Hello District 5 Neighbors!

Exciting news...meet Jackson and Berkeley! I recently adopted two amazing kittens, and they have already brought so much joy and excitement into my life. If you are ready to make a wonderful furry addition to your family, visit the San Diego Humane Society and adopt- not shop.

On the heels of the ENUF Ordinance becoming law on October 23rd, San Diego County is taking action to close the non-serialized, untraceable firearms loophole as well. I am thankful that they are fighting with the City of San Diego to protect our communities from the spread of ghost guns. Ghost guns are wreaking havoc in our City, and we need every level of government to act to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose danger to our communities- including violent criminals, domestic abusers, individuals suffering from mental illness, and terrorists.

Sincerely,

Councilmember Marni von Wilpert
MarnivonWilpert@sandiego.gov

COVID-19 Update

Physicians Address COVID-19 Misinformation

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency hosted an independent panel of local doctors to discuss COVID-19 misinformation circulating in San Diego County. During the 70-minute session, which was open live to the public for viewing, the doctors dispelled misleading claims about COVID-19, vaccine efficacy and approval, as well as misinformation about side effects and un-tested alternative treatments for the virus.

Watch Video Here

This is a great video to share with people who are questioning vaccine safety.

FDA and CDC Authorizes Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Ages 5 to 11

The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for the use of Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The move will make the shots available to 28 million kids in the U.S. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices unanimously recommended the shots yesterday.

Read more here.

Applications for Business and Non-Profit Assistance Funds Still Open

The City of San Diego voted to create a $12 million COVID-19 relief fund in partnership with the San Diego Foundation. This fund will support the businesses and nonprofits in the industries hardest hit by the pandemic and historically underinvested communities to help in their ability to sustain operations, retain employees, and address other impacts caused by COVID-19. 

Apply for relief here. 

CDC Recommends Mask Wearing in Areas of High COVID-19 Spread

The CDC is still recommending using a face mask indoors if:

- You are fully vaccinated but you are in an area of high COVID-19 spread                    - You are not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or older
- You have a condition or are taking medications that weakens your immune system and may NOT be protected even if you are fully vaccinated 

They are also recommending wearing a mask outdoors in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated in areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases.

Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is still required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and train stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus).

FEMA is Providing Financial Assistance for COVID-19 Related Funeral Costs

FEMA is still providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020, under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. 

If you were impacted by COVID-19 funeral expenses, we encourage you to keep and gather documentation.  Types of documents include: an official death certificate and funeral expenses (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.). 

For more information, please click here.

San Diego County Vaccination Progress

Click here for a full breakdown of San Diego’s vaccination progression.

When Can I get My Vaccine?

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is now FDA and CDC recommended for residents age 5 and over.

Any resident 5 years and older are eligible to be vaccinated, and no appointment is necessary at County vaccination sites. Residents age 5 and older can either make an appointment or walk-up (as supply lasts) to receive a vaccine. 

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City Hall Update

San Diego City Council Approves Permanent Outdoor Dining Ordinance

A more than year-long experiment in outdoor dining meant to help financially battered San Diego restaurants outlast the pandemic will now become a permanent fixture, thanks to action taken last Tuesday by the City Council.

A first-of-its-kind program for San Diego, the new outdoor dining regulations will allow restaurant owners to extend their outdoor seating onto sidewalks, and in metered and unmetered parking spaces in front of their venues as long as they meet certain permit requirements and pay a fee, a requirement that up until now has not been imposed.

This is one of the silver linings we’ve seen from the horrible ordeal that has been the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses are really depending on the ingenuity of the city to help them recover. As we know, the economic impacts of this pandemic are not nearly over and I was proud to support the City's Spaces as Places program to make outdoor dining permanent in the City of San Diego.

Read more here.

Rancho Bernardo Street Repair Funding

In 2007, the Witch Creek and Guejito Fires destroyed almost 200,000 acres in San Diego County, triggering one of the largest evacuations in county history. Much of this destruction occurred here in Rancho Bernardo.

The effects of these fires are still visible some 14 years later, and I am grateful for the opportunity to partner with Senate Pro Tempore Toni Atkins in what we hope will be another step in the community's recovery.

I am excited to announce that together we have secured $2.5 million in State funding for wildfire repairs to fix damage done to Rancho Bernardo roads. The funding will be put towards Asphalt Overlay project for Azucar Way, Aguamiel Road, Cabela Drive, and other streets in the Westwood area.

I remain committed to working with the City of San Diego, local fire and safety organizations to restore and maintain our communities from wildfire damage.

