and all right good morning.
>> I will now call the city
Council meeting of Monday APRIL
20th 2026 to order Clerk Please
call the roll.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Council
member Campbell Council Member
Whitburn here Council Member
Foster Council Ron Wilber
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
Council Member Campo here
Council Member Marino Present
Council member Eli Rivera and
Council PRESIDENT LaCava
present also in the meeting or
here Thank you also taking
the meeting our city attorney
Heather Ferber, independent
budget analyst Charles Monica
and myself your city clerk
Diana Fuentes.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
right.
Thank you.
A quorum is now present.
We will begin this morning with
an invocation by Clark Fuentes
followed with the land
acknowledgment and the Pledge
of Allegiance led by council
member whipper grant Those who
hold office in this city
The spirit of wisdom, charity
and justice that was steadfast
purpose.
They MAY faithfully serve in
their offices to promote
the well-being of all people.
We respectfully acknowledge
that the committee should are
the original inhabitants of
the Unceded land Although
the San Diego despite enduring
the horrors of genocide and
colonization, the cowboy spirit
remains unbroken.
We are the resilience of their
ancestors who fought to protect
their culture and land.
Today they carry their legacy
forward ensuring that their
traditions continue to thrive
and gratitude and strength We
stand with a combination
connected to our past and
committed to a thriving future
.
Please place the flag Head over
your heart.
Ready?
Begin.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which
it stands One nation under GOD
,indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.
Right, Clark, please go over
how the public can offer their
testimony.
I'd like to highlight the slide
on the screen that obviously
they're looking out for their
public testimony during today's
meeting.
If you are in person, please
complete the speakers live,
look at the entrance and bring
it to the front of the room.
No further in-person testimony
will be taken once the council
begins a virtual testimony for
a better meeting management
purposes Each speaker will have
one minute per item per person
maximum of three minutes
The held PRESIDENT I thank you
with that clerk please read
the closed session items into
the record c.
>> s one Brianna Cooper versus
City of San Diego c.
S two toia Hasta Welch versus
city of San Diego c.
S three Daniel Katz versus City
of San Diego Conference with
real real property negotiator
pursuant to California
Government code Section 54956.8
c is for property 3220 3240
3250 and 3500 Sports Arena
Boulevard, San Diego,
California.
>> All right.
Clerk Please proceed with
public testimony on the closed
session items.
>> The original if you can
please unmute and let me know
which item or items you wish to
speak to.
Although we're doing housing
after this, is that separate?
Yes it is separate.
Okay.
>> Okay.
Thank you.
I'll do all of them please.
Okay.
Please proceed.
Okay.
You know just with your I mean
I guess with the constant
litigation that comes forward,
it's just ridiculous that we
constantly as the people have
to pay more money for
the negligence of the city And
you know, when there's potholes
and you know we have litigation
coming forward with that and
then you know, you go on
the streets and you still see
potholes.
It's like we're not, you know,
making things better so that
we're not going to have
constant litigation, you know,
for who knows more and more
decades regarding
the infrastructure when it
could be managed better.
You guys could manage our money
better.
I mean instead you want to come
and you know, do things like
give parking tickets and things
like that for maybe someone
going over their time at a
meter or whatever.
But it's like I mean that whole
thing is is a scam And it's sad
because it's like you act like
doing that is going to come in
and you know even better
the roads and stuff like that
And I just if you can't already
do that with money that's
supposed to go forward to that
I just not sure how we're
supposed to trust that you guys
are going to be able to manage
that kind of money that comes
in wisely And even just the you
know, the process obviously is
I'm not sure exactly what their
their claim is.
I do appreciate that you guys
put some information but I feel
like, you know, there could be
just more transparency as far
as litigation that comes
forward with the city because
you guys really tend to just
office skate and hide things
And it's just it's it's not
good for business.
I understand It's like set up
that way but it's set up that
way on a purpose and for a
reason and a purpose so that
people can't you know, find out
information about
the negligence of the business
going on with the people
managing our money And that
goes into this whole mid with a
rising project.
I mean I'm just wondering like
at what point I don't even see
a clock as that way.
I mean you're in the council
chambers.
We had a technical difficulty.
I've stopped your clock during
your question You have 50s left
right now.
Oh you Oh oh okay.
>> Great.
Thank you.
I just I don't know why
the zoom is doing that so I
don't really see a clock And I
guess you're just going to have
to tell me a time which you
will.
But everything that's going on
with like all of these projects
that you guys build there is
some kind of, you know, benefit
that comes to someone Someone
knows and you know so you do
things that you wouldn't do in
regular business that you guys
wouldn't accept another
business doing And it's just
you know, makes you wonder like
when that kind of stuff is
going to stop and when we're
actually going to be providing
things that people need because
people are suffering out on
the streets and like you know I
mean I know you guys think I'm
a broken record but it's just
sad to see that kind of stuff
And then we're in here talking
about things that Thank you
that you know, you guys
continue to do and not fix.
So it's just the hope that you
guys course correct.
>> Thank you.
That does conclude your time
Next is Blaire Beekman If you
can please unmute We were able
to fix our technical difficulty
.
>> Please let us know which
item or items you wish to speak
to.
All right.
Thank you.
Blair Beekman I don't see us to
see us three and see us or
Thank you.
>> You have three minutes.
Please proceed.
Okay.
Thank you.
I thank you for fixing
the timer issues.
I guess to start with these two
and collecting delinquent
parking tickets.
Good luck How you go forward
with this item, how you be
talking about it.
You've made incredibly
important strides in how you
deal with downtown towing
issues and towing issues
overall that can serve equity
and I hope that that.
I just wanted to remind I guess
maybe the better way to put it
that equity conversations and
the good work you are already
doing can be taken place and
how to address these delinquent
parking ticket items like this.
So good luck in our in our
efforts and our continuing
efforts to go on to item three
is this item has been to
the council closed session a
number of times violate Prop
218 charging for shared water
rates to single family resident
residential water customers.
Is this an item that concerns
us?
You know the concepts of how
you know, people who live in
low income areas can somehow
get a more affordable water
rate than people who have more
money and who can afford higher
water rates Now that's a
concept I think from the 80s
that you know San Diego Graaff
storm to fully that everything
has to be equal and passed and
you nobody gets a free break
but I think we I hope we can
really seriously consider that
people of low income just
the basic logic that people in
low income and they need more
help in paying for services and
people who live in higher level
incomes they should be
understanding that concept.
So good luck.
What we can do in understanding
that concept and how it can
relate to this.
I have been here a few times
and that I hope that gets
resolved and we work towards a
future that people can who
can't pay for things can have
help in paying for things or or
perhaps everything becomes a
lot lower to pay for
altogether.
That's another option you have
and how to create living
expenses or to think of it
another time And the last
excuse me the last item are
the Sports Boulevard Sports
arena issues Midway rising
project issues and really nice
words that last council last
week Captain Rhodes offered
some really nice words that
surprised me her being an
engineer There can be ways to
mitigate sea level rise change
for the Midway Rising project
area.
It sounds like she seems to be
stating You guys have to make
that more clear to us.
You have to make more clear
that there MAY be sea level
rise issues.
That's why you guys are going
to court over the issue and all
of those explanations need to
be much better.
Explain to the public Thank
you.
>> Thank you.
The two minute timer To
conclude no additional speakers
will be taken.
Mandy have your final speaker
for today for closed session If
you can please let me know
which item or items you wish to
speak to.
>> Good afternoon.
I'd like to speak to the sports
arena and then I'd also like to
speak to the afternoon session
regarding San Diego Housing
Commissions Performance Review.
>> San Diego Housing Commission
will be taken after this
session.
They have to be in that
meeting.
So just stay on and you can
raise your hand for that one So
you'll have one minute now and
then we'll get to your housing
at the right time.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
Again, I believe that the state
legislating potentially
the required amounts that
the state Supreme Court asked
our city to do when with regard
to the Midway neighborhood of
an analyzed the traffic and
the environmental impacts where
we build and how we build in
coastal community matters And I
really wish that our city would
work for us and not against us
when it comes to this very
large development that is on a
peninsula and a coastal
community with land that is
owned by our city.
Again, I think we need to look
at the traffic impacts as well
as the environmental impacts
once we break ground Those
impacts are real.
And again just legislating away
What the state Supreme Court
asked you to do is something
that is unconscious of all and
we deserve better from our
leadership here in San Diego.
Thank you.
>> Have a good day.
Thank you.
That concludes closed session.
All right, Council Sorry.
Thank you, City Clerk Now we
will adjourn as the city
council to convene for a
special housing authority
meeting to take public
testimony on the housing
authority Close session item
Clerk Please read the Housing
Authority closed session item
into the record.
Thank you.
Public Employment Performance
evaluation Pursuant to
California Government Code
Section 54954.5 e and 5497
Special Housing Authority
Closed Session Item one.
PRESIDENT And Chief Executive
Officer of the San Diego
Housing Commission.
>> All right.
Thank you.
City Clerk Please proceed with
public testimony on the Housing
Authority closed session item.
Thank you, sir.
At five minute timer
the original if you can please
unmute.
>> Was it Just a minute?
This is just a minute.
It's just the line item.
Yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
For their like evaluating what
is taking place I just feel
like you know we need to really
look at what's happening with
the housing and what is and
what isn't being provided and
how many people actually need
this housing and how even
the homeless situation is not
good Like you know tent cities
not being mitigated although
there is litigation coming up
which is super exciting.
That's on MAY 7th So I'm
excited to see what happens
there because there's so many
victims that have been just
trying to get into housing.
So I think that we need to look
at those types of things and
like the amount of human
suffering that's increased and
is going to increase as you
know people are being priced
out of living just their daily
lives.
But yeah, so I mean you know
I'm sure you're going to give
them kudos or probably give
them a raise coming up and
different things but you know
let's like really live in
reality and see that there's
homeless that your time has
concluded and you have like if
you can please unmute Thank
you.
Good afternoon.
I'm here today regarding
the performance evaluate ation
of the PRESIDENT And ceo of
the San Diego Housing
Commission.
Performance should be measured
by one simple question Are we
making housing more affordable
for the people who need it most
Right now residents at Mount
Etna that are near the New
housing the affordable housing
bubble in Genesee they received
an 8.8% rent increase at
the beginning of the year.
These are people living and
deed restricted affordable
housing many on fixed incomes,
working families, seniors and
residents who believe that they
would have had finally had
stability.
Instead they are being priced
out of the very housing that's
meant to protect them.
How can leadership be rewarded
by residents are being asked to
carry that burden?
>> How can we justify increases
or excellent performance
reviews while struggling
families are told to pay more?
We need rent relief for
residents in deed restricted
housing.
We need accountability for
operators profiting off of
affordable units within
leadership.
Your time has concluded.
>> Blaire Beekman If you can
please unmute.
Hi Blaire Beekman.
Thank you for the word to
the Housing Commissioner on
this side and on the previous
consent calendar on
the construction agenda.
I'm not alone in my thinking Oh
my gosh it's nice that she said
things very nicely.
Good luck in your review
process.
What we do together as a
community towards it can be
clear We can talk about
environmental concerns.
Thank you.
To comment on this item I
wanted to comment that I've
been really impressed by
the current who's ever in
charge of working in
the housing authority.
I think he's been done a really
good job and he's trying to
navigate a lot of the current
new presidential administration
and federal administration.
So I like her words.
i like her approach and how
she's trying to address things
.
I think there can be ways to
create good dialog with federal
agencies.
We have to find that that way
That I think can be a fairly
good mediation process.
Good luck to all of us.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
That does conclude public
comment on the Housing
Authority concession.
All right.
Thank you, City clerk.
We will now adjourn as
the housing authority and
reconvene as the city council.
We will now recess in
the closed session and
reconvene council today at 2
and
the council buy 1234 five
so we can move on with
the meeting.
Good afternoon.
I will now reconvene the City
council meeting on Monday APRIL
20th 2026 Clerk Please call
the roll.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Council
Member Campbell here Council
Member Whitburn here Council
Member Foster Council Member
Von Wilpert Council PRESIDENT
Pro Tem Lee Council Member
Campo here Council Member
Moreno Present Council member
Ella Rivera and Council
PRESIDENT LaCava is also taking
the meeting.
Our Assistant City Attorney
Michelle Garland Independent
budget analyst Charles Monica
Council Affairs Advisor in
the Mayor's office Code advisor
and myself your city Clerk
Diana Fuentes Thank you Council
PRESIDENT All right.
>> Thank you.
City Clerk a quorum is now
present Before we begin for
those of you who've been here
before but especially for those
who have not.
I know there's a lot of energy
and passion in the room so I
want to remind everyone about
the city's practices and
procedures for public comment
at city council meetings
The city welcomes participation
at our council meetings.
Speakers MAY address
the Council during public
comment and also in connection
with the specific item of
business on the agenda.
However, the city must make
sure that no one person or
group of people disrupt
the meeting in a way that
prohibits other speakers from
expressing their ideas and
opinions such as excessive
yelling, screaming or speaking
beyond ones a lot of time or
speaking when others are
speaking.
These are all examples of
behavior that disrupts
the meeting.
So to make sure that everyone
here has an opportunity to
address the council, I will
alert an individual or
individuals if I think their
conduct becomes disruptive.
If the disruption continues I
will rule the individual out of
order and if the latter option
continues further I will
declare a recess so that we can
restore order.
At that point I will direct
the individual leave the room
and if the individual refuses
police will escort
the individual out of
the building.
And if we have to repeat this
process of warming and warning
and resetting the meeting, all
members of the public will be
excused from chambers and
credentialed media will be
allowed to remain.
Once again we have these
practices and procedures to
protect the rights of other
speakers who wish to address
the Council and to allow
the Council to conduct
the public's business.
And then just a couple of
things Again for those of you
here very for the very first
time.
There's a couple of protocols
that were adopted many years
that seem to be particularly
successful If you hear things
that you like give a thumbs up.
Very strong visual If you hear
things you don't like rather
than yell or protest thumbs
down.
Again, very strong visual if
you have a fine please be
respectful of the people behind
you.
We want everyone to have full
view of the public speaker or
the council when they're
speaking to do that.
So we'll talk a little bit more
about that on the next item
which I think is why most of
you are here.
So before we get started with
those two items on today's
agenda, are there any comments
from the mayor's office,
council members, city attorney,
independent budget and
Leicester City clerk Not seeing
any clerk?
Please go over how the public
can offer their testimony.
>> Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT I would like
to highlight the slide on
the screen that reviews how
the public can offer their
public testimony during this
afternoon's meeting.
The order can be found on
the agenda summary online or at
the table in the back of
the room If you are in person
please complete a speaker slip
located at the entrance of
chambers and bring it to
the front of the room into
the clear box.
Again as a reminder if your
seating time please make sure
that the person your seating
two and your slip are submitted
together at the same time.
Council ambassadors are
available near the entrance of
chambers and can assist with
questions and speaker slips.
No further in-person testimony
will be taken once the council
begins Virtual testimony.
If you are unable to stay until
yours you are called upon in
person.
You can also always connect via
zoom w w w dot San diego.Gov/cc
to keep watching the meeting
and giving your comments
virtually.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
All right thank you City Clerk.
So we're going to take care of
one item of business before we
get on to the main attraction
this afternoon.
Clerk please introduce item 201
approval.
>> I thank you.
Council Item 2a1 is
the approval of an affordable
housing loan agreement with
Alpha Street Housing lp in an
amount of $4.5 million for
the 40th and Alpha Apartments
Affordable Housing project.
If you'd like to speak to this
item now's your time to raise
your hand for a pressing star
nine The raise your hand icon
or submit your speaker slip
here in person.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT All
right.
Thank you.
Staff I see you're settled in.
Please introduce yourselves to
record and let us know how much
time you need for your
presentation.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT LaCava and
Council members.
My name is Michelle Marano,
Assistant Deputy Director with
the Economic Development
Department and with me is
Christy Marsala, Deputy
Director.
It's our pleasure to present
this item to you today We
request approximately six
minutes for this presentation
when you're ready.
Today we're requesting that
the City Council approve
the staff report actions
summarized on this slide
The actions include approving
the loan agreement with Alpha
Street Housing lp for the 40th
and Alpha Street Apartments
authorizing the mayor to
execute, administer and
implement the loan agreement
authorizing a loan of $4.5
million for the project and
authorizing the $25,000
developer deposit for city
costs and loan repayments to be
deposited to the low and
moderate Income Housing Asset
Fund before discussing
the apartments I'll provide a
brief summary of the Bridge to
Home program.
The Bridge to Home program has
proven to be a valuable tool in
allocating gap financing to
assist in meeting critical
affordable housing needs.
Since 2021, the Economic
Development Department has
issued seven rounds of its
Bridge to Home Notice of
funding availability.
Round seven applications were
received on APRIL 6th and are
under review.
Rounds one through six have
resulted in 23 approved loan
agreements and today's
agreement is one of the three
remaining agreements for
Council's approval.
Altogether these 26 loans will
provide a total of one point
I'm sorry $1.123 million in
affordable housing funding
creating 2528 total apartments
including 2499 affordable
rental homes and of those 433
are permanent housing with
supportive services.
>> An informational
presentation on the Bridge to
Home Round four Notice
the funding availability
process was provided to the Ed
and I r committee on DECEMBER
11th of 2024 and six projects
were recommended for loans.
Round four projects will create
592 affordable rental homes
including 96 permanent
supportive housing units.
And now I'll take a few moments
to provide a brief description
of the 40th and Alpha
Apartments.
The 40th and Alpha Apartments
will be developed by a
partnership owned and
controlled by community housing
Works.
This is a California nonprofit
developer founded in 1988.
The vacant site is owned by
the city and in DECEMBER of
2024 the City council approved
a disposition and development
agreement for the city to sell
the site to community housing
works to create affordable
housing in conformance with
the Surplus Land Act.
The approximate half acre site
is vacant and located on Easy
Street in the South Crest
neighborhood of
the southeastern San Diego
Community Plan area and it's
within the San Diego Promise
Zone.
It's in a residential
neighborhood across from an
elementary school in South
Crest Park and is also within a
transit priority area and
within a quarter mile of
multiple transit stops.
>> The proposed new
construction includes a six
story building and a three
story building that will
include 69 affordable one
bedroom apartments and 22 two
bedroom apartments for families
earning between 30% to 60% of
the area median income.
There is also one manager's
apartment and a 2400 square
foot child care center with an
outdoor play area.
Amenities include an elevator,
a community room, computer lab,
kitchen laundry facilities,
bike parking, a courtyard and a
playground.
The project will be Greenpoint
Silver rated with energy
efficient appliances and
lighting two pane windows Water
efficient plumbing and storm
water filtration.
>> The loan agreement will
provide a $4.5 million loan at
3% Simple interest with a 55
year term to be repaid from
residual receipts and the 91
affordable apartments will be
restricted at 30 to 60% of
the area median income for 55
years.
These tables show the estimated
projected sources and uses of
funds.
The $4.5 million city loan
provides approximately $49,000
per apartment or $39,000 per
bedroom.
The city funding is leveraged
with other anticipate and
financing sources including 1.3
million in community
development block grant funds
awarded through the San Diego
Housing Commission's notice of
funding availability for
acquisition costs.
>> The total acquisition,
development and construction
costs are budgeted at
approximately 59 million which
is 641,000 per apartment and
513,000 per bedroom.
Please note that these sources
and uses of funds are based on
estimates and assumptions and
will be finalized at closing
once all financing sources are
secured.
We'll now review the tentative
schedule for the project.
The developer plans to apply
for tax credits and other
sources in 2026 and if awarded
construction could begin in
the first quarter of 2027 which
is essentially a 180 days of
award of tax credits and
the construction period is
anticipated to be approximately
26 months.
Staff recommends approval of
the requested actions
summarized here and
representatives from
the development team as well as
city staff are available to
respond to questions in This
concludes my presentation.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you for the presentation
.
>> I believe the Office of
the Independent Budget Analyst
has a few comments.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT And
thank you to the Economic
Development Department and
Community Housing Works for
taking the time to answer our
questions.
Our office would like to take a
moment to highlight the sources
of funding for the 40th and
Alpha Project.
The total development costs for
the project today is
approximately $59,000,007
million increase from when
the project was last presented
to the eda and our committee in
DECEMBER 2020 For these
increases are reasonable and
associated with hard direct
cost increases over time due to
increases in labor and material
costs.
Of the $59 million costs
the developer has identified
all sources but some of these
sources have not yet been
formally secured which is
typical with affordable housing
funding not including the 4.5
million residual receipts loan
before you today the developer
will still need to secure about
13 million in soft sources of
funding before they will be
able to apply for low income
housing tax credits.
The staff report indicates that
the developer intends to apply
for tax credits and MAY 2026
however, the current unsecured
soft sources of funding MAY
prohibit the developer from
applying for tax credits by MAY
if they're unable to fill that
hole.
This by no means would doom
the project It just means
the developer would have to
wait until the next tax credit
application deadline in
SEPTEMBER.
However, that would also
include additional carrying
costs and increases and pushing
back any groundbreaking.
We note this discrepancy not to
alarm me about the project but
to highlight the highly
competitive nature that exists
for securing soft sources of
funding to make projects
financially feasible.
This project was preliminary
awarded this funding back in
DECEMBER 2024 and MAY not be
able to break ground for two
and a half years after that
date.
While the city's low and
moderate Income Housing Asset
Fund has healthy balances, we
note that this council should
continue to be disciplined in
the affordable housing projects
that they award funding to or
balancing the costs and number
of new units produced with
the timing to get these
projects fully funded.
Thank you very much.
All right.
Thank you.
We always appreciate that
input.
So clerk please proceed with
public testimony on item 201.
>> Thank you.
We have no speakers here in
council chambers for item 2a1
going to those participating
remotely.
Blaire Beekman If you can
please unmute.
>> All right.
Thank you.
All right where be screen.
Thanks a lot for this item.
It sounds like you're making
attempts at affordable housing.
I mean truly affordable
housing.
Thank you.
I think it's really important
that we really have to work
towards the emphasis of truly
affordable housing And you're
trying to do that on this item.
I'm open.
They just passed an ordinance
on There are unhoused persons
in the city.
It really follows the examples
of San or San Diego a few years
ago and I'm not happy with it.
I think by this time we could
start to be doing better And so
I think the best way to do that
is that we have to consider
housing and what is accessible
housing our everybody be
involved.
I know staff has been doing
some really good work in that
field.
I wish that conversation could
just be so regular and just so
every day in the public meeting
process But it's not But we all
know the subject matter and we
all respect it a lot.
Good luck.
How to really make truly
affordable housing and
accessible to people every day.
The objective for ourselves in
our San Diego community.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Our next speaker is Andrew
Irving.
If you can please unmute you.
Hi this is Andrea.
I would just the only thing I'm
going to have to say about this
is that it looks like this
alpha one alpha look Alpha
street housing just got some
license on Sam talk of
registered on three 126 As a
nonprofit I would definitely
look into this further and all
parties involved through three
corporate week and this this
did a deeper dive That's all I
have to say.
Thank you.
Our next speaker and our final
speaker is or the original if
you can please unmute.
Yeah that's the thing The Alpha
whatever their project Alpha
Apartments it's it's curious
when we you know do engage with
these NGOs or when you guys sit
here and claim that there's any
kind of affordable housing I
mean people are barely able to
pay rent and when you guys you
know start including all of
these like requirements as far
as like mitigating vehicle
miles traveled and all of these
different things and studies
that that increases the cost
that comes down to the people
and you know people actually
really need you when you're
saying it's affordable for it
actually to be affordable and
it literally is not.
But we you guys sit here and
engage with these NGOs that you
know will get these deed
restrictions so they get like,
you know, tax credits and all
of these these benefits that
don't go down to the people.
So it's like you're willing to
work with these entities to be
like hey, in order for you to
do this will like make you
exempt in this And like, you
know, give you all these perks.
But when it comes down to
actually giving the people what
they need they don't really get
it And there is it
affordability happening here
And as we know everything is
just like skyrocketing in price
intentionally so because you've
got to take the people down to
the bottom in order for them to
be totally controlled.
And so it's working really well
what you guys are doing in that
aspect But when there's you
know, quid pro quo going on
with these, you know, NGOs that
you guys engage with kind of
like dreams for Change who's
supposed to be getting people
into affordable housing,
getting them off the streets,
not having some you know,
doctor and ceo say that she
wants them to stay there as
long as possible.
That's very detrimental to
those people and that's a
racket in itself.
So any time you guys are
engaging with these entities
you have to question what's
going on, why you pick them,
who's friends with who and what
money is being passed around on
the back end of it while you
pretend to provide your time
has concluded.
Thank you for those comments.
>> That concludes public
comment on this item.
All right.
Thank you City Clerk and I'll
turn over to my council
colleagues for questions,
comments and entertain a motion
and we'll start with Council
member Moreno Thank you.
>> Thank you for
the presentation and thank you
to Community housing Works and
the City for working on this
loan agreement.
This project represents an
important investment in our
community adding much needed
housing in a location that is
directly across from from a
park and a school Resources
that are critical for working
families.
I'm especially encouraged to
see the development will
include a child care component
operated by say San Diego which
is going to provide essential
support for parents and also
caregivers.
Thank you MR. Noah Fleishman
from the aba for reminding us
how delicate these developing
affordable housing is.
But I think it's our number one
priority not only in the city
of San Diego but in the state
of California.
Housing is by and large
the number one issue that folks
bring up.
So it's an honor for me to be
able to move staff's
recommendation on this item.
I also want to point out that I
asked community housing works
to go to the southeastern San
Diego Community Planning Group
really early on in this process
and they did it which I think
is important also to make sure
that the community is well
engaged in the process and has
a say in the process.
So these 91 one and two bedroom
homes will be affordable over
the long term to households
earning between 30 and 60% of
the area Median income
basically helping ensure that
families of varying income
levels can remain in and
succeed in our community.
So I understand the concerns
brought up but I think this is
part of the sausage making when
you're talking about affordable
housing when you go and apply
for tech funding they certainly
look at the local jurisdiction
having some skin in the game.
This is our skin in the game
saying we're standing behind
community housing works and we
absolutely want to see more
housing in our communities.
So it is my honor to make
the motion to move steps
recommendation.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you Council Member.
So we do have a motion by
COUNCILMAN Moreno to move
The staff recommendation will
go next to council member Campo
.
>> Thank you So PRESIDENT I'll
second the motion and thank
Councilmember Moreno for her
comments.
I completely agree.
I know that we heard about this
particular development moving
forward and edi and I are I
think it was in 2024 and here
we are ready to go in 2026.
It's going to be a public
benefit undeniably So I will
conclude my second with that.
>> All right.
Thank you, sir.
So we have a motion by
Councilmember Moreno and a
second by Councilmember Campos
to move the staff
recommendation.
Council member Eli Rivera Thank
you.
Council PRESIDENT I just wanted
to say thanks to staff for your
work on this.
I want to say thank you to
the housing works for for their
efforts And Catherine Moreno,
thank you for continuing to
invite housing into your into
your district and affordable
housing into your districts.
As you said, this is as
important as it gets in terms
of the future of our city.
And the last thing I want to
say I have the opportunity to
represent this part of city
prior to the transition after
after the most recent change in
the lions and this community
deserves nice things.
Community housing work has
already delivered a very very
nice project right down
the street from this And this
was this is the neighborhood
that was impacted by the floods
and seen investment in that
community after those floods.
It's incredibly important While
you know, other folks have
fled, other people have tried
to to take advantage of
the situation that people find
themselves in after those
floods.
I'm really glad to see this
sort of investment from
the homes that will be created
to the child care space.
So thank you again for the work
on this.
>> I'm very, very supportive.
All right.
Thank you Council members So we
do have a motion by
Councilmember Moreno, second by
Councilmember Camp.
You see no one else in
the life.
>> clerk Please call the roll.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT I'm sorry
The voting system Please cast
your vote That passes
unanimously 8 to 0 with
Councilmember Yvonne Wolford
Absent.
>> Thank you, Council PRESIDENT
All right.
Thank you again thank you to
staff for the good work in
bringing this forward.
>> All right, Main attraction
clerk Please introduce item 200
.
>> Item 200 is the presentation
of the fiscal year 2027 draft
budget.
If you'd like to speak on this
item please be sure to submit
your speakers up to the front
of the room in the clear box
And if you are participating
online now's the time to raise
your hand by pressing Star nine
or the raise your hand icon.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
>> All right.
Thank you.
And with that I welcome
the mayor to make some opening
remarks before we get
the formal presentation.
So sir, turn the mic over to
you.
Thank you, council PRESIDENT
And good afternoon, members of
the city council.
I come before you this
afternoon to present the fiscal
year 2027 draft budget.
I want to start at
the beginning by recognizing
that this is a shared
responsibility.
We won't agree on every
decision in this proposal and
that's okay.
This is the start of a
multi-month process and this
proposal will certainly evolve
What we can agree on is that we
all share a responsibility for
enacting a balanced budget that
protects essential services
that San Diegans rely on.
That is the goal of this
process.
My draft budget is balanced and
responsibly confronts a $118
million deficit one that has
been building for years due to
rising costs slower than normal
revenue growth and long
deferred infrastructure needs.
This is the structural
imbalance that we must confront
together.
Every department contributed to
closing this gap.
No one was exempt from
reductions including my office
.
We have heard directly from
residents more than 11,000 San
Diegans who have responded to
our resident budget survey and
their priorities are very clear
Public safety, neighborhood
infrastructure and homelessness
and they want us to fund those
priorities with our existing
resources.
This proposal reflects those
priorities.
It maintains funding for fires
of police and fire, avoiding
fire station brownouts and
police station closures that
were considered earlier in this
process.
This budget invests in
the basics by committing
funding for more than a 311
lane miles of road resurfacing
and nearly $60 million for
safety improvements at key
intersections sometimes known
as the fatal 15.
And it protects our progress on
homelessness by continuing to
invest in the strategies that
helped us to reduce unsheltered
homelessness in our city last
year by 13.5%.
But these investments required
serious tradeoffs.
Beloved programing like library
and recreation center hours
will be reduced.
Grants to nonprofit arts
organizations are paused and as
I said before, no city
department avoided reductions.
This draft budget proposes
eliminating 198 general fund
positions including 48
management positions.
These decisions are not easy
and they will have impacts on
all of us But they are
necessary to protect core
services and meet our legal
obligation to pass a balanced
budget.
We are also approaching this
year's budget process
differently.
I began budget development far
earlier than normal and with
more collaboration with
the City Council.
This draft budget includes a
zero based review of contracts
reductions in middle management
and soon I will present you
with data to help guide
decisions on library and
recreation center service
levels so that we can meet
the needs of each neighborhood
and avoid across the board
cuts.
And that's where this work will
continue.
Council We face real financial
pressures.
Costs are rising.
Revenues are not keeping pace.
Federal and state funding is
uncertain and macroeconomic and
political conditions remain
very unpredictable.
That's why we must make
structural adjustment now to
avoid deeper cuts later.
We have made real progress
together Council on
Homelessness, on
infrastructure, on Public
safety and on putting our
finances on more stable
footing.
This draft budget builds on
that progress.
I look forward to working with
all of you to adopt a final
budget that meets this moment
and reflects our shared
responsibility to the people of
San Diego.
Now our Chief Financial officer
Rolando Zavala will walk you
through the specifics of
the fiscal year 2027 draft
budget.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you, Mayor.
So those seated for
the presentation identify
yourself for the record and let
us know how much time you will
need.
About 25 minutes.
Okay.
When you're 25.
Thank you, Mayor.
Good afternoon, Council
PRESIDENT Members of the City
Council.
I'm Rolando Travaille Chief
Financial Officer.
With me is Ben Battaglia,
Department of Finance Director
.
By way of overview, the fy 27
draft budget totaled $6.4
billion citywide an increase of
about 5.2%.
The general fund component
totals about 2.2 billion an
increase of 3.3%.
This is the second year of
progress towards addressing
the general fund structural
deficit.
This shortfall shortfall has
been driven by rising inflation
and slowing major revenue
growth over several years.
The recently approved ballot
measures that increase
restricted totty and refuse
collection fees helped close
this budget gap by decreasing
the structural shortfall but
not sufficiently.
This required additional
mitigation measures mostly from
budget reductions.
This is the second year of
major reductions to improve
long term stability which
include significant service
level impacts across
the organization.
Here you can see the budget for
the f y 27 draft broken down by
fund type includes f, y 26 and
f y 27 data for comparison
purposes.
The general fund is increasing
by about 71 million mostly to
maintain the same level of
service after accounting for
inflationary increases in some
limited additions mostly
associated with legal
requirements, mandates and risk
mitigation.
To highlight a few of the other
significant changes from f y 26
Special Revenue Fund
expenditures and are increasing
by about $118 million That's
mostly related to additional
projects for the undergrounding
fund issuance of the tax and
revenue anticipation notes
expected for fy 27 and
additional reimbursements from
the Emergency Medical Service
Fund for eligible expenses in
the general fund.
Enterprise fund expenditures
are increasing by about 167
million.
That's due to higher water cost
personal expenditures to
support pure water Phase one
energy consumption increases
and there's also increases
related to a bulky item pickup
in the refuse collection
enterprise fund that was that
were included as part of
the recent rate case that
established the fee.
As the mayor stated this year.
We've incorporated changes to
the budget process itself.
There was greater collaboration
with the City council and
earlier information sharing is
zero based review of contracts
analysis of middle management
employees added over the last
five fiscal years data driven
analysis and recreation centers
and libraries continue
department consolidations and
the resident budget survey that
provided critical input in
budget decisions.
The Residents survey provided
input by more than 10,000
residents.
