
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Celebrating 25 Affordable Housing Projects Under Executive Order
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This program and the City staff powering it have done a tremendous job expediting these critical housing projects. By ensuring a streamlined process, we've averaged a processing time of only seven days.
In addition, the Complete Communities Now program, launched through another executive order I signed this year, applies this expedited permitting approach to housing developments near public transit.
Since this new program’s inception, 10 projects totaling 625 homes have been approved, reinforcing our City’s commitment to addressing housing and climate goals. You can follow the success of Affordable Housing Now by following this new web tracker showing the projects that have benefitted from this program.
I'm proud of the work the City is doing to help combat our housing crisis. We won't stop until every San Diegan has a roof over their head at a price they can afford.
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GETTING IT DONE - FIXING OUR STREETS
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Major Road Repairs Underway in Kearny Mesa
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Major road repairs are underway in Kearny Mesa as part of my “Sexy Streets” initiative. This week, we’ll start repaving Balboa Avenue from Kearny Villa Road to Genesee Avenue, following recent improvements on Convoy Street and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. My “Sexy Streets” initiative is working to repave more than 50 miles of San Diego’s busiest and longest-neglected roads, enhancing safety, quality of life, connectivity, and economic vitality.
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At our annual Comic-Con kickoff at the San Diego Convention Center, we celebrated the cultural and economic impact this iconic event brings to our city each year. Comic-Con is a cornerstone event for our city, attracting more than 135,000 attendees and generating upwards of $160 million in regional economic impact.
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This event not only celebrates pop culture but also significantly boosts our local economy, benefiting hotels, restaurants, and various businesses across San Diego. The revenue generated, including $3.2 million in taxes, directly supports essential city services like public safety and infrastructure. Comic-Con is more than just an event; it’s a testament to San Diego’s vibrant cultural and economic landscape.
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Sharing Solutions at the Ending Homelessness Summit
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California State Sen. Catherine Blakespear organized a successful and informative summit focused on strategies to combat homelessness. This event brought San Diegans together to discuss and share effective strategies for addressing homelessness and expanding affordable housing. The collaboration and innovative ideas exchanged at the summit are crucial as we continue our efforts to end homelessness and build more housing, recognizing that this challenge is not just a city issue, but a regional and statewide concern.
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Ribbon Cutting for West Development by Holland Partner Group
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I was excited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Holland Partner Group’s West development. This mixed-use project in Downtown features 431 apartments, including income-restricted affordable units, retail space, and offices. This development is another step in our efforts to tackle the housing crisis by stepping up housing production, as well as redevelop a part of Downtown badly in need of revitalization.
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Pershing Bikeway Grand Opening
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Lots of San Diegans are celebrating the grand opening of the Pershing bikeway! This transformative project turns a previously dangerous route through Balboa Park into a safe, low-stress oasis for cyclists and pedestrians. This 2.3-mile bikeway, with reduced speed limits and new safety features, connects Downtown with North Park, South Park, and Golden Hill, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable experience for all.
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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.
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CD8: Monday, Aug. 5, Logan Heights Library, 567 S. 28th St., 92113
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CD4: Tuesday, Aug. 6, Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library, 5148 Market St., 92114
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CD6: Monday, Aug. 12, Mira Mesa Library, 8405 New Salem St., 92126
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CD9: Tuesday, Aug. 13, Mission Valley Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway, 92108
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CD3: Monday, Aug. 19, Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Knox Library, 215 W. Washington St., 92103
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CD2: Monday, Aug. 26, Point Loma/Hervey Library, 3701 Voltaire St., 92107
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CD7: Tuesday, Aug. 27, Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Library, 9005 Aero Drive, 92123
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CD5: Tuesday, Sept. 3, Scripps Miramar Ranch Library, 10301 Scripps Lake Drive, 92131
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CD1: Monday, Sept. 9, La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave., 92037
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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.
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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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Free Summer Meals for Kids
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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.
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