Hello District 5 Neighbors!

Right now, the City of San Diego is debating the $4.89 billion budget for the 2023 fiscal year. As always, I am fighting for more investments in our roads, parks and libraries, wildfire preparedness, public safety investments, and homelessness solutions. Notably, the Mayor of San Diego is proposing an historic investment in our infrastructure- $808 million to tackle the City's backlog of projects and to fix our old storm drains, sidewalks, streetlights and more to prepare our City for generations to come.

The rest of the budget schedule, including public participation, is as follows:

Today, Tuesday, May 17, 2022: Release of Mayor's May Revision to FY 2023 Proposed Budget
Thursday, May 19, 2022 Budget Review Committee at 2:00PM: Review of FY 23 May Revise Budget
Friday, May 27, 2022: City Council Final Budget Modification Priority Memo Due to Office of the Independent Budget Analyst
Friday, May 27, 2022: Release of Independent Budget Analyst’s final report on recommended City Council modifications to the Mayor’s Proposed FY 2023 Budget and May Revision
Monday, June 13, 2022 City Council Meeting at 2:00 PM: City Council Decisions on final FY 2023 budget modifications

You can find more information about the FY 2023 Budget by clicking on this link.

Grand Opening of Fairbrook Neighborhood Park

I was so honored to join Mayor Todd Gloria and community members in Scripps Ranch for the grand opening of Fairbrook Neighborhood Park! I want to thank our deeply attentive staff at the Parks and Recreation and Engineering Departments, who worked alongside our incredible community advocates, to make this long overdue park a reality.

Sincerely,

Councilmember Marni von Wilpert
MarnivonWilpert@sandiego.gov

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City Hall Update

San Diego City Council Returns to In-Person Meetings

We're back! After working remotely for the first year and half of my term, the City Council chambers has once again opened for in-person meetings. I know I speak for all of us here at City Hall when I say we are thrilled to be back face-to-face with the public, and encourage everyone to attend a meeting.

SAAFE Act

On April 25th, my office introduced the Stop Adolescent Addiction to Flavored E-Cigarettes (SAAFE) Act and it was approved by the City Council. Teenage nicotine addiction is surging and the data is clear: flavors hook kids. It was past time to stop the sale of candy flavored tobacco products that target youth and I thank my colleagues for their support in standing against Big Tobacco and protect our communities from a lifetime of nicotine addiction.

Ghost Gun Conviction

A man sentenced last week for possessing an unserialized "ghost gun" is the first person charged and convicted under the City of San Diego's groundbreaking legislation, the Eliminate Non-Serialized Untraceable Firearms (ENUF) Ordinance, which banned these untraceable weapons and their component parts.

The ENUF Ordinance went into effect last October, about two months before 23-year-old Rene Orozco was arrested for leading police on a car chase in City Heights, then tossing the ghost gun as he ran from officers.

I am proud to have authored and introduced this bill to keep our City safe from the rising gun violence across our nation. It's clear from this conviction that San Diego's landmark ghost gun law is starting to work to stop the proliferation of dangerous, untraceable firearms in our community.

Following the conviction, I was honored to have a great discussion with California Attorney General Rob Bonta about combating the spread of ghost guns and the rise in gun violence in our communities. We're very fortunate to have him as our Chief Law Enforcement Officer!

Homelessness Focused Conservatorship and Treatment Unit

Along with Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell, my office is requesting a $500,000 allocation in the FY23 Budget for a new homelessness focused Conservatorship and Treatment Unit within the City Attorney’s Office. Conservatorships are a compassionate way to meet the health, safety, and psychological needs of individuals who cannot care for themselves and have no one else to look out for them. While ensuring due process rights for everyone, court-ordered intervention is necessary for the most severe cases to provide for basic daily needs such as medical care, food, clothing, and shelter.

The new Conservatorship and Treatment Unit will consist of three new positions that expand the capacity of the Lifesaving Intervention for Treatment (LIFT) Program under City Attorney Mara W. Elliott. Under the proposal, a Person-Centered Treatment Coordinator will be hired to assess an individual’s particular circumstances and refer them to a variety of treatment options. Those options include Assisted Outpatient Treatment, the Serial Inebriate Program, or other pathways to treatment, including court appointment of the county Public Guardian as their conservator. Two Deputy City Attorneys will coordinate with the offices of the Public Guardian and Public Conservator and their health professionals to make referrals and file conservatorship petitions with the court. This proposal would be effective under existing state conservatorship laws, while also preparing the City of San Diego to step up its efforts to spur conservatorships and mental health treatment if Governor Newsom’s Care Court proposal is adopted.