The survey results confirmed
that protecting public safety,
neighborhood infrastructure,
homelessness services and
housing is a top concern for
those who responded to
the survey.
Those priorities are reflected
in this draft budget Over
the course of the mayor's term,
the administration has
consolidated a total of 16
departments.
These consolidations allow for
cost savings and better support
for some of the smaller
departments.
Further consolidations of
departments during expected for
fy 27 include the Office of
Emergency Services which is
being consolidated into
the fire rescue department.
The compliance department
programs that are being moved
into three different
departments in special events
and filming which is being
consolidated with Parks and
Recreation moving back to
the general fund shortfall at
the beginning of this budget
cycle, the city's five year
financial outlook projected in
$88.8 million shortfall in
the general fund for fy 27.
As we moved through the budget
development process, that gap
grew to approximately $118
million due to three key
drivers lower transient
occupancy tax performance, a
higher pension payment and
other factors such as
the reduced bill part parking
revenue In addition to
the revised $180 million we
incorporated essential
additions tied to mandates
legal obligations and
operational risk mitigation
after which the total budget
that we had to solve for it was
about $146.2 million.
The draft budget is that $146.2
million with a combination of
Labor concessions and the tune
of $26.2 million.
About $76.1 million in
expenditure reductions and
about $43.9 million in
additional revenue in other
sources mostly from
reimbursements from general
from special revenue funds.
>> This slide shows
the economic indicators used to
develop major revenue
projections.
The first five relate to
property tax projections.
The first item in the table
shows a slight increase in
the number of home sales
compared to last year at about
11,000 close to 11,000 home
sales.
But this is significantly below
the 16,000 home sales that we
were seeing in more recent
years Even with slowing home
sales, the increase in home
prices as reflected in
the median home price and
Case-Shiller index for the next
two indicators.
Those increases have helped
offset some of this decrease in
in the number of home sales.
Foreclosure notice of default
to continue to be at historical
healthy levels.
And the last two indicators
which impact our totty and our
sales tax.
You can see there that
unemployment rates continue to
be relatively low compared to
historical levels at 4.5%
holding steady compared to last
year.
And then consumer confidence
that's where we have seen a
decrease a significant decrease
due to inflation concerns with
the federal policies and
geopolitical events.
This table shows how some of
that those projections
translate Now into our general
fund revenues.
You can see Major Avians
growing by about 43 million and
other revenues growing by about
28 million for a total of about
71 million.
Property taxes are growing at
about 4.2%.
Well, not as strong as a 5.5%
growth seen in more recent
years.
This is still represents a
healthy growth for an increase
of about $38 million in
property taxes Sales tax
growing at about 1.9% while
still positive and close to
the 3.5% increases that we've
seen in average for this
revenue source.
And tlt is really the most
impacted revenue growing at
just 1.5% compared to the 6%
average growth in prior years.
Much of the increase revenue
that you see under other
revenues is associated with
reimbursements of general fund
from other funds and increase
investment earnings assumed
from the issuance of the tax
and revenue anticipation Note
expected next fiscal year.
This slide shows significant
revenue increases in other
resources.
The largest resources shown on
this slide are additional total
reimbursements to the general
fund for eligible expenditures
after reductions in penny for
the year to about $11.8
million.
There is an additional draw
from the Calpers stress of
about $6 million to pay for
retiree health care cost
increases reimbursements from
the Emergency Medical Services
Fund, parking revenue
reimbursements for sidewalks,
sanitation and city Treasurer
admin services.
Net Interest earnings from
the issuance of the tax and
revenue Anticipation Notes Fire
Rescue reimbursements and
adjustments from grants,
special events and other
sources.
In additional parks and rec
reimbursements from the from
growth in the Environmental
Growth Fund.
Earlier in the presentation and
mentioned I mentioned an
increase in general fund
expenditures of about $71
million.
This list showed some of
the additions above baseline.
The only required
reimbursements through
the years the fund for General
fund related right of way
permits adjustments to
transportation over time in
asphalt overtime had not been
increased in prior years after
general salary increases went
into effect.
And in terms of asphalt,
asphalt has close to doubled in
cost and this adjustment brings
that budget to current price
levels.
There is a legally required
$1.9 million expenditure for
costs associated with services
for residents that have not
transitioned to a private trash
hauler that need to be paid
from from the general fund an
increase of about 1.9 million
for San Diego River levees
Engineering Studies.
This is to maintain our fema
accreditation in be eligible
for reimbursements should there
be a national disaster staffing
for new parks and facilities.
About 1.8 million in an effort
to increase county
participation in four
additional beds for
the homeless, we are adding
about $1.5 million to domestic
violence shelter with an
expected match of $1.5 million
from the county about $700,000
associated with settlement and
for the air pollution control
District litigation.
And about half $1 million for
various collection fee studies
that we anticipate will allow
us to bring additional revenue
in future years.
>> This slide shows significant
reductions.
You can see labor concessions
account to about $26.2 million
as mitigation.
This was a cause that was
factored into the outlook as
projected expenses that we are
avoiding expenditure reductions
remaining at about $76.1
million and some of the most
significant reductions include
classified position reductions
but 9.3 million the waiver of
the Climate Equity Fund
freezing some sworn police
leadership positions and
increasing the span of controls
of those remaining 20 library
and recreation center hours.
Homelessness programs
Reductions The elimination of
multi-modal team most related
to bike lane improvements in As
I mentioned before this is
the second year of significant
significant budget reductions.
This year's reductions combined
with last year's reductions
total approximately $189.2
million over the course of
these two fiscal years.
To put this in context, this
equates to the entire Parks and
recreation budget for our fy
26.
This shows we are dealing with
a structural issue that
requires a sustained multi-year
approach.
>> Next I'll discuss some of
the programmatic adjustments in
this budget.
Impacts from ongoing labor
negotiations are not reflected
in the draft budget but they
will be reflected in the MAY
revised pending conclusion of
the negotiations.
>> Overall the General Fund for
the General Fund personnel
costs are decreasing by a net 4
million and this is primarily
due to the reduction of
positions which is offset by a
decrease in budgeted personnel
expenditure savings due to a
projection of fewer vacancies
next year as well as positions
added for staff to maintain new
facilities.
Fringe benefits are increasing
by a net 17.7 million and this
is primarily due to an increase
in the pension payment and
worker's compensation costs.
And these are both offset by a
decrease in retiree health care
contributions.
For public safety, the budget
avoids fire station brownouts
and additional decreases in
overtime specifically in
the areas of neighborhood
policing, clean city patrol and
youth services.
It implements cross staffing
for the bomb squad unit in
reduced positions and npy that
are associated with training
recruitment and community
engagement in the fire rescue
department.
For the police department,
the budget preserves front line
personnel.
It holds sworn leadership
positions vacant.
Expanding the span of control
for existing leadership and
holds a number of police
investigative service officer
positions vacant.
>> The fiscal year 27 draft
budget includes 97.1 million in
funding for homelessness
programs and services including
the police department's
homeless outreach team and
the Environmental Services
Department's Clean City
program.
The General fund budget is
slightly increasing to 72.9
million which is mostly
supported by totty Measure itot
and Opioid Settlement Fund
reimbursements.
The remainder of the total
homelessness services funding
is primarily supported by
various state and federal
grants including hap and cdbg.
>> Homeless shelters continue
to be funded including the safe
parking and safe sleeping
programs.
Other programs including
supportive services navigation
programs as well as community
outreach are coordinated.
Outreach will continue next
year.
The Housing Instability
Prevention Program and
the Eviction Prevention Program
will carry forward at current
funding levels.
And finally the budget includes
programmatic reductions which
will be discussed in detail
during the homelessness
strategies and Solutions
Department Budget Review
Committee presentation.
>> Notable adjustments in
the area of community services
include the strategic reduction
of library and rec center hours
including a related reduction
in security services to
libraries or planned for
closure for renovation and
expansion.
There's a reduction to
the library donation match and
the Office of Child Any success
is proposed to be eliminated.
Restroom closures in select
parks is proposed to be reduced
as well as a reduction to park
rangers.
Additionally, the budget
includes additional staffing
and related costs to operate
and maintain new parks and
joint use facilities that are
planned to open next fiscal
year.
>> Other notable reductions
include the Elimination of Arts
and Culture grants to outside
organizations, various facility
maintenance trade positions,
decreased support for building
and zoning code enforcement as
well as the elimination of City
Council kps funding.
>> Overall the budget includes
the reduction of 288 positions.
Citywide with 187 positions
being added primarily in
the Solid Waste Management
Enterprise Fund for a net
reduction of 101 total
positions.
The General Fund includes a
reduction of 268 positions with
70 positions added primarily to
support the operations of new
facilities as well as parking
enforcement many of which are
reimbursable for a net
reduction of 198 positions.
To highlight a few notable
adjustments in the nine general
funds, additional funding is
included in the Solid Waste
Management Enterprise Fund for
expanded services supported by
the approved trash fee.
The Environmental Growth funds
include 7 million to support
wetland mitigation activities
related to prior storm channel
clearing work and the budget
also includes funding to
support Phase one of the pure
water program which is being
beginning operations next year
.
>> The fiscal year 27 capital
improvements Program budget
includes 821.7 million for a
variety of projects.
Key investments include
continued funding for water and
sewer pipeline projects.
Funding for the Pure water
program continued investment in
street repair investments and
other right of way assets
including the traffic safety
funding for storm water
emergency projects and other
projects that are scheduled to
go into construction next
fiscal year.
The budget includes
significant investment in
general fund assets such as
city facilities, storm drain
infrastructure, streets,
sidewalks and other right of
way assets.
A total of 222.3 million in
funding is supported by debt
financing and other mostly
restricted sources such as
Transnet and utility
undergrounding fees.
Major considerations for
funding were project readiness
for construction and continued
investment in streets and
stormwater infrastructure.
Council Policy 800 Dash 14 is
also used to prioritize
projects along with mayoral and
council priorities.
The draft budget includes 89.1
million for the city's street
repair program.
This funding will support
street maintenance including
slurry cape and scrub seal
pothole repairs and trench
restoration services as well as
street resurfacing.
The funding will support a
total of 345 miles of street
repair next year.
>> The city will also continue
to make investments towards its
vision zero goals next year and
the budget includes funding for
a variety of right of way
improvements that will support
pedestrian bike and vehicle
safety.
A total investment of
approximately 60 million will
support this effort, including
addressing the city's most
dangerous 15 intersections.
Stormwater emergencies continue
to cost millions each year.
The fiscal year 27 draft budget
includes 52.5 million
investment in stormwater
infrastructure which is in
addition to the $733 million
with a program The city is
continuing to set aside funding
annually for storm drain
emergencies and is investing in
other projects that are ready
for construction.
>> Looking ahead the aba will
be releasing their review of
the draft budget on APRIL 29th
and the Budget Review Committee
hearings are scheduled for
the week of MAY 4th.
The Department of Finance will
be releasing the MAY revision
on MAY 13th and presenting it
to the City Council on MAY
18th.
Finally the City Council is
scheduled to adopt the budget
on JUNE 9th.
>> The fiscal year 20 27 draft
budget is balanced and it
prioritizes continue to
investment in public safety
infrastructure, homelessness
solutions and housing.
This is the second year of
progress towards addressing
the general fund Structural
deficit and additional revenue
will be needed to address
the city's growing capital
improvement needs.
>> That concludes our
presentation and we're happy to
answer any questions you'll
have.
All right.
Thank you both for
the presentation.
I'll turn it over now to our
independent budget analyst
Charles Marcus for Thank you
council PRESIDENT, council
members, MR. Mayor and
the Department of Finance for
your presentation.
As you know, the proposed
budget was released last week
on APRIL 15th and that kicked
off a very intense two week
period during which my team is
working tirelessly to translate
the budget into a comprehensive
report to help guide your
budget review That starts in
MAY.
Given the addition of
the Division of Race and Equity
to my office this year, our
report will also include
additional focus on the equity
impacts of various budget
adjustments.
While the bulk of our analysis
is still being worked on and
will be included in a full
report that will be released on
APRIL 29th, I do have some
general remarks for today.
First I want to acknowledge
that this budget includes a
number of substantial cuts
which were necessary to close a
deficit of roughly $118
million.
The city has been operating
with structural deficit for
years and my office has warned
of them in all of our budget
reviews.
Cuts of the magnitude being
proposed will be difficult but
they are also necessary to
balance the budget.
It is important to understand
how the city got here.
This deficit is not new.
The city's resources have been
insufficient to provide for
the services and infrastructure
maintenance for decades.
The city realized just over 15
years ago in 2010 when it
pursued a temporary half cent
sales tax measure.
But that effort failed, causing
the city to pull back on both
infrastructure maintenance and
employee compensation.
And in 2012 when the city began
issuing bonds again to pay for
its capital infrastructure
needs, the city did so not with
the expectation that
infrastructure needs to be
fully funded but with
the knowledge that bond funding
would only allow the city to
slow the rate at which its
infrastructure deteriorated.
Beyond this, in the city's day
to day operations, some areas
have seen expanded services
while the city's actual
revenues particularly sales and
hotel taxes were and remain low
compared to our peer cities.
Another attempt was made to
address all of this in 2024
with a measure to increase
the city's sales tax rate by
$0.01 But that effort narrowly
failed.
Band aid the city has used in
past two decades like keeping
employee compensation low and
deferring infrastructure
maintenance have long term
consequences that we are
dealing with today.
While the city has raised pay
in recent years new revenues
for infrastructure have been
limited.
While the infrastructure needs
of the city have ballooned from
1.4 billion in unfunded capital
needs ten years ago to $7.8
billion today.
I do want to address a few
misconceptions about how
the city got here.
First, I often read complaints
about how much the city spends
on bike lanes.
I want to be clear that
the city spends a fraction of a
percent of its budget on bike
lanes in any given year and
that amount is generally
associated with straightening
streets after repaving Most of
the large and more costly bike
lane projects in the region are
completed by and funded by
sandag not the city.
Second, while some point to
employee pay increases over
the last three years as deficit
drivers, it is also important
to note that those raises were
designed merely to bring city
employee compensation closer to
market rates and median pay
Before those raises the city
lag far behind peers and faced
significant difficulty
recruiting and retaining
the workers that deliver city
services.
Finally, while many point to
admittedly bad real estate
deals, the city has made in
the past notably when I went
out as drivers of the deficit.
It's also important to note
that down from mistakes that
the city has learned from and
that they also had by and large
one time cost.
While the deficit that the city
needs to solve today is an
ongoing and structural issue.
In short, the city's budget
issue particularly when it
comes to infrastructure is
fundamentally a revenue issue.
Now given our current
resources, there is no question
that we need to make
significant cuts to bring our
operations into structural
balance.
But I also want to be clear
that even cutting entire
departments would not free up
enough resources to fix our
infrastructure backlog.
That backlog will remain until
and unless new revenue to
address it is put before and
ultimately approved by city
voters.
But what we are faced with
today is the budget has been
proposed and the deficit that
needs to be closed.
Over the last year the city
implemented several new
revenues to close the current
year's deficit.
Moving forward, however, we
cannot and should not rely on
large new near-term infusions
of revenue.
Cuts will need to be
the primary tool to bring
the fy 27 budget into balance.
I know that we will hear about
the negative impacts of those
cuts.
Our ipa analysis will include
discussions on many of those
impacts and in areas where
dollar cuts have been proposed
without operational details
particularly in libraries of
parks and homelessness
programing.
My team is meeting with
departments to understand those
cuts and we will include
additional detail on them in
our report.
But ultimately cuts will be
unavoidable.
I expect that we will hear real
and justifiable concerns both
from the Council and the public
about the cuts that have been
proposed And over the next two
months we will have
the opportunity to address some
of those concerns through
modifications to the proposed
budget.
But we also need to be
realistic.
We do not have the resources
needed to maintain today's
services and any future
infrastructure fix will require
more revenue down the road.
In the meantime we need to
structurally balance the city's
operations today to rebuild
both stability and public trust
for the future.
I would ask as groups come
forward to oppose particular
cuts that they also consider
suggesting alternatives That
will not be easy.
But it is ultimately necessary
because a city cannot spend
money that it does not have.
With that I'll wrap up by
noting that my team will
deliver our full analysis on
APRIL 29th and I look forward
to working with each of you
through the difficult
discussions that we will have
over the next two months.
>> Thank you.
All right.
Thank you very much for all
the input of the aba especially
during this particular cycle is
incredibly critical.
>> But thank you for your
candor.
>> Do we have any public
comment?
All right.
Please proceed with public
testimony and item 200.
>> Thank you, Council
PRESIDENT.
We do have over 160 speakers
here in person and with those
that have raised their hands
online that is worth
applauding.
Let that be the last clapping
for the rest of the session so
we can get through every 160
speakers.
>> Just one thing before I
begin We do have several seats
available up in the front.
They are reserved for
the speakers who are being
called up.
So as I call your name please
be sure to come up to
the yellow reserved seats at
the front of the room If we are
seating time I will be asking
you to raise your hand so that
I can see Sometimes I'm a
little short so please make
sure that the person is here
just to wave your hand around.
I will see you and we'll try to
get through this as efficiently
as possible for you all to be
heard.
Health Gallegos Munoz Munoz.
>> Adriana Barraza Please come
up to the other reserved seats.
Adriana Barraza Yoani Rubio
Please come up to the other
reserve seats.
Courtney.
But it's Berlinski Patrick
Stewart Judy Bass, Sparky
Mitra, Kevin Wehner If you can
all please come up to
the yellow reserved seats as
well as Nicole Lilly and Travis
Bouchard.
>> I suppose you can start You
will have one minute.
Thank you.
My name is Munoz.
I am the community organizing
coordinator for the Chicano
Federation, a member of
the Community Budget Alliance
and a former youth
commissioner.
When the city first established
that youth commission I was
ecstatic.
Finally we weren't just talking
about youth empowerment.
We were building a home for it.
But in all transparency those
early days were a struggle.
It felt like we were being
thrown into a deep end and told
to swim.
Thankfully when we advocated
for the support we desperately
needed the city delivered by
creating the Office of Child
and Youth Success.
Since then Jose Baez has been
the backbone of our community.
It has bridged the gap for
youth and our most marginalized
individuals in our
neighborhoods giving us
the tools to lead our own
progress.
Eliminating this office isn't
just a budget cut it's a
message When youth are not at
the table we're on the menu and
cutting.
And to be clear message that
our futures are not worth
fighting for.
>> On behalf of Chicano I ask
you to reconsider and please
keep the fight a life.
Rosie with us.
>> Are you here?
So I guess either coming in
from another room.
No.
No other brother You wanna
reveal?
>> Good afternoon.
My name is Ivana Madeline Rubio
and I'm a current resident of
District four.
I'm also a former District one
youth commissioner from
the inaugural cohort of
the city's youth commission.
My experience as a youth
commissioner introduced me to
the Brown Act and taught me how
to communicate with public
bodies and promote transparency
and eventually allowed me to
have the basic skills that I
needed to serve on
the Commission on Police
Practices And as a young person
who came from black and brown
communities, low income
communities growing up, it was
very important for me to serve
and be one of the young people
on that commission with retired
individuals.
So I really urge you to really
consider the youth Commission
under the office of Child and
Youth Success.
I understand that we're
collectively experiencing a lot
of cuts so I just really want
to put forth our youth and
really highlight that we're
doing this for our young people
as well.
>> Thank you very much for your
time.
Courtney.
Courtney But let's kick off
Courtney comes up Yeah.
>> Snap your fingers if you're
really excited maybe.
>> But thank you.
Good afternoon.
Honorable Council PRESIDENT,
Council members and Mayor
Gordon.
My name is Courtney Ball Tusky
with the ymca and Children
First Collective.
It's an honor to stand in
allyship with young people
today and we're all confused
about these budget decisions.
Why can't we have a tough
fiscal conversation in a way
that allows for vision,
collaboration and leadership?
It makes sense to maintain
the dollars for the Office of
Child Abuse success being youth
development.
I know that a continuum of
programs collaboration and
attention across a young
person's life are critical.
Osu I ask works across
community for and with kids,
youth and families to
strategize for this.
We've seen much trust built
grant secured and progress with
the Office of Child Success.
We can't afford to lose it.
Thank you.
Patrick Stewart Good afternoon.
>> I'll make this quick.
I just want to point out a
couple of things that I hope
that we get a chance to discuss
as we are considering the rest
of the budget process.
One I am concerned by
the disproportion it affects
that this budget as proposed is
going to have on children,
youth and families in
particular at a time when they
need us most.
Two I'm concerned by the either
or approach that this budget
has taken which has resulted in
nearly $8 million in proposed
reductions in or in in library
and park recreation hours and a
virtual near elimination and
near elimination of our arts
and culture budget.
Either or there's been zero
creativity in how we're going
to be able to still bring
services to the city of San
Diego.
And I'm concerned about
the narrative that surrounds
the survey that we're using
the narrative that 10,000
individuals or 10,000 responses
is being being used to drive a
decision that will affect 1.4
million people.
It's designed and it's
delivered.
Thank you for that concluding
comment, Judy.
But good afternoon City Council
My name is Julie Wise and
the public affairs manager at
Planned Parenthood of Pacific
Southwest.
Our zip code should not
determine our care, our
treatment and our access to
opportunities.
The funding, the arts and
programs that promote youth
success are not only harmful
but they also create more
hardship and put a burden on
service providers.
We cannot solve our budget
crisis while maintaining
essential services that promote
creativity, community and
equity.
Our students deserve better.
Our nonprofits deserve better.
Southeast Sandiego specifically
deserves better.
The community is here.
Our kids are here.
And I want to be clear It's our
job to share our stories but
not to buy turnips.
It is our job to share what
we're going through so that you
all can make the decisions.
We voted you in.
We want you to listen to us and
work with us.
>> But it is not our jobs to do
your job.
Thank you.
Sparky Mitra Hi Council members
My name is Parking Meter a
youth organizer, engineer and
District three resident.
I'm here today because I'm
appalled at what the mayor's
prioritized in his budget.
This is exactly what it is.
It's his budget proposal, not
ours.
This budget does nothing for
the community and for youth and
we won't stand for it.
The establishment of the Office
of Child and Youth success is
one that has been
the culmination of decades of
work from youth organizers
around the city.
With federal dollars already
being stripped from investments
in youth at risk communities
and with the increasing
demonization of migrants, our
city should be stepping up.
Instead, the mayor is
eliminating a program that has
brought in $1.3 million per
refugee Students.
He is stripping out the vital
resources like youth drop in
centers.
Let us be clear his axing
investment in our youth
the glitter hating the success
of our city's future,
the amount of revenue that oci
has brought into the city is an
order of magnitude greater than
its operating budget.
It has brought in ten times
the amount of money it costs to
run.
This budget doesn't serve us.
Fund Youth Fund a future fund
the people Kevin Wehner After
that will be Nicole Lilly,
Travis Bouchard, Amira Yousef
Lucky eight and Mohammed Omar.
Rachel Lozano Castro Dean
Charlotte.
If you can all please come up
to the front room.
>> Please proceed.
Good evening, Council Members.
Council Member Member LaCava
I'm a constituent in your
district and our Board of
Trustees at the Community
Planning Group.
I'm coming here today with our
contact to youth led a51c3
nonprofit urging you all to
continue the funding for O.C.
Y.
S They only require $350,000 in
funding while generating 3.5
million and grants that
the city would no longer be
able to receive if this
department was not funded.
So you're not saving the range
of 50,000 but actually losing
3.5 million in potential grants
that the city can no longer
receive.
Further Councilmember Look, I
wanted to urge you to
reconsider your stance on
police funding.
I know this is a difficult
budgetary process but this is
something that I think comes
out at the expense of many
taxpayers with many examples in
our district happening with
mismanagement.
For example, on JANUARY 7th
there was a homeless man who
locked himself in the local
bathroom.
>> The police responded with 26
cop cars, a swat vehicle and a
helicopter to someone looking
for something better.
>> Thank you.
Nicole Illing.
>> Hello, My name is Nicole.
I'm a 23 year old resident in
District three and
the executive director of our
Time to Act an entirely youth
founded Youth led 523 nonprofit
organizing Powerful Youth for
an inclusive, equitable and
sustainable future in San
Diego.
As a youth organizer who has
had the privilege of working
with the Office of Child Abuse
success, I can tell you
firsthand what a catastrophic
failure of leadership it would
be to allow policy wise to be
eliminated in this budget
cycle.
The mayor's proposed plan
slashes libraries, parks, arts,
housing and just about every
social service while attempting
to pit against one another for
crumbs.
Meanwhile, it pours money into
invasive surveillance and an
already bloated police budget a
department that broke every
year while funding 24 units for
a single car chase wasting
millions on unlawful arrest and
harassing the very youth.
Gloria seeks to defund.
Today organizations and youth
from across the city joined in
a united voice to urge you to
fund youth fund the people not
police and surveillance.
You have a duty to pass a
budget that serves our present
and future.
>> This community will hold you
accountable.
Thank you.
Travis Bouchard Travis District
seven.
Like when you found your way
into politics because you
wanted to improve people's
lives, it's noble.
Congrats.
However, this budget is
the antithesis of progressive
politics.
For your surveillance state
that disproportionately affects
black and brown youth while
defunding youth services is
insane like truly allowing not
to see the light of the day
should be it.
>> What the are we doing
Moment or not License like
cameras their full motion video
capture kids walking to school
or selling our children's data.
Shaming.
You can try to ask people to
continue asking people crumbs.
If someone eloquently described
earlier today you create a
Hunger Games situation over and
over people are done solely for
crumbs where they're going to
come steal your cake.
>> If you don't do the right
thing for your services, defund
Fork Fire Daniel the $30
Million Cop Barber Bowl I was
on my radio screen.
>> We're going to set the town
pd escort the gentleman.
We got to set the tone.
Let's all be civil about this.
We know how angry and how
passionate you are about this.
We've got 150 still to go so
let's get through it.
My name is Tom.
I used to be with
the Partnership for
the Advancement of New
Americans.
I'm here today to request that
council redirect funding from
Block lpr and restores funding
in youth parks, arts and all
the other essential services
that we need at San Diego And
we don't need more creepy
surveillance.
>> We don't need more cops on
the ground that are going to
criminalize our youth.
>> We need to invest in our
youth today.
Pena Pena's global village is
adjacent to the Coyote Triangle
Park Restoration project and we
were very disappointed to see
that the mayor's budget
provides $0 for the Choice
Creek Park.
It cuts out park rangers
playground maintenance and
the only city employee that
whose entire job of expanding
equitable recreation.
Please redirect this funding
away from a creepy surveillance
like Park Area lp and put it
into our communities instead of
looking lucky Item.
Okay.
Good afternoon council members.
My name is Lucky Youth
organizer with the Partnership
for the Maximum The Americans
rgv depends on parks but so
much more for just green
spaces.
I know for my family Parks is
where we gather to celebrate
during picnics.
This is where we create
multiple multiple memories
across multiple generations and
have meaningful time together
as families.
Recently our youth has started
a book club and because we
wanted to connect with their
peers and be in nature and also
stay active But the reality is
that we often have to travel 30
minutes just to find a park or
a trail to walk out.
For many of our youth this is
not accessible because of
transportation.
Having a park or show their
community is what we really
need.
This is why it's really
disappointing to see that there
is zero funding for the Choice
Creek Park.
This is not about building a
park.
It's making sure that there's a
place where family and youth
can truly gather.
Like I said, different walk and
invest in community.
Thank you.
>> Mohammed Omar.
Good afternoon, Council
members.
My name is Mohammed Omar.
I'm with the Partnership for
the Advancement of New
Americans.
I'm here today to respectfully
urge the city to restore
funding for the Cholla Straight
a Triangle Park and the Trails
Creek Restoration Project which
is listed on page 33 of your
proposed budget as unfunded at
35 million.
For many in my community parks
are not luxury.
They are essential.
They provide a place to escape
extreme heat, celebrate
important milestones like
birthdays and connect with
neighbors in the midst of a
severe housing crisis.
Many families do not have
access to backyards or adequate
spaces to the space where
people can come together safely
and meaningfully.
We are deeply concerned that
the proposed budget allocation
or funding for the Thomas Creek
Park in addition is reduced to
support for park rangers
playground maintenance and
eliminates the only city
position dedicated to expanding
equitable access to recreation.
This could impact not only
existing parks but also
the long term success and
sustainability.
Thank you very much.
Thank you for that Concluding
remark.
>> Rachel Lozano Castro.
You have time to go to by
Patricia Serrano Patricia Camp
to raise your hand.
Thank you.
We're going to need two
speakers so for me my staff
will be over there.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
>> Good afternoon.
My name is Rachel Castro and
I'm a resident in District
four.
I also run a business in
District four.
I work in District nine and
with the Partnership for
the Advancement of New
Americans.
I celebrated my 20th birthday
in a city park.
I go use one pretty much every
weekend when I can I take my
lunch breaks at a city park.
I have family members and
friends and I meet with them in
city parks in Point Loma and
Rancho Bernardo.
I use all of these regularly so
I'm asking to find the Triangle
Park, find the parks We already
have fun Choice Creek
restoration which is upstream
from the communities that were
flooded.
I'm also asking to make good on
the promises that have been
made with community input for
the Mid-City Community Plan
update which we're in
the middle of right now where
every community member should
be able to walk to a park.
T-Boz like ours at Pangea are
wanting to work together to
draw down state funds and apply
for competitive grants.
We want to make this work and
so we're asking you to show up
with us for the MAY revisions
of this budget.
Thank you.
Thank you, Dean.
Dean Shake.
As I count them Jermaine.
Jermaine.
After that we have C.J.
Mendoza, Liliana Soriano,
Claire Schneider.
We Tran Amy Lane.
Mariana Rosa.
Andrea of Narco and Alexandra
Castillo.
If you can all please come to
the front row.
I stand corrected.
We have 196 speakers to go.
Jermaine Hello everyone.
>> My name is Jermaine Corba.
I am a I work at Planet
Partnership for the Advancement
of New Americans in District
nine.
I also my family is actually in
District four.
I am here today to ask you to
please redistribute funding to
both arts and culture our
libraries as well as do you
Funding flat and investing it
back in our youth are youth are
extremely important to me I
actually what I speak in
District four where I learned
about arts and culture and what
it means to save lives and to
me public safety is being able
to have it be safer Parks just
like a Toys Creek just like
the Toys park as well as being
able to ensure that public
safety is also decriminalizing
our youth by investing in our
youth through arts and culture
and different services.
Thank you so much for having me
here today.
>> Thank you.
C.J. Mendoza Hello City Council
My name is C.J. And I am an
outreach and organizing intern
at Google.
I've been organizing positions
before being at youth Well I'm
22 years old and in my journey
of organizing where I'm
standing now was only made
possible by adult allies who
believe in young people and
their success.
I'm urging the city to not only
buy us because in order to go
from believing in youth it
means investing in their
success the creation of new
ideas as a symbol of strength
in numbers and the creation of
this office with a community
community oriented journey
The 20 year journey how young
people, parents, educators and
organizers fighting for a
dedicated city investment in
young people's futures Well do
I have accomplished many wins
that include child care access,
civic engagement, education and
so much more?
What do I have?
Continuing to win means Are
young people in San Diego also
in investment youth success
today?
Thank you Liliana Serrano Hello
Counsel My name is John
Soriano.
I am the director of Policy at
Youth where we are youth and
because organization asking you
today to not get off is
troubling you Success as
outlined in the mayor's
proposed budget This office was
established in 2022 in response
to not only the youth
development needed and made
the pandemic, it also is to
humanize our social
infrastructure investments
authorizes a powerful tool for
intergovernmental and outside
agency investments for youth it
has supported with securing $2
million for a measure each
implementation which supports
families with child care access
as well as a 1.3 million grant
in partnership with the largest
school district in San Diego,
the San Diego Unified School
District to support refugee
students.
The mayor's proposed budget is
shortsighted The elimination of
ocr by us sends the message
that youth are not a priority.
We are asking you to restore
the director level leadership
of Ozawa's maintain its
operational budget, retain its
staff and Charles and Council
respectfully money can't be
divested from thinking about
the moment.
Claire Snyder.
Claire Snyder You Have Time To
Give It to You by Angelica
Castillo Can you please raise
your hand?
>> You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
Good afternoon.
Council My name is Claire
Snyder.
I'm with youth.
Well, but I'm going to be
speaking on behalf of a youth
that could not be here today
due to me Council My name is
Eddie Wheeler and I serve as
chair of the Youth Commission.
I am speaking on behalf of
the Commission to express our
concerns regarding the 2627
budget proposal which
disproportionately impacts
youth in San Diego.
Youth voices are already
underrepresented in government
and this proposal reinforces
that reality by signaling that
their needs are being under
prioritized compared to other
funding increases.
For example, cuts to library
funding significantly affect
youth by limiting access to
safe quiet study environments
that students rely on Daily
library provide essential
resources including books,
technology, internet access and
afterschool programs.
They also serve as a critical
space for academic support
college and job application
assistance and community
connection especially for
underserved youth.
Similarly reductions to parks
and recreation funding will
result in fewer safe spaces for
young people to gather which is
vital to the well-being and
development of youth.
It will also result in fewer
sports programs recreational
opportunities and summer after
school activities.
We are also particularly
concerned with the elimination
of the Office of Child Needs
Success under which
the Commission operates.
Removing this office we can
coordination of youth focused
initiatives across the city and
reduce support for mental
health resources, youth
development programs,
leadership opportunities and
more.
Ultimately it undermines long
term investment in San Diego's
young residents.
That statement is being shared
by youth Well youth advocacy
group.
We had hoped to present these
concerns in person but
the meeting time during school
hours creates an additional
barrier to youth participation
and civic engagement.
