Hello District 5 Neighbors!

I hope you all had a wonderful fall season and a great Thanksgiving Holiday. I'm looking forward to the new year, when I will be attending and hosting a number of community events across the District. First up, I will be at the Rancho Bernardo Community Planning Board meeting on January 19th at 7:00pm. Throughout next year, I will continue to attend Community Planning Board and Town Council meetings to hear directly from all of you. 

Community Coffee with Marni

My office has scheduled another Community Coffee on January 14th at 9:00am at Mostra Coffee in Carmel Mountain Ranch. Community Coffees are a time for community members to come meet with me in person. I hope to see you all there!

45 Years of Women in San Diego Fire Department

I was honored to present multiple proclamations to honor the amazing women in our fire fighting service! The first proclamation recognized 45 years of women serving in the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. I thank our women firefighters who have had to fight, and litigate, for the opportunity to serve and protect our City. 

The second proclamation was for Lonnie Kitch, the City’s first ever female firefighter, for her years of service and activism. Lonnie paved the way for all women to service in Fire Department ranks and I was proud to declare October 11, 2022 as “Lonnie Kitch Day” in the City of San Diego! 

The third Proclamation was for Captain Alma Lowry. In addition to her exemplary service, Captain Lowry is a leader in recruiting and training the next generation of firefighters. We have amazing women in our fire ranks, and I thank them all for their service to our communities.

Sincerely,

Councilmember Marni von Wilpert
MarnivonWilpert@sandiego.gov

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City Hall Update

Holding Falck Ambulance Accountable

The City of San Diego’s ambulance provider, Falck, is going to pay fines again after failing to meet response times and staffing goals for another quarter. We heard an update at the San Diego City Council’s Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee meeting where it became clear that we have a pretty serious problem with our contract. In January, the san Diego Fire-Rescue Department will present options on how to move forward to ensure San Diegans are receiving top notch emergency services. Whether it’s an amendment to the contract or bring another program in to help — we must take action to ensure proper staffing and coverage for our residents.

Read more here.

Arts and Culture Funding Forum

The Commission for Arts and Culture and my office hosted a forum to educate residents about the various funding opportunities for arts and culture purposes. If you were not able to attend, click the link below to watch a recording of the forum. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to my office or directly to the Commission for Arts and Culture.

Arts and Culture Funding Forum

Street Preservation Ordinance Moves Forward

It's past time that we take bold action to fix our streets. That's why I joined Mayor Todd Gloria and other City leaders to announce a major update to the City's Street Preservation Ordinance, which governs the rules utilities must follow when digging into the public right-of-way to upgrade their equipment and services. The update to the City’s Street Preservation Ordinance was approved by the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and will come before the full City Council at a future date. It is past time to make changes to this Ordinance to ensure utility partners fix our roads and pay their fair share of costs when they dig up our streets.

Read more here.

Final COVID-19 Response and Recovery Committee Meeting

Formed to create a collaborative approach to address challenges brought by COVID-19, the City Council’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Committee had its final meeting last month. Thank you to Council and City staff and all community partners for your hard work on this Committee! In the past two years, the Committee provided oversight of the hundreds of millions of CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act funding the City received, assisted with the outdoor dining “Spaces-as-Places” program, and helped ensure tens of thousands of families didn’t lose their home due to job losses brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Going forward, the City has a newly established Public Health Emergency Officer, and ongoing response and recovery efforts will continue to take place through the full City Council.

Read more here.

Housing Summit

The San Diego City Council and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors joined together at for the first time in 20 years for a joint Housing Summit. In order to reduce homelessness and housing insecurity, we committed to construct 10,000 units of housing on government-owned land, use available funding for housing and explore residential density options.

Read more here.

Regional Task Force on Homelessness Conference

My staff and I were able to attend the 2022 Regional Task Force on Homelessness Conference, “Solutions for San Diego” which created learning, discussion, and collaboration framed around the Continuum of Care Regional Action Plan to address homelessness. Focusing on workshops addressing specific regional issues.

I was honored to moderate one of the conference workshops, called “Linchpins: Building and Retaining the Workforce Needed to Advance Homelessness Solutions” with experienced leaders on homelessness. Lisa Jones from the San Diego Housing Commission, Hanan Scrapper from Preparing Accomplished Transfers to the Humanities, and Kirin Macapugay from San Diego City College presented data on the behavioral health workforce deficit and highlighted the Program for Engaged Educational Resources (PEER) program which is designed to encourage new and retain current behavioral health workers.

In the Community

Annual Archives Month

I was so honored to cosponsor a proclamation with Council President Sean Elo-Rivera for the 4th Annual Archives Month! The San Diego City Clerk is responsible for preserving over 200 years of San Diego’s history and I am so grateful for all of the amazing work that they do.

20th Annual Real Heroes Awards

I was very honored to attend the 20th Annual Real Heroes Awards Breakfast with community leaders and some of my council colleagues to celebrate the amazing work of the American Red Cross. This event honors residents and organizations who make a difference in our communities. 

Indigenous Peoples Day

I joined the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians and the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park again this year for their annual Indigenous Peoples Day celebration. I was honored to celebrate the rich contributions of the Kumeyaay people and our Indigenous community.

Your Safe Place 20th Anniversary Breakfast

Last month, I attended the San Diego Family Justice Center Foundation Your Safe Place 20th Anniversary Breakfast. Over the past two decades, Your Safe Place has helped thousands of San Diegans heal and recover from domestic violence, human trafficking, elder abuse, and more. I am deeply grateful for the work of Your Safe Place in offering a beacon of hope to so many people in our City.

