This month... LACAVA'S COLUMN October 2023 Edition COUNCILMEMBER JOE LACAVA APPLAUDS STATE AUDIT, SEEKS PROTECTIONS AGAINST ESCALATING UTILITY RATES As Chair of the City of San Diego Environment Committee, I invited the Office of the State Auditor to present their report entitled, "Electricity and Natural Gas Rates: The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and Cal Advocates Can Better Ensure That Rate Increases Are Necessary." The State Auditor exposed alarming gaps in energy rate protections for San Diego residents. The audit confirms that San Diegans pay the highest utility rates in the nation. It further confirms that state regulators do not have sufficient safeguards in place to properly protect San Diegans from escalating energy rates. The authority to set rates falls under the CPUC's jurisdiction. The audit determined that the CPUC allowed SDG&E to overcharge our community for 14 of the past 17 years. That is 14 years of unjustified financial strain on residents throughout San Diego. I called on the CPUC and Cal Advocates to act now to protect San Diegans and to implement the State Auditor's recommendations. I invite you to read the State Audit report, view my remarks, and voice your concerns to the CPUC via email. COUNCILMEMBER LACAVA SUBMITS HIS INITIAL FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET PRIORITIES “In Fiscal Year 2025, we must hold the line on new General Fund expenditures and Stick to the Basics, with a focus on Public Safety and Public Health,” said Councilmember LaCava. On October 30, 2023, the City Council heard the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) City Council Budget Priorities as presented by the Independent Budget Analyst (IBA). This is the first step in the annual budget process and communicates the City Council’s priorities to the Mayor as he develops the Proposed Budget due in the Spring. I called for no new General Fund positions aside from Public Safety. We must fill our current budgeted vacancies by continuing to offer competitive salaries, benefits, and incentives. I do support the addition of positions and resources for Police, Fire, and Lifeguards, including facilities and full-time employees. I support the continuation of current funding levels for homeless services, prevention, and housing, as well as aggressively pursuing new sustainable funding through county, state, and federal sources. We must realign our budget and departmental work plans with the Climate Action Implementation Plan timeline. I also advocated for funding neighborhood issues and capital improvements as identified by each District 1 community group based on robust community input and votes. I thank everyone who hosted and participated. Please see my September budget memorandum here and the FY 2025 City Council Budget Priorities here. NEW NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD REPAIR PROJECTS BEGIN IN CARMEL VALLEY, PACIFIC HIGHLANDS RANCH, AND TORREY HILLS Breaking News! Several neighborhoods in Carmel Valley, Pacific Highlands Ranch, and Torrey Hills will see improved streets soon as a slurry seal project is rolled out. The project, part of the city’s commitment to fix our streets, is scheduled to begin this November. Streets slated for resurfacing are chosen based on our pavement management system, including pavement condition, traffic volume, and road type. The following roads will be resurfaced as part of the project: Aida Street Intermezzo Way Azzuro Court Longshore Court Belvista Court Ocean Ridge Way Calle Isabelino Pacific Shores Way Calle Mar De Armonia Prego Court Calle Mar De Ballena Racetrack View Drive Carmel Knolls Drive Senda Luna Llena Crest Knolls Court Serenata Place Fairport Way Shorepointe Way Fairwind Court Shorepointe Court Fairwind Way Tarantella Lane Vereda Luna Llena PACIFIC BEACH ELEMENTARY CELEBRATES THE START OF CONSTRUCTION FOR NEW JOINT-USE CITY FIELD EXPANSION AND KINDERGARTEN BUILDINGS Councilmember Joe LaCava, Principal Grondek, Trustee Petterson, parents, and students broke ground on the Pacific Beach Elementary modernization project. Pacific Beach has asked for a field expansion and new classroom space at the Tourmaline Street campus for years. I joined Pacific Beach Elementary, parents, and community members to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Pacific Beach Elementary Whole Site Modernization and Joint-Use Field Expansion project funded by local bond measures. The project is part of the ‘Play All Day Parks Program,’ a joint-use partnership between the City of San Diego and the San Diego Unified School District. Once complete, the partnership results in a total of 2.8 acres of active joint-use field space that includes a new track, renovated basketball court, play equipment, and recreation space accessible to the community as a local park after school hours and during school breaks. The project also provides a much-needed new kindergarten building, renovated classrooms, and a secure main campus entryway