We understand that the city is
facing a budget deficit.
However, we ask that you
consider the impact of this
budget on approximately 20% of
San Diego and who are youth and
are not able to be present
today to represent themselves.
Thank you for your time and
consideration.
We turn Hi my name We finally
the director I think we said so
back in 2018 Maybe I work with
John Campbell not as John
Campbell and I remember how to
tell the voters like how Kevin
Faulconer would leaving
the administration with a two
point something billion dollar
behind back infrastructure that
would because the way to
construct the people do
budgeting is the only fix I
thing in front of them and they
leave the infrastructure behind
Years later we still try to
catch up on that.
So in the same situation that
we have today different numbers
Jason same budget MAY have
Gloria did only focusing on
fixing the little thing about
the pain but not worry about
the infrastructure investment
of the youth, about art and
culture.
People come to San Diego for
that.
You want to bring more revenue
into the city.
You want to not cut the arts
and culture.
You want to bring the toys here
and the youth.
If we don't take care of them
now can you later you will have
a generation of people that you
will have no power to support
them.
>> Over time we conclude board
economy one.
>> Hello Council My name is Amy
Quinn.
I am a resident of the District
nine.
I work with youth high
schoolers as a college advisor
to make sure that they are
college ready, that they are
ready to find a job and be just
overall adults.
The cuts to libraries are going
to massively impacting students
that I work with.
I have so many students from
low income title title one
schools who are struggling
because they can't find proper
Wi-Fi to do their fafsa.
>> Like how are they going to
pay for college?
We need more investment into
our libraries.
Our students can be college
ready.
We they do not need police to
be there when they need
mentorship.
They need teachers.
They need adults to be with
them and teach them how
the world is, how to be how to
navigate this world.
>> Thank you Mariam.
Hello.
My name is Maria Hinojosa and I
live in City Council District
nine.
I'm here with you as well.
The proposed elimination of
the Office of Child and Youth
Success because it is your
$50,000 program that has
already secured over $3.7
million in external funding and
return of more than 10 to 1.
That includes $2 million for
childcare expansion and $1.3
million for refugee student
support.
Eliminating this office puts
millions of dollars and
hundreds of childcare slots at
risk.
Childcare already costs
families about $17,000 per
year.
With supply drops, costs rise
and access decline forcing
parents out of the workforce
and increasing economic
instability reducing youth
services also increases
the risk of youth homelessness
and long term disconnection
which carries far higher public
costs.
Are we prepared to accept
higher rates of youth
homelessness as a result of
this cut?
>> Are we really?
I urge you to restore
the spirit of 80,000 dollar
budget.
Thank you Andrea Nicole and
Nicole Alexander Castillo.
Hello.
My name is Alex Castillo on
the constituent from Youth from
District eight and I'm here
with you as well.
Do not cut the office of child
and Youth success.
Oh see why helps families in
San Diego by providing
recreational educational career
opportunities.
This is an investment for youth
and families When you are
ripping away from them it's a
slap in the face to San Diego
families in favor of police
spending and surveillance that
many community members do not
want Family members of San
Diego need assistance when
the cost of living goes up
substantially.
Gas prices, food prices, rent
prices it becomes more and more
challenging to pay for
childcare and the only way is
bridging that gap through with
childcare initiatives.
San Diego youth need to feel
supported when day in, day out
they feel more isolated,
overwhelmed by schoolwork, by
obligations, by growing up.
The O.C. Might ask you about
support in print Why?
Oh why?
If yes you are neglecting your
constituents remember you are
employed to serve us.
Thank you Christine very just
and very after Tristan we have
Carmen Penaloza Valdez If you
already speak in please return
to your seats Spoken Carmen
Penaloza Valdez some of about
four though Carly Navarro,
Ashley Tongue, Paloma and Mango
Berliner Ramirez Ali are known
as making payroll and Shay
James I think is what it is If
you can please come up to
the yellow reserved seats
Interesting You come up to
the microphone.
>> Thank you.
Hello my name is Kristen Berry
and I'm a youth organizer here
in San Diego and I'm here with
you as well.
Please do not cut the office of
child need success.
Uscis is essential and is
essential infrastructure and
cross-departmental for
cross-departmental and outside
agency coordination to ensure
youth well-being is a priority
in the city.
Jose Baez does an amazing job
of encouraging civic engagement
which is critical for everyone
to influence the city's
decisions and visions through
through both voice and
partnerships.
Hundreds of young people now
understand who
the representatives are and how
to get involved with the main
functionalities of the city and
what it's responsible for.
Additionally, the youth mission
needs authentic and dedicated
support that mainly Jose y.
S leadership has been providing
continuously.
At this point you have heard
from multiple commissioners
past and present about how
needed that leadership has been
and still is.
That is why I'm urging the city
to restore the director level
leadership for O.C. Y us
Maintain O.C. White House
operational budget of for
$350,000 retain those who hire
staff and prioritize employee
and empower interns to support
the understaffed operations and
divest from surveillance and
into youth programs like O.C.
Waste including Carmen Carmen
for social work.
Make sure you all can see that
.
>> Okay.
Hi, my name is Carmen and I'm a
resident of District nine.
I serve as a policy research
intern at Youth Well and I'm
here to comment on the mayor's
proposed budget.
Do not cut the office or
challenging youth access San
Diego youth families and their
children deserve more than
empty promises.
They deserve meaningful
investments in their future
such as childcare, access,
civic engagement, education and
workforce development.
Those why it has not really
been getting involved in
bridging the gap between
government and workforce
agencies You are continuously
talking about housing and
affordability in the city but
we also need to emphasize
the wages and employment
opportunities lacking in
the region specifically for
the thousands of unemployed
youth that there are.
I urge the city to restore
the director level leadership
for oas maintain
the operational budget
meritorious that there was no
revenue but there was grants
totaling 3.7 million in
external revenue to apply
retain staff and prioritize
their interns.
Cancel the $2 million contract.
Divest from surveillance
creeping in as we review
somewhere.
Good afternoon.
My name is Michael.
I'm a resident of District
seven usual intern and a
student at lsu.
Please do not shadows yourself
in this office Supports you
when we increase your
opportunities and makes a
difference this matter to me
personally I live in
Afghanistan where many you have
no support, no safe space and
no opportunities.
I've seen consequences
struggle, fear and sometimes
crime because there is no other
option here in San Diego.
I don't want you to feel
the same way.
As a student I'm learning that
no action can last without a
strong conviction.
So I ask everyone specifically
How would you feel if I build a
building for you in future with
high and beautiful top
foundation with you to us then
live in it And I am confident
because it will collapse And
that's exactly how what will
happen with our community
Removing the foundation by
cutting youth support will cost
a lot in future if you want to
San Diego to try when we must
invest and condition Are you
better than a basement where
more than 20 potential horses
future Thank you Carlito
Navarro Hello council members
My name is Carla Navarro.
I'm a second year student at
Miramar College, resident of
District nine and here with me
three county council and a
college student I have seen
the essential parks and
libraries have become such a
space for our young folks,
especially our American Youth
Council.
We love to have so many
projects there and currently
have our Jeremy Henwood
Rehabilitation project.
This is a space where you can
go to study access internet,
connect with friends and you'll
see for after school.
For many students such as
myself these spaces have become
a means of public support and
provide a tool for learning for
many students as well
especially with those resources
at home.
When this proposal of
the budget came out I was
extremely disappointed and even
worried me.
I have grown up around these
projects also Jeremy Memorial
Park and throughout the park I
always remember playing on
the play structures as a kid
and slowly growing up hanging
out with multiple friends and
now use these parks to walk or
run.
>> These spaces have really
grown.
Thank you Ashley Hello.
Hello, my name is Ashley Tang
and I'm a youth and resident at
City Heights in District nine
representing the City Council
youth councils and the students
at school right now and so we
came here today against
the budget cuts that will harm
our park staff like gardens
that tend to the classes people
maintain the spaces that will
in turn nurture the sprouts of
youth Every day they devote
their energy to ensure
the quality and the safety of
spaces for youth to connect
with the community exercise,
play and simply enjoy time with
loved ones.
Playing staff will only bring
about new threats endangering
the safety of parks and
the pollution of youth like
their weeds growing through
the cracks of the Met.
So we ask you to continue
funding for the parks and
libraries and the recreation
department if you advocate for
the city's future.
Thank you.
Thank you Paloma.
>> None of them well enough
members Hello Honorable Council
member I am here on behalf of
African and our Youth Council.
The Mayor in the event today
highlighted the ongoing shared
concern about the deterioration
of city infrastructure.
One of the places we see this
is in the backlog of backlog of
park repairs cutting
the maintenance staff and other
key positions in the Parks and
Rec department will only worsen
poor conditions and increase
the cost of eventual repairs.
I have an alternative cut to
proposed cut the amount of time
and the amount of money it
takes to repair parks.
Do you know how long it's
taking to fix one park in City
Heights five years and $4
million to replace two
playgrounds?
It's too much time and it's too
much money.
You need to implement a leaner
process for small capital
improvements.
We believe this can be done by
authorizing the Parks
Department to take care of
minor repairs in House grant
that grant them direct access
to a deputy city engineer and
protect the park parks asset
management team.
>> Thank you, Ali.
All the honor after Ali we have
as me control Daryl James Tiana
affair Pat Wilson Nadia Kean
Are you Cara Vetter Mike
Warburton, Holly Martin and
Christine Martinez.
If you can all please come to
the front row.
Please proceed.
>> Hello, I am 19 and I'm from
Chula Vista who use your social
work organizations If you cut
these programs are coming from
other cities.
I know you have trouble up here
for resources.
You are directly cutting my
support.
Are you from a low income home?
Do you want to affect the youth
in a negative way?
Cutting support for youth
creates youth crimes and low
mental health support.
You are going to raise police
by at the same time raise
crimes a never ending problem.
The more you cut art and youth,
the more people show up.
Your arts are for the youth and
adults so cutting art will
create mental health crisis
along crime.
Is that what you want?
Do you Are you here for
the people You want to be noble
You want to make things right.
That's why you're here, right?
Here's a suggestion like you
requested even though it's your
job how can we cut
the additional money you
receive?
Be minimum wage Know how we
feel and then maybe you'll see
why we fight the way we do Want
to make a cut Cut your paycheck
and be for people.
>> I would also like to say
that I'm here as well with with
the account I'm here with you
for support.
Thank you for that conclusion
And as me control as we can I
don't know as we wouldn't be
coming in from other room slash
Shea James as h a y I think it
says dreams straight dreams No,
no.
Show your dreams.
Your dreams Tiana Affair An
affair.
Okay.
Pat Wilson.
You have time to go to my emcee
for all day.
Thank you very much.
You are all day.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
This is a cowardly budget
proposal.
Instead of shifting through
bloated department budgets,
finding access to trim and
making equal investments in
city services that keep people
safe and give them hope for
the future, the mayor has gone
back to his tried and true
tactics giving more money to
the powerful departments at
the expense of the others as
presented.
This proposal does what it has
always done tie up all but a
tiny bit of the general fund
leaving scraps for us to fight
over.
We can do better.
You've asked us to find cuts
for any funding we'd like to
restore.
Fine.
Where's the detail department
Budget data How can I access
it?
The auditor's office recently
released data on the year
released to the audit of
the Police department after 26
budget.
Thank you very much for that
and reviewing that enabled me
to find expenses to look to
merit further review but I have
no insight into whether those
expenses were cut in making
this fiscal 27 proposal.
This whole process is too
opaque to the public.
I need you to ask the hard
questions.
Look behind the adjustments
presented and question
assumptions.
What is the mean the medium,
the mode cost of a fully loaded
law enforcement officer Is
overtime actually cheaper?
>> We'll talk soon about how
cuts to libraries, parks and
the arts are actively harmful
to San Diego residents.
You've already heard that
today.
I look forward to further
conversations along here and we
are willing to help you find
cuts if you will give us
the data.
>> Thank you Nadia.
Nadia Keen Are you?
>> Good afternoon City Council
members.
My name is Maria Uber and I am
the executive director of
Rainbow Spaces.
And in the five years of our
existence I have had
the privilege of seeing
the impact of city resources
firsthand and the partnerships
we share with the City of San
Diego libraries and rec
services.
>> It is difficult for me to
advocate for simply housing,
youth or art services as all
intersect to uplift our youth.
To cut these funds would impact
those youth that use
the downtown library as a
refuge from an existence that
no child should have to endure
in a resource rich metropolitan
like San Diego.
Just a few trolley stops For
there you'll find dozens of
youth to travel from
surrounding schools to
the Logan Heights libraries
where they access computers,
stem programs and homework
assistance.
I have seen librarians, rec
employees and nonprofits carry
the weight of mental health
supporters, food distributors,
school tutors and simply a
shoulder as our youth carry
the burden of an increasing
mentality that supporting our
community are a hindering
comment.
While supporting our rich is
growth.
Thank you for that.
Better better You have time to
buy Deja Conover Thank you so
much.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
>> Thank you for this time to
speak on how important city
funding is to the arts and
culture community here in San
Diego.
My name is Cara Better and I am
part of the leadership team at
the Museum of Us.
I'm also a resident of District
nine.
Our museum is committed to
removing access barriers so
that all community members can
participate in the arts and
culture of San Diego.
This past fiscal year we have
served over 115,000 visitors
with over 3600 students and
educators doing so through
scholarships and free educator
programs and 31,000 individuals
received free access through
our equitable access programs.
This work requires dedicated
funding and we have watched as
city grant funding for our
institution and others have
decreased year over year.
The cuts proposed to the 2027
budget dropped that number to
zero and will weaken our
ability to support our
equitable access programs like
entry on Us and discover and go
passes and more.
These cuts mean it will be
harder to remain affordable and
accessible to our audiences.
And for smaller organizations
this means cutting or ceasing
services to our communities
altogether.
Many organs and organizations
will lose their ability to cost
match grants For me to work
while others MAY not be able to
keep or even grow their staff.
We in the arts and culture
community serve our audiences
with love and care while
employing many dedicated staff
across the San Diego region.
With grant funding from our
The City our organizations are
able to create vibrant events,
programs and exhibits that
celebrate the diverse stories
and histories of San Diego and
are what draws so many people
to our finest city as well.
We call on the City Council to
not cut this funding and to
keep it in place so that we can
continue to create and support
the accessible and rich civic
life that so many San Diegans
are proud of.
We urge you to do the right
thing and to come together with
us and find a path that
continues to support the arts
and culture of San Diego.
Thank you.
>> Mike Warburton.
Mike you have times needed to
you by Victoria Partner
Saunders.
Victoria Thank you.
You have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Mike Warburton sending them out
of every museum in Balboa Park
and what a slap in the face to
see that opening graphic with
the picture of the tower and
the dome.
Given these cuts for arts and
culture.
Speaking of slapping and gut
punching, Councilmember Kemp,
you had an interview this
morning and talked about
organizations in Bellevue apart
getting a double gut punch.
And honestly we've been dealing
with a triple gut punch.
The first one really is
the lack of response and follow
through on deferred maintenance
Seven times in six months I've
had water come in, come into my
exhibit spaces.
I've had sewer backups over
decades.
Last year we had $170,000 and
we closed for a week.
So that's gut punch.
One gut punch to of course is a
paid parking and we won't talk
about what's happening there.
And then this of course
the loss of funding.
I really want to talk about
that.
This goes beyond Balboa Park
though that we're supposed to
invest in the basics.
I think I heard the mayor say
but he's been pushing this fear
that you can have arts and
culture or firemen and that's
just not right.
We know that there's a huge
difference between critical
services and agenda driven
spending right?
MR. Modica There is $11 million
in the budget for bike facility
and that's a fraction of
the budget.
But that's almost exactly what
arts and culture funding is
being cut.
We can go bigger and 271
million almost a quarter
billion is in the Budget for
Climate Action plan items.
So these are agenda driven
things.
I'm not saying these are wrong
to do just they're not
the right thing to do Right now
we're in a budget crisis.
Right.
And then the last thing I want
to say is that this has been
building over years.
It's been said by the mayor and
a number of people at almost
everybody on this council has
been here five and half years
couple seven and a half years.
The mayors in your five and a
half years what happened?
Why are we here?
So restore arts and culture
funding.
Look at these items that are
agenda driven items and not
critical services.
Thank you, Holly Martin You
have time ceded to you by
Donald Ritchie.
>> So thank you.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
All right.
>> Happy National Library Week
.
I'm representing myself and Don
Ruda still from the Friends of
the Mission Hills Hillcrest
Knox Branch Library District
three We urge Council to reject
proposed cuts to the library
budget especially staff hours
and matching funds.
Eliminating matching funds is
like cutting off your nose to
spite your face.
As you know, the budget was
already cut by over $6 million.
Those cuts really resulted in
the closure of all 37 locations
on Sunday and 20 locations on
Mondays.
Our branch was one of those
library closures.
Bookstore sales have already
decreased 14%.
That's 14% less for programs,
resources and for matching
funds.
Our community has been making
its voice known through a
grassroots postcard campaign.
We will be submitting those
responses to Council member
Whitburn office soon.
>> The words safe space and
community come up a lot as well
as of course books closing
libraries shows us that our
mayor and council members think
that we're expendable.
But from our standpoint we're
basically already paying taxes
for services.
We're not getting Police and
protective services are
essential but libraries build
the communities that they serve
libraries and they're skilled
trained staff members actively
work every day to create
the safe third space we need
now more than ever to make
positive connection on a face
to face level a city without
those social connections will
be fallen, disengaged,
disconnected individuals unable
to come together for the public
good.
Nothing else in the city serves
so many so well as I think most
of our other speakers here
today have said public
libraries are the People's
University except for Sunday's
and Mondays and our community
and who knows when else.
>> Thank you for that
concluding comment.
Christine Martinez After
Christine Martinez Gary Bob
Lehman.
Jennifer Polian, Peter
Kaminski.
Josh Banana Joyce and yada
Jordan Jake Huggable Delaina
Delgado Andrea dela Rosa, Kate
Burnett, Sophie Gonzalez and
Dale McCain and Amy Laney.
My apologies.
Please go to the front row and
please proceed.
Hi Christine Martinez here from
Arts and Culture San Diego.
If you're here for arts and
culture would you mind please
standing up and in the overflow
rooms many, many more people
And before that at a rally
before this meeting hundreds
and hundreds of arts and
culture groups who were gutted
by this proposal $11.8 million
represents all of our grants
large and small organizations
will feel this The small
organizations MAY in fact fold
and that's an economic engine
that cannot just rev up again
when we have the money next
year.
This is something that will
fuel for generations if we
don't change it now we ask
the city Council to please
stand with us, give us flat
funding.
These are programs that are in
your districts that serve all
of the community.
Thank you.
Bob Lehman Council PRESIDENT
Council Members APRIL is Arts
Culture and Creativity Month in
the state of California and
here in San Diego.
My name is Bob Lehman Executive
Director San Diego are matters
and I'm here on behalf of
hundreds of organizations,
artists and creative workers
that make up San Diego arts and
Culture community.
We understand the financial
pressure the city is under and
we are willing to be part of
that shared solution.
But this is not a shared
reduction.
This is nearly a complete
elimination of the city's
investment in arts and culture
and the impact is real Lost
jobs programs, cuts from
neighborhood festivals to major
institutions, from youth
programs to senior services.
This affects every district.
We're not asking for you to
protect something extra.
We're asking you to protect
something essential And we're
here to work with you.
We urge you to restore this
funding, stand with your
creative workforce and stand
with your communities.
>> Thank you, Jennifer.
To plan.
>> Good afternoon everyone.
I represent Space for Art, a
nonprofit that provides
affordable artist spaces in San
Diego.
I speak for the large diverse
community of local artists and
low wage culture workers who
provide essential services to
some of the most vulnerable and
under-resourced members of our
community.
You all know that arts are
essential to the city's
economic and social well-being.
You all know that the arts are
an economic driver with a
return on investment.
Most Fortune 500 companies
would envy.
We are not asking for the moon.
We are not even asking to keep
pace with inflation which is
out of control.
We're asking you to maintain
the very small but absolutely
crucial cultural investment
that the city currently makes.
We'll be back another year to
advocate for more for an even
greater return on investment.
But today we ask that you make
the only choice reasonable that
the only reasonable choice
before you which is to restore
the 2027 funding to 2026
levels.
Thank you Peter Kaminski Peter
you have time seated by Teresa
Wolf please raise your hand.
Thank you by Carlos Christiane
and by oh there were two Carlos
Christiane so that is three
minutes.
Please proceed.
Good afternoon Chair and
council members.
I'm here because we're facing a
choice that will define
the character and economy of
San Diego for generations.
Meg MAY Gloria's proposed f y
27 budget doesn't just trim
arts funding it effectively
dismantles it with an $11.8
million reduction zeroing out
osp and 60 It is far too easy
and wrong to call arts and
culture a nice to have.
It is far too easy for
the administration to say we
wish we could while decimating
our communities and it is far
too easy and wrong to suggest
that because these services are
delivered by nonprofits rather
than city departments they are
somehow lesser priorities.
They should not be and they
must not be.
Let's talk about what's
actually at stake.
This sector is just isn't just
simply galleries or stage
lights.
It's the economic engine that
drives $1.1 billion in annual
economic impact.
It supports thousands of local
jobs jobs held by your
constituents who are now facing
layoffs.
New data from Arts and Culture
San Diego and San Diego Arts
Matters shows that moving
forward we aren't just looking
at fewer paintings on walls,
fewer gallery hours.
We're looking at permanent
closure of institutions that
anchor our neighborhood and our
cultural identity.
Once these organizations vanish
they don't simply come back
When the economy improves they
are gone forever.
You have each stated over
multiple years that arts and
culture a priority for your
district.
If it is a priority for you, it
is a priority for our community
.
She and I said If it is a
priority for our community it
must be a priority for the city
budget.
We are calling on you today to
reject these devastating cuts
and maintain the f y 26 funding
levels.
Do not accept the narrative
that this is an option.
This is the heartbeat of our
neighborhoods and the backbone
of our city.
San Diego can't be without a
soul.
Please stand with the workers,
the artists and the millions of
residents who rely on this
sector.
Reject these cuts cuts MAY be
necessary but I ask that you
change the language and don't
call these cuts necessary.
>> Thank you very much Josh
Good afternoon.
Council Josh Bohannan with
Father Joe's Villages I'm here
to discuss homelessness funding
in the budget as proposed
the upcoming budget eliminates
a day center altogether and for
the City of San Diego not just
the closure of the Good Day
Center but there is no data
center funding.
What so ever and the day center
is probably your most cost
effective homeless Solutions
program that you have operating
from the city.
It's a standing site the only
standing site that can work
with large populations of
people Last year saw 6700
individuals came through our
doors seeking a shower, seeking
meal delivery services,
laundry, working with case
managers.
We have to have a standing site
where people can go who are
experiencing homelessness that
can connect to their outreach
worker who's trying to find
them to give them shelter, try
to find and give them housing
so their medical teams who are
trying to refill their
prescriptions without a
physical location anywhere and
there's not one that I'm aware
of that's in the pipe
Homelessness services will
fail.
>> Thank you.
Jason Yarrow After joining out
it will be Jordan Haikerwal,
Delaina Delgado, Andrea de la
Rosa Kate Bernie Sophie
Gonzalez Dale macKinnon Richard
Valencia Crystal Amount Nathan
Jones and Carmen Quinonez.
If you can all please come up
to the yellow reserved seats at
the front isn't it?
Please proceed.
I am inspired by the words of
PRESIDENT John f Kennedy Ask
not what your country can do
for you.
Ask what you can do for your
country end of quote.
Dear public If all of you are
at the very top of our cities
organization chart our city has
a structural budget deficit.
Here are my inspired words for
all of you Ask not what your
city can do for you.
Ask what you can do for your
city.
Thank you for listening.
Love to all Jordan.
>> My name is Jordan Hackel
Well I'm an artist and a
filmmaker now as an artist I
see the value in the arts But
as a producer let me speak in
more practical terms The arts
bring in money.
During the six weeks of filming
here in San Diego County,
the film One Battle After
Another brought in an estimated
$7 million into our economy And
I know of two other major
productions that sat to film in
San Diego last year but decided
not to because the city was not
equipped to accommodate them.
And the mayor's proposed budget
seeks to remove what little
film engagement the city
already has.
This is just one of many facets
San Diego Arts of San Diego
Arts that are being affected.
I know that money is currently
scarce but can we really afford
to defund an industry that has
demonstrated a proven ability
to alleviate our financial
struggles?
All I'm asking is that you do
right by all of your
constituents.
Thank you.
Delano Delano Delgado.
>> Oh, that show.
Raise your hand when we get
there.
Andrea de la Rosa Andrea you
have time Seated by Bill
Lawrence If you can please
raise your hand.
Thank you.
You have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Council PRESIDENT, council
PRESIDENT And council members
and mayor Gloria My name is
Andrea DeRosa.
I'm a district two resident, a
business owner operating in
multiple districts and I serve
as a trustee of the San Diego
History Center which serves
constituents across all your
districts.
What if a relative small public
investment is helping protect
more than $1 billion in
economic activity in our
region?
That's exactly what's at risk
today.
The city's proposed budget
currently recommends potential
cuts to the organizational
support program administered by
the City of San Diego
Commission of Arts and Culture
Putting institutions like ours
and others at real risk.
The funding is not excess it is
essential civic infrastructure
in Balboa Park alone, arts and
culture generate more than $350
million annually and support
roughly 3000 jobs across San
Diego.
The sector drives over $1
billion in economic impact
fueling tourism, small
businesses and regional
vitality.
These are not marginal
contributions.
They are foundational to our
community and economy.
For the History Center,
the funding supports
exhibitions, education
preservation and access to our
shared story.
It's the modest investment in
an outsized return.
We are also uniquely positioned
through the Center for Women's
History ensuring women's voices
are not an aside but
permanently embedded in how our
region understands its past and
shapes its future.
At the same time, institutions
across the park are already
seeing declining attendance due
to paid parking creating new
barriers at a moment when
access should be expanding
cutting funding while access
declines does not solve a
deficit it compounds it it If
we are serious about fiscal
responsibility we must run our
city like a business protecting
high performing assets.
Arts and culture are not
discretionary They're revenue
generating infrastructure.
San Diego's story its economic
future are deeply rooted This
time for leadership.
Let's protect my girl Drive Be
fair Kate Burnett Hi, my name
is Kate.
I'm a resident of District nine
and an employee of an arts
institution in District three
Balboa Park.
I'd like to propose that
support for the arts is in fact
a core service.
There will always be another
pothole for the city to fill.
There will always be another
ticket to right.
There will always be another
initiative to hire somebody to
manage but without having a
museum to host something like
the world class exhibition of
artwork that Alicia Keys and
Swizz Beats have or keeping
Balboa Park and Chicano Park
vibrant or creating the kinds
of cultural opportunities that
make hosting a conference at
the Convention Center worth
the investment.
Those all take funds as well
and those are things we
consider to be core to the city
As you all consider this budget
over the next few months you
will define the foundational
structure of the city without
supporting the cultural
infrastructure that makes life
fulfilling a city is nothing
more than concrete and rebar
and that's not very much to
live.
Sophie Gonzalez Hello.
Good afternoon Council members
My name is Sophie Gonzalez.
I'm a student at the San Diego
School of Creative and
Performing Arts, a resident of
District eight and a proud
participant in San Diego Junior
Theater.
I'm a recipient of junior
theaters.
You will be found scholarship
ocp funding help provide these
scholarships and without that
support I would not have been
able to participate in Junior
Theater's programs That
scholarship didn't just help me
take theater classes.
It gave me a place to grow,
build confidence and discover
what I'm capable of.
The arts saved my life.
I'm also employed as a teaching
aide which means I help younger
students have that same
experience.
I've seen firsthand how
important this program is,
especially for students who
might not otherwise have access
to the arts.
The arts will save their lives
if funding is eliminated.
Opportunities like mine could
disappear for so many others
Students like me deserve a
chance to learn, create and be
part of something meaningful.
Please protect arts funding so
that more young people in
District eight and across San
Diego can have the same
opportunities I've had.
>> Thank you Dale.
Hi everyone.
Oh my GOD does love My name is
Dale McInerney and I'm from
the South There Like everyone
here I'm pretty disappointed
with the mayor's proposed
budget.
We are one of the most diverse
cities in the country And with
almost a million and a half
people living in our
neighborhoods slashing funding
for the arts by over 80% will
harm everyone.
Our unique position as
America's largest border city
is inseparable from San Diego's
artistic tradition and this is
worth protecting.
Art is how we communicate our
complex culture and history
with each other and the wider
world.
Strong funding promotes tourism
because you know, ask yourself
like you've never wanted to go
visit an ugly city.
We're very fortunate to have a
very beautiful city with a ton
of amazing artists.
Strong funding also creates
jobs and it stimulates local
economies.
Um I understand the city is in
a fiscal crisis but such severe
but such severe cuts to
the arts will disrupt other
revenue streams the city and
county relies on.
Thank you so much for your time
Richard.
>> Prevention Richard you have
time ceded to you by Suzanne
Rene of thank you so much You
have two minutes Please
proceed.
What a city council Happy for
20.
>> I wanted to say that my name
is Richard Prevents you I'm a
district two member.
I am on the board of Medium
photo I'm an and a father and a
and a whole lot of other things
including a veteran and a
former cpa which is
interesting.
I found some very interesting
details about the presentations
earlier that I would love to
talk about.
So something that one of my
friends Steve from Vet Art
always brings up and he's been
on a campaign to advocate for
more art spending in our city
because cities like New York
City have 20% of their budget
dedicated to the arts whereas
San Diego historically has only
8%.
So already there's like a
really small 12% difference.
That's a mathematic little
action there.
>> But when I when I saw
the presentation earlier I saw
the total budget was in the 6
billion mark and 11 million
divided by 6 billion That's a
point 2% of the budget is
dedicated to the arts and
that's what we're going after.
It feels a little unfair.
>> So to my folks behind me I
can't see you because I got to
face the microphone but just
pay attention.
Just because someone wears a
blue tie doesn't mean that
they're for the people.
And if your city council
members are also not for
the people then it's time to
get these folks out of here
Because I'm tired of
the library and the arts and
everything that is for
the people.
Third spaces This is what's
always on the cutting block.
This is always was on
the cutting block Yet we have
so much police spending and we
don't need it And nobody raise
your hand if you want Lock up
in here.
>> Okay So we would love it if
you all started listening to
the people instead of
the politicians that are paid
or you know they get whatever
whatever kind of kickbacks or
power or whatever they get.
>> Thank you, Crystal Hi.
My name is Crystal Pridmore.
I'm a lifelong San Diego and a
district of a resident of
District seven and a music
educator of over 20 years.
This year I left my position in
the Chula Vista Elementary
School District because I was
deeply discouraged by
the systematic dismantling of
our award winning music and
arts programs Over the last ten
years or so.
I now serve through the San
Diego Youth Symphony and
through guitars in
the classroom as a teaching
artist And both of these
organizations are facing
devastating cuts due to this
proposal we work with at Youth
at Risk Youth.
We work in public libraries.
We are everywhere home
hospitals.
This is not just about the kids
though.
San Diego's arts scene drives
tourism, supports jobs, shapes
our identities and taxpayers
benefit from a vibrant cultural
life not just basic services.
And I'm seeing a pattern
Schools cut the arts as soon as
there's a funding hiccup and
now the city is proposing to do
the same and it's not okay.
These cuts dismantle an entire
ecosystem that will not easily
be rebuilt.
>> You cannot you cannot claim
to support community and cut
the arts.
Thank you for that concluding
statement.
Nathan Jones Nathan Jones You
guys were doing so good and I
know you're getting excited and
probably a little tired when
you have time stated by Evelyn
Evelyn Mark thank you so much.
>> You have two minutes.
Please proceed.
>> Good afternoon Council
members.
My name is Nathan Jones.
i'm a District three resident
and I am United States Marine
Corps veteran.
I serve this country because I
believe in duty, courage and
having a backbone to look at
something wrong and stand up
against it and to be 100% clear
what we're seeing here today is
wrong.
I'm not just concerned about
this budget cuts.
I am deeply disappointed and
disgusted that this council is
even considering eliminating
arts funding in a city like San
Diego arguably the most
beautiful city in the world.
Cutting what makes the city
beautiful is not just a bad
decision it's a failure of
leadership.
San Diego's identity is
inseparable from its art and
culture from the museums and
performance spaces and
the organ of Balboa Park to
the unbridled legacy of the Old
Globe Theater to the powerful
community murals in Barrio
Logan This city has a rich
history in investing and
creativity because it knows it
matters.
As a marine, I've seen
firsthand how deeply art is
tied and necessary for
the service starting from
the very moment I stood upon
the painted yellow footprints
of the city's majority where I
vowed to protect my country, my
brothers in my core art from
yellow footprints to murals
allow us to tap into the truth
of who we are, what we endure
and what we stand for.
To stand here and watch this
council treat the arts as
expendable is disgusting and
frankly insulting.
The people who built the city's
cultural foundation and
the people of San Diego itself
who rely on it At the same time
public safety continues to
dominate the general fund with
the police department alone set
to receive $718.6 million in
funding.
Let's be clear a city that
pours everything into
enforcement while stripping
away creativity, opportunity
and expression is not
prioritizing safety.
It's neglecting it in a
different form.
The arts are not a luxury.
They are connection and
prevention.
They are healing especially for
veterans like myself who are
trying to transition and find
purpose after service and
especially to the vets who have
been injured in service.
If you're not willing to stand
up for something as fundamental
as the arts, if you're not
willing to push back and say
this matters then you seriously
need to ask yourself why you're
in those seats Because
leadership requires conviction.