In the Community

Women's March San Diego

I was proud to join the Women's March San Diego and San Diego elected leaders for the March for Reproductive Justice. All women deserve access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare. 

Global Neighborhood Project Storytelling Event

Earlier last month I joined the Global Neighborhood Project for their Botswana-Scotland storytelling festival. Serving in the Peace Corps in Botswana was an amazing opportunity. I was thrilled to share my experiences and the incredible Botswana culture with San Diegans!

New District 5 Staffer- Khayri Carter

We are excited to announce the newest addition to our staff, Khayri Carter! He is our new Community Representative for Black Mountain, Carmel Mountain, Rancho Peñasquitos, and Torrey Highlands. He will also be an Assistant Digital Creator. Khayri was a previous Digital Content Creator and he's excited to start his career in public service and represent his communities from District 5.

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)

I stand in solidarity with the 99% of IATSE workers who made the difficult decision of voting to authorize to strike. Although the strike was averted for now, ALL workers should be treated with dignity and respect while they earn living wages, as well as receive reasonable benefits and appropriate rest periods.

Please join me in voicing your concerns by signing the below petition! Contact the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and tell them the workers who make their industry possible deserve fairness.

Sign The Petition 

California Clean Air Day

For California Clean Air Day, I took the rapid bus along the I-15 from the Miramar College Transit Center to Downtown. Thank you to San Diego MTS for the smooth commute! Taking transit helps keep cars off the road, reducing traffic and air pollution. Now let's get commuter buses on the 56 freeway too!

Indigenous Peoples Day

This Indigenous Peoples Day, we honored the cultures and history of our country’s first people. It’s part of our mission to create a more inclusive nation by honoring our friendship and responsibilities to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated Island Communities. I was honored to join the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians and the Kumeyaay Nation, the original custodians of the land on which the San Diego Safari Park sits, at their Blessing/Opening Ceremony.

Your Safe Place

Along with my council colleagues and the City Attorney, we recognized Domestic Violence Awareness Month and highlighted the City of San Diego’s ‘Your Safe Place’ center that provides counseling, medical assistance, & housing to DV victims. 

The City Attorney recently expanded the Gun Violence Response Unit to serve anyone who comes to Your Safe Place fleeing violence. The risk of homicide increases by 500% if a firearm is present in a domestic violence situation.  

Preventing gun violence is not only about protecting survivors of domestic violence — it’s about protecting our entire community. In the United States, most mass shootings occur during or after a domestic violence attack or are committed by men with histories of domestic violence.

The 24-hour hotline for Your Safe Place is 888-385-4657

San Diego County Farmer of the Year

Congratulations to Ken Altman on being recognized as the San Diego County Farmer of the Year! Thank you to the San Diego Farm Bureau and Executive Director Hannah Gbeh for inviting me to this wonderful event. Thank you to our San Diego County farmers for all you do for our community.

Support The Enlisted Project

I would like to extend a huge thank you to Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) and its CEO and Co-Founder Tony Teravainen, USN (Ret.) for having me at their Scripps Ranch facility. STEP provides financial services, education, grants, and also distributes goods to active military and veterans and their families, and we are so proud to support all the amazing work they do! 

National Association of Police Organization TOP COP Award

Congratulations to San Diego Police Officer Jonathan Wiese, who was recently awarded the National Association of Police Organization TOP COP Award in Washington, DC! On top of all his great work, Officer Wiese executed an amazing rescue at Sunset Cliffs June 13, 2020.

Wildfire Preparedness and Incident Training

I had a great time learning evacuation protocol with San Diego Fire Department and San Diego Police at their Wildfire Preparedness and Incident training. Special thanks to Captain Mike Holden of Northeastern Division, Fire Battalion Chief Rob Hartman and Operation Support, and Captain Piper Denlinger for answering all my questions about how to safely evacuate our residents in the event of a wildfire. 

Jennifer Valente Day

I was proud to join my colleague Councilmember Stephen Whitburn to bring forward a proclamation declaring October 28, 2021 to be Jennifer Valente Day in the City of San Diego!

Born and raised in San Diego, Jennifer made her hometown proud by becoming the first U.S. woman in history to win an Olympic title in track cycling at this past summer's Olympic games in Tokyo. Congratulations again, Jennifer!

Tom Homann LGBTQ+ Law Association

 Thank you to the Tom Homann LGBTQ+ Law Association for the work they do in our LGBTQ+ community and beyond. I enjoyed celebrating 27 years of their work in our city and I am looking forward to supporting more of their advocacy and efforts in San Diego.