In the Community

Women's History Month

I was honored to present the City of San Diego's Women's History Month Proclamation to the Women's Museum of California alongside Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe! I look forward to continuing to amplify their mission to inspire the next generation of San Diego women.

National Library Week

We are so lucky to have such amazing library facilities and staff in our City and District 5! I am committed to ensuring our libraries remain a valuable resource for all.

World Health Day

As we continue to battle COVID-19 and the climate crisis, it is important to emphasize that our individual health and the health of our planet are interconnected. I remain committed to helping our City reach its climate action goals.

Scripps Ranch Fire

Thank you to the San Diego Fire Department and the San Diego Police Department for taking quick action a few weeks ago to put out a wildfire in Scripps Ranch and keeping us safe. During budget season last year, I advocated for SDFD Copter 3 to be fully funded and in this instance the Copter 3 crew put out a potentially devastating fire that was threatening homes and businesses.

Rancho Bernardo Community Earth Day Fair

I had a great time at the Rancho Bernardo Community Council Earth Day Fair! Shout out to my Alma mater, Scripps Ranch High School Garden Club for teaching kids about composting!

Miramar Greenery and Landfill

I spent an incredible morning with City Staff visiting the Miramar Greenery and Landfill. It was great to learn about how they produce compost, mulch, and wood chips, as well as how Green waste recycling will help us reach our Zero Waste goals!

42nd Gold Key Awards Dinner

I spent a wonderful evening with the San Diego County Lodging Association to celebrate their 42nd Gold Key Awards Dinner! This years dinner was a chance to honor hospitality industry workers who were hit particularly hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eagle Scout Andrew Hamby

Congratulations to District 5 resident, Andrew Hamby, on earning Eagle Scout! Andrew's Eagle Scout Project entailed completing a wall at the San Diego Police Museum honoring the San Diego Police Department and the great work they do for our city.

Planned Parenthood Anniversary

I was honored to celebrate Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest's 59th Anniversary with some amazing local women leaders. I will always stand with Planned Parenthood and their mission to provide safe, quality healthcare.

Youth v. Oil Resolution

Alongside Councilmember Joe La Cava, I was happy to bring forward a Resolution calling for legislation to phase out oil in California. Special thanks to Youth 4 Climate and their "Youth v. Oil" campaign for bringing a petition with over 1,000 signatures to encourage the City Council's passage of the resolution. I admire your passion and dedication to protecting our City from negative environmental impacts!

Earth Day

Had a great time at Earth Day! I really appreciate all that our City and State Environment Services employees do to keep our City green and clean.

P3 Water Summit

I was honored to be a panelist at this year's P3 Water Summit where we discussed the needs of water agencies and how local municipalities are preparing for the future. The City of San Diego is embarking on its largest and most complicated infrastructure program in City history to build Pure Water San Diego, which will provide more than 40% of the City's water supply locally by the end of 2035. The Pure Water San Diego Program will use proven water purification technology to clean recycled water to produce safe, high-quality drinking water.

Denim Day

Every year on Denim Day, we wear jeans to support sexual assault survivors. Denim Day is the longest running sexual violence prevention and education campaign. We must continue to bring awareness to the destructive myths that surround sexual violence.

Dine Out For Life

Proud to be supporting the LGBT Center's Dine Out for Life fundraiser to help people living with HIV/AIDS, and to support a delicious local business Buona Forchetta!

Free to Thrive San Diego’s Women’s Empowerment Luncheon

I was honored to attend Free to Thrive San Diego’s Women’s Empowerment Luncheon. This community of anti-trafficking advocates does such amazing work for survivors and their families, and I will continue aiding their mission of creating a more trauma-informed legal system in our City.