You lack the conviction to
stand up for what's right step
aside for certain needs.
>> It has concluded Very
passionate Who's allowed, D.L.
He was allowed to make his
point.
>> Hold down the clapping and
then we can get through.
>> I don't know What if we
still got 100 We still got two,
four, six, eight and over 100.
So Carmen Canyon is and then as
Carmen comes up if I can have
Shawn Boyd, Alicia Prescott,
Lauren Cook, Fred Adair, Jess
Barron, Kate Burn again she
they come up the first time
Bernie Jeanette Faulkner, Kaia
Ortega, Michael Schmidt and
Valerie all Please come up to
the front row.
>> Please proceed.
Good afternoon.
Afternoon Council members My
name is Carmen Quinonez and I
reside and council member Joe
Lacob us District.
I grew up at San Diego Junior
Theater and the foundation I
built there helped propel me to
New York where I became a
Broadway producer.
The arts education I received
at Junior Theater and within
San Diego's vibrant arts and
culture scene didn't just shape
my career.
It shaped my understanding of
collaboration, leadership and
storytelling.
Those skills carried me into
one of the most competitive
creative industries in
the world Today I'm back in San
Diego reinvesting that
experience into this community
through arts education With
support from osp funding I've
been able to return to Junior
Theater as a director working
directly with the next
generation of artists, creative
thinkers and community leaders
I've seen firsthand both in New
York and here in San Diego how
the arts contribute to a
healthy economic ecosystem.
They create jobs, attract
investment and strengthen
communities things you all know
eliminating arts funding
doesn't just impact programs it
disrupts that entire ecosystem
and limits what is possible.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Sean Boyle Sean Boyd, executive
director of Trinity Theater
Company Arts and Culture is not
a bargaining chip.
Last year our funding was
reduced by $1.8 million which
led to a drop of total city
revenue in excess of $6
million.
The mayor's defenses regarding
voters tolerance for tax
increases are disingenuous.
In 2020 we passed Measure c
which increased the tourism tax
by 3% allowing funding for
the convention center in 2022.
California's passed Prop 28
which ensured funding for arts
education in schools both
passed with 65%.
The discretionary penny tax did
not.
Voters said they support
the arts, not the mayor's
discretionary spending.
The individuals in this room
are experts in their fields.
We are experts in the economics
and the arts.
We are experts in the economics
of tourism and we understand
deeply enter
the interdependency between
funding of our institutions and
the city's income.
The mayor does not please
restore our funding to $14
million and please invite us
into the conversation before
MAY revisions Alicia Prescott
Good afternoon.
My name is Lisa Prescott and
I've served 20 years in
the military and I'm here
because of the role that arts
has played in my healing and
resilience and those of my
brothers and sisters in arms in
San Diego.
The arts are not a luxury they
are a part of a mental health
safety net for service members
and veterans.
Creative programs are built
into residential and outpatient
treatment programs across
the region.
My peers and I personally
benefit from programs like
the Veteran's Art Project or
Art Therapy helps manage ptsd,
depression and support trend of
transition into civilian life.
These programs don't just help
people leave the force, they
help many of us stay in
the fight and return to
service.
Cutting arts programs means
cutting a part of
the prevention system beyond
health impacts arts and culture
support thousands of jobs
generate revenue revenue and
revenue.
Cutting this funding and we
should expect our homelessness
population to rise.
I thought I was going to have a
job in the arts when I got out
shortly.
I'm not sure about that anymore
.
>> 22 veterans a day.
Thank you Lauren Cook I'm
Lauren Cook with the San Diego
Architectural Foundation and
the executive director.
We have a small amount of this
funding that comes about it but
I stand with everyone here
because again, there's no one
in our city that isn't here.
Everyone is here and we are all
going to be cut.
There's nothing that we are not
representing here today And I
think that you mentioned too in
the budget analysis that you're
going to be talking about that
when you got to the bottom of
it.
So I guess you really don't
need to work on it because
everyone is here.
We're all represented.
So I think we probably should
just go home.
We're okay, right?
So what we do with our money is
we use it for kids something we
all talked about it to
yesterday at Fridays, Saturday
and Sunday They work together
seventh, eighth and ninth
graders put together city.
They built it and then they
talked about how it should be
developed and they got in a
fight about coastal access.
>> That's what we taught them.
Think about that You're for
that It Fred other Hi it's a
pleasure to meet everybody
today Your suits look very
clean well pressed and I
genuinely consider all of your
haircuts to be very fashionable
for the time to everybody here
I'm proud of everybody that
showed up.
You're all showing the guts
that San Diegans need to have.
>> We all need to have guts
because we're all part of San
Diego.
The fact of the matter is my
life was saved by the arts.
My dad was a pedophile and a
thief.
My mom's a drug addict.
My stepdad was the number one
heroin trafficker in
the Western Hemisphere.
His name is Mike.
Wait Look it up.
When I was beaten by the people
that abused me I ran to Balboa
Park and hid.
I opened a comic book store
here in San Diego called Crazy
Fred's comic book world And was
here for 17 years before I lost
everything in the riots six
years ago everything was burned
down.
You can see me in the news.
I was the only guy crying
because it and it was my
pleasure to bring the arts in
that fashion Like with the ten
year Comicon and what what have
you.
>> One of the things and
memories long just very going
to remember just burn Hi
friends I'm just I'm
the founder executive director
of guitars and Ukes in
the classroom Thank you for
your support I appreciate what
you're doing and ask you to
take a breath because this
isn't easy for you guys Just
like it's scary for us to get
up and talk about this.
I just want to bring one thing
to your attention and only
point 7% of San Diego responded
to the mayor's survey.
I want you to think about
the 97 right 99.3% of
the people that didn't fill out
the survey because most of us
are buried in our inboxes as
you guys are.
Right And most of us are
working 2 or 3 jobs or we're
working like me in the arts 70
hours a week and it's really
hard to get to an email survey
So please take these speakers
to heart today because they're
bringing you the vulnerable
population that we all serve.
We're representing San Diego
and the San Diego you didn't
hear from yet so please don't
rely on a little survey.
>> Think about this.
>> Thank you.
Kate Burnett, Kate Burnett,
Jenny Faulkner.
Jenny, go.
You have times needed to you by
itself.
Miranda Travis, please raise
your hand.
Thank you as well as Chad
Womack.
>> Thank you.
You'll have three minutes.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
How come in MAY you to me
Anyway I am Janika Addie for
resident with a lie in San
Diego in a in the member of
Community Budget Alliance Every
year we fight for a people's
budget that equitably spends
public dollars prioritizes
communities in neighborhoods
with the greatest need.
Our collective goal for
people's budget actively
combats systemic racism,
discrimination and income
inequality.
The current budget does
the opposite You cannot cut
your way out of inefficiency.
You have to address it.
The proposed budget is closing
a roughly $180 million gap with
about $7,076 million in cuts
$26 million in Labor
concessions and $44 million in
higher cost to residents.
It pushes over 100 million into
the future including $80
million in reserves and $30
million in risk funding.
The impact is landing on vital
services Family depend on daily
such as youth services,
libraries, rec centers, arts
and culture and as well as
the storm water department that
has been significantly
underfunded for years.
We the People have the power to
change the proposed budget
targeted at the programs and
services that our communities
need.
We need libraries.
We need parks and Rec.
We need youth programs, equity
offices and climate justice
initiatives.
We don't need to be poor and
more money into criminalizing
our communities.
These cuts strip away
the city's capacity to address
any emergency repairs on our
stormwater infrastructure.
You don't remove capacity
before you've built a more
efficient system to replace it.
This current budgets strategy
has been cut now cost later and
residents pain at the cost in
between.
I urge you the City council
members to listen to your
constituents and help right
these wrongs by fully restoring
these programs and services We
we need.
We need to make bold
investments in our people not
punishment.
Please act now to uplift
the people's budget and modify
the budget to reflect
the people's needs for
the remainder of my time I
would like to take a moment of
silence and honor the lives
lost in the floods of JANUARY
2024.
Thank you
.
Thank you.
Kaia Ortega Good afternoon
Council members My name is Kaia
Ortega and I'm here on behalf
of the Old Globe Theater to
urge you all to reconsider
the devastating arts and
culture cuts proposed in Mayor
Gloria's f y 27 budget.
These cuts actively threaten
our entire creative economy.
They threaten the art forms
we're trying to preserve and
they threaten our collective
capacity to deliver vital
programing.
The Old Globe is an anchor
institution.
We've been serving this city
for over 90 years.
Last year we served over
250,000 folks through live
mainstage Productions and we
served over 30,000 folks
through free community
programing.
We employ over 700 people each
year.
And with this proposed budget
the city is telling artists,
creatives, cultural workers and
the communities that rely on
this programing that the city
is not the city for them.
The globe generates more than
$45 million in economic impact
for the city supporting jobs
local businesses, arts and
tourism that benefits the city.
>> Thank you Michael Schmidt.
We still have some trickling in
so we're at about 115 speakers
left.
Michael Schmidt, please
proceed.
Well hello.
Good afternoon.
I am Michael Schmidt with
District five.
I just want to point out I'm
unhappy the fact that
the budget just got approved
that it's going to be cut and I
just don't appreciate a
especially for people cutting
down hours over at
the libraries including
downtown San Diego and you're
going to see those That's
almost shut down.
I it's just sad for me and I
don't appreciate it But thank
you very much.
>> Thank you, Valerie.
Valerie, please come up to
the microphone And after that
we have Robert Morales.
Greg.
>> Greg So is that where you
can tell me what it is when you
get up here please?
I'd like to know Phil Jarman.
Whitney Shea, Suzanne Paradiso
Swap.
David Bennett, Nate Fehrman,
Mary Soriano and Roll Salamanca
If you can all please come up
to the front row.
Roberto Robert Morales If you
can please come up to
the microphone.
Robert Rollins And I didn't
have a Valerie here.
Valerie No.
So Robert you have time to buy
Rudy Lombardi.
Thank you so much.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Awesome.
Thank you, everyone.
Council members.
Good afternoon, folks.
Please stand with me.
This is important.
My name is Robert Morales.
I represent I.R.S. Local 122 on
the business manager For them I
represent more than 2800
workers across here and it goes
to arts and entertainment
industry people who bring life
to our stages support our
venues and help power the local
economy.
I want to be clear this
proposed budget is not
the numbers on a page that
reduction in the arts funding
will mean fewer jobs, fewer
hours and real hardship for
working families.
We are seeing longer lines in
our own food banks.
Our members are filling it now
but we are not here just to
point fingers at the problem.
We are here to ask for a better
path forward.
The budget is not final.
There is still time to make
adjustments that reflect true
value and the arts in our city
not just culturally but
economically Our industries
supports tourism, small
business and thousands of
livelihoods.
We urge you to invest in
solutions that grow jobs
supporting a stronger film
office.
That's a good thought here
Would attract film and
television production to our
region bringing in New jobs for
our workers while filling hotel
rooms, supporting restaurants
and driving revenue into our
local businesses across
the city.
We are asking you to work with
us, find solutions that protect
jobs, sustain our institutions
and ensure that San Diego's
future still includes thriving
arts and entertainment in our
communities.
Our workers are not asking for
a special treatment.
They're asking for a fair
chance to continue working to
pay their bills and to
contribute to this city.
We are ready to partner with
you but we need a plan that
includes all of us.
Thank you, Greg.
You have time to buy a rubber
helper If you can please raise
your hand.
Thank you.
And Matt Carr.
Thank you.
You'll have three minutes.
I was not prepared for that but
I'll give you a good two And so
good afternoon, council
members.
My name is Greg So wisdoms all
was a good shot though and I'm
here on behalf of iag Local 122
I understand the city is facing
a deficit and I understand that
difficult decisions have to be
made but cuts like these do not
solve the problem they make
them worse.
What is being proposed here
does not just affect
organizations on paper, it
affects people.
It affects workers, It affects
the crews, technicians and art
workers whose jobs depend on
these institutions and programs
Continuing to function.
These cuts would hit places
like the Old Globe Theater,
the San Diego Opera where my
members work there the people
behind the scenes who build it
run it, support it and make it
all happen when funding is cut
this this deeply the impact
does not stop at a budget line.
It reaches the workers whose
hours, livelihoods and
stability depend on that work
being there and on the film
side this is special.
This is especially troubling.
San Diego is just beginning to
see real momentum again for
like the first time in like 15
years we're starting to see
more activity, more interest
and more opportunity to
eliminate the film office Now
at the very moment that
momentum is starting to build
would be a major mistake.
Film production does not happen
by accident.
It takes coordination,
permitting response attorneys
and city staff who understand
how these projects work
weakening that capacity now
does not put San Diego in a
better position.
It puts us further behind.
If the city needs to
restructure then pass and do it
with the community in this
room.
Bring together the arts
community, labor and
the stakeholders who will be
affected and work out a better
solution.
We're here for this because
once this kind of capacity is
lost is not easy to rebuild.
I urge you not to move forward
with cuts to this magnitude
without first sitting down with
the arts community and find a
better path.
Thank you, Phil John John
Chapman No, no Phil j o h m o n
Whitney Shea.
>> Good afternoon, Council
members.
My name is Whitney Shea.
I'm a second generation San
Diego native and a taxpaying
small business owner.
As a full time performer here
I've been involved in various
nonprofit arts organizations in
San Diego as a youth attendee
and instructor and performer.
My entire life in 2020 being an
artist was considered the most
unessential occupation But we
quickly learned how truly
important the arts were during
that difficult time.
After covid decimating many
artists careers federal funding
cuts from the Trump
administration, I am appalled
that the city would propose
full funding cuts to hundreds
of arts and cultural programs
looking at the previous data
shown in the proposed budget,
what was not addressed was
the loss of thousands of jobs
that that will be likely and
the likely increase in crime
rates by this proposed budget.
Today's impassioned
testimonials across multiple
organizations are a clear
indicator that a limiting an
entire sector Your time just
concluded.
Thank you for your comments
Suzanne for those swap.
Thank you Honorable City
Council mayor and Council
PRESIDENT Thank you for your
time and your service to
the community.
I know this is not an easy
decision and yet somehow it's
the easiest decision of all.
I am the founder of Vanguard
Culture.
We're an arts magazine and we
serve.
I also serve on the Board of
Women and Tourism and
Hospitality International.
I'm a resident of District two
and my office is in District
three.
The mayor mentioned that
revenues are not keeping up
the pace with spending and
the reason for this is that we
have not invested significantly
in the cultural infrastructure
that would attract significant
cultural tourism to our region
.
Studies show again and again
that cultural tourists stay
longer and spend more money in
the cities they visit than a
traditional leisure tourist.
The spend can be between 30 and
60% More cultural tourists are
more likely to stay at hotels
than traditional leisure
Tourists heads and beds equal
increased to $40.
We cannot attract cultural
tourists without a thriving
arts and culture ecosystem that
requires inbound creativity.
>> Thank you, David Bennett
David do you have time ceded to
you by Llewellyn Crane Thank
you.
>> You have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Good afternoon.
Members of the City council.
I'm David Bennett.
I'm the Jo-Anne Clark general
director and ceo of San Diego
Opera and I live and work in
District one.
I'm here today to implore you
to reject the disastrous
elimination of arts and
cultural program support in
the mayor's proposed budget.
Today the mayor before us chose
to refer to this as a pause in
his introduction.
But it is an elimination.
No other city in the United
States is proposing complete
elimination of arts support.
This is not emblematic of
America's finest city.
I recognize that balancing
the budget is a complicated and
nuanced process.
Ask any of the arts leaders
that are here in the room or
around San Diego every year we
go through the same process
you're facing now when
contemplating cutting expenses.
I know that I have to
understand the impact of those
cuts on revenue.
It is generally not neutral.
San Diego's Arts and Cultural
Economic Activity The direct
activity is around 1.2 billion
but the larger economic impact
throughout San Diego is
actually nearly ten times
larger.
>> Elimination of program
support will absolutely mean
elimination of programs which
will mean less economic impact
on other businesses which will
result in less tax revenue to
the city.
Vibrant arts and cultural
activity is also strongly
connected to a city's ability
to attract new businesses.
Many San Diego arts
organizations also provide
desperately needed arts
education programs to students
throughout our city.
The opera alone spends nearly
$300,000 a year on such
programs, which leads to
documented higher academic
achievement at attendance.
Elimination of programmatic
support will surely mean
the elimination of many of
these programs.
On NOVEMBER 12th
the Union-Tribune ran an
article stating that you
the City Council declared arts
cuts would be off the table in
budget discussions this year.
I ask you to honor this pledge
and strongly reject the mayor's
proposed elimination of arts
funding.
Thank you.
>> Nate Fehrman, Nate Fehrman
ibew Local 465 representing
artists and educators at
the New Children's Museum in
downtown San Diego.
Please reverse the $11 million
in cuts to our sacred arts
programs that our museums
depend on.
We represent frontline artists
and educators who provide
essential services to thousands
of children every single year.
They work alongside wonderful
artists in the region and
provide priceless art
educational programs that spark
a lifelong interest in the arts
imagination, creativity,
expression, compassion,
empathy.
These seeds are planted by
the hard working and selfless
employees at the New Children's
Museum Our union artists at
the museum.
And with these cuts our
institutions like ncm will
suffer.
Our members will suffer.
Artists across the city will
suffer.
We plead with the Council to
reverse these cuts today.
Art is not an elective
experience.
It is the lifeblood of a
blossoming city and
the heartbeat of a brighter
future.
Don't blow out the candle of
our children's future by
eliminating the essential
funding to our city's arts
institutions.
>> Thank you.
Mary Serrano.
Mary Soriano, PRESIDENT Of La
Hoya Town Council.
Art represents culture and
assist with mental health.
Mayors Resident Budget Survey
Fiscal 2027.
Community feedback reflects
strong dissatisfaction and
choosing on choosing public
safety funding over other
essential city services.
We shouldn't have to sacrifice
either city reserve eliminate
cip five year 2027 2031.
Page 16 Recent City Auditor
estimated deferred maintenance
liabilities to exceed $1
billion.
If reserves are eliminated,
where is the city going to get
the money?
Taxpayer is fire department and
lifeguards.
We can't afford to cut
personnel.
Last year on one holiday
lifeguards were watching over 1
million beachgoers.
Wildfire community relations
also known as wildfire
prevention specialist.
Thank you for this including my
management role Salamanca for
all you have time to buy.
Alexandria Martinez Thank you.
You have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Good afternoon, Council
members.
Mayor thank you for your time
and your service.
My name is Raul Salamanca.
I'm the founder and artistic
director of Golden State Ballet
and co-founder and co-director
of Golden State Ballet Academy
here in San Diego.
And I'm also a resident of
members.
My name is Alessandra
Moctezuma.
I'm a resident of District
three and I work in District
seven.
I am also the chair of the San
Diego Arts Commission, a
volunteer body that advises and
supports cultural affairs.
We are the front facing
advocates for the arts and we
have been leading
the implementation of
the Creative City Master Plan.
And I can tell you that this
decision to zero out the budget
for f y 27 for our arts
organizations came as a
complete surprise.
It felt like a kick in the gut
.
The timing could not have been
worse.
We were in the middle of
reviewing grant applications
for what would have been our
largest group of our this ever
229 organizations.
This organization large and
small exists in every district
in the city.
>> More than half of
the programs provide that they
provide are free and community
facing.
For fy 2025 they including
included 5.3 million free
admissions.
>> Beyond the cultural value
they are powerful economic
drivers.
San Diego's own data shows that
the nonprofit arts sector
generates 1.2 billion in
economic activity.
And supports nearly nearly
170,000 jobs and produces
hundreds of millions in tax
revenue.
That's not abstract.
When people attend arts events
they spend money at restaurants
on parking, on transportation.
For example, Comic-Con received
about 300,000 in city support
and generated 160 million for
the local economy.
>> San Diego Pride with a
similar investment generated 30
million.
Anyone could tell you that an
investment that grows 100 times
or 500 times is a good one.
And yet we are cutting 12
million from a 6.4 billion
budget.
How does that make sense?
Cutting the smallest amounts to
balance the budget.
What does that say about equity
in the current federal climate?
Many organizations have seen
loss of funding with
the cancellation of federal
grants like the nea engaged an
email list.
In addition, the cancellation
of city funding will also put
at risk matching grants.
So it's a double loss for many
of the organizations.
>> This decision is disastrous
and unprecedented.
>> Looking back at the funding
for arts and culture for
the last 37 years the budget
was kept mostly whole.
Even in the worst economic
times after 2008 and during
the pandemic, previous mayors
never slashed the arts in this
way.
>> If you want to look back at
history, PRESIDENT Roosevelt
actually enacted the wpa to
deal with the Great Depression
of solution to the economic
crisis to provide jobs but also
to bring joy and relief.
>> As a professor of museum
studies, I have spent 25 years
preparing my students for
careers in this sector.
Right now I have students whose
families are in crisis.
This morning one told me that
his mother was detained by ice
.
Another has just been evicted.
How do I go back to my
classroom and tell them that
their city does not support
them or the career path that
they chose which is hard for
people of color.
You know, to choose this path
as an immigrant race with
within the Chicano arts
movement I have lived the power
of art.
Places like Chicano Park World
Beat Center, Structural de la
Raza, the Chicano Park Museum,
the Front in San Isidro Asia
projects show us that the arts
are not just an expression.
They are how they are how
communities find agency
connection and power.
>> The arts are not a luxury.
They foster economic growth.
But just as importantly they
provide healing and hope.
Last fall many of you made
commitments to keep the arts
funding whole.
I urge you to honor that
commitment and reconsider this
decision and to restore this
funding.
We in the Arts Commission will
be happy to sit down with you
and provide some alternatives
or advice because this is not
just about the arts.
It is about the kind of city
that we choose to be and
the kind of future we want to
provide to the next generation.
>> Thank you for that
concluding comments.
Akeelah Templeton Akeelah you
have time to You by Marshall
Anderson.
Thank you.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
Good afternoon.
Council PRESIDENT And council
members.
My name is Akeelah Templeton.
I'm the ceo of Veterans Village
of San Diego which has served
San Diego's veteran community
for 45 years.
Our mission is to leave no
veteran behind by providing
housing treatment supportive
services that assist homeless
veterans and their families.
I actually want to switch gears
here a little bit to talk about
funding that we actually don't
want.
Okay.
>> Right.
That's right.
So unfortunately the proposed
1.9 million allocation to
create a 72 bed interim shelter
for beds that actually don't
exist on our campus threatens
to put that mission at risk.
There is no guarantee that this
money is going to go to
veterans.
There is no plan for that money
to go to Veterans Village of
San Diego to administer
the types of programs that we
know work.
We did not request this
funding.
We have not agreed to any
program that would allow
the city to rest control of our
campus while displacing members
of our homeless veterans
community.
We have communicated these
concerns directly to
the mayor's office, the housing
commission and all of you.
Despite that, in a year with so
many cuts this item remains in
the proposed budget.
Additionally, the proposal
appears to have been developed
and advanced without your
direction as the Housing
authority and without
stakeholder agreement and
without ongoing funding it
seems that we have a simple
math problem here.
Take the money that we don't
want and give it to these fine
young people.
I'm so proud of you guys.
Keep fighting.
>> Nicole Verdi's.
Hi.
My name is Nicole.
>> I use the she pronouns and
I'm the executive director of
Lambda Archives of San Diego,
the only lgbtq plus archives
serving the San Diego Tijuana
Binational region.
>> I'm here because archives
exist at the intersection of
art culture and community
memory and this proposed budget
threatens all three cities that
invest in arts and humanities
invest in the conditions where
communities thrive connection,
belonging, economic opportunity
and the sense that every
person's story matters.
Larry Tebas the San Diego arts
leader and lgbtq Plus community
Pillar warned in 1991 that
budget cuts to the arts would
push us into a cultural war.
He called it the us and Them
syndrome.
>> That warning is not just
history.
It is this moment at a moment
when our history is being
actively erased at the federal
level.
>> Cutting local arts and
culture funding is not a
neutral fiscal decision.
It is an additional threat to
communities already fighting to
be seen and remembered.
>> I urge you to reject these
threats and invest in what
holds us together.
>> Thank you Nicole Over Nicole
Ogle Veronica von Barstow.
Hi.
Good afternoon.
I am representing District
three which Steven and I have
worked together on several
projects and I'm always, always
so proud of our mayor.
We've worked together for a
long time and all of
the representation that you've
done for the lgbt district of
Hillcrest and we respect and
honor that and thank you for
your work all of this time.
But it does need to be said
that this measure does
disproportionately affect our
communities that the safe area
and a safe space for us the old
theater and the more you play
house send more shows to
Broadway than any other place
in the entire world.
>> We are represented anywhere
that we go and San Diego is
the best of the art of that
represent in this country.
We are very rare and very few
when we are fighting to stay
here and we are fighting to be
a part of this community.
We ask you to return to Thank
you Kristen Klein You have time
seated by Katherine Reams.
Thank you.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
>> What up, counsel?
I'm Kristen Klein and I at
the local 122 stagehand of
District nine.
I'm asking you to reconsider
the mayor's proposal.
For many people the arts and
entertainment are a luxury.
Concerts, plays, cons and dance
shows can be leisure escapes
for these crazy times.
For us artists this is our
livelihood, our community, our
lives.
We create, perform and make art
and events happen to bring
people together in the good
times and the bad.
Even just last year when there
was an earthquake we brought an
emergency meeting together last
second at the Civic Theater
next door.
Do you remember that?
We do.
We come together when times are
hard which is why there are so
many of us here today.
America has always been known.
Sorry.
San Diego has always been known
as America's finest city And
this is because our culture
just as much as our location is
beautiful.
Keep our city a place worth
visiting.
>> If you want your revenue we
hold the famous Comic-Con.
There's so many music and
Broadway tours that start or
end here in San Diego.
We're a part of a larger
entertainment ecosystem than
just the scope of our city.
The arts mark the blueprints of
our past, our progress and our
teaching tool for our future
very inclusive for all and
unify our human experience.
Cutting the arts and library
budgets will not only cut
the heart of San Diego but of
our collective souls.
>> Please listen to us
The people of San Diego and
bring balance to the budget by
funding more of our culture and
find your cuts elsewhere.
Heather Rose.
>> Good afternoon Council and
specifically you MR. Whitburn I
am your constituent.
I'm really disappointed that I
have to be here on my day off
from my job.
This is like the day off.
I'm a proud union stage manager
who works in professional
theater and I came here in 2007
with the show and decided to
stay.
I'm a homeowner and I pay my
taxes and I expect you all to
just do your jobs better.
What you are proposing is a
line item for your budget but
it will affect every single one
of our arts organizations big
and small.
>> This proposal says that
the police budget is more
important.
>> It just does.
>> Over the last decade their
budget has gone up by about 200
million.
And it's not because we have
more officers it's overtime.
I don't approve them their pay.
But without the arts and
libraries their jobs will be
tougher.
But the arts and libraries are
safe havens for all but
especially those who feel on
the outskirts of the main
street.
>> Thank you so much.
Tax the rich delinquent.
Gillian Quint.
Good afternoon Council My name
is delinquent.
I'm here with the San Diego
River Park Foundation and
representing 60,000 local
community members and
supporters and partner
organizations that are
supporting and endorsing an
important infrastructure
solution to a critical gap in
our transportation and parks
network.
I want to begin by
acknowledging the city's
commitment to regional
mobility, climate action and
Vision Zero.
But meeting that commitment
requires us to confront what's
coming next.
The area's population is set to
triple by the year 2050 and our
current transit just isn't
prepared for that level of
density in this area.
A West Valley River crossing
for pedestrian and bikes would
connect the San Diego River
Trail and regional bike rain is
a recognized solution in
the sandag Regional Plan and
the commuter Corridor cmc
study.
A recent mobility audit found
60 bicycle and pedestrian
injuries and six fatalities
between 2020 and 2040.
In this segment by prioritizing
this link and reopening the cip
now the city Thank you.
Thank you.
Sherry Eden Barbara.
After sure we got canned on
Well Greg Frank, Christine,
Christine.
Frank.
Danielle Sabella.
Rachel Hayes.
Julie Porter.
Juan Perez and Carlos Angela.
If you can all please come up
to the yellow reserved seats.
Please proceed.
Good afternoon, Council
members.
I'm Sherry Egan Barber,
artistic director of
Diversionary Theater, the third
oldest lgbtq plush theater in
the country and also a former
resident director of Hamilton,
the Broadway show who fell in
love with the city When we
brought the show here two years
ago through the Creative City
Plan, the city declared
the arts essential supporting
170,000 jobs and generating
millions.
Two weeks ago many of you stood
on our stage at our 40th
anniversary gala celebrating
that impact.
I'm reminded the arts are
prevention.
They build connection, reduce
isolation and increase public
safety by giving people
purpose.
Before I came in here today I
reread a letter from a student
who came to our theater feeling
hopeless considering ending
their life until this year they
saw themselves on our stage and
chose to say they chose to stay
And that is not the first time
or the first letter.
This is what the arts do.
I am asking you to protect
the arts, protect the purpose,
protect the people of San Diego
and make this place not just
livable but meaningful.
>> Thank you, Kendall.
Hello.
My name is Kendall Miller.
I was born, raised and work
here in the city of San Diego
and I work to support children
across the city.
Mainly working with children
from Title one schools.
I'm here to speak out very much
against the cuts to things like
libraries, parks and art
programs and just basically
global social services as a
whole while giving more money
to a police department that has
already over $700 million.
If you want a caring and safer
community then invest in that
community and invest in
the youth programs in
infrastructure that actually
address the core causes behind
the desperation that we want to
live in a city that actually
funds our community and
actually cares about us instead
of focusing on non-prosecution
and surveillance.
Give us the programs that care
that we care about that make
our life worthwhile, that make
us all want to live here and
pay our taxes and keep you in
your seats.
Listen to your constituents.
You actually care about us.
Please.
We live here.
We love this city.
We want to be your support.
>> Give us that chance and a
reason to do it.
Thank you.
Thank you, Craig Frank.
>> All right, Greg Frank,
District six.
It is shameful to burden
the arts community with fixing
10% of the deficit by
essentially eliminating city
funding for arts and culture.
Other people have spoken about
the financial impact so I would
ask you to just pause and
really consider what kind of
city you want San Diego to be.
Do you want this to be a world
class city that is a hub for
arts and culture and recreation
?
Or are you willing to settle
for this becoming
the equivalent of some
corporate town where the bottom
line is more important than
community?
You cannot continue to claim
the moniker of America's finest
city while breaking the promise
to continue funding the arts.
>> Thank you, Christiane Frank
.
>> That was my husband Tom to
take his 10s said Okay babe,
I'm sorry I have been waiting a
while.
The throat is dry.
My apologies.
I'm one of Kent Lea's
constituents and d6 and Mira
mesa.
I'm an audience member for
donor to and volunteer with
several local arts orgs large
and small.
I am shockingly I know you've
read The Room opposed to these
extreme and shortsighted cuts
to the arts as well as
libraries, Parks and Rec And
you've proposed by Mayor Todd
Gloria.
So I'm asking you all truly
read the room not just surveys
that very few did.
>> I haven't heard a single
person speak in favor of these
cuts besides Hart and his
minions.
But I'm not an idealist.
i know some cuts MAY need to
occur.
However, obliterating all
direct funding to local arts
orgs jeopardizes their very
existence.
Their grant makers and private
donors who MAY reduce or
eliminate contributions.
If the city withdraws support
they will see that as a sign
that will be an additional body
blow on top of Todd's gut
punch.
The only other place pardon me
I want to quote.
Bob Lehman, executive director
of San Diego Arts Matters who
was quoted in the us last week
as saying The only other place
in this country where this type
of art is in the Trump budget I
don't want to be in a city like
Bala Daniels of all colors.
>> Thank you so much.
I am Daniel Savalas.
I'm a local actor here in San
Diego.
I've had the pleasure of using
many, many of the facilities
that the community theaters
have used here.
These facilities are severely,
severely underfunded.
I have had to change inside of
closets.
I've had to change inside of
workshops.
I've had to change inside of
alleyways.
I have seen the sort of cuts
that have happened.
I've seen an hours of unpaid
labor.
I've seen the children that are
exploited due to your
underfunded institutions.
I know about the protective
policies that were created to
protect children.
And your policies are going to
cut every single one of those
jobs.
Many of these people do not
hire these protectors because
of the lack of money.
And I've been to the San Diego
Civic Theater a number of
times.
I see the Presidents Club and
the patrons.
I do whisper.
They do whisper.
They do see the tarps in
the bedrooms outside.
They do see them.
It is embarrassing.
It is a stain on the San Diego
community.
It is heartbreaking to me as an
artist.
And I would just like to say I
want to say thank you, Sean And
also thank you counseling.
You've seen your humanity
today.
The rest of you guys I mean I'm
not to speak about all of you
guys but you I understand you
guys are doing your jobs.
>> But Charles Murdock, I've
seen your poker face this
entire time.
I'm not saying you smoked
brown, but you're not a very
good at crime.
How are you concluded Rachel
Hayes?
Rachel Hayes.
Please come to the mic.
>> Please.
We need to make sure that we're
not copying as much so that
people can hear their names and
come up to the microphone.
Anthony, if you can please
raise your hand.
Thank you.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
Hi, My name's Rachel Hayes and
I am representing myself and
the arts community which is
really important.
My son who is now Sarah Chayes
and self-taught on the piano
acoustic guitar, saxophone and
violin and now is on Broadway
in one top Voice Elementary and
actually sixth through 12th
grade on the Lawyers college
campus And that's where it
started.
Every generation in my family
have someone of musical talent.
And my son won their first
award on Broadway last year And
I should say my daughter his
name is Sarah.
