Hello District 5 Neighbors!

I am proud to share with you that I have been appointed to the National League of Cities Transportation and Infrastructure Federal Advocacy Committee! I am honored to serve on the Committee to help shape federal policy that will have a direct and profound impact on local government operations. The Committee’s work on transportation safety, innovation, and smart city planning is an exciting opportunity to help focus federal resources and innovation to address San Diego’s aging infrastructure. I look forward to working with my new Committee colleagues to amplify the voice of local governments from across our nation at the federal level.

You can read more about what I will be doing on the committee here. 

Last week, I was invited to attend the Marine graduation at the US Marine Corps
Recruit Depot! Congratulations to Company K, 3rd Battalion, and a special thank you to Commanding General Jason Morris and his wife, Jane, for hosting us in their home.

Sincerely,

Councilmember Marni von Wilpert
MarnivonWilpert@sandiego.gov

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City Hall Update

Committee on Public Safety & Livable Neighborhoods 2022 Priorities 

I am looking forward to serving on this incredibly important and impactful Committee for another year. I am excited to work with my fellow PS&LN Committee members and the public to move towards our shared goals of protecting our communities from wildfires, ensuring our first responders have the tools they need to perform their crucial jobs, increasing public trust with police, achieving community equity, and prioritizing government accountability in the year ahead.

Read my full Public Safety & Livable Neighborhoods Memo here.

Committee on Environment 2022 Priorities

I am honored to serve on this incredibly important and impactful Committee. I look forward to working with my fellow Environment Committee Members and members of the public as we address San Diego's short- and long-term environmental priorities. The people of San Diego are proud of our environment. Our oceans, bays, hiking and biking trails provide us with the great quality of life we value. We as a City must take action to protect the environment, so that the next generation can enjoy the outdoors for years to come. We must make our communities more resilient to the increasing impacts of climate change, such as wildfires, sea level rise, worsening droughts, and air pollution. 

We also need to prioritize updating and implementing our long-term environmental planning documents such as the Climate Action Plan (CAP), Zero Waste Plan, and Watershed Asset Management Plan (W AMP). In addition, the committee should focus on strengthening our economy by continuing to promote the creation of good, green jobs. It is essential that every family and every neighborhood in San Diego has access to clean, reliable energy and a healthy environment. 

Read my full Environment Committee Priorities Memo here.

COVID-19 Update

Vaccination and Boosters

As the latest COVID-19 wave has started to come down, the CDC is continuing to urge all eligible residents to immediately get vaccinated if you haven't already, and get your booster shot as soon as you are able. 

Based on the latest San Diego County HHSA data, a person not fully vaccinated is 8x more likely to die from COVID-19. Get vaccinated today to protect yourself and those around you. Click the link below to find a location to receive a safe and free vaccine today.

In the Community

American Saddlebreds from Scripps Miramar Ranch

Congratulations to American Saddlebreds from Scripps Miramar Ranch for representing District 5 in the Rose Parade! American Saddlebreds is an equestrian unit and has been showcasing the American Saddlebred breed of horse to audiences since 1962!

Click here to read more.

Girl Scout Troop 3102

Had a great discussion about local government with Scout Advancement Troop 664 and Girl Scout Troop 3102 in Scripps Ranch. It’s great to see so many young leaders engaging in local government.

First National League of Cities Meeting

Earlier last month I had my first meeting with the League of Cities Transportation and Infrastructure Federal Advocacy Committee! Had a great Q&A with Andrew Wishnia, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Climate Policy at the United States Department of Transportation on the Biden-Harris Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan. 

San Diego Downtown Rotary

A special thank you to the San Diego Downtown Rotary for inviting me to speak to the District 5340 Rotary Model United Nations (MUN) last week. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to 80+ high school students about my own MUN experience, my Peace Corps service, and my work as a Councilmember. 

Infrastructure and Electric Vehicle Charging

Last week I joined Congressman Scott Peters, Mayor Todd Gloria, County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, and IBEW 569 to highlight the potential for federal infrastructure bill funds to come to our city. As Chair of the Infrastructure Committee, I look forward to this partnership to build a world class city for future generations. This funding will help us address our aging infrastructure as well as install a system of publicly-accessible electric vehicle charging stations. In order to transition away from our dependency on fossil fuels, a reliable network of EV charging stations is a crucial first step.

See my full comments here.

Remembering SDPD Officer Gary Bowen

My heart goes out to the family and colleagues of San Diego Police Officer Gary Bowen. He was a dedicated public servant as well as a talented sketch artist who the San Diego Union Tribune highlighted in 2019. I thank Gary and his family for their service to our City.

Black History Month

On the first day of #Blackhistorymonth2022 we honor Black health care professionals past and present. This year’s theme, Black Health and Wellness, is especially timely as we enter a third year battling COVID-19, which has disproportionately affected communities of color. This year's theme, Black Health and Wellness, pays homage to medical scholars and health care providers. 

Here's the story behind how the month came to be.

My office is also going to be taking a tour of our City archives to learn all about our City's Black history and contributions. I will share more of what we find out in next month's newsletter!

Hunters of Hendrix Coffee Shop

I was so excited to welcome a new local coffee shop, Hunters of Hendrix, to Scripps Ranch! Their barrel-aged coffee is delicious too- come join to shop local and celebrate their grand opening on February 12! And remember, support small businesses and shop local!

La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club

Had a great time with the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club! Thank you for the great discussion about preventing gun violence, fixing our infrastructure, and mitigating climate change. I appreciate all that Rotary does for our community.

Lunar New Year Celebration

I had so much fun at the Lunar New Year celebration in Mira Mesa! Wishing all San Diegans a positive and healthy #YearoftheTiger.

Announcements

SDTA 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.

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.