Mental Health Awareness Month

I was humbled to present the Healthcare Heroes Proclamation to Aurora Behavioral Health. We have seen so many people in our community struggle with mental health and addiction, which has only worsened during the pandemic. Aurora staff have been at the forefront of providing care and support to their patients, which include youth and adolescents, first responders, and active duty military. Mental health is just as important as physical health to our wellbeing, and I thank the behavioral health staff at Aurora for their good work.

Announcements

Commission for Arts and Culture Creative Industries Job Fair on May 26th

The Commission for Arts and Culture in partnership with Mayor Todd Gloria's Office and the San Diego Workforce Partnership is hosting a creative industries job fair on Thursday, May 26th is for job seekers and community members ages 16 and older.

The event will take place from 2:00PM to 4:30PM at the City Heights/ Weingart Library Performance Annex at 3795 Fairmont Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105.

If you are an employer and would like to host a table at this event, register here at the event page if you are interested in attending and have any open positions and/or resources for hiring in creative industries. It is free for employers and job seekers, and the first 25 employers to register will be provided with a table and two chairs.

If you have any question about the event please reach out to Brett Kerr at bkerr@access2jobs.com.

Stormwater Maintenance Prioritization Public Survey

The City is commencing its annual stormwater maintenance prioritization process as it is critical to flood-risk reduction and public safety in our communities. The City is seeking your input regarding stormwater facilities to prioritize for future maintenance. The Stormwater Department’s mission is to build and maintain efficient stormwater infrastructure for safe, sustainable and thriving San Diego communities. Your input regarding priorities is important to our mission to serve you.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY

Free SANDAG Youth Opportunity Pilot Program

SANDAG has teamed up with MTS, NCTD, and the County of San Diego to connect youth to school, jobs, entertainment, and more! Starting May 1, anyone 18-years-old and younger can ride transit for free in San Diego County through the SANDAG Youth Opportunity Pass pilot program. Youth can get unlimited rides on the bus, Trolley, COASTER, and SPRINTER through June 2023 with a Youth PRONTO account.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Hospice Volunteers Needed in San Diego’s District 5

Palomar Health Palliative and Hospice Care is in need for Hospice Volunteers. There are several ways to utilize your volunteering skills for Hospice.

1. Patient Care Volunteer – provides emotional support and practical assistance which enhances the comfort and quality of life for a patient. These services may include being available for companionship, playing a game, reading a book, listening to music, or preparing a meal.
2. Bereavement Volunteer – provides anticipatory counseling and bereavement support to family and caregivers.
Office Support Volunteer – provide office support for hospice volunteers and patients. 3. These activities may include filing, assembling information packets, photocopying, or other office tasks.
Hospice Orientation/Trainings will be available in your area once you sign up!

Hospice Volunteers only visit 0 to 3 times per month for only a few hours at a time, at your convenience. Volunteers are not to touch patients, including helping patient’s sit, stand, or walk, Volunteers are there to visit, play a game, read, or just chat and brighten the patient’s day.

For more information please call Karen Rice at (949) 263-4747 or email: krice@vnahhs.com.

Energy Cost Savings for Seniors

San Diego Gas and Electric has programs that may help reduce energy bills for seniors who qualify for economic or medical reasons, which can include discounts for people who use certain medical equipment.

For more information you can visit this link.

Court Ruling Provides Win for Consumers Over FAIR Plan Insurance Options

A Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday blocked the FAIR Plan’s latest attempt to deny consumers greater coverage options. Insurance Commissioner Lara ordered the FAIR Plan, California’s homeowners insurance safety net, to implement a more comprehensive policy option in addition to its current fire-only policy. Currently, consumers must purchase a separate “difference in conditions” policy to have protection from liability and other perils typically covered by a homeowners policy. The judge previously upheld the Commissioner’s authority to protect consumers in July 2021.

“California consumers win when they have greater options for insurance coverage. The FAIR Plan, once again, has tried to put up roadblocks and deny consumers choice and, once again, a judge has ruled that they must comply with my order," said Commissioner Lara. "By reaffirming that the FAIR Plan needs to implement a more comprehensive coverage option for homeowners, Judge Strobel’s decision is another victory for consumers. The FAIR Plan needs to stop delaying and move forward with giving consumers more choice. My Department of Insurance is ready to work with the FAIR Plan to make that coverage available for consumers as soon as possible, just as we continue to push for increased FAIR Plan coverage for commercial businesses.”