And you know what?
If it wasn't for the musical
camps he went to every single
summer during high school and
the 2000s he would she would
not be the star she is today.
And cutting funds like this
it's inexcusable and it's
heartbreaking to know that
the youth of today will not
have what the youth of
yesterday had.
Thank you.
Julie Porter, if you can please
come forward.
Hello, my name is Julie Porter
and I'd like to thank you for
hearing me today.
It's been a long time.
I'm here representing myself
and the arts community.
I have two fourth generation
San Diego children my two
children that grew up in
the arts.
They attended San Diego Junior
Theater.
I got to run for parking thing
in Balboa Park.
I went and got myself a
well-deserved disabled platform
so I can park in Balboa Park
for free.
I don't live in the city
however we we use many, many of
the arts programs in San Diego
and I, I would hate to see what
will happen to San Diego Junior
Theater that both of my
children grew up in my hours
spent volunteering there in
the in the costume loft I those
are some of the best memories I
have.
Please don't cut these
programs.
>> The kids need you.
Thank you for hearing me today.
Thank you, Juan.
>> This one But as you have
time ceded to you by Sarah
Lopez thank you.
You'll have two minutes.
Hey, how's it going, everybody?
My name is John Perez.
I'm the organizer with
the local 122 the stagehands
union, our station set up for
events at the convention center
the hotels as well as theaters
like the Old Globe Playhouse
Civic Theater among others.
Our workforce is critical to
the tourism industry which this
city relies on for tax revenue.
It's no secret we work hard to
make these jobs into careers
with livable wages and benefits
retirement training.
But with these proposed cuts to
the arts that is a direct
assault on our membership and
on the arts community.
This is also an insult to our
youth that begin their careers
in high school theater programs
with the hope to continue once
they graduate.
But with these proposed cuts we
are cutting and ending their
dreams before they even start.
Why not cut the police budget
like they're already funded if
anything Right.
Why not cut Fox surveillance?
You are What if all of you guys
but you guys willing to re-up
the contract last year?
Why do we always have money for
the police tape and
surveillance but never for
the arts or our communities?
Read the room.
When's the last time you seen
so many community members come
out like this?
You all are politicians.
You're going to be seeking
unions, endorsements,
the communities, endorsements,
organizations, endorsements
their support.
Read the room Don't turn your
back on the community So screw
the mayors budget.
Be with the community and
the unions and the workers and
create a new budget.
>> Thank you.
Got a Los Angeles Hello
Council.
I was here before last year for
the same thing.
We came to argue for
the pennant for the art.
I explained the amount of work
that we do and I'm honored to
think that we help with this
community.
And today I just here to tell
you it doesn't help us.
That'll be the bike lanes.
That's why by million dollars
spurred on the bike lanes per
mile and then you know doesn't
help us as the pandas like you
brought over that's over $1
million a year In order to help
us to lose that $30 million
settlement for that kid
the cops shot last year
actually don't help because a
third of that we sponsor our
art programs in here you know
that year were arguing about it
because you wanted to give
money to the teachers the cops
I wish you better but I shall
not a kid two miles two blocks
away from when I was spending
the mural in the same year when
I see that I help you know, to
keep doing it I think you guys
you listen to the people
because the people that are
here are the people to help.
>> This is a people you should
listen to Daniel Alexandra and
I control Daniel I control
right.
Maybe Is there no Daniel
Alexandra Next speakers are
Jared Azaria, Jade Flower,
Vanessa Ramirez.
Allie Dressel Angel Martinez,
Mackenzie Viola or Holder and
Marie.
These are guys Elizabeth and
Cynthia some of the Yanis and
Lindsay Segars.
If you can all please come up
to the yellow reserved seats
dia Bassett, Nicole Hernandez
Molina Martinez Is Daniel here
now?
Daniel Jared.
>> Good afternoon.
My name is Jared Guy Larry and
I'm sorry and I would just like
to say that today I'm coming as
a citizen of District seven So
high roll and I am also a
representative of the San Diego
Ballet which has been a
nonprofit organization and an
institution in San Diego for
over 35 years.
That's longer than I've been
alive But I am honored to come
after and before so many
impassioned speakers today.
And I want to remind you all
just that each and every one of
them will feel these budget
cuts as much as I will.
>> We offer free classes in
some of our most underserved
communities in City Heights and
Sunny Figueroa and those are
funded directly by grants from
the city.
So every performance, every
class, every time that we every
life that we touch with these
arts will be affected including
sometimes jail.
>> Hello, my name is Chamber of
Flor, resident of District two
and born in our very own Balboa
Park.
I vehemently oppose
the reduction of arts funding
proposed in the budget a city
community and society without
sufficient support of arts and
culture absolutely absolutely
cannot and will not thrive if
artists and culture bearers are
not sustained then we will
surely see a decline in every
in and even disappearance of
everything that makes our city
wonderful by supporting
the arts are ensuring that San
Diego's and those who visit our
fine city are able to live and
to visit, Tolstoy says in order
to correctly define art it is
necessary for us first of all
to cease to consider it as a
means of pleasure and consider
it as one of the conditions of
human life.
Without art we lose touch with
our own humanity which will
have catastrophic impacts on
the health, safety and
happiness of all the against
point blank periods.
>> But as the Ramirez Hello my
name is with us Ramirez and I'm
a local San Diego artist and
born and raised in San Diego
and I'm representing myself and
I am really upset to find out
about this.
I found out about it recently
and we cannot cut the arts.
The arts is very, very
important And like I remember
going to school and like seeing
arts being cut like over time
and this would be very
devastating because I've seen
how art has been such an
integral part of so many
people's lives and myself
included like I would not be
here today if it wasn't for art
And I know so many people
though who don't feel similarly
so this would be a huge, huge
mistake.
Please please reconsider.
Thank you Ali Dressel Good
afternoon Council members.
My name is Ali Dreadful and I
am the emerging founder and
artistic director for
Resiliency Immersive where our
mission is to connect
communities to resilience and
sustainability through
the arts.
I'm here to strongly oppose
the proposed $12 million cut to
the arts and culture which
nearly eliminates the funding
for arts at all as you know.
But much of our work is only
made possible through grant
funding and we are a tool for
community and immersive
engagement education, creative
communications, storytelling
and so much more.
So we really do rely on this
type of grant funding And
according to the arts an
economic prosperity report San
Diego, a nonprofit and cultural
arts sector generates over $1
billion in economic activity
and supports tens of thousands
of jobs including my own Among
all of the others that you have
seen.
>> Thank you.
Thank you, Angel Martinez.
Angel Martinez.
Now if I can have McKenzie
please come up to
the microphone after that will
be Anne Marie.
Elizabeth Lindsey Dear Nicole
Molina Nancy Wen Angela
Mendoza, Jordan Coburn.
Please proceed.
I don't live in San Diego but
in Diego because of the arts
When my friends and I visit we
spend money in San Diego.
I know that there are a lot of
people that live here because
of the arts.
I know other people have
touched on that also you know
brings money in.
When you have a community, when
you have these things available
to the people for the tourists
um I know the visits will drop
if the arts are cut.
If you're so worried about
the money coming in nurture
the people of San Diego nurture
the arts, nurtured our culture
,their youth they pay
the taxes.
We're all telling you what's
important to us And the world
is really heavy right now and
we have art.
So please don't take that.
Don't kill that McKenzie Oh,
that was you.
My apologies.
I'm almost at the end.
I had to celebrate Anne Marie
and Marie.
>> No.
Anne Marie.
Elisabeth Hello.
>> I'm Elizabeth.
Santa Yanis and I live in
District two, a resident of San
Diego.
I do notice that unfortunately
our council member is not
present I believe Councilmember
Campbell I attended a
fundraiser event last night for
Moxie Theater and learned about
the $11.8 million in threatened
cuts to the arts in the mayor's
proposed budget.
>> This would cause
the elimination of most arts
programs and jobs in San Diego
and we will not stand for that.
>> People young and old need
access to the arts for their
health and well-being
especially in difficult times.
>> Without the arts, our
society would lose its soul.
I'm proud to be here today
along with so many others to
fight for the arts in our
communities, redistribute money
in the proposed budget to
support the arts and libraries.
>> This is essential for
the well-being of our youth and
our community For that continue
sometimes Lindsay Lindsay
figures.
Good evening.
Thank you for your service and
your time.
My name is Lindsay Seegers.
I serve as the executive
Director of Voices of our City
Choir.
We are an arts nonprofit facing
facing $86,000 in city grant
cuts If this is passed, Voices
brought much pride to our city
of San Diego just a few years
ago winning the golden buzzer
on America's Got Talent.
I reside in Councilmember
Campos district and the council
members Rivera and Whitburn We
have continued to attend
the concerts of our choir
That's made up of people who
are experiencing or at risk of
experiencing homelessness And
they don't just come because
we're a nationally recognized
music nonprofit they become
become because we are
nationally recognized for using
music and arts as a social
intervention in the crisis of
homelessness.
Mayor Gloria, our choir has
opened for you so many times
proudly one time three times in
one week we joked that we are
the mayor's house band So thank
you for that.
Thank you.
Sentence The better the event
And I hear Nicole Mendez Nicole
you have time to you by having
a Johnson or Xavier Johnson
please raise your hand thank
you that you clearly don't care
about the problem when you get
into the solution Art is
the culture and the very
infrastructure needed to
maintain the very economy that
you rightly claim to protect at
the intersection of this are
the people the people that are
creating the very
infrastructure that you're
trying to destroy.
My name is Nicole Hernandez and
I was born in Central
California and grew up on
actually be part of Mexico.
I'm an artist athlete and
the founder and creative
director of Nexus where we
highlight music, dance and film
hiding behind numbers and
statistics and a very people
are underpaid, overworked and
exploited.
You choose surveillance over
drugs, extraction over
transparency, pedophilia over
protection, profits over people
while duality can exist.
But your ego, greed and pride
keeps us in chains present
the alternative, you MAY ask
Invest in the people invest in
uplift you That is the Future
Fund.
Marginalized founders like
the black community has held up
to the standard of excellence
while also being the most
overlook and the Chicano and
Latino community that keep
the deeply personal culture
battle organized facing of
gentrification.
I'm turning to counterpart into
a tourist attraction coupled
with strategic corporate
buyouts that push out
the Latino community that built
it.
You can't continue to update
the very systems that we build
that sustain the great
businesses that we created in
the very communities that we
have Keep the people want to
know where every dollar is
going and rightfully so as its
use is unacceptable.
We demand a transparent
financial breakdown, make
the numbers public, undergo an
audit and that is not adding
up.
We ask why as a question why we
dare to dream and why we show
up.
We ask you to learn, grow and
open your mind and do your job
or retire million Molina
Martinez My name is Melina.
>> I am a first generation
student and resident here in
San Diego.
You claim to care about
the youth and the interest of
the people in San Diego.
You are willing to read
the educational, environmental
and cultural funding that would
promote and create equitable
opportunities for future and
current generation.
I am a small voice in
the Chicano community and I
have seen my people
continuously exploited,
overworked, underpaid and
underrepresented.
We have built the physical,
cultural and economic landscape
the city is built on yet we are
barely able to afford the basic
resources needed to support our
family and communities.
You fund police systems that
are built to oppress people of
color.
Your claim to not have
the necessary funding to
support the creative and
artistic programs that give
these people that outlet an
environment to heal and rebuild
from these brutality and
inequalities.
Why is it that we are forced to
create alternative
opportunities for a funding
application?
What we are focused on your
survival We're barely able to
afford rent, groceries and
utilities give us what is
rightfully ours power to
the people to get to us but it
ourselves.
>> Nancy when Nancy when Nancy
when and for those that have
already spoken please be sure
to return to your seat so that
others MAY be coming up.
No, Nancy.
When Angela Mendoza Jordan
Coburn, Alisha Donnelly.
Brad Taylor.
Caleb Dede Gilbert Rivera,
Athena Castro, if you can all
please come up to the front row
as well as our Eartha
Lakshmanan and Richard's
the other Angela, are you here?
Please come up to the podium
now.
Angela going once and
delivering twice.
Right.
Jordan Jordan Coburn No.
Jordan Coburn Leisha My name is
Lisa Donnelly.
I am a self-employed marketing
and sales consultant.
I've lived here 50 years in
District five I have had no
help from is Yvonne Wilford.
I have had two cars impounded
unjustly.
One was impounded for three
bogus tickets and was just
auctioned off a late model car
last week for $10,000.
It was a $35,000 car.
My second car was stolen and
then it was re impounded into
the San Diego impoundment.
Now they've got it up.
>> It is a $60,000 car and it's
now going to be auctioned off
on the 22nd of this month
because I have no money to pay
for this abomination Now I have
had to rely on transit which is
what was inaccurate for both
the north and the South county.
>> We pay over time and have
concluded Brad Taylor Brad
Taylor No Brad Taylor Caleb did
.
Caleb did Caleb They'd had
several people stealing their
time If they're still here and
wish to speak please go to
the microphone.
Julia Hold Lee Tongue and Dale
Fleming any of those
individuals Gilberto Vera
Student Council PRESIDENT
Council members My name is
Gilbert.
I'm the director of the Housing
Justice Collaborative and Legal
Aid to say the San Diego Legal
Aid is the granting of
the eviction prevention program
that provides free legal
services education outreach,
emergency rental assistance and
case management to low income
San Diegans.
I know it's a difficult budget
year and I appreciate
the council and the mayor
prioritizing homelessness
prevention eviction prevention
for the most effective and cost
effective strategies we have.
Keeping people in housing
avoids the human and community
impacts of displacement and
help prevent homelessness
before prevent homelessness
before it starts.
For example, a state audit of
homes programs show that a
chronically homeless person can
cost up to $50,000 per year.
In contrast, in fiscal year
2025 the mpp served over 1600
households in San Diego
averaging a one time cost of
about 1800 per household of
conservative fiscal year 2025.
Almost 90% avoided homelessness
with 80% remaining in their
homes and almost a 10% finding
new additional stable housing.
>> Thank you for your time.
Thank you.
Athena Castro.
>> Athena, you have time ceded
to you by Luis Castro.
Thank you very much.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
>> Good afternoon.
My name is Athena Castro and I
am a high school student
classical musician and cultural
dancer.
I'm here to speak on behalf of
my community and students and
the proposed budget cuts to
the art funding and why this
should be reconsidered.
Back in middle school I fell
unexpectedly in love with my
instrument.
This performing in a time in
life where I needed it most.
This love that I felt would
then continue to grow and grow
and try to find a life where
every day is filled with music
is a life I never want to
experience again.
This is not only good for
myself but for many other
children.
How can we call ourselves
the greatest city in America?
If you view arts education as
an extra or a luxury, it is a
core part of our education
system for what is a school
without visual and performing
arts.
When our programs are
accessible they provide
students an important outlet
for expression and
communication.
Moving or significantly
reducing funds limits this
funding limit These
opportunities encourage
inequity.
Everybody in America
backgrounder This is how we
live and how we learn to love.
I respectfully urge you to
reconsider these cuts and work
towards a balanced solution
that preserves access to
the arts program for students
like me and for a future
generations.
Just because you MAY never get
to see the impact it has on
the lives of children does not
mean you have the right to see
it as expendable.
I'm living proof that a city
with artistic opportunities
changes people for the better.
>> Thank you for your time.
Thank you.
Rc Each minute after that is
Richards the aba Phenix Win.
Kofi Asante Collin Chimezie
Sebastien Rubi Mona Je If you
can all please come up to
the yellow reserved seats
Please proceed.
Hello my name is Art Lakshman.
I'm a local artist and small
business order owner here in
University Heights in San
Diego.
I had the immense privilege to
live in my formative years in a
place that was funded by
the library and arts and art
programs.
I learned how to read for my
peers and summer programs in
public libraries.
I learned how to manage
emotions through music and
painting.
I learned public speaking
through cultural programs.
I taught music to children that
were nonverbal and learned how
to sing.
I am not alone in my
fundamental need for arts and
culture here as well as all of
these people here and you guys
as well.
I urge you to think about all
of the programs that you are
cutting luxardo ugly and
slaughtering in the name of
arts and culture.
I was a software engineer for
and worked in data analytics
for eight years so believe me
when I say that I know what
goes into analyzing financial
programs and choosing what
success metrics to track And
you can look at the data.
>> Thank you.
DR. Richard Silver.
Richard Other a local 122.
We are working to build
momentum for initiatives that
could bring significant
economic return such as efforts
led by my union to reestablish
San Diego as a hub for motion
picture production.
A local film initiative will
create jobs, attract outside
investment and boost tourism
benefits that ripple across
the entire region.
Cutting arts and culture
funding now undermines all
those opportunities before they
even have a chance to take
hold.
It sends the wrong message at
the wrong time signaling that
society is not prepared to
invest in sectors that generate
both cultural value and
economic growth.
Maintaining funding for
the business at the fiscal year
2026 levels is practical
Overlooking Internet for like a
decision.
It protects our workforce,
supports tourism and positions
San Diego to compete for future
opportunities rather than be
passed over.
We asked the city leaders to
stand with the arts community,
protect these vital investments
and keep San Diego moving in
the right direction.
>> Thank you.
Phenix Win.
Phenix We I am an artist and
math tutor and I'm here today
because hard math isn't adding
up straight from the city's
open books.
I made this chart just for you
guys to see.
While 11.8 million is stripped
from our arts and programs and
3.5 million from our libraries,
the police budget is magically
increasing by $14 million.
It's almost like his plan
doesn't actually solve
the deficit just moves money
away from the people into
the police state.
I'm going to agree with you on
something.
We do need to make some hard
cuts.
So here's my suggestion.
Math informed target
the institution that eats up
14% of our city budget.
Not the libraries.
In order to only take up five
and 1% of our city budget.
I even have some crazy ideas I
got today from MR. Monica that
you can tell the police.
Unfortunately we need to make
some significant cuts to solve
the budget crisis.
These cuts will be difficult
but necessary.
>> These cuts will be
the primary tool to solve
the city's program.
Cut the police not partizan or
otherwise Add to a budget that
Trump would be very happy for.
Thuggery You are disgraceful in
your mesa community and you're
just one aapi community are
disappointed and you are a
traitor to the community.
>> Coffee Coffee or.
I can have the following
individuals please come up to
the microphone to the other
reserved seats.
Coffee Atlanta.
No coffee Call.
Colin.
Hello, Council members.
I hope you're listening to
the people today because if you
don't listen to the people
the people will listen to
themselves.
We could have the friendly
librarian, the gentle youth
service worker, beautiful art
But if all we have is
the parking ticket,
the surveillance camera lens
tinted police window all we'll
have to talk to is ourselves.
We don't need to beg you for
scraps.
We have dignity.
We need you to represent us.
And if you can't do that, we
don't need you.
>> Sebastian Ruby.
Good.
My name Sebastian.
Just really.
I am an immigrant working in
the theater and arts industry
as a stage carpenter.
We have Viotti Local 122
resident of District three and
I recently celebrated 13 years
clean and sober.
I also come from a long line of
entertainment injury
professionals.
Cuts to arts parks in libraries
don't just affect programs they
affect people like me and
everyone in this room.
These spaces where recovery
communities meet where creative
creativity gives people purpose
and where many of us find
stability.
Redirecting that funding toward
policing privacy vision and
anti homeless measures does not
solve problems.
It deepens them.
It takes resources away from
prevention and healing that
your people desperately need.
San Diego is a city built on
immigrants culture and
community.
We should be investing in that,
not tearing it down.
You say your goal is to help
your constituents improve
standing overall.
Prove it, Todd.
If you want to help us like
you're supposed to get out of
the way, don't ag non ag.
Good afternoon.
I know I'm in your district.
I grew up in San Diego.
I've never been to a council
hearing but this is promised to
us and every citizen and it's
exciting to be part of it.
Although it is very demeaning
and all the news that we've
been saying of what our
country's which direction is
going which I'm sure you will
think about a lot.
As everyone's come outside
today on their time off I'm not
sure how they do it but we do
it in a measure to say these
concerns.
I can't help but feel is trying
to replicated in so many other
parts of my life and going into
university not just in the news
all around us that we see our
voices beyond just what seems
to be the bare bones of
infrastructure and of what we
deem as innovation lacking so
much of a tone of listening to
the constituents even though
I'm sure everything is
overwhelming.
>> Thank you.
The following individuals
please come up to the yellow
reserved seats.
These are our final speakers
here in council chambers.
Sheila Stanford.
Sophia Blanco.
Joanne Stanford.
Hannah Park.
Daniel Perez.
Ramses El Hector Castro.
Gabrielle Alabama.
Sarah Large and Desiree Clark
Miller If you can all please
come up to the front.
Shayla if you can please come
up to the microphone.
Hello.
Working as a director at
the nonprofit Heartbeat Music
and Performing Arts Academy
which Todd Gloria has
recognized and supported in
the past.
I've seen firsthand how much
the arts transform children's
capability to learn and keep
them from becoming victims of
the system.
Through the arts we have
personally helped many at risk
black and brown youth get full
ride music and dance
scholarships to major colleges.
If you want to save money then
divesting in the arts is
extremely counterintuitive.
The arts are the backbone of
the community not an accessory.
And it makes the city much more
money than it costs as a major
tourist destination.
It's what draws in tourism
dollars.
It's who the local businesses
partner with to increase their
revenue.
It helps print out workers
refresh and keep going.
As we've seen in the Great
Depression, the film industry
is one of the only industries
that thrived.
I personally experienced
homelessness in high school and
arts changed my life.
I went to film school at usc.
I ended up working at Warner
Brothers and have been able to
give back to my community and
the local economy.
Thank you for that continuing
sentence.
>> Sophia Blanco.
>> Hi I'm a born and raised in
Yagan District three I
represent Art Cipher in San
Diego Walkabout.
Additionally I'm a local
theater worker.
I'm constantly problem solving
my way out of tight budgets and
solutions.
How do we work together to
solve this problem?
I invite an important city to
work with the arts community to
find an alternative to a near
elimination of the arts and
culture budget.
I remind you that the cuts are
not an inevitable solution.
There are proposed suggestion
Please serve the communities
you swore to represent.
>> Thank you.
Joanne Sanford My name is John
Stanford and I'm an artist who
works for regional and local
theaters in San Diego And I'm
here to oppose the budget cuts
to arts and culture and
additionally support libraries
and parks and rec.
I can't fathom how such a small
portion of what the arts brings
to you monetarily and
culturally as a city is being
cut.
The arts bring in $275 million
in taxes alone to you and
the city and you are proposing
not reinvesting just a small
point 2% portion of that uc San
Diego is defined by its arts
culture and beaches are you
really going to cut the funding
to two thirds of what makes
them illegal?
The great community and city
that is the arts are not some
sideshow.
They are the heart and soul of
San Diego and the people in it.
They provide real jobs and
livelihoods to 170,000 people
in the city.
The arts are what attract
tourism, bring money from
outside the city arts save
lives.
They save my life that homeless
personally many individuals who
have said the same Thank you so
much.
>> Thank you.
Hanna Park Hello.
>> My name is Hannah Park.
I'm a resident of San Diego
District seven and a singer and
performing artist.
I'd like to call attention to
the proposed cuts to the arts
to the tune of $11.8 million
under the section for special
special promotional programs.
The bulk of this money is
allocated to local arts
nonprofit organizations
including performing ensembles
like the ones I am a part of
including the La Hoya Chorus,
the San Diego Master Chorale
and soccer performer.
The proposed budget cuts
present an enormous loss to
local artists and performers
without this funding.
Many of these groups will face
incredible struggles or simply
cease to exist.
This is a significant blow to
the continuation of arts in San
Diego and a detriment to
the broader San Diego
community.
The arts make our city vibrant.
It also presents a threat to
local tourism and quality of
life for our region that will
negatively impact the revenue
the city currently sees from
these avenues.
The city stands to lose much
more than it will gain by
putting this $11.8 million if
the city intends to resolve its
budget shortfall.
Cutting funding for the arts is
the wrong move.
Cuts to the arts constitute a
much larger impact on
the initial loss in funding
which is also a drop in
the bucket compared to
the projected $120 million
shortfall.
>> Thank you for that
concluding sentence.
I know the others.
How's it going for 10 million
budget for San Diego pd over
time?
>> This is confusing to me.
These are hours that have not
happened yet and we're cutting
hours That could certainly
happen if we invest in our
theater and arts community.
Buffalo Park is going from
900,000 to 0.
We've added parking meters.
Who's going to go?
This is not smart.
Support for special events is
being restored from 2025 budget
to 1.7 million.
Again, what special events are
we funding here?
This doesn't make very much
sense to me.
Take it with a grain of salt.
I work at a coffee shop and not
an economist but this does not
make much sense.
This is not balance.
Going from 100 to 0 is not safe
behavior.
You wouldn't climb a ladder
like this.
You want to go down from a
ladder.
It's not safe to hurt
yourselves.
These these institutions won't
make it after this year.
This is this is a slight injury
to those other institutions but
this is deadly to the ones that
matter to us.
>> They will not make it.
Thank you.
Ramsay's counsel.
I'm sure you guys recognize me.
For the past year I've been
coming consulting with counsel
to talk about the police budget
and how last year especially
especially after the murder of
Wilson and another officer
involved death that JANUARY
last year you guys struck us in
the face by increasing
the police budget by 30
million.
And I would in the same exact
slap in the face this year at
the expense of the local
community.
We know that's what happened.
We know that we're just moving
money from one section of
the account to the other and
we're just supposed to take it.
All I can do at this point is
to say police have
the opportunity to defend our
community.
When ice came and they chose to
say that they could do nothing.
So why should we continue to
give them more money when they
continue to do nothing?
>> That's all I have to say.
Hector Castro.
Hello.
Wow.
It's been a day today.
I hope you guys are okay today
too.
But good afternoon, council
members.
And there My name is Hector.
I'm a resident of District
eight as well as a coordinator
for the front article to
the art gallery that is also in
district eight.
Mayor Todd Gloria I'm here for
the same reason I was here last
year.
Are you cutting arts and
culture?
Have you seen a It's incredibly
ugly not to mention terrible
for the environment.
I don't want you having another
opportunity in the city.
I'm a community coordinator for
an art gallery in tiny studio
one of only two art spaces that
are within that little town.
I help organize events and
exhibitions for people of all
ages.
We provide art programs of all
mediums but funding we lose an
opportunity, provide a space
for expression.
We lose an opportunity to
invite our families to take a
break.
It was an opportunity to
inspire neighbors.
>> All of this has been said
today.
Please consider the arts.
Don't cut us off.
Thanks.
>> Thank you, Gabrielle.
I own it Or Gabriel.
All right.
Gabrielle.
Um.
Hello.
My name is Gabrielle Edwina.
I'm representing District three
and Teamsters for 81.
I'm here today because I was
moved to talk by all the people
in this room and everyone that
came before me specifically
because one of the slides said
Vision Zero and it reminded me
something that I learned about
in 2016 in Cambodia by
the Khmer Rouge by Pol Pot.
And this was an agrarian utopia
.
Eradicating all previous
culture, education and modern
technology resulted in
the death of 1.5 to 3 million
people.
And I ask you is this a regime,
a governing body that you want
to mimic and copy?
And I hope you can reflect on
that question All power to
the people.
>> Sara in large.
>> Good evening everybody.
My name is Sarah Large.
I am proud to live and work in
District nine.
I'm also the development
manager at Moxie Theater.
I hope you're all tired because
we certainly are.
Arts and culture not only heals
and protects our communities
mental, physical, social and
economic well-being but it is
one of the strongest avenues
for the amplification of
minority voices.
Flashing the arts and culture
budget is not just an attack on
painters and dancers and actors
and musicians but on people of
color, on women, on the lgbtq
plus community, on disabled
persons and many other
important members of our
community.
So please remain committed to
all of your constituents not
just the privileged ones.
By restoring or even better
increasing the funds allotted
to arts and culture Arts is
public health and public health
is public safety.
>> Surely we are worth at least
1% of your point.
Thank you so much for that
concluding comment.
Desiree Clark Miller.
Desiree, your final speaker
here in council chambers.
All right.
We'll have somebody go and talk
to you right now.
We'll make sure to get you
spoken.
Okay.
You'll be you'll be able to
speak Mandarin.
Please proceed.
>> Good evening.
My name is Desiree Clark Miller
and I am the executive artistic
director at Moxie Theater Moxie
whose mission is to create more
diverse and honest images of
women plus for our culture.
And we are the only
professional theater dedicated
to the voices of women plus
that was able to survive covid.
And we are entering into we are
in our 21st season.
Now I moved to San Diego in
2021 specifically because of
the performing arts.
I knew of two large theaters
here.
I'm sure you know what I'm
talking about.
But what I found here was a
robust and lush and vibrant
arts community filled with a
variety of organizations.
And I know I'm not alone in
this.
Artists move here because of
the arts and we have a choice.
It is not easy or cheap to live
here.
We don't need to be here but we
choose to be here.
>> So I strongly urge you to
reconsider.
Thank you.
>> Coffee as I take it.
Please go to the microphone.
Good evening.
My name is Coffee Asante
Cinnamon Native local artists
global activist.
I have an organization here
called Black Star Paula.
We focus on providing
opportunities for youth in
aquatics and as a global
activist for health and
wellness and positive
opportunities for the youth.
I can really speak on how
the youth are affected when we
do not invest in their futures
,how it contributes to poverty
and a terrible, terrible
quality of life.
I really wanted to urge the not
use the funds to go towards
creating more agents of
authorities but using them to
create ambassadors of freedom,
justice, expression and
wellness for everybody.
I hope we can make a focus on
not just keeping these life
changing activities but also
incorporating these life saving
activities in the schools,
beaches and the pools
The future of the youth.
San Diego was my home.
I know the importance of coming
back home Help your community
and I hope you can all do
the same.
Thank you very much.
Valerie, can you please go to
the microphone?
I'm Valerie Traina of District
for the City of San Diego.
Must not cut funding to our
arts and music programs.
Our libraries or any other
cultural programs societies
can't and won't thrive if they
don't support their artists and
musicians.
Children cannot establish a
vibrant, intelligent future.
San Diego if their parents
don't provide support for their
spiritual expression the visual
arts, music, dance and every
other form of cultural
expression must be fully
supported.
If city Council and Mayor
Gloria are concerned about
balancing the budget, they must
cut funding to our police
department.
It's common sense that if
residents have their basic
needs met including their
spiritual hungers they are far
less likely to commit crimes.
I thank you for that Concluding
comment That does include
public comment here in council
chambers starting in the five
minute time going to those
participating online.
We currently have 26 speakers
in the queue.
Guthrie Leonard, if you can
please unmute the three.
Leonard if you can please
unmute.
I can't Omeo for you I can't
remove for you and we'll have
to move on in the queue if you
can and you just the original
if you can.
Kelsey.
Kelsey Fine.
Please unmute.
Yes can.
Yes.
Please proceed.
All right.
Thank you so much for hearing
me.
First I am disappointed by
the deceptive presentation of
the slides shown earlier
between the two slides for
notable budget increases and
decreases.
Cpd was only listed on
the budget decrease slide yet
they get a net increase of 15
million after accounting for
the 5.6 million reduction on
that budget decrease slide.
Additionally the slide focusing
on public safety stated neither
that increase nor the total
budget of 718 million to gloss
over the cost of the cbd.
It's an attempt to manipulate
the public into thinking that
there are no options for
adjusting the budget.
There clearly are distribute
that 15 million to the programs
that will crumble without city
funding.
Second, when discussing public
safety we need a research based
approach Studies dedicated to
the impact of arts and cultural
engagement on adolescents have
found that children who
participate in these programs
are less likely to engage in
criminal behaviors by cutting
arts funding and the Office of
Child and Youth access you're
setting up our city and county
for a future with higher crime
rates.
If you want a safer community,
pay attention to research.
Thank you.
Next is the original Please
unmute.
Yeah wake up San Diego.
Oh because you need a book club
Things are going to get a lot
worse.
This is absolutely an abuse of
the authority and the people on
the ice and Todd are
the drivers of the deficit as
they sit here and shuffle money
around.
You guys need to really start
paying attention to what they
are doing because they have
$6.4 billion of our money.
They are going to be cutting
after 98 stitches.
How and when are they going to
start cutting their salaries
Because for the $118 million
that you guys are shuffling
around from here to there and
you have to find from
the people you guys need to be
the ones that are showing that
you actually care about
the people because this is a
slap in the face to all
the people who work really hard
and you throw away their money.
So why don't you start saying
well, you know, I want to show
you guys that I'm loyal to you
and that I do care.
I'm going to take a cut in my
pay.
I thought you guys could all
give up about $100,000 each and
then we'll have some more money
in the buckets to spend.
>> Your time has concluded.
Ashley if you can please unmute
I Ashley purse I do see that
you are unmuted but we did not
hear you here in council
chambers.
>> I'm not sure of the device
that you're speaking into MAY
maybe muted Ashley are you able
to hear me now?
>> Yes please proceed.
Okay sounds good.
My name is Ashley and I'm a
sixth generation San Diego and
I'm current resident of
District One and my family
members are dancers,
photographers, musicians,
teachers all volunteers here in
San Diego.
They're painters, woodworkers
And I've always prided myself
on being a San Diego And
because of the culture that we
have here and that's you know,
it's shaped by our arts and
cultural institutions in San
Diego.
This budget doesn't really make
sense.
I mean ultimately it's still
raising from what we've seen in
2026 we're also spending an
extra from 2025 to 2027 We're
spending an extra 5 million on
golf courses alone.
An extra 2 million is going to
be raised for expenditures over
in Mission Bay which doesn't
necessarily make sense to me.