30th anniversary of the Rancho Peñasquitos Library

My office presented a proclamation to honor the 30th anniversary of the Rancho Peñasquitos Library! Our libraries are an essential part of our communities as they offer a wide range of programs to support residents of all ages. Congratulations to the PQ Library on this milestone!

60th Anniversary of the Seven Oaks Community

It was so much fun to present a Proclamation honoring the 60th Anniversary of the Seven Oaks community! Seven Oaks is a tight-knit 55+ community, and has been a vital part of Rancho Bernardo for decades.

Climate Action Campaign's Nexus Conference

I was thrilled to stop by the Climate Action Campaign's Nexus Conference to participate in a great discussion on the connection between air quality, transit, and public health. I am very grateful for all of the work that the Climate Action Campaign continues to do protect our environment.

Scripps Ranch Cleanup

My office joined the Scripps Ranch Civic Association and Rotary Club of Scripps Poway for another great community cleanup! I am always happy to join efforts to keep our communities safe and clean.

South Asian Bar Association Dinner

I had a wonderful time at the South Asian Bar Association annual dinner! The advocacy work they are doing is incredible and I am proud to support their work.

2022 San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Honorees

Congratulations to all of the 2022 San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Honorees! Truly inspiring stories of local residents and San Diego Fire Department Firefighters, EMTs, and Lifeguards saving lives in our City.

Diwali

Thank you to Hindu Americans of San Diego for another wonderful Diwali celebration! The food and the dancing were fantastic and I was so happy to celebrate our community's vibrant Hindu culture.

Support the Enlisted Project's 7th Annual Fall Social

I was honored to present a proclamation to Support the Enlisted Project's 7th Annual Fall Social. It was great to hear about everything they did this past year, and I got to meet with donors and supporters who help make this work possible. 



Dia De Los Muertos

My mom and I really enjoyed the Dia De Los Muertos celebrations at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Each November 1-2, Día De Los Muertos gives us the chance to remember and celebrate our departed loved ones, and I encourage everyone to check out the celebration next year!


 
Cub Scouts Meeting

Had a really great time speaking about local government with the Webelo and Arrow of Light Cub Scouts from the Rancho Mesa zone, which includes Scripps Ranch, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, and Rancho Peñasquitos. We have a bright future in the next generation!



City of San Diego Veterans Employee Appreciation Breakfast

I was honored to attend the Inaugural City of San Diego Veterans Employee Appreciation Breakfast. Thank you to our veteran employees for your service to our Country, and for your continued service to our great City!



2022 LGBTQ Veterans Wall of Honor

I had a great time celebrating and congratulating the 2022 LGBTQ Veterans Wall of Honor inductees. Thank you for your service, your bravery, your strength and your honesty. We salute you.

2022 25 Most Remarkable Teens

What a privilege it was to honor and celebrate some of SD’s finest youth at the 4th annual San Diego County Public Defender’s “25 Most Remarkable Teens” event. I am inspired by their courage and resiliency, and hopeful they will continue to shape this City’s future.

Poway Unified State of the Union Ceremony

At the Poway Unified State of the Union Ceremony, it was exciting to learn about all the amazing work being done by Poway Unified’s award-winning staff and world-class students. I am so proud of Prisha Puntembekar, my former intern, who presented as the PUSD student board member.

Beach Cleanup

My staff attended the UCSD CAL-PIRG student group for their beach cleanup. It is so exciting to see young people actively engaged in finding solutions to our short and long-term environmental issues.

Announcements

Commission on Police Practices Now Accepting Applications

The City of San Diego officially announced the opening of applications for the Commission on Police Practices. Candidates interested in serving on the Commission must apply here.

For more information on the application process click here.

Rancho Bernardo Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol

The San Diego Police Department's Rancho Bernardo Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol needs more volunteers!  For details on how to join the RB RSVP call the Administrator, Bob Walder, at 858-518-6882 or email RanchoBernardo.RSVP@gmail.com.

For more information on the RSVP program, click here.

Digital Navigator

Thousands of San Diegans do not have access to the internet. The City of San Diego
has launched a new Digital Navigator program to help close this digital divide in our communities. Call 1-800-350-6945 to get free basic tech support, or visit:

Click here

CORE - Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project

The Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) is a $125 million project intended to encourage California off-road equipment users to purchase or lease currently commercialized zero-emission off-road equipment. This streamlined voucher incentive project helps offset the higher cost of zero-emission technology with a point-of-sale discount. There is no scrappage requirement, and additional funding is available for charging and fueling infrastructure and for equipment deployed in disadvantaged communities.

Click here for more information.

San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC)- Homeless Prevention Program

The new program for which the City Council approved funding for the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) to help pay rent and other housing-related expenses for eligible households with low income and unstable housing situations formally launches Thursday, September 8, as the Housing Instability Prevention Program (HIPP). This is another effort to prevent families and seniors from falling into homelessness on our streets. 

Those who need assistance should contact 2-1-1 through SDHC’s HOUSING FIRST – SAN DIEGO telephone hotline at 619-578-7768.

SDHC staff is operating HIPP, formerly referred to as the Housing Stability Fund Program. SDHC will identify potential participants through referrals from 2-1-1 San Diego. SDHC Housing Specialists will contact those households to confirm and verify if they are eligible for assistance.

HIPP will help approximately 300 households. Eligible households can receive up to $500 per month for up to 24 months toward rent and help with expenses, such as security deposits, past-due rent, utilities, application fees or furniture, depending on the family’s need. 

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.

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.