Unite Here Local 30

It was an honor for my office to support Unite Here Local 30 during their Come Back Stronger day of action. Unite Here works to support hospitality workers at major hotels to ensure workers are paid fairly and treated with dignity on the job. We depend on our hotel workers to help the tourism economy thrive here in San Diego. 

Rancho Bernardo Halloween Festival

I was so excited to help judge the costume contest at the Rancho Bernardo Community Council Halloween Festival! Thank you to community members Robin Kaufman, Kelly Batten, and everyone else who helped make this outdoor festival a success.

Announcements

Business Improvement District Accountability and Oversight Efforts

To support Business Improvement District (BID) accountability and oversight efforts, the Economic Development Department is launching a brief survey to collect information from assessment payers and residents that frequently visit commercial districts. 

The survey is available in English and Spanish and is open through November 15, 2021. 

SURVEY LINK

SDTA Launches A New Tourism Accelerator Pilot Program

The San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) launched a new tourism accelerator pilot program-- one of the first in the country-- that is designed to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the local tourism industry by providing free membership, mentoring, education and networking opportunities to businesses owned by people of color, LGBTQ+, women and veterans.

Bank of America and San Diego Gas & Electric are the co-sponsors of the pilot program, which will offer participants a suite of services valued at over $10,000, including:

- Complimentary Membership in SDTA and free admission to select SDTA events as well as special access to SDTA senior staff, board members and program investors.
- Coaching from a dedicated mentor who is a successful operator or owner of a tourism or hospitality business.
- Financial coaching from Bank of America and legal training from Procopio.
- $500 voucher for a course through UC San Diego Extension.
- A $1,000 credit to use on SDTA’s digital advertising platforms.
- Two free quarter-page ads in both the San Diego Business Journal and San Diego - Magazine for those businesses that are not already advertisers.

The San Diego Foundation Launched Black Homebuyers Program

The San Diego Black Homebuyers program is supporting Black, low-to-medium income families and individuals with up to $70,000 toward a down payment and/or closing costs on a first home purchase. The goal is to build generational wealth among Black families in San Diego to create stronger and more equitable communities in San Diego. This initial pledge of $1 million is seeded by The San Diego Foundation Black Community Investment Fund, along with administrative funding from the County of San Diego, through the office of Board of Supervisors Chair, Nathan Fletcher. 

Households looking for affordable housing in the City of San Diego can find helpful information about locations, such as their proximity to transit and schools, on a new online tool the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) created and launched today on its website. The Affordable Housing Dashboard is available on SDHC’s website, www.sdhc.org, in the “Housing Opportunities” section under the heading “Affordable Rentals” on the pages “Rent from SDHC” and “SDHC Partnership Developments.”

Workforce Partnership Launched Layoff Support Services

Navigating layoffs is never easy, but the Workforce Partnership is offering support with funding and assistance to avoid layoffs and assist laid off employees. Give them a call at (619) 228-2900 and press 4 to learn more.

San Diego Libraries Resumed In-Person Services at 26 Locations

Starting on July 6th, the San Diego public libraries resumed in-person services at 26 locations! Patrons can visit the 26 locations and browse through thousands of books, use computer and printing services, pick up holds, and renew their library cards!

Click here to find a location near you. 

City has $1 million in Unclaimed Funds Waiting for San Diegans

URGENT: As a reminder, anyone who has done business with the City of San Diego in the past three years, including paying business taxes or utility fees, could be owed money. Check amounts range from $1 to $35,000. 

To find out if you are owed money by the City of San Diego click here.

COX Communications Discount Program

In case you missed it- Cox Communications is participating in the $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program, which was approved as part of the federal stimulus package passed by Congress in December and launched officially on May 12, 2021.

This program will further assist qualified residents with accessing affordable internet. In a time where many are facing challenges due to the pandemic, Cox remains committed to keeping families and households connected to their loved-ones, friends, work and school.

Eligible households with active Cox service can receive up to $50 off their monthly internet service, including equipment rental costs. Mobile phone payment plans may also qualify for the subsidy. Qualifying households include those that suffered a loss of income due to furlough or unemployment or are enrolled in one or more eligible government assistance programs.

For more information about the EBB program, click here.

Staying Up to Date

To stay up to date with real-time news and updates, make sure you follow me on my social media pages. 

Twitter: @marnivonwilpert

Facebook: @councilmembermarnivonwilpert 

Instagram: @marnivonwilpert

Find contact information for District 5 staff here.