I in my mind we should take
money away from the golf
courses and we should take some
money away from the police
force so that we can actually
fund the things that makes
the Diego San Diego Thank you
John Stump If you can please
unmute.
Joan Stump Academy home for
you.
There you go.
>> Hey there I go.
Great presentation.
Thank you for everybody today.
First I want I'm very concerned
about the liability fund.
The city is looking at about a
half billion dollars worth of
liability from the 2024 floods.
Have you put enough money in
there?
Second, you've got to stop
the police fire and other
departments.
Over time scam firefighters are
generally pulling down a half
$1 million in compensation
mainly because a double their
pay in overtime.
Third council officers need to
volunteer yearly, reduce their
staff staffing by 10%.
The mayor also thank you very
much.
Good luck with this.
And I support the arts.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
The five minute timer has
concluded here in council
chambers There were 25 people
with their hands up At that
point No additional speakers
will be taken.
You can always though continue
to send an email City clerk at
San diego.Gov and those will be
distributed to the council.
Tony Beverly if you can please
unmute.
>> Hi.
Can you hear me?
Yes.
Please proceed.
My name is Tony but I'm a
resident of District nine.
>> I saw the other day that
Mayor Gloria on a television
interview called out the Office
of Child Abuse success as a
regrets specifically having a
quote not insignificant price
tag unquote.
I did some research on that.
I saw that the O.C. Y's budget
is less than 0.02% of the city
budget less than $800,000 a
year which I think is about in
the order of the Bike Lanes
project mentioned earlier as
being a non onerous burden to
scale this down.
This is similar to me cutting
toothpaste out of my annual
personal budget in a short
sighted attempt to save $15 a
year with long term
implications for my health.
Let's stop the shortsighted
Let's invest in the youth of
San Diego and to the future and
keep O.C. Y us.
>> Thank you.
Next is Becky Rapp.
If you can please unmute.
>> That evening council members
my name is Becky Rapp and I too
concerned about the number
about the budget and the number
of programs being cut that were
only launched say a few years
ago And in many cases they they
really never fully got off
the ground.
For example, initiatives like
the Office of Child and Youth
Success which were introduced
with promise but the public
never really saw them reach
their full implementation.
So before eliminating these
programs, the public deserves a
clear cost analysis How much
was spent on research
development, staffing and
planning and what outcomes if
any were even achieved.
Without that transparency it's
difficult to understand whether
these were failed investment
myths, incomplete efforts or
programs that simply needed
more time to deliver results.
So I urge this Council to
prioritize accountability and
clarity fully assessing past
investments.
Share those findings publicly
and focus on strengthening and
funding the programs we already
have Time has concluded.
My apologies Sasha please
unmute.
>> Hello.
I'm a born and raised in a
native.
I friends and people from
the other states deeply enjoy
and appreciate the hours and
days the rec centers are open.
I on minimum use the city's rec
centers twice a week.
Those who regularly come and
enjoy the open gyms alongside
me complain to the lights turn
off and employees bless them
kick us out.
We love it.
Third spaces are becoming rare
and we're in America.
Third spaces are necessary to
cultivate a culture of
community and resiliency Which
is exactly why I know you're
targeting them.
The de-funding of third spaces
increases political
polarization weaken democracy
and social trust.
Third spaces are not a luxury
it's civic necessity.
I know all you council members
have already sided with block
and police.
These meetings are simply a
courtesy and obligation for you
all.
Let it be known we the People
are also here out of courtesy
for the community to react
proportionately to your
decisions on these cuts.
None of you will suppress
the rage of the beautiful
people San Diego.
Shame on the fat of talking
about maintaining decorum.
I'm at the remainder of my
time.
You, Julia Child Childs, if you
can please unmute.
Julia Childs Loman.
Yes.
Good evening everyone.
Thank you for your time.
I echo the sentiments of many
of the previous speakers
opposing the elimination of
the Office of Child and Youth
Success.
As a San Diego native and
resident for over 40 years I
have dedicated the past 30
years of my life to advocating
for our youngest citizens that
depend on us to make decisions
in their best interests.
I'm here today to express my
great disappointment and even
considering and even
considering the elimination of
Oasis.
San Diego finally declared
itself a city where children
and youth can thrive in 2022
with their creation of
the office in just four years.
It was tucked away from
the mayor's office to a shop in
the library.
The elimination of the office
will invalidate many of our
fears of the creation of S.F.
Was a performative act, not a
true commitment.
Yes, you have a difficult task
of task and budget for
the present while ensuring
infrastructure for the future.
It is just recent past present
and future in infrastructure
Don't balance this budget on
the back of our children has
concluded.
If you can please and you.
>> Hello my name is.
I'm an activist artist from
District three and I'm here to
oppose these budget cuts
because when the government
chooses to abandon us, art
builds the community.
And over the past three years
San Diego has chosen to cut
community services starting
with library hours reduced 20
million cut from housing
shelter programs, frozen
recently 58 jobs cut from
the Housing Commission all
while simultaneously increasing
police funding from 49,000,000
in 2024 to 600,000,000 in 2025
and now 700,000,000 in 2026
while also accepting 10 to $15
million annual in federal uhs-I
grants that require ice
collaboration.
And time and time again we've
seen that the police have
harmed and terrorized our
community instead of providing
protection.
I propose that we that we cap
police overtime by 10% over
bass and allocate their access
to the arts parks and library
budget.
The money exists You're just
choosing it to spend it
Different time has concluded.
Yaron if you can please unmute
.
Hello my name is here and Clark
and I live in North Park
District three.
I'm disappointed and angry to
see that the city and council
are addressing the budget
deficit by targeting essential
funding for youth and families
and investing in social
infrastructure like the Office
of Child and Youth Success.
Libraries and recreation
programs is investing in public
safety.
Instead, the city is increasing
funding for the police
department and signed a $2
million $2 million contract
with Ubec which has already
received massive public
backlash due to privacy and
surveillance concerns.
This proposed budget is
honestly shameful and I'm
struggling to understand
the long term goals of this
Could and is shameful that our
mayor Todd Gloria prioritizes
private contracts and profit
over protecting our youth.
Sam Hugo's public and community
spaces and the long term growth
and development of San Diego.
The public backlash on
the public parking fee plan
alone should have indicated how
much our San Diego community
respects and values public and
social infrastructure.
>> Thank you.
The 19 Donuts 19 Please unmute
Yes.
Can you hear me?
Yes.
Please proceed.
Okay.
Hello Council Today you heard
what community members meant to
say.
These are young people who
understand the very simple But
we want to show communities we
must invest in our youth
through our you drop in centers
We've created spaces where
people can find mentorships
the ability and opportunity for
programs like workforce
development, job then our
cookie culture and care program
where youth in real life skills
that prepare them for
the workforce.
Those work is rooted in our
social development strategy
selecting young people to
culture identity in
the community Because culture
is not just something we
celebrate it gives us
structure, it gives the youth
pride and builds their
character.
When people understand where
they come from, they carry
themselves differently.
They develop responsibility,
discipline and a strong work
ethic that will guide them
through life But that means
that you struggle with having
to find ways to keep a roof
over their heads and with that
they turn to mentors cultural
barriers, youth programs and
afterschool spaces to help
raise the children Because we
all know the saying that it
takes a village to raise a
child but when you get this
funding for these programs when
arts and culture are treated
expendable and you challenge
the promised resources, you're
telling me you're not
listening.
Thank you.
Your time has concluded.
Katie Hallett If you can please
unmute.
Yes Can you hear me?
Yes.
Please proceed.
All right.
Hi, my name is Katie Hallett.
I'm a born and raised Hispanic
San Diego and in District two
i'm concerned about proposed
cuts to the arts, youth
programs, Parks and Rec and
libraries.
These are areas that help us
maintain human connection.
At the last city council
meeting I attended which
happened to be on hold cos
Remembrance Day.
There was a shared recognition
by the City Council of how
important it is to stand
against oppression and
dehumanization.
I'm asking you to consider how
cutting support for these
programs contradicts that
message.
Historically one of the first
things to be committed to more
authoritarian environments is
creative expression and access
to shared community spaces.
They challenge isolation and
keep culture alive.
When we reduce funding for
these especially for young
people, we take away a safe,
constructive outlet that build
critical thinking, empathy and
connection.
If we're making tough budget
decisions, I urge you to
prioritize protecting these
essential community services.
These are spaces that keep
people connected, supported and
engaged.
Please don't treat art as
expendable.
It's one of the strongest
defenses a community has
against fat.
>> Your time has concluded.
Thank you for that concluding
comment.
Corrina Pugh.
Hello.
Can you hear me?
Yes.
Please proceed.
But evening council members My
name is Corrina Pugh.
My parents are she her And I'm
speaking today on behalf of
the San Diego lgbt Community
Center.
Today we are requesting a
reallocation of $300,000 from
the opioid settlement funds to
sustain the center's substance
use disorder treatment program
that serves all folks with a
focus on our lgbtq Plus
community.
Since its allocation last year
over 200 clients have been
served and over 600 sessions
have been accessed by clients
demonstrating a significant
need for these services.
We request this continued
allocation to ensure that lgbtq
affirming services remain
funded and accessible to our
entire San Diego community.
Additionally, we request
continued full funding to
the arts and culture and
culture industry represented by
many of the folks in person in
the room with you.
Arts and culture are
the backbone and soul of San
Diego both economically as well
as culturally.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Next is Katherine Rhodes.
If you can please unmute.
>> Hello.
This is Katherine Rhodes.
And first thank you to Council
PRESIDENT Joe McCarver for
meeting with and we have like
an eye on Friday.
And what you did is you really
gave us inspiration to rework
our ballot language So we
actually reworked it so that it
requires a two thirds super
majority and it's a directed
tax And one of the percentage
of direct tax which is 30
million to about 45 million is
for what we call penny for
the arts bubble parks and
libraries.
This would actually solve your
budget problem.
And so what I'm requesting is
for for your talk Gloria,
the independent budget analysts
,the city attorney my council
member Joe LaCava, the bike
side of unions and all
the different unions to sit
with me so I could actually
show our time has concluded.
>> My apologies for number
ending and 4065 is next 4065.
>> You are on mute counsel.
My name's Natalie.
Can you hear me?
Yes.
Please proceed.
Natalie I live in District
seven.
I represent every unhoused
person in the city of San Diego
.
I am one of 400 San Diego
households losing their voucher
this fall.
I'm not here tonight to ask you
to fix hud.
I'm here because no one in this
chamber is saying to name.
The federal government has
promised ahp funding through
2030 and they're pulling that
in AUGUST of 2026 four years
early.
That is not a surprise to me.
It's a pattern that has not
funded a single new public
housing unit since
the Faircloth amendment in
1998.
Section eight waitlists in San
Diego are closed.
There's no federal funding does
not exist.
So when you vote to cut
the detention or you are not
solving a budget problem, you
are completing a federal
demolition project that started
decades ago.
You are the last level of
government we have.
That failure.
Restore your good.
Thank you.
Next is Blaire Beekman.
>> Hi there, Beekman.
I heard a lot of public comment
today People asking to see
the budget and to get a sense
of it to offer ideas in return.
Good luck in such a process.
I think that's a good
conversation to have And if
we're having those
conversations openly as a full
community process that's
working, that's really working
as a community so and local
neighborhoods good luck in
those sort of good efforts
working together.
The idea that I think the city
of Oakland that also has a
strong mayor by the way is
the only other city that has a
larger budget deficit in
California for large cities
compared to San Diego.
They're working their budget So
there is not these sort of
austere measures being where
they're serving their social
services.
How do we do that in San Diego?
To mention our issues.
You know, I've spoken to over
year about how you can work
surveillance and we can leave
flock, find a new provider and
at the same time reduce
technology for cost savings
massive costs in terms of
concluded zoom user if you can
please unmute.
>> All right.
Thanks for taking my call.
I love it All the young guys
getting fired up man.
It's really great.
And also you can also just
raise them little finger and
stand up.
You don't have to obey
the rules about waving your
fingers up and down with
the thumb.
You can just go straight out
middle finger.
A lot of those guys are pretty
angry men.
And one thing about the city.
Go to the Zoom and go to
the meetings And then each
council there's nine
councilors.
A lot of those council people
don't know the rents they're
collecting.
The city is collecting rents.
And a lot of them are past do
their leases are outdated
leases The city is giving away
a lot of money free rent to
guys at least from the city.
So it's one way to get more
money in your district.
Go to your council and say
where are the leases to the are
our council.
Let's go out and collect
the rent for them and you guys
can get the money for your
programs.
That'll be a good community
thing to do.
Thanks a lot.
>> Good luck.
San Diego County Bicycle.
>> Please unmute.
Good evening City Council.
My name is Ian Embry and I am
the advocacy manager for
the San Diego County Bicycle
Coalition.
Our organization and many
others in the Vision Zero
Coalition are calling on you to
reinstate funding for
the multimodal team and the f y
27 budget.
This team does many things.
They design and implement
roadway improvements to make
our streets safer.
They increase access to
affordable housing by doing
bike and ped scope for state
agency projects.
And they help us get millions
of dollars in grants to make
our streets safer.
This draft budget shows that
the mayor's office does not
have a long term vision for
the city.
While our planning and
transportation departments work
on updating community plans and
the bike master plan, they're
proposing to sabotage
the future mobility
improvements outlined in those
plans.
But your Education Department's
budget is increasing due to
federal and state formula
funding.
You increased transportation
funding to keep the multi-modal
team.
Previously this council
recognized that state that
safety should be the number one
transportation transportation
related priority.
Please keep it moving forward
in our traffic safety and
climate goals and keep
the multi-modal team.
Thank you.
Next is Francine Maxwell.
If you can please unmute.
>> Sorry.
Francine Maxwell Southeastern
San Diego resident.
I think there's plenty of
opportunities within the budget
that the community needs to
see.
They need to see that the park
and Rec health is the second
biggest budget.
They need to see the budget
members that have been out and
maybe they didn't have an
opportunity to see the budget
members.
So those need to be brought
out.
People need to be reminded that
the independent budget analyst
is just that he cannot show
emotion because he's
independent.
And so people again have to be
reminded of what decorum looks
like.
Civic engagement is wonderful
and we know that children are
our future and we want to make
sure that they feel safe And if
they feel safe in art and they
feel safe at the library, then
we need to do everything we
have to do to make sure that
our children who are the future
do feel safe.
Again, we know and
the community needs to be
educated that the council
worked alongside the mayor more
than they have in the past.
And so this is not a surprise.
So no performative activities
anymore.
Let's get down to work and
let's get this ballot.
>> Your time has concluded
John.
If you can please unmute.
John I can't unmute for you.
I will need to move on to
the next caller.
There you go.
Thank you, John.
John Brady Libertarian Advisors
.
I have an echo in my
headphones.
Sorry about that.
Can you come back later?
We don't connect.
Go here.
>> Please proceed.
All right.
Thank you.
The two things that are really
largely responsible for my
recovery from homelessness
the new Good Day Center and
the voices and voices of our
city choir is being canceled in
this budget.
I urge you to look at other
solutions for those who voted
against an increase in sales
tax.
This is what happens when we
underfund government.
Thank you.
Next is Sally Swan.
>> If you can please unmute
Sally you are unmuted but we do
not hear you here in council
chambers.
Not sure if the device you're
speaking into MAY be muted.
>> Sally I will need to move on
to the next caller.
You're definitely still sending
comments City clerk at San
diego.Gov and those will be
emailed out.
>> Amari Rather's Can you hear
me?
Yes Please proceed.
>> Hi, my name is Amari
Mathers.
I'm a resident in District
four.
I also work in District four.
I am a performing arts
specialist at Heartbeat Music
and Performing Arts Academy.
I serve the students of
Encanto.
I serve the preschoolers of
Encanto students who are black
and brown students that look
just like me.
And I see you as someone who as
a black young woman, someone
who is an artist too.
Please see things from my
perspective.
I come from various communities
I've been in various states
where I've seen underfunding in
arts programs and I've seen in
how it's left the youth without
the needs that they need It to
be met.
I've seen people go into so
many different things that were
destructive to themselves but
also to the city.
If you want to think about how
we can help the city, how about
think about investing in arts
and maybe we will need as much
money in the police department.
>> Thank you.
Thank you Tony.
If you can please unmute low
city council Can you hear me?
>> Yes.
Please proceed.
Hey how's it going?
My name is Anthony Ralphs.
I'm the vice chair of
the Boulevard Planning Group.
I'm a musician.
I'm an actor.
I'm an all vinyl deejay.
I'm an event producer and I
don't want to see any of these
arts budgets cut.
i want to see block.
I want to see as deep these
budget cuts.
And I want to ask this city
council why do you serve as
deep over your constituents,
your constituent are asking you
they're demanding from you.
They're begging you to cut as
deep these funding They have a
way overbloated budget.
They're abusing their
constituents.
They're harming people on our
streets and they don't do
anything When we call them to
report incidents they tell us
it's a civic issue.
You have to handle it in court.
Well, guess what?
We shouldn't have a pay to play
judicial system where we have
to afford justice in this
country.
Y'all should not be giving them
any more ammunition to use
against our communities.
Do what's right.
Do what you're constituents are
asking.
Stop making me be the 200 angry
person that's calling in
demanding that you don't cut
the programs that are
essentially keeping crime from
being on our streets.
>> Your time has concluded.
Kathleen Lippert, If you can
please unmute Kathleen Lippert
I can unmute for you.
>> I will.
Very good.
Thank you again.
Thank you.
You've heard a lot today about
how art is essential to
humanity and so it is but so is
Open Space Park safe and clean
streets where the public can
walk.
The public has been influenced
to bring police and immigration
from many of the problems
created that are divisive
ideological narratives.
But just as calls to defund
the police cause unintended
increase in crime, reduce
police presence and lower
officer morale and lead to
resignations and recruitment
challenges and cost the city
more money to hire more police.
Cities have cities that have
cut police budgets such as
Portland, New York City and
Oakland saw a sharp increases
in shootings, carjackings and
overall violence, increased
risk to safety and other
unintended consequences.
So do calls to defund it.
And yes, they should start with
the most most dangerous people
which they had said they would
do.
Time has concluded.
>> Nancy, if you can please
unmute.
Nancy, you are unmuted but we
do not hear you're here in
council chambers.
Not sure if the device you're
speaking into MAY be muted.
We will have to move on to
the next very quickly here.
Yes.
Please proceed.
Okay.
Thank you.
Sorry about that.
My name is Nancy Rella Florida.
I'm a resident of District
three Regular San Diegans are
dealing with the same budget
crisis as the city and
the mayor has proposed a budget
that will directly cut
everyone's resources and safety
and cause harm especially for
those that are already
struggling the most.
Third spaces like libraries,
parks, arts, youth services and
gathering places are essential
to real public safety and
health and they are already
experts at making every dollar
count.
The city should talk more with
them about how that works.
The police are costing the city
money and credibility and we
don't see their budget being
scrutinized for any cuts let
alone painful necessary ones
that would share the burden
more across departments Please
get rid of Floc Take this
opportunity and save $2
million.
Surveillance is not an
essential service.
What's the difference?
Your time has concluded Nicole
if you can please unmute.
>> Good afternoon to
the Council.
Thank you for taking the time
to listen to all our voices
especially all those that are
at council And thank you all
for being there.
Those voices are loud and clear
and it is true We must invest
in our youth with our safe
parks, libraries, rec center,
the programs that serves them
the Choice Creek Park, the Park
and of course safe streets To
move around through the city is
an efficient and sustainable
way to move.
For years you know I've been
riding my bike for
transportation advocating for
safe streets So it's tremendous
that we see a multi-modal team
that's actually creating these
places for our youth to be
healthy and get around and get
to their programs and these
services and these parks and
these libraries.
That's what our city is about
is making it a livable city for
all of them.
>> So we ask you to keep that
transportation budget that
multimodal team can be funded
through the transportation
budget and it hasn't It does
not have to come anywhere else.
So please.
>> Safe streets for everyone.
Thank you all.
Thank you.
Next is Britney.
>> Britney, anyone else please
unmute.
I Can you hear me?
>> Yes.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
I would like I'm a resident of
District seven and I would like
to oppose the severe budget
cuts that were announced in
the mayor's proposed budget
That includes the Office of
Child Abuse Success.
As someone who works in social
services and directly with
youth that would be impacted by
these cuts, I urge Council to
show your support by taking
action and opposing this
budget.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
Next is Madison and then our
final speaker is Anthony Avalos
.
>> Hi.
Thank you for listening to
everybody today.
I would also urge you to
prioritize funding for The O.C.
Us and for youth substance use
prevention.
Thriving for children and youth
includes preventing exposure
and access to harmful
substances.
We know that the earlier young
people are exposed to drugs and
alcohol the greater the risk
for long term challenges
impacting their mental health,
academic success and future
opportunities.
When we invest in prevention
we're investing upstream.
We reduce the need for more
costly interventions later like
emergency services, treatment
programs and involvement with
the justice system.
It's not only the compassionate
approach it's also the fiscally
responsible one.
If we want a safer, healthier
San Diego this is where it
starts with our kids.
And so as a mother of three
young children, I encourage you
to ensure that youth prevention
is a meaningful part of this
project.
Thank you.
>> Anthony Avalos if you can
please unmute.
Good afternoon.
Council members Anthony Avalos,
their district.
We are told San Diego faces a
$118 million deficit and that
difficult choices must be made.
But this budget shows those
choices are in no way
equitable.
It allocates over 700 million
to the police department while
cutting library recreation
access.
Arts funding.
Those are not extras.
They're core to public safety.
So we have to ask what is
safety?
Is it only enforcement after
harm occurs?
Or is it the programs that
prevent harm in the first
place?
Now right now this budget
treats prevention as optional
and policing is untouchable.
Even a small shift in police
funding could close the deficit
without cutting a single
program that stabilizes our
communities.
This is not a deficit problem.
It's a priorities problem.
I urge this Council to stop
balancing the budget on
community programs and begin a
real reallocation from systems
that respond to harm to those
that prevent it.
Thank you Your time has
concluded.
For those that continue to
raise their hands the five
minute timer I had concluded a
while ago and we did make note
of that So no additional
speakers were taken than those
that had their hands raised.
You can definitely still submit
comments The city clerk at San
diego.Gov and those will be
distributed.
Also to note this item did
receive two comments in favor
and 270 comments in opposition
b or e comment form which have
been distributed to the Council
and we did receive 14 speaker
slips in opposition that did
not wish to speak.
Thank you Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
Thank you.
City Clerk for that.
And as I traditionally do,
let's take a moment and thank
our city clerk and her entire
team for managing.
I think we had a good three
hours of public testimony so
All right with that.
This was this is an
informational item.
No motion is required.
We'll turn it over to my
colleagues on the council for
any questions and comments.
We'll start with the chair of
the council's budget committee.
Council member Foster.
Yes.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT And I will
try my best to make it to my
comments as quickly as I can.
I also would like to just take
a quick moment to thank
the mayor, the aba and staff
for their presentation of this
proposed f y 2027 budget.
First I want to start by
acknowledging the serious
fiscal challenges facing our
city.
A $120 million deficit is
serious.
And correction does directly
impacts services and jobs.
Essentially it impacts
the quality of life of families
and our young people citywide.
As we all move forward and look
at holding this city
accountable, let's make sure
that we also acknowledge
the decisions of past
administrations and councils as
this structural deficit was not
created yesterday.
There seems to be a lot of
misinformation out there by
these so-called past leaders.
It is a result of years of
unfortunate decisions by those
in power and prioritizing what
I will term as their friends.
Yes, this budget cycle does
demand tough decisions but even
in a deficit we must not lose
our moral compass.
The proposed budget presented
totals 6.4 billion with general
fund expenditures and revenue
coming in at approximately 2.24
billion.
With that d o f appears to
actually reflect an increase in
revenues.
>> As I have previously noted
for me this continues to be a
discussion about the city's
priorities.
A discussion about who and what
the city plans to prioritize in
its budget.
I represent communities that
for generations have been
overlooked in budget
conversations.
These are working families
primarily people of color who
have long endured
disinvestment, inadequate
infrastructure and a lack of
access to opportunity.
Let me be very clear.
Equity must be at the forefront
and must be the path forward
during these tough times.
And as I have said repeatedly,
repeatedly across the board
cuts ignores the reality that
some of our communities have
never been given a full seat at
the table to begin with.
As we continue to move forward
,I will be focused on how
equity shows up in the budget.
For example, as we talk about
the Community Equity Fund or
the Climate Equity Fund, we
must ensure that historically
underserved communities do not
continue to suffer and be taken
for granted.
We must continue to ensure our
residents do not face another
disaster like the 2024 floods.
This is within the cities
control community public safety
initiatives.
We must continue to fund the No
shots fired program.
Drop in centers and the drop in
centers.
We just had an update that
violent crime is down and that
we are the safest large city.
Let's not pull back.
These programs have a proven
track record.
We must lean in if we want to
continue to see violent crime
down and truly be the safest
large city in the nation.
Sd Access for all.
We've heard today a lifeline to
connectivity and digital equity
is vital to the future of
District four and our young
people Arts and culture
critical to the success of our
communities.
Our diversity should be
embraced and celebrated.
It is what makes San Diego
the city that it is.
Library parks and recreation
centers.
Essential community anchors
that provide safe spaces, youth
engagement, educational support
and critical quality of life
services that stabilize
neighborhoods.
We must hold the line and go
further.
We cannot support a budget that
undercuts library access, park
access and maintenance or
neighborhood services
especially in historically
underserved communities like
District four.
I do have a question for our
library director.
There is concern over the new
Oak Park Library as we are
faced with the budget
challenges that we are
continuing to discuss.
Is MR. Available?
Just can we get confirmation
that there are no impacts or
delays to the scheduled
groundbreaking next month for
the new Oak Park Library?
On MAY 14th, 2026.
Good afternoon.
Councilmember Foster Rania
Ahmed, the chief of Community
Services Officer and city
Engineer.
On behalf of Misty I can
confirm that there is no delays
and then also that is confirmed
by Engineering Capital Project
department.
>> They are the lead on
delivering this project.
All right.
Thank you for that.
Now I do have some concerns
about efficiency core services
and budget allocations that we
are presented today as we look
at housing and homelessness.
>> We need to ask ourselves
does the budget reflect a
balanced approach to housing
and homelessness solutions?
How are we implementing these
solutions with the allocated
dollars?
Are those impacted Meeting with
caseworkers and moving towards
permanent housing?
I think more conversation is
needed when I am in District
four or other areas of
the city.
I cannot confidently say we are
making progress especially
based on the investments that
we continue to make.
We must take a hard look at our
return on investment and
continue to bring our partner
agencies to the table and do
better.
Arts and Culture.
Again, I'm concerned about 100%
reduction in planning for
the arts and also to make
things even more difficult.
The cutting of cbp's and ccf
grant programs As we look at
General fund expenditures as I
mentioned earlier, it appears
there is an increase in revenue
and expenditures.
It appears there's an
additional $71 million that we
are looking to expend.
There is even an increase of
27.5 million dollars in
contract cost.
>> We're where we were supposed
to be bringing down contract
cost And again I think these
are questions that we will have
to work towards answers.
>> General fund expenditure
cuts to purchasing and
contracting.
It looks like we are cutting
the implementation of
the disparity study.
Why would we do that?
>> My apologies.
>> And how are we ensuring that
the city doesn't fall short of
its equity goals with cuts like
this?
As we look at the community
equity Fund it appears as if
the proposed budget shows a one
time resource of the funds
remaining $195,000.
Why are we not deploying these
dollars now?
Why are we not adding to
the subsidies or our homeless
prevention efforts?
Why are we not making this
available to seniors and others
?
i'll use the police budget as
an example.
As I continue to be concerned
as I looked at the summary of
the budget documents, it
appears the budget is being
increased by $14 million.
We have to ask why have we
looked at hourly positions that
are not critical or vacant non
sworn positions?
Have we looked at our
fingerprinting unit?
Have we looked at our polygraph
unit?
Have we looked at non sworn
management positions?
Appears there are redundancies
with communications in dov.
The one thing that I don't want
to do as I look at media
releases I don't know if
they're officers or
communication employees.
Also how about implementing
the two officer units?
I believe there were
memorandums written under
the previous police chief
especially as we are looking at
cost of vehicles costs of gas
etc..
Also are we looking at all of
our technology within
the police department?
Some technology MAY be proving
to be less useful than others
when it comes to safety.
>> We have to take a holistic
approach and look at
improvements through
environmental design.
We should be focusing on
graffiti abatement fixing
streetlights, sidewalks,
crosswalks.
These are efforts that help our
officers as we continue to
experience staffing challenges
And we need to find a way to
get some relief in regards to
our homelessness services and
our officers.
We need to get back to our core
services and the basics.
>> But all of these again speak
to our core services.
Not monumental errors from
the public And we as a city
again need to get back to
the basics.
So yes, let's fix the roads.
We're working People commute
every day and we must not
forget about the workers who
power this city.
City staff deserves more than
gratitude.
They deserve wages They can
live on vehicles that work.
Leadership that understands
their book of business and
departments that aren't
stretched to the brink to meet
our charter mandated core
services.
>> We must equip our workers
for success and we must ensure
their safety and any position
reductions need to be balanced
among management in our front
line workers and done through
an equity lens.
I cannot say this enough.
We cannot grow public trust
while eroding public services.
We must also continue investing
in housing justice from flood
recovery support to eviction
prevention to rapid rehousing
and rent subsidies for our
elders to continuing the trash
free waiver program.
Let's not just protect these
services.
Let's expand them where it
makes the most sense.
The capital improvement budget
includes over 89 million for
street repair.
This is not what we like but we
must ensure it reaches
the neighborhoods that need it
the most.
My district alone still has
nearly 150 million in unfunded
street improvements and I look
forward to the city's
commitment to apply
approximately 43% of the paving
dollars allocated.
If I can have just a few more
moments.
Paving two districts four,
eight and nine.
Again these are not wishlist
items.
They are basic overdue needs.
And as I close I will say again
this is not just a budget
document.
It's a statement of our morals
and values.
Our communities are watching
and I stand committed to
ensuring that District four
receives the investment that it
not only deserves but what it
needs to be a sustainable and
thriving community.
Like other communities
throughout the city of San
Diego, a city where equity
drives investment decisions
must be our standard not a
sound bite.
Let's not just say we are
the finest city in America.
Let's show the nation we are
the finest city in the nation.
I look forward to working with
the mayor's office, my
colleagues, the aba and city
staff as we move forward with
this budget cycle.
And so with that Council
PRESIDENT That concludes my
comments.
All right.
Thank you to our budget chair
Councilmember Foster.
We'll go next to council member
Eli Rivera.
>> Thank you, Council
PRESIDENT.
And I want to thank everyone
who came here today and
everyone who has shared your
stories for why you were here.
I very much appreciate that.
And then for those of you who
shared your talent as well,
whether it was spoken word or
some of the other folks who
share that talent Thank you.
We have a legal requirement to
balance the budget but that in
and of itself is not a vision
And before I can support a
budget especially one that's
proposing deep cuts like
the ones that were being
proposed, I didn't understand
what we were actually trying to
build and how what is being
proposed gets us there.
That does not mean I'm not
prepared to make difficult
decisions.
I am.
That could very well include
cuts even to departments and
programs I believe in because
we have a responsibility to
deliver a balanced budget.
But again I need to understand
what it's in pursuit of.
You and I have had that
conversation a few times.
And so I'm going to actually
start with the question for you
If you can share with us as a
council and the public about
what vision it is that you have
for the city that's being
pursued with this budget and
how the budget moves us in that
direction.
And for the question,
Councilmember, we have a
strategic plan that speaks to
all of this that's been
socialized adopted.
I would say with this
particular proposal what I'm
striving to do is to eliminate
our structural budget deficit
so that the annual revenue
growth that Councilmember
Foster was referring to a
moment ago can allow us to
actually restore services as
opposed to what we have to do
now where we're making cuts on
an annual basis.
>> Understood.
Thank you.
Um, I'll have a few more
questions.
Um, I appreciate that response.
I also will say that that that
also leaves me not knowing
where this actually puts us
because the balance could be we
could we could solve
the structural budget deficit
and the budget could still be
morally deficient And I want us
to be a city that actually
works for the people who are
here.
I think that there is no reason
why in a city with this level
of beauty and this hardworking
people that is attractive to so
many people from around
the world that this should not
be a place where every family
and every single neighborhood
can afford to live, where they
feel safe and be proud of
the city And that yes, that
means parks and libraries and
rec centers that actually feel
good to spend time in in our
funded roads and sidewalks that
are safe and workers who are
treated with dignity and
respect.
And very importantly young
people who see a future for
themselves here And without
more clarity about where we're
trying to go and what options
have been pursued.
I don't believe that the budget
as proposed moves us in that
direction.
And I think we have an
obligation to do everything in
our power to again make sure
that the city actually works
for its people.
Earlier today arts and culture
advocates and youth advocates
held competing press
conferences pleading for
maintaining the funding they
need to keep their programing
going and that was devastating
on a multitude of fronts.
But so I'm going to actually
put those two groups together
right now because I don't think
our arts and culture community
should be competing with our
youth advocates um to maintain
the funding that they need And
obviously the overlap is
significant.
The threats facing young people
right now are serious as
serious as in any recent
memory.
We've got a mental health
crisis amongst our youth as
social media platforms that
were designed to damage their
sense of self-worth wreak havoc
on them.
The economy is making housing
feel more and more out of
reach.
While tech companies are
destroying the careers that
these young folks are working
toward and our arts and culture
community is essential to who
we want to be as a city.
So Mayor, if I if I MAY,
whether it's you or
the Department of Finance, it
answers and help us understand
what opportunities have been
pursued at the state level or
through philanthropy that could
bridge the gaps in the short
term not just for arts but for
our youth programing as well?
>> It's a great question and
I've got staff to start
preparing a report for you all
to understand better
the philanthropic areas.
So to your question about youth
,this budget while there are
reductions to park and
recreation, what you've seen is
the maintenance of the parks
after dark programs as well as
likely some aquatic hours at
select pools south of eight.
Those are possible because of
the contributions of the Price
Philanthropies group that I
know you work closely with.
That would be an example.
I think you asked the question
of what we're doing at
the state level.
We continue to advocate
successfully to fund our city's
paid internship program, employ
and empower.
That will not be unchanged.
We are currently advocating for
restoration of eliminated
homelessness dollars.
This will be very important
because as you saw in the memo
I said to you a few weeks ago
the most expensive shelters
that we operate as a city are
those that are made available
to our transition age youth.
If the state follows through on
its current proposal other than
me half of the money they
normally give us.
I'm concerned how that will
impact those particular
shelters.
So there's there's more that
we'll give you but I think
those are perhaps some examples
of what we're trying to do at
least currently and through
this process hopefully more
philanthropic will come forward
while we see more certainty at
the federal and state level
about what their funding will
look like.
Appreciate that.
On another issue um streets are
something that you've invested
.
You believe investing heavily
in.
You've talked about public
safety being a priority.
The mobility team is being
proposed to be to be cut.
>> Are you confident that that
would not impact street safety?
Well, I MAY ask Bethany Dusek
maybe to talk a little bit more
about that.
But this very quickly, we've
heard I think we've all heard
very closely clearly from our
traffic violence advocates that
they want to see progress on
the fatal 15.
This proposal does that.
We are working after
the council adopted the speed
management plan That has not an
insignificant price tag but I
believe that there's a way that
we can accommodate that in
the MAY revise.
But to your question I think it
would be helpful maybe Zack or
MS..
Aymond can speak to our
existing capacity in both
the acp and in transportation
to make sure that some of
the traffic safety stuff that's
unrelated to fatal 15 and speed
major plan to give you some
hopefully some assurances that
.
>> Thanks for the question
Councilmember Bethany Beach
actually performance and
logistics officer so
the multimodal team is the team
that designs the striping plans
for the paving.
The vast majority of the paving
So the overlay projects and
also the armory and slurry
seal.
So that work what we would
still be able to stripe plans
but they won't be upgraded
plans is essentially what will
happen through this budget.
We are privatizing more
specific intersection types of
safety that will be prioritized
So we think crosswalk upgrades,
beacons, those types of things.
But the striping that is
planned would be striped in
kind Now on a case by case
basis when there is cip funding
what will occur is that
individual projects will have
upgrades and will have striping
that will happen as part of
those type projects But through
the regular paving program
projects would be striped in
kind.
>> Got it.
And one follow up to that.
Yes.
My understanding is that that
team has helped us maintain
competitiveness for state
grants by being able to execute
on on the work that they do
that mobility team Are you're
confident that we won't be
impeding our ability to compete
for those grant funds.
>> So we have a separate team
that specifically goes after
grant opportunities.
That team will remain intact as
part of this.
And so what we'll have to do is
just continue to be very
proactive in the types of
projects that we design in
advance and making sure that
they're aligned with
the funding that we believe is
upcoming.
>> Got it.
Thank you.
Perhaps this is for
the Department of Finance or
the Mayor Department Finance
issued a report on the way that
golf revenue has changed over
the years in terms of how it's
shared with the general fund
And there was a shift several
years back that actually
reduced the amount of dollars
that come to the general fund.
I understand that there's some
technical component to that but
was any consideration given to
the idea of not raiding any
fund but leveraging our our our
golf courses particularly
Torrey Pines which is one of
the most popular and beautiful
musical courses in the country
to benefit our parks and rec
system as a whole so that kids
in all parts of the city can
benefit rather than the select
few who actually get to play on
these courses.
>> Thank you for the question,
Councilmember.
Yes, that is something we're
looking at.
It was prompted by by
the series of questions you
asked.
We're looking at how the golf
fund is currently projecting
both revenues and expenditures
looking at capacity.
Identifying the potential step
projects, any potential for
financing.
So all of this all of that is
being evaluated.
And so the answer is yes.
All right.
I appreciate that.
I'm looking forward to seeing
what comes from that again.
I think this is an opportunity
to lean into the assets that
San Diego has as a city and
make sure that the benefits of
those assets are spread to
people across the city and not
just enjoyed by the very, very
few people who are currently
enjoying them.
One of my concerns and Charles,
I appreciate your bluntness in
terms of revenue.
We've had this conversation for
five and a half years now since
I got here.
And I think that's important.
Mayor, you referenced survey
data and I read it a little bit
differently.
You said that a majority of
folks did not want that.
They wanted to basically see us
cut our way out of this.
And what I see in that data and
noting to everyone who was
pointed it out that that is not
necessarily representative of
the city of San Diego as a
whole.
I would agree with that.
That being said, 60% of
respondents said that they'd
actually see a balanced
approach where we use both
revenue and reductions to get
to a better place.
So and 73% of those said that
revenue should come in part
from our tourism economy which
benefits enormously from our
city.
So I'm curious as the budget
was coming together and
the cuts that have been
proposed were being considered.
Was there any consideration of
putting forward proposals to
tax the rich or look to
tourists to fill the gap rather
than the cuts that have been
proposed?
>> Well, Councilmember, I do
believe that you and other
members of the Rules Committee
did vote on such proposals and
they're currently pending
before the city council is
welcome.
>> Yes, I put forward a
proposal to tax the rich and
tax second homes And I hope you
know that that should help.
>> But I also didn't know what
was going to be proposed in
the budget And so that's why
I'm trying to understand as
this was coming together and
the writing was on the wall
that the deficit was going to
be in place and these were
the sort of cuts that we were
going to be looking at.
If there are other ideas
considered for ways to raise
revenue, we all know that
the city is underfunded on a
per capita basis And just if it
hasn't been if it wasn't
considered and we were just
looking to the council, that's
fine.
I just it's an important thing
for me to know.
Council member So the kinds of
revenue resources that you're
discussing are only placed upon
the ballot by the council or by
the general public.
There's at least two tourist
tax measures that were before
the Rules Committee.
There is the measure that
you've already placed or
the council has already placed
on the on the JUNE ballot.
I will draw your attention to
comments from the city clerk
earlier today where the cost of
that ballot measure will be
significantly more than what we
have budgeted So we'll have to
deal with that.
But to your going forward
question, I have to say I feel
as though the council was near
unanimous in its direction
after the fiscal year 26 budget
adoption that we are not
seeking new revenue that after
what was attempted or and
implemented in fy 26 that that
was it and that this needed to
be generally done through our
existing resources.
Then back to your budget memos
.
The one shift that happened
that I took note of was
the elimination of Beach and
Bay Parking as a resource that
was recommended previously by I
believe eight councilmembers is
now supported by one council
member.
So again we're trying to take
direction and implement it into
a proposal for your
consideration that you could
theoretically support knowing
that it would be changed.
Understood.
And I.
Many, many policy proposals
come from the mayor's office
and we to get in a back and
forth about it now but
understood and I think that
the question about revenue it's
all about who we ask if it's
hardworking blue collar working
families hard know if it's rich
people and tourists I'm
guessing the answer is
different.
The last thing I will say and I
think this is important Charles
mentioned it MAY MAY I
mentioned it, My colleague
mentioned it and I will be
wrapping up right almost
exactly in time.
We did not get here overnight.
There was years of decisions
that put us here and those
decisions prioritize
the interests of visitors and
wealthy and powerful people
over the people who live here.
That was years and years and
years and years in the making
knowing that infrastructure is
being underfunded, approving
bad real estate deals and
refusing to ask folks to
contribute their fair share.
And now those same people are
actively working to block every
effort to fix what they broke.
They're opposing new revenue.
They're opposing accountability
and they're doing it for
the donors that they used to
work for when they sat on this
dais.
Now they're actually working
for the same people.
They drove the city's finances
into a ditch.
They want to make sure we don't
get out because they're trying
to capture all of this for
profit and that can't happen
And I want to say thank you to
the public for not.
At no point in this
conversation scapegoating city
workers for the problem that
we're in.
Because that is the old tired
and broken way of trying to
address city budget issues.
I so appreciate that no one did
that.
That is not the way out of
this.
So I'll be digging in obviously
during budget review committee.
Council PRESIDENT Thank you for
the additional time.
>> All right.
Thank you.
Councilmember Rivera.
>> We'll go next to
Councilmember Campo.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT And thank you
to the mayor.
Thank you to London and Ben and
your team for all the work
you've done to get to this
point today.
And I thank everyone who came
to speak today in-person and
online because you can feel
that something is not right
here And I feel that too.
I often hear that a budget is a
moral document and of course
that is true And the first
moral duty of a budget is to
competently structure it.
The first duty is to structure
it as strongly as possible for
the most optimal outcome for
the with the resources that we
actually have because a budget
can be legally balanced and it
can be statistically balanced
And we've done that for five
years running and four years
before that.
But that doesn't mean that
the budget is optimal.
I view the budget the same way
each and every year.
Some budget spending guarantees
the basics that people need
right now to live in a safe and
sound city and that's police
and fire and streets and
sidewalks, core infrastructure
all those things are material
to this fiscal year and some
spending helps build the kind
of city that can flourish over
time and that's parks and
libraries, arts and culture and
youth investment.
Those are things that are
material to next year and
the year after that and
the year after that both in
dollars on the next set of
budgets but also in the lives
of our people.
And so a budget has to balance
the present and the future as
much as possible.
What concerns me in the draft
is that I see in a couple of
key ways a weakening of both.
Let me start with the basics.
We need police and fire streets
and sidewalks and
infrastructure because those
support the conditions of daily
life.
And I know that because police
officers save people in my
district every day and
firefighters save people in my
district every day and safe
streets and sidewalks keep
children alive in my district
every day.
This year families came before
me asking for a stop sign and
road changes and a crosswalk at
they site year after year.
And one of those families will
never get their child back.
Two of those sisters won't get
their brother back.
That is what it means when
government is late to its most
basic responsibility.
That's why some of the choices
in this budget give me some
pause.
Now let's start with the police
funding.
The presentation describes a
$5.6 million in savings from
freezing sworn police
leadership positions
specifically sergeants and
lieutenants.
On paper that sounds very
technical but to me it's
entirely practical.
And a department that is
already very lean.
Fewer leadership opportunities
means weaker retention, weaker
morale and weaker staffing
structure over time And I know
many here today pointed to
the total number of dollars in
the police department and asked
why not look there?
But we are by far one of
the lowest resourced police
departments in the United
States and the frozen
leadership positions to me is
actually a significant
reduction.
It's one of the examples of a
short term undermining of
the basics The same is true in
fire rescue.
The budget says it reduces
positions and non personnel
spending associated with
training and recruitment and
community engagement while also
relying on cross staffing for
the bomb squad.
That MAY balance a line item
but it raises real concern to
me about the staffing strain
and the response capacity in a
system that does not have any
slack to give.
And then there's the facilities
maintenance.
This was a very small square on
that PowerPoint but the budget
cuts another $1.5 million
there.
Many people don't focus on that
line item but they experience
it viscerally, usually nasally.
Both the public and our city
workers experience it when
public buildings deteriorate
and when restrooms are not
maintained and when sinks stay
broken and when the spaces
residents walk in to tell them
the city has stopped caring.
Being hundreds of millions
behind on deferred maintenance
it's really hard to stomach
even 1.5 million more to me.
So those are some of the short
term problems that are choices
that undermine the basics.
But our residents we're not
meant to merely survive in
the city.
They were meant to flourish in
the city which is why the long
term disinvestment and youth
focused and arts focused
funding matters incredibly to
me.
This budget reduces recreation
center hours and library hours.
It eliminates the Office of
Child Use access.
It cuts arts and culture by
$11.8 million going from penny
to the arts to zero for
the arts.
Give or take a little Taken
together, this is more than 20
million cut from the parts of
city life that help people grow
and connect and create and
belong.
And for many San Diegans
including many veterans who
spoke tonight, those aren't
actually future investments
investments now in their social
fabric and their safety net.
>> Now this is usually
the point where my colleagues
worry I'm about to turn into an
economics lecturer and I will
spare you of that.
But I'll say this.
Those long term investments pay
off.
They are a good return on
investment a budget that
instills trust in our
competence is not just balanced
on paper.
It is structured to produce
the best outcome.
And when we cut the very things
that help generate civic value,
that create economic activity
including hundreds of jobs
including the artists who
showed up today who pay taxes
that then comes back to
the city so we can pay our
employees to go out and put
services.
That economic circle is
stronger with arts and culture
and all of that increases long
term public confidence.
But we undermine that.
We're not solving a problem.
We're making next year's budget
deficit worse.
That is what I mean when I say
this proposed budget MAY be
balanced but it's not optimally
structured.
I don't say that to vilify
anybody who's worked on this
certainly not the mayor his
team or anyone on this dais.
I think we're here sincerely to
create a better city.
But wanting the better city is
not enough.
We have to optimize a budget
that can deliver it.
And so here's the hardest part
of the truth.
I cannot sit here today and
promise that every one of those
cuts will be restored.
None of the council members
can.
I won't make promises that are
not real.
But if we want to restore long
term investments, if we want to
solve long term structural
problems we have to reduce some
services.
But the balance
the optimization between
frontline public facing
employees who work in libraries
and parks and non public facing
supervisory ranks I must be
convinced that those are at
the optimal proportions.
What I can promise is honesty
and scrutiny As we get to JUNE
9th to vote on the final
budget.
And I will advocate for
the people who came here into
this room today even if they
disagree with me on a couple of
the particulars I mentioned.
I will go through this budget
thoroughly with my colleagues
that will come to the table
with solutions and I will judge
the budget by a simple standard
At the end does it protect
the basics well enough for
people to live safely now while
preserving enough of the future
for the city to flourish later?
Because I know our police
officers and firefighters want
their children to have access
to theater and music and parks
and libraries.
And I know our artists and
teachers and librarians want
fast public safety responses in
their neighborhoods.
>> The residents of the city
don't live in silos.
They deserve both and they
depend on both.
And the job before us now is to
build a budget honest enough
and disciplined enough and
competently structured and
optimized enough to deliver
that.
So that will be the final
question I ask on JUNE 9th.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT.
>> All right.
Thank you, Council member
Olympia.
We'll go next to council member
right.
>> Thank you for
the presentation And I do want
to thank the members of
the public who took the time to
attend this meeting and also to
share your priorities.
>> Also thank you to Mayor
Gloria for submitting your
proposed budget to the Council
.
After my initial review there
are several concerns that I
want to put for the record.
I recognize that we're once
again facing a significant
budget deficit and I understand
the difficult decisions that
come with this Last year one of
the few reasons I voted no on
the budget was because it
relied on increased fees that
took away free resources for
our residents while still
reducing service hours at
libraries and parks and
recreation centers services
that my constituents rely on.
The budget was also balanced on
anticipated future revenues
that did not materialize and it
proposed drawing $10 million
from reserves that ultimately
were not realized.
This administration knew this
was coming.
This administration knew
the one time covid funding
would expire and was never a
stable ongoing revenue source.
Yet the city acted as though
nothing was wrong and did not
take sufficient steps early on
to prevent this situation from
worsening.
For too long the city has been
living beyond its means.
I'm deeply concerned about
the mayor's proposed budget
cuts, especially those that
continue to disproportionately
impact our communities of
concern.
We have seen this pattern
before in past where initial
proposals included reductions
that ultimately fall hardest on
brown and black communities
something that is very
frustrating to see this year
again.
Libraries and recreation
centers are not optional
services in my district.
They are essential for every
hour a rec center or library is
closed is an hour that young
people and families lose access
to safe space.
Structural programing and
community connections.
Those impacts are real and
the Arab really quickly now
moving on to the arts.
Sorry.
Sorry you guys.
I'm very concerned with
the mayor's proposed reduction
to arts funding.
The impact to our community has
for underserved folks is
unmeasurable.
For many families attending a
formal performance is simply
not financially feasible.
Often the only exposure young
people in neighborhoods like
San Ysidro and Logan Heights
have to the arts comes through
programs funded by the city.
Let me repeat that often
the only exposure to young
people in neighborhoods like
San Ysidro and Logan Heights
have to the arts comes through
programing funded by the city.
Just last week the Fleet
Science Center had a stem fair
in my district which would only
be possible because of city
funding.
The arts shapes a child's
future and it's difficult to
consider a budget that would
scale them back so
significantly especially
considering the economic impact
the arts has in the city.
According to the city's
Creative City Cultural plan,
arts and culture generated
$10.8 billion in economic
impact.
This council has made
meaningful progress in
expanding access to the arts,
particularly for low income
communities and this proposal
strikes all the work that has
been done.
This proposed budget has left
the arts and cultural community
out to dry and I for one cannot
stand for that.
One area I do not agree with is
the reduction of cutting sworn
officer positions.
Cutting sworn officers puts
public safety at risk and
something that our communities
cannot afford.
Response times across San Diego
are already too high and our
police department needs strong
first and second level
supervisors in place to
maintain accountability and
effective leadership.
I am looking forward to hearing
the Chief provide additional
context on the freezing of
officer positions when 110 on
sworn positions remain unfilled
and when the San Diego Police
Department maintains an
executive legislative staff.
If I MAY have just I think two
more minutes now I do recognize
that there are some areas in
this budget proposal where
impacts are being distributed
more thoughtfully, including
decisions that police library
reductions in communities that
are better resourced and more
able to absorb them.
I do acknowledge that this
administration is finally
looking inward as an
organization and identifying
efficiencies before asking more
of our residents.
The initial reduction in middle
management is a step towards
fiscal responsible city that
our residents deserve and it
reflects what our constituents
expect from us during
challenging fiscal times.
For years I have constantly
called for the reduction in
middle management.
And just this year we're
starting to see improvements on
that front.
All in all, this budget needs a
whole lot more work.
This council has consistently
prioritized equity and
investment in underserved
neighborhoods and we must
remain committed to that
principle throughout this
budget process.
Finally I would encourage San
Diegans to partitions
participate in the Council's
upcoming Budget Review
Committee hearings that will
begin MAY 4th where we will
take a deeper dive in
the proposed budget.
Thank you for the extra time
Council PRESIDENT.
>> That concludes my comments.
All right.
Thank you Council member Brito.
Not seeing anybody else on
the lights.
I'll make some closing comments
.
I knew it.
Council member Von Miller.
You sure?
>> Council PRESIDENT Trying to
save all we have in glass.
But thank you very much to
everyone who was here today and
thank you to Mohamed to finance
for shifting through very
difficult times that you didn't
personally create.
You're just trying to build a
budget.
And thank you to the public for
coming in and speaking to us
today.
We appreciate you being here
And also thank you to everyone
here in the department.
Head to the mayor as well And
for all the hard work anyone
put in.
I have many questions but we'll
go through it with our budget
review process.
We're going to have many
hearings in the first day But
one of them is about what is
the projected deficit because
on Slide seven of
the presentation we're looking
at around 180 million.
But slide eight goes 246
million.
I thought your put 100 million
or deficit.
>> Absolutely I can answer that
question When you look at
the we started with from
the five year outlook for
the general fund which
basically sets the beginning of
the budget process at that
point we're at about 89
million.
Things got worse grew to about
hundred $80 million.
That was our starting point.
But we also needed to evaluate
some mandated legal
requirements, some ads that we
had to make of about $28
million.
So when you add those $2
million and that gets you to
the $146 million in mitigations
that we had to identify.
Okay.
Got it.
I'd like to break down
the additional 20 million as we
go.
So I will Thank you Also what
about the annual infrastructure
contribution?
Are we not triggering it
because the tax on the high
enough this year?
That's correct.
Got it.
And I have a question about
the street repair and the cost
of materials we need to rebuild
our streets.
It is getting more and more
expensive every year And I saw
that the city just filed joined
the county in filing a lawsuit
against a monopoly company that
took over the fire engines of
parts and supply companies for
price gouging us So are we
thinking about going after
price gouging on some of these
companies that provide us
materials to fix our
infrastructure Because it seems
ridiculous how much the cost
directly that maybe 320
question But I do want to go
over that in the future They
should be taking advantage of
us taxpayers.
I'm also wondering why we're
spending 4.6 million of
the general fund on Dirty Right
permits.
Why are those not self-funding
when people pay for those
permits?
>> So the budget includes about
$10 million in total.
This is work that dsd does in
the right of way specifically
related to any work and it pays
a franchise fee and through
that franchise fee they they
are not to pay any additional
So the general fund has to
cover that cost.
We we negotiated as you do with
you so much in profits they
should be paying for their
right of way permits okay I
have a many other questions
that I'll get to you later but
I do just want to chat a bit
about you know what I've been
thinking and feeling going
through this budget cycle so
this is not great news for for
the city And we knew that when
the sales tax path in other
cities around us a sales tax or
have some sales tax did pass
and they are fully funding
their fire departments
infrastructure and others And
so we are now stuck with
the budget that we have Of
course we could do better in a
free trial.
I appreciate your old Monica
stating that you know some of
the folks who are most
criticizing the city right now
including the Taxpayers
Association didn't mention that
some of the authors that report
sat here and voted for things
like one on one ashtray and
buying an indoor skydiving
center that we were tendering
with.
So I'm glad that we're coming
out of those holes and you're
not doing that here at this
council.
But we do have to earn back
trust.
I understand that.
So I did think about this
budget and think about
the public and think that we're
going to do with all these cuts
We have to make.
You know, I want to talk about
last week where in this chamber
we commemorated National
Emergency Dispatchers Week
where their teams are working
24 seven to support our
firefighters, police and our
team services.
I got to go to our dispatch
center last week and deliver a
proclamation thanking them for
the work they're doing And if
you've ever been you should be
able to see the dispatch center
because listening to no one
calls at a dispatch center is a
sobering window into the most
urgent moments of many people's
lives in the city you hear
voices of victims of car
accidents, heart attacks,
strokes, witnesses of
in-progress sometimes very
violent crimes.
You hear voices of confusion
and courage and you also hear
the incredibly calm voices of
our 912 dispatchers themselves
And they talk in one ear to
the 911 caller and then
the other they talking to
the firefighters, the police
officers, the ambulance drivers
who are being dispatched down
the road to get to that
emergency.
And to me it underscored just
how critical it is to have
trained professionals On
the other end of those dispatch
lines call gather information
and sending out trained
professionals to mental health.
Our San Diego Police Department
respond to over 1.4 million
calls annually with over
700,000 calls being nine when
emergencies with some of
the lowest staffing levels of
any big city in the country.
And I applaud you all for
cutting down on the overtime
budget.
It's important at the same time
I am worried about the ability
to respond to calls on time and
how many times we're starting
lineups not having enough
officers on the line which is
an inevitable train because we
don't have enough officers to
cover our big city.
So Chief, you're in an
impossible position and you're
doing the best you can with
the resources you have.
But you were 1426 at about 9:23
P.M. Valentine's Day the senior
police communications received
a report of a stabbing on a
sidewalk near the intersection
of Eighth Street and City
Street downtown and
the officers found a person
described an adult male in his
42 on the sidewalk lying down
suffering from stab wounds.
The officers and medics
rendered aid to the man but he
did not survive an injury
injuries He was now publicly
identified as 41 year old Mark
Thomas of San Diego While
tending to the victim officers
were directed to the suspect
who stabbed him who had
retreated into the apartment
above and started a fire in
the building.
I know about this because I was
there.
I was on a very long that I and
I saw all of the equipment for
the city purchases and it came
out I finally saw the automatic
cpr machine that was trying to
pump blood to his chest.
I never knew why we spent so
much money on having no idea.
I saw multiple police units
roll up.
I saw a fire truck with a
ladder have to come out because
the suspect tried to wipe
the entire apartment building
on fire And I watched as police
and firefighters did safely
retrieve the suspect with
minimal use of force.
But I stood there next to
the victim's girlfriend and his
dog as they watched him die on
the street.
And so I know we have a low
crime rate in this new city and
it's amazing.
But there are still real
victims of these crimes.
And so when we talk about
cutting our fire and our
emergency services,
the terrible consequences of
this doesn't mean we can't make
a permanent change then we can
we can cut budgets in every
city and every department.
But I've to fire rescue
firefighters and medics have to
cover approximately 326mi in
the city all the way from
the wild little park to
the U.S. Ethical border
lifeguards protect 70 miles of
coastline including Ocean Beach
to Mission Beach specifically
to Mission Bay.
And we're protecting over a
million swimmers a year.
In addition to this fire
suppression, the fire
suppression and medical
response and Beach Rescue Fire
Department also provide bomb
safety threat investigation and
hazardous material response And
just yesterday copy three one
of our welfare helicopters
responded to a fire in Del Sur
at the end of a crowded
neighborhood block And between
Cal fires fixed wing and our
helicopter we put it out and I
got a call from my constituents
this morning who lives on that
street, who is gathering up her
kids and her pets and her
documents to evacuate before
the fire helicopter got there
last year.
Our wildfire helicopters put
out five fires in JANUARY alone
saving countless homes and
structures.
So I will not ever bend on our
area operations in our fire
rescue department And thank you
to the chief for fully funding
it.
That being said, I also
understand the need to have a
culture in the city.
It is more than just bricks and
mortar.
It is the people who live here
in the spaces we create to be
public funding for the arts and
culture is not a luxury it our
society tells the truth about
itself especially in bonds us
in hard times even during
the Great Depression.
Whatever our nation's darkest
moments Franklin Delano
Roosevelt understood
the recovery wasn't just about
roads and jobs but also about
dignity and identity.
So the Works Progress
Administration he created
the Federal Arts Project.
He put artists to work painting
murals, writing plays
documenting American life
because the arts cannot be left
to starve in this country.
Oh, I didn't Sorry.
Never mind Under 30s So I do
know we have to restore arts
and culture funding in this
budget.
We will work to do that.
It will be easy but you have my
commitment to continue to do
that And thank you again for
everyone who came down.
I hope you realize everyone
realizes how incredibly hard it
is for all of us but know that
we are.
Everyone here in this room is
working as hard as we can to
try and figure out the best
solution to this.
So thank you.
All right.
Thank you.
Council member Yvonne Wolpert
will go next to council member
with her.
>> Thank you Council PRESIDENT
I save my substantive questions
and comments for the full week
of budget review committee
hearings.
We're going to have the week
after next.
As many of you MAY know, we're
going to have those hearings
that go through the budget
department by department.
It will also have an analysis
of all those department budgets
by the Office of
the Independent Budget Analyst
which will offer some helpful
context as well.
But I do want to thank
everybody who spoke today and
share your thoughts what you
would like to see in the city
budget.
My team and I took a lot of
notes this afternoon and even I
saw that they are taking a lot
of notes as people spoke at a
number of you points that I
thought were persuasive.
So I'm glad that you took
the time to testify what
the people asked for.
They can find details on
the budget And I just want to
be sure everybody knows you can
find details on the whole thing
The city website if you go to
San diego.Gov/files/draft you
will find well over a thousand
pages of information there If
you can't remember that just
search for the city of San
Diego website and when you get
there go to the Department of
Finance and you'll see a tab
for the draft budgets.
Got everything right there.
There's going to be more
opportunities to speak out as
this budget evolves.
What note for District three
residents We are going to have
a District three budget
townhall with the Office of
the Independent Budget Analyst
Thank you.
It's going to be on Tuesday MAY
12th at 6 P.M. It will be right
here in council chambers So
thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Thank you.
Council weapon Oh in chambers.
What a brilliant idea.
Another advantage of being a
District three council member.
We'll go next to Council
PRESIDENT Pro Tem please thank
Council PRESIDENT And thank you
to the Department of Finance
and our cfo Linda Chavez for
their work in putting this
budget together things
the mayor's office and
the mayor for presenting this
to my colleagues for their
feedback I too appreciated
the straight talk from
the Independent budget analyst
to start us off because I think
what the public often struggles
most understand is the frank
reality of the city's level of
underfunding not just to
structurally deliver
the services that we're
discussing today but beyond
that even after we pass a
balanced budget this year, what
we are missing most is an
effort to make actual headway
on the decades of
infrastructure backlog that
have been left from generations
of passed That I think is truly
the structural challenge that
the city faces that will remain
unaddressed until we the public
choose to do something about it
.
Yet in my years in the Council
I've quickly understood that
it's one thing to educate
the public on the city's
structural fiscal challenges.
It's another to ask if we've
actually earned the trust and
the credibility from the public
to give us the tools to address
those challenges.
So we stand here again today
and I think we've long
understood that this budget
would be challenging, that
the deficit would add only add
on top of the difficult
decisions we made just one year
ago and no one in the city
seemed surprised necessarily
that we would have difficult
decisions and significant cuts
coming.
I've heard that from those in
the audience and who have
spoken on some of the topics
out in the concourse today.
I think everyone expected that
cuts would be coming and that
there would be a simple reality
that those cuts would translate
to reduce services hours and
especially the people who
deliver those services and
hours.
But even as we seek to
understand the need to address
the structural shortfall, I
think it's impossible not to
ask what does the city claim to
value if this budget as
presented is claimed to be
structurally sound?
And I think for many who are
looking at what's presented
here, the shock isn't whether
there were cuts, it's where and
to what degree those cuts have
chosen to be implemented with a
little assurance some detail So
Mayor silence you're still at
the mic.
I wanted to ask if you could
explain to us the cuts that
have been proposed to libraries
and parks and why we don't see
the specifics of how this would
be operationalized.
Yes, nobody asked me to come in
to help me come forward But
very simply we have a task
force speaking with council
members to try and get
something of a sense of what
you could support.
The message was very clear no
across the board cuts got it in
partnership with the Labor
Department, the procurement
department and Panda to provide
analysis to give you some
framework to work with and I
think this on the committee
speak to more detail on that
and when you might be able
expect that analysis so that
you can start helping us help
guide us to those reductions.
Thank you, Mayor.
So the Department is giving a
percentage and a target
percentage to meet
the reductions and then we
looked at the hours and we had
to to come up with some
different scenarios What that
looks some of it it's more
uniform across the board,
others that can be more focused
on addressing the underserved
communities versus other
locations.
So those are the different
scenarios or different options
that we are currently providing
to the base office included And
I report with the hope that
would be an interactive process
with the council office and
the stakeholders to provide
input while we are trying to
still meet the target
reductions for the hours of
the libraries and
the recreation center as well.
And then we relied on analysis
and data that panned out along
with the department is
performed as part of the usage
of locations, the conditions of
those facilities and so on.
So we have a lot of data also
that would be provided along
with those scenarios to help
inform the discussion and
the final decision.
Thank you and thank you for
sharing the work that's been
done on that front.
I think I want to point out I
think I think that kind of work
was asked for by this council
last year in the budget process
before the across the board
cuts were delivered And so I
appreciate the work that's been
done but also can't help it be
frustrated that that data is
not here with the budget
proposal.
And like I said when we ask
idea that data has not been
given to the idea yet as
they're currently working on
report.
So my team has been having
meetings with departments since
the budget was released on
APRIL 15th that we are set to
have meetings with parks and
libraries either today or
tomorrow.
It's more than just meeting
with hst on Wednesday.
We have had preliminary
communication to those
departments where we have asked
for additional details on what
these dollar amounts at are in
the budget as cuts but without
details what that looks like.
We have seen some additional
information related to rec
centers and libraries in pandas
approaches and attempts to kind
of evaluate the potential
impacts of them and
prioritization of them.
I believe that that should be
being shared with the council
as well.
Ideally all this information
specifics on proposed cuts
would have been included in
the proposed budget in order
for you to have a better idea
of what those dollar amounts
actually represent and weigh
them against the other cuts
that are being proposed.
They're not there right now to
the extent that we can flesh
those out and understand and we
will include those additional
details in our analysis which
comes out on the 29th And
certainly by the time we get to
the actual b or c presentation
on the week of MAY fourth, I
would expect that
the administration and
the departments can present
very clear details on what
those cuts could actually look
like.
Thank you.
So what I'm hearing is that
the intent here is to leave
the specifics of what would be
implemented up to some of
the options that would be
presented and ultimately for
this council to hear out and in
the budget review process and
to provide our feedback for
the only thing that's been
determined so far is just
the amount And so to some
degree perhaps I guess we
should appreciate that for all
of the operational choices on
here on these portions of
the budget.
But I also struggle to
understand why there isn't a
proposal that actually in front
of us that tells us what might
be operationally implemented
Opposite of that I guess can
you explain how with arts and
culture unlike with libraries
and parks you were already
already able to decide that
penny for the arts would be
zeroed out?
Sure.
Councilmember As you know and
it's been multiple times this
afternoon the city's overall
spend is over $6 billion.
Well notice that some of
the public speakers quite
appreciate is the fact the vast
majority of those dollars as
you know are lockbox.
We cannot utilize them in
different for different
resources.
So when you look at the general
fund as you know about 2
billion so about a third of
what we're talking about in
that fungible amount of
resources where we can put it
to police, we could put it to
fire to libraries to provide
the funds.
Support for the arts are one of
those fungible resources We're
trying to solve this massive
budget deficit 100 and 1846
depending how you look at it in
addition to 318 million last
year.
I don't think it's understated
to say that we are not cutting
fat.
We are cutting bone and we're
doing so We have very limited
options.
I personally cannot support
rounding out fire stations or
closing police stations.
I did that.
I voted for that as a city
councilmember.
There was a child in your
district, sir, named Bentley
Doe who died because he choked
on a dog on ball when he lived
near one of the fire stations
that was browned out when
having to choose between
burning up fire stations or
making a reduction of the arts
regrettably we had to make that
.
I made the recommendation to
make the reduction.
The arts has been mentioned
today.
You can certainly change it but
really it's coming from
the fact that so much of our
dollars are lockbox and not
movable And in trying to avoid
closure of fire stations or
police stations this is how we
came to this decision.
Speaking of the lockbox and
the funds, I guess turning to
the idea, Charles, can you
correct me if I'm wrong that
art and culture funding has
over time always traditionally
come out of one example of a
lockbox fund which is
the special promotional
programs portion of transit
occupancy tax.
That's correct.
Councilmember The 10.5% in fact
we hire because of that or see
implementation tot rate of
return applied in the city is
split up into different
components one that goes
directly to the general fund,
one that goes ultimately to
the general fund and then
another proportion that is set
aside to ensure that the city
remains a place that can
attract tourism visitors,
funding for arts programs that
the city has traditionally
provided has come from that we
call the special promotional
programs portion of
the revenue.
Thank you.
And and so just that correction
would be as I understand it,
the general fund is not where
arts and culture has been
funded in the past.
We've taken it from special
personnel programs which is
outlined in the code municipal
code and by council policy
specifically intended for
promotion of the city.
It's not the only funding
that's within that category.
There are actually quite a
number of other funds in that
category that are still
maintained in social
promotional programs for
promotion of the city.
As we understand it.
But over time a larger and
larger percentage of those
funds have been converted to
backfill other city services
that I think we were
classifying as promotional.
So requests I would make for
the idea is that as you are
looking at special promotional
programs this year and how
those funds are being
reallocated to help the Council
and the public perhaps better
understand where this is cut is
being made and where those
funds are being diverted to.
I think we should at least
transparently understand
the choices that are being made
.
I don't know if that was a
request.
It will certainly include
analysis of special promotional
programs in our budget.
We do that every year.
We'll continue to do that.
>> Thank you.
So I recognize just how
challenging this year's budget
decisions are.
We are here to determine what a
balanced budget will be or how
a balanced budget will be
achieved and I'm thinking of it
not just balanced from a dollar
sign perspective but also
balanced when it comes to our
values and our desire to match
the needs of the public.
We're going to continue to hear
that this is a collaborative
effort to accomplish that
balance.
But I cannot look at this
year's budget as we start this
process and not look at last
year's budget to note that this
council fought last year to
protect libraries and parks in
every way that we could.
We did so by including cuts to
management that
the administration made a clear
decision not to implement.
We pushed the administration
last year to chase every
opportunity for revenue.
It was complained that this
council was being too
aggressive and so now in front
of us we have a budget that
simultaneously cannot decide
how we will cut services at
libraries and parks.
It has already decided which
chips should fall first.
That's arts and culture And so
don't mind me for being a
little reluctant to trust that
what is proposed is what
deserves to be passed.
I for one and I hope this
Council will certainly be here
not just to make the difficult
decisions but to do everything
we can not to mitigate
the budgetary cuts that need to
be made because anyone in
the public get wrong At
the moment our structural
challenge does mean that cuts
will need to be made but
ultimately to help determine
the balance that matches
the values we have as a city on
our promises to San Diegans.
>> Thank you.
All right.
Thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee I
think now everybody has spoken
.
I guess I'll wrap it up Both
House council PRESIDENT I guess
with my engineering framework
kind of talk a little bit more
about process like my
colleagues we haven't really
dug into the budget yet and
look forward to the Budget
review Committee So let me
start by thanking the mayor
Rolando and Ben and the entire
executive team for preparing
and delivering the proposed
budget for the Council
the public's consideration And
I will note that the mayor and
all five chiefs have stayed
here throughout the entire
public comment period as well
as the council deliberations.
I want to thank city staff
through every department who
sharpened their pencils and dug
deep to try to right size their
department budgets.
A special thank you to our
colleague Councilmember Foster
for his work chairing
the Council's Budget Committee
and chairing the upcoming
Budget Review Committee.
>> I'm going to touch on some
of the things that my
colleagues refer to.
So this year my partnership
with the independent budget
analysts by council colleagues
and Special Budget Chair will
be more critical than ever
because unlike past years as
Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee
dug into the proposed budget
only proposes single line item
cuts to recreation center
hours, library hours and other
services.
It'll be up to the council to
decide which center or library,
which days and how many hours
of deliberative process it has
Challenge challenging given
the Brownlee item too important
to do on the fly and Council
will have to lean heavily on
these and those departments and
the ipa to guide us.
And Ronnie I appreciate that
you're having a deep dive.
I seen some of the early work
in terms of actually deriving
metrics both on library and
recreation centers.
I might a little bit of
briefings.
I've learned an awful lot about
city operations and how rec
centers and libraries are being
used by the general public.
So if we do it right we're
doing a little efficiency in
operations in not actually
taking away the value those
brings to the public.
And so I am convinced that
partnering with the public we
will get this done on that
element I want to join
the choir and say the proposed
budget is only the formal
starting point starting point
in a robust process and over
the next two months the council
will be deliberating,
dissecting, debating and
deciding And we will do that
work at public hearings
including two evening sessions
dedicated to public testimony.
If you had a good time today
you can come on back starting
at 6 P.M. On MAY 4th and then
again on MAY 18th.
To do that work Council needs
to hear from residents
community organizations to
share your thoughts on a cut.
And unlike past years of
opportunity for funding new
programs of services is not on
the table.
We know the proposed budget
offers a mixed bag of cuts.
You don't like cuts you can
support programs and services
funded that you support and
others that you don't support
And if you don't like a cut,
tell us what program or service
you would like to cut and to
balance the budget.
We did hear from folks I really
appreciate those folks over
the course of the afternoon of
the evening that actually
throughout their ideas I think
you got some initial reaction
from council members.
So I would encourage you to pay
attention to that.
So thank you For those who
participate today, we certainly
heard loud and clear that there
are a number of cuts especially
in arts and culture that you do
not like The cut of penny of
the Arts is brutal and total
cuts to libraries, rec centers,
other services is targeted and
nuanced as I briefly mentioned
earlier and how we approach
each of those cuts Put aside
the rhetoric, roll up our
sleeves and work strategically
and not on the fly.
So where do we find the money
to restore those cuts?
Some of my colleagues have
mentioned there and I would
agree there is no appetite for
new revenue on the backs of
residents.
What I can predict when we
reach the end of this budget
cycle none of us will be fully
satisfied with the adopted
budget.
My goal as Council PRESIDENT Is
for all of us to believe
the process worked.
But the newly adopted budget
reflects our city's fiscal
reality Rather than meeting all
of the aspirations of what city
services can and should be cut
not new revenue is how we get
there.
City residents have sent a
clear message I'm not going to
keep repeating this Raising new
revenue on their backs to fill
the gap is not an option.
We must deliver a budget with
the resources we have.
It is often said that budgets
are a statement of values As
several of my colleagues
mentioned, this budget must
reflect the principal value
that this government
accountable responsive to
residents cuts with within
the proposed budget are clearly
drastic and include reducing
positions dedicated hardworking
city staff will be laid off,
City services will be impacted.
I do not say that lightly
because the very good people
I'll be wrapping up this is a
moment that requires good
governance not games At
the moment it requires us to
make tough decisions and take a
stand.
That's a fact.
This is a moment that requires
prudence, not politics.
This is what constituents
deserve from their elected
officials and what our city's
future demands what our
constituents don't deserve.
If the outrage from outside
agents that threatened to blow
a new $100 million hole in this
fragile budget if you don't
like the cuts in today's $118
million solution, you're going
to hate doubling up on those
cuts for a $218 million
solution.
That is not rhetoric.
That is a very real possibility
.
So in closing, the budget must
reflect our values.
This budget must make
measurable strides in putting
San Diego on firmer financial
footing.
None of this will be even easy
.
But with the public all of you
council and the mayor working
together we will get this done.
So I'll close there And again
thank you all that showed up.
Thank you.
That stuck all the way through
.
Thank you Again, the mayor and
the executive team that stayed
through the entire meeting so
that will wrap item 200 Now if
you haven't had enough, we will
now take up non agenda public
comment.
The council members respect and
appreciate the public's input
and are fully committed to
protecting every participant's
free speech rights at council
and committee meetings.
Clark This is not a general
public comment so this is not a
repeat of things that we've
already talked about today or
on the agenda which was pretty
broad based.
So Clark, please proceed with
public comment non agenda
public comment and thank you.
Council PRESIDENT Pearl 2.7 on
general public comment is an
opportunity for members of
the public to comment on items
that are not on the agenda but
within the subject matter
jurisdiction of the City
Council.
Each speaker will have two
minutes.
Please note there are eight or
more speakers on a single
topic.
The maximum time for the topic
will be 16 minutes.
If you're in chambers please
submit your speakers with them.
If you're joining us for
virtually please raise your
hand to speak by tapping
the raise your hand icon or if
your calling participant Star
nine Josh Bohannan Josh
Mohammed are you here So I
don't see a Josh and Julie
Arjona live.
I can have the following
individuals please come up to
the yellow reserved seats Mary
Soriano and Anthony Ross Please
come to the yellow reserved
seats.
You'll have two minutes.
Please proceed.
I forgot to mention that my
nickname is always so That's
why there's confusion if you
know that I'm doing all these
different.
Anyways I came to talk about
mental health and today we saw
a lot of emotion rises and I
thought this would be a great
thing to bring up.
So with the young people our
mental health crisis is going
up and up more by, you know,
social media by, you know,
bullying by a whole bunch of
factors.
And as mentioned, art is really
needed for that for mental
health and then also for social
work and all that.
I love to bring it up but it's
also really needed.
So I would like to bring up an
idea for youth if you would
like to propose this for
schools in your district or in
your area.
The idea is to have a space for
youth in their schools and they
can have a place where they can
take a sleep.
They could take a nap if they
didn't get sleep at home with
the day before.
If they're having testing diary
they can put a a referral to go
inside to the classroom that's
designated for this area to
have a moment for anxiety
testing.
It's another idea of like if
this is not eating our home
they can have a space where
they can go eat snacks before
class or they can eat lunch.
They have a place to eat.
I am a youth in Chula Vista so
I'm not even a part of here But
I want to bring this idea
because I feel like this idea
is really needed for a lot of
people.
I was a survivor of suicide
which I am really happy I'm
here still and I'm not like
that.
I am Once again I'm 19 so I
haven't been here for long but
I'm really happy I stayed.
I just want to bring up one
more thing is just the idea is
to have a classroom that's
dedicated to this realm of like
for anxiety for support or if
you need extra tutoring just
basically a room that students
can leave during class to go to
So that way they don't have
this anxiety and they don't
have the pressure of having
the best student they can be if
they can't even perform with
their mental health.
So that being said I know I
have 10s if I could request
more time I would love to but
we just basically need a room
that these students can go to
maybe once a month that they
can go in and request to have
that little space where they
can like perform better and
they can succeed There.
>> Thank you so much.
Thank you, Mary Joanna Mary
third PRESIDENT Of your town
council Marty, thank you About
the fire rescue department
There's over 50 fire safe
council rescue fire safe
councils and the community
officers The wildfire community
officers are our preventative
maintenance for our community.
We need them.
We can't cut them because we've
already failed on preventative
maintenance as a city And those
wildfire wildfire community
officers are our preventative
maintenance to the community
for loyal cares for our
neighboring town And our
neighboring town is Claremont
Mesa.
Claremont Mesa is experiencing
a battle with at&t cell Tower
60 foot high 50 gallon diesel
generator under Community Park
called Gershwin Park.
Tomorrow night the Planning
Commission or the planning
group for Claremont, mi.
So we'll be hearing on this And
there's a coalition called no
at&t in Claremont that will be
there tomorrow night at 6 P.M..
La Hoya has experienced several
of these.
We were playing Whac-a-Mole
with at&t throughout our own
community so we were trying to
definitely help them.
>> Also on my way here a Rodney
Tucker homeless gentleman over
at the Lower Hoya Rec Center
somehow must have attended
the La Hoya Town Council
meeting and got my card, called
me.
He got a ticket, a parking
ticket.
I have the citation number.
It's going to cost him $75.
This guy is homeless.
He moved his car around
the block and then got a ticket
on the second round.
>> I don't know how we can
help.
I'm not sure how our resources
are ticketing homeless people
because we obviously know that
they can't pay for this ticket.
They'd like to have you guys
rethink on how that is being
done as well.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Anthony Ross Good afternoon
City Council How are we doing
today?
Vice Chair of the Boulevard
Planning Group.
Artist Musician.
Actor.
Deejay And today I wanted to
speak about the budget cuts
that have been proposed but I
also wanted to I understand
it's a non agenda public
comment so I also wanted to
speak about Flock.
i wanted to speak about my
concern that I have in seeing
this city council repeatedly
have this almost obsequious
servile nature to stampede.
And I want to remind everyone
on the city council you work
for us, your constituents not
for sdp.
Sdp does not vote you into
power and esdp is a huge reason
why we are in this current
budget crisis.
Just between the deaths of
Hayden Shuck which was caused
by criminal negligence and
Kenosha Wilson Those two deaths
alone inmates in our own city
jails are costing the city $46
million.
That's more than a third of
the entire deficit that we
have.
If we want to be realistic
about the source of these
problems, we need
accountability.
We currently have a deficit
what over 100 police officers
that I read in the newspaper
the other day.
It's not a mystery why people
why we can't get enrollment in
cpd because people are tired of
seeing an unaccountable police
force that's overpaid for what
they're doing and they're not
responsive to the public.
I want to remind the city
council that you have a
fundamentally different
relationship to power than we
do your command the police
officers.
You all are protected by
the police officers.
But I want to ask all of you
who in your family or what have
you individually ever
experienced police brutality if
you've never experienced police
brutality you don't deserve to
be the ones that are voting for
increases for the dpd.
If you've never experienced
police, if you're no one in
your family has ever
experienced police brutality or
the consequences of being
overly surveilled, why is Block
being allowed to be put into
our communities?
I'm tired of seeing the City
Council not obeying
the Constitution.
>> Please thank you for your
concluding comment.
Don't keep funding Your time
has concluded and started
the five minute timer going to
those participating online.
We currently have 13 speakers
with their hands raised.
Remember there's a five minute
timer.
Nobody who raises their hand
after that will be taken
The original If you can please
unmute it is very concerning
when we talk about the police
department and say in tis and
how they're here for a public
safety when they're actually
been weaponized against
the people in they're going
against our public safety and
also the contract with fall
ambulance This is very
concerning along with
the weaponization of Prop 36
upon the people and what is
actually taking place with
these entities and
the conspiracies and
the conspiring together to take
people arrest them, even
assault them.
That's what the police do or
they kill them.
They unload their weapons on
mental health People who are
experiencing something There
has been sexual assault.
There's so many different
things.
But when the police are working
with the emt to put these
individuals into the ambulance
and Falck is also you know,
engaged and providing
medications that are being used
in these ambulances that are
some thing like Vir said or
ketamine but something that you
can put into your nose.
And so there is no kind of, you
know, whole from an injection
but it states the individual
and they potentially then just,
you know, wake up naked in
the hospital and wear their
clothes and they're bleeding
from their and then they get
sent to the police or to
the jail And in there they are
put into detox but they're
refused a drug test which would
then determine what drug they
were given.
But this is very concerning
because it is seeming that
there is a producing of these
patients that need to be in
these programs because
everything that happens is a
racket and it's very or a very
well organized crime And so you
guys need to be looking into
your contracts and who is
investing in those future has
concluded.
Barbara Gordon If you can
please unmute.
Good evening.
I'm a public health advocate
with so many needs in the city
and with budget shortages I
respectfully request that
the city not implement
the cannabis equity program.
The seed program is not
sustainable without impacting
the already strained budget
resources.
San Diego already has 38
marijuana businesses.
Why are we looking to expand
the number of these businesses
in the name of social equity as
the city struggles with
homelessness?
Many peer review study showed
that marijuana use contributes
to drug abuse and addiction
which is the leading cause of
homelessness In the latest
national survey on drug use and
Health estimated 32% of the 64
million passed marijuana users.
Well, here's an older in
America have cannabis use
disorder that number of
Americans addicted to marijuana
comes to over 20 million
people.
The profit driven marijuana
industry continues to produce
and promote stronger products
that are addicting millions and
disrupting people's lives.
Marijuana use is linked to
doubling risk of psychotic and
bipolar disorders.
This was all published in
the Journal of American Medical
Health Forum.
I urge the Council to not
prioritize this industry over
the many needs of the city.
Your focus and responsibility
is public health and safety.
Not advocating for more
marijuana in our city.
>> Thank you for letting me
speak.
Our next speaker is Catherine
Rose.
If you can please unmute.
Hello, this is Catherine
Rhoades.
First I want to talk about
where you could find my or
Mandy have links in my talk
reform measures for the transit
occupancy tax.
It's found at Tony WorldCom
slash 2026 0418b that's
tightening euro 2026 0418b And
another thing you could do is
just go to Mandy, have website
or contact Mandy through next
door and I, I want to say this
again I would like somebody on
the city council or everybody
on the city council to actually
contact me and Mandy and we
could just walk through
the super simple solution.
This is literally your golden
ticket.
This is this is perfect.
It fully fund You could
actually have more like ours.
All the ones can be put in plus
you could get bought library.
You could have every single
amount of dollars for the pet
need for the arts.
Now we have as part of our
ballot measure we have pending
for the arts ballpark in
libraries and that brings in
$30 million So each of the you
know divided by a third that's
$10 million each And that's
only if we have our measure
too.
But if we have our measure one,
it goes up tremendously.
It would you know it it's just
such a wonderful idea and we
would love the opportunity to
actually walk you through it
step by step.
And so I ask that you actually
call us and then I would ask
that you actually get meetings
with the with all the people
you know, the people from
the perhaps foundation or i
don't know how to pronounce it
the people from the arts
community, the people from
the library community and allow
us to bring this idea of no
taxes that come from any city
of San Diego.
Resident This comes from rich
visitors that are coming here
and our money is being stolen
through legal loop.
>> I'm sorry your time has
concluded.
So has the five minute timer.
There are 11 speakers in
the queue and no additional
speakers will be taken.
Blair Beekman If you can please
unmute.
>> Hi.
Thank you.
Blair Beckman Good luck to our
selves to good dialog and
communication for the next few
months.
What we have to be working on
in San Diego and good luck that
equity can have a real
important guiding light What we
talk about with each other in
the next few months with budget
issues.
With that said, thanks for
the words of Dora and Anthony a
public speaker who spoke at
the beginning today.
They're pretty adamant about
police issues right now and I
think I'm going to be joining
their efforts in am is talking
about a lot I've heard him talk
about jail issues that
the county jail deaths are
happening a lot.
The events that have happened
to Andrea Ervin are kind of
shocking I think.
I think we can all be in
agreement on that And I think
it's time to really start to
question if we need a bit of
review of how the police is
working in San Diego overall
and I hope that can be an open
conversation we can be having.
So good luck on those efforts.
I think it's important at this
time something's going wrong
and we have to be addressing
something.
I think it sounds like So good
luck in your efforts.
I've heard these stories before
in San Diego just said that a
shot of violence is happening
and we got to be addressing
that.
I think and maybe something
deeper MAY be involved that we
have to be addressing also.
>> So with that said again, you
know, I've been talking about
Oakland issues Good luck that
we can be addressing our
unhoused issues that we can be
open and clear on that subject.
And again just an overall
clarity with war going on
around the world still there's
still not there's still
fighting in Iran that you know,
it's difficult to navigate.
But if we talk openly and
clearly here at the local level
on our issues, then we're not
using fear and we're not using
scare tactics.
We're using openness and better
reasoning And those are
the concepts of peace not war.
>> It'll be respected around
the world.
Thank you.
Next John Stump if he can
please unmute.
Thank you very much.
I want to talk about an article
that was in in
the Union-Tribune and the front
page of the local section on
Friday.
That article talked about
SeaWorld having to rescue more
and more sea birds that were
apparently starving.
And what was the conclusion of
that article?
>> Global warming climate
change What the article
revealed was that the highest
temperatures ever measured from
Scripps Pier happened last week
and they were in the 65 to 68
degree level where the bigger
indicator where climate you're
going to have your first
climate change disaster is at
Rocky point at the Sea of
Cortez.
That's the traditional outlet
of the Colorado River into
the Sea of Cortez or the Gulf
of California.
The water temperature there was
ten degrees higher in the 76 to
78 degrees.
Eutrophication that will occur
there and the end of the sea of
Cortez will have a die out.
So if you want to know what
the future brings it brings a
climate change disaster that
will be first realized in North
America in the Sea of Cortez at
Rocky Point.
Please pay attention to that.
>> Tourism will end.
Thank you.
Next is Travis If you can
please unmute.
>> Good evening.
Thanks for being there all day.
First I'd like to thank Henry
Foster to have the guts to call
it a stop for drive around in
single officer patrols to
officer patrols are better
economically safer for officers
and safer for community
members.
Each of you should support
that.
Sean You should voice your
support for movie block today
for all Compare your cowardice
will not be forgotten.
The flock needs to go into
fire.
Daniel Gold You should be
demanding this $30 million cop
has to go.
Lastly please look at why this
is on the climate topic that
the last gentleman just talked
to.
Please look at why a $3.8
billion terminal one permit
project planted zero native
plants in their landscape.
It makes no sense from a
climate perspective.
It makes no sense from a common
sense perspective.
I've also checked pollinators
aren't political Everyone likes
bees.
I root likes and butterflies
plant trees, capture 5 pounds
of carbon a year, pine trees
capture 20 to 40 pounds, plant
trees, plant native trees and
do better.
And Joe you man.
I'm glad that you let 200
people know that you don't
value the First Amendment.
Hope you guys have a good night
.
Francine Maxwell if you can
please unmute.
Good evening.
Francine Maxwell Southeastern
San Diego resident I'm hearing
that we want to continue to
check on the pulse if we're
going to if we're building
trust I think that you should
know that you're not and you
know that there is a trust
issue that continues and it's
with the city council that's in
charge of the seep Again, where
is our independent attorney?
We are independent commission
oversight is very important as
it pertains to sd pd they are
finishing cases and by law they
are supposed to release and
make them publicly like where's
the transparency?
Where is the case that should
be released On Marcus Evans
The city of San Diego has
already paid 875,000 And so
where is the transparency for
the community so that we can
see why you paid the 875 with
our tax dollars and what
happened and who was held
accountable in the pd.
We also have the Conor Wilson
case.
The cases finish 30 million
paid.
Where is the case?
Transparency No trust.
Keep the public chair of public
safety is sitting there
chatting on the diocese and he
should she should be asking for
recommending actions on who to
hire for an attorney for the c
p She should be doing her due
diligence as she continues to
run for her next office to make
sure that the oversight for
the eighth largest city is
done.
She should be making sure that
all seats are full, that
the youth voice at p which is
extremely important is done do
better.
>> You are supposed to leave
something better than you found
it.
Thank you for allowing me to
speak.
Next is Ernie Casco.
If you can please unmute.
Hello Ernie Castro La Hoya
resident Another crack at
Torrey Pines Cloud Airport.
I did not fly this week because
of the dangerous flying
conditions and the threat of
violence.
Your leaseholder is breaking
the law selling insurance and
an access pass and waiver not
required by law.
This is insurance fraud and
misappropriation of public
funding going into private
accounts which demands a full
transparent city audit that
would end the corruption within
your administration And Torrey
Pines Glider Port Management
the San Diego Recreational One
waiver stops the corruption
legally secure city liability
isolates safety concerns and
stops the illegal collection of
public funding into private
accounts.
The San Diego recreational
Waiver separates the business
from normal free public access
by allowing the business to
stay paying their own bills
operating like every other
business in public parks and
lands.
It is the City Council's
responsibility to provide
police reports and stop
the violence at a public park
in a timely fashion.
Where are the police reports
Police reports that normally
provide justice for the victims
and witnesses that have been
damaged by negligent city
operator?
There are common business laws
to protect public on how
businesses should run in public
parks and lands.
The San Diego Recreational
waiver is a win for city
liabilities and legally
restores our recreational
rights and freedoms for years
to come.
Thank you.
Ernie Casco Next to the Zoom
user if you can please email.
Thanks a lot Hector here.
I want to congratulate you guys
.
You're doing a good job, man.
It's like if you can't take
the heat you got to get out of
the kitchen.
So far you guys have been doing
a pretty good job, man.
I understand why people are,
man.
Anyway, you did a good job And
I had a question on parking
thank to first time in like 20
years I got a parking ticket
I've always parked over at
the South Shore and Mission Bay
Park and they're paving half
the paved thing over there.
There's hundreds of parking
spaces on Saturday the park my
truck down there I got my bike
and went for a bike ride.
What to do like once a week And
then I came back and I got a
ticket for parking in the lot.
It's a free lot but and it was
$82 and to other people I got
tickets but a lot had like ski
boats like six ski boats, maybe
ten cars.
It was like 200 spots in
the lot.
Nobody was in there and three
of us got tickets My car a
Tesla and another car a regular
car and then some homeless guys
were living down there with rv
is that Indian ticket and some
other guys that had their old
cars there didn't get tickets.
I think it's because the guys
that probably been there a lot
and get a lot of tickets I
don't think they got a ticket
maybe like six tickets stopped
giving him tickets but I
haven't had a ticket one for
years and I was off because
I've I've parked there hundreds
of times with there's no
parking meter just parked there
So I got I'm trying to get a
flight to see what that's about
But I just wondered there's
definitely a crackdown on
the parking.
I want to warn guys about
the parking situation They are
giving tickets like where they
they never used to So that was
my fault.
>> But anyway, let's try to
fight it, see what's going on.
Thanks a lot Becky Rapp Can you
please unmute in in we can hear
you Please proceed.
Oh great.
Okay.
I wasn't terrifying muted Good
evening And my name is Becky
Rapp and I'm here tonight to
share an invitation and to
highlight an important
community effort that has
quietly made a difference in
the lives of some of San
Diego's most vulnerable youth.
>> Each year San Pasqual
Academy hosts its annual
service day an event that
brings together volunteers and
students in a shared effort to
build, restore and uplift their
campus community.
For the past several years,
youth from the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter day Saints
have participated in this day
of service and has become a
powerful example of young
people serving young people
peers coming together not out
of obligation but out of
empathy and a shared purpose.
San Pasqual Academy serves
foster youth Many of whom who
have experienced instability,
trauma and in too many cases
the generational impacts of
substance abuse.
We know that drug abuse doesn't
just affect individuals.
It reshapes families, disrupts
childhoods and leaves lasting
effects on young people's sense
of safety and opportunity.
The Academy provides a stable,
supportive environment
promoting academic success and
preparing students for
independent living.
Their mission emphasizes
resilience, connection and
the belief that every young
person deserves the opportunity
to succeed despite difficult
circumstances.
This service day creates an
important opportunity for local
youth as well as residents to
work outside laboring together
in efforts to help better
the lives of others.
So I invite each of you to
attend and participate in this
year's service day.
Come see firsthand the strength
of these young people and
the impact a community can
have.
Thank you.
Next is Kathleen Lippert.
>> If you can please unmute.
After Kathleen Lippert will be
Terrence Kelly.
Please proceed.
Thank you.
Kathleen Lippert here.
Thank you for the opportunity
to address the feed program or
the linguistic laundering title
version of the Social equity
and economic development
program.
This would be the best source
of backfilling the city's
deficit as it was a program
that was never requested by any
of the public priorities.
Eliminating it would save
money.
The city's decision to
establish a commercial
marijuana ordinance has done
nothing to improve the health,
safety quality of life or
enhance human capacity
especially of our youth.
The use abuse and addiction of
marijuana contribute to
the most pressing of the city's
behavioral health problems.
The California Department of
Cannabis Control has provided
$157.7 million for marijuana
licensing Enforcement
Administration with
expenditures totaling 118.5
million during that period.
The department also managed a
$100 million grant program
aimed at assisting cannabis
businesses.
This is money that could well
have been spent productively in
pretty much any other area Then
adding to addiction problems in
the city.
I hope that the Council will
consider that there's no point
in putting good money after
bad.
We do need to cut back in
the most logical place would be
this program and also the taxes
that they owe.
They have not paid their taxes.
Many of them have will go under
and after committing after
declaring bankruptcy you won't
see a dime of that money.
So thank you for letting me
speak.
Thank you, Terry and Scully, if
you can please join.
After Terry A.B. Madison and
then Marco is our final speaker
.
>> Good evening, San Diego City
Council.
Heart disease remains a leading
cause of death in the United
States and Mexico and
the second leading cause of
death here in San Diego.
Recent data shows 1 in 5 local
deaths is from heart disease
and this number is increasing.
Eliminating smoking and vaping
behaviors is always mentioned
as a strategy to reduce or
remove heart disease
contributors.
The Journal of American Heart
Association released this
statement and I quote Cannabis
use possesses signet difficult
heart health risks because it
increases the likelihood of
heart attack, stroke and heart
failure Even in the young
healthy individuals by
accelerating heart rate and
raising blood pressure
straining their arteries.
Both marijuana smoking and
edibles carry risks with
regular use damaging blood
vessel function.
Research indicates cannabis
users face substantially higher
risks comparable to tobacco and
quote.
What can policymakers do to
decrease heart disease in their
residents and decrease the cost
to the city?
For first responders, emt
ambulances, police officers and
dispatchers create policies
that decrease exposure to
second hand and third hand
Marijuana and tobacco smoke and
vapor.
Like smoke free public places
and apartment complexes and
reduce exposure to billboards,
promotions and tobacco and
marijuana storefronts presents
here in our city.
>> Thank you for hearing my
concerns this evening.
Next is Madison.
>> If you can please unmute.
>> Hi, good evening City
Council.
I wanted to share the findings
from a new study out of
the University of California
San Diego that adds to
the growing evidence about how
marijuana affects young people.
Researchers followed more than
11,000 children across
the country as part of a long
term study on brain development
.
What they found is concerning
While all kids improved over
time as we would expect during
adolescence, those who used
cannabis showed a slower rate
of cognitive progress compared
to those who did not.
The tests looked at memory
attention and thinking speed
skills directly impact how kids
learn in school, solve problems
and function day to day.
And importantly this study
stands out because it didn't
just rely on self-reporting.
Researchers used biological
testing hair, saliva to confirm
cannabis use.
In fact, about 1 in 3 teens who
tested positive had not
reported their use, which
suggests the issue MAY be more
widespread than we even
realize.
After controlling for other
factors like alcohol use,
mental health and early life
conditions, the link between
cannabis use and slower
cognitive development remained.
The lead researcher emphasized
what many parents already feel
encouraging kids to delay or
avoid marijuana use during
these critical years is one of
the best things we can do to
support their long term
development.
At a time when marijuana is
increasingly normalized for
adults, we have to be clear
eyed about the risks for youth
.
Slower brain development MAY
not always be immediately
visible but it can definitely
shape a child's future in
lasting ways.
We owe it to our kids to take
this science seriously and
prioritize prevention.
Thank you.
And our final speaker is Marco.
If you can please unmute Marco
Espinoza.
Oh, testing.
Can you hear me?
Yes.
>> Please proceed.
Thank you.
Good evening.
My question was a great work
today on the start of this
coming year our annual budget.
Lots to look forward to and
difficult decisions to make.
But the reason I'm calling in
today is because a couple of
weeks ago I attended a council
meeting and the community plan
for Barrio Logan neighborhood
along Boston Avenue.
It was just being resound to
like a previous year's zoning
classification that designated
I think supposed to be like a
park or something like that.
And I remember that day I said
I was going to leave council
and then go there to see like
what I could think of anyways.
So I'll just get into it on
the.
>> So it's all along Boston
Avenue and including
the section along Charles Creek
where the current recycling
center is at first I was
thinking at the corner of 29th
and Boston definitely where
the connection to getting
the five cells right there that
corner definitely needs some
like safety traffic bollards
because I can just see it where
someone's speaking to
the neighborhood and one day or
another one night or another
they might lose control and end
up in the park.
So I think some safety boards
there the first section are
from 29 to 30th I think could
be like a little kids section
And then the at the 30th bridge
which is it described in that
diagram of the zoning law which
it could be edited because I
did expect that when I got
there after that that next
section I mean you can put a
lot of things there.
There's so much space I think
it could be a great park and
that's my time.
Thank you.
That does conclude on a general
public comment for today's
meeting.
Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.
All right.
>> Thank you, City Clerk.
Does the city attorney have
anything to report out from
closed session?
Yes, thank you.
There is one item to report
today and closed in the closed
session meeting The City
council took the following
action.
The city Council voted on
closed session item number
three Daniel Patz versus City
of San Diego.
San Diego Superior Court Case
number three seven Dash 2015
Dash 00023413-cu-c-ctl to
accept the mediator's $40
million settlement proposal
The motion passed 621 with
Councilmember Foster voting no
and Councilmembers Moreno and
Van Wilpert absent.
That concludes my report.
All right.
Thank you for the report.
And before I forget again I
want to thank city tv data
clerk and you're still working.
We very much appreciate your
coverage.
But with that we will now
adjourn Council to
the regularly scheduled council
meeting on Tuesday, APRIL 21st,
2026 at 10 A.M..
Thank you and good night.
Don't forget the Housing
authority.
Oh oh How do we do Convene so
that we can finish?
Oh okay.
My apologies.
Forget the adjournment We will
adjourn Council to the Housing
Authority City Attorney Is
there anything to report out
from the Housing Authority
action?
>> There is nothing to report
out.
All right.
We will reconvene as the city
council process is important.
We will now adjourn council to
the regularly scheduled council
meeting on Tuesday APRIL 21st,
2026 at 10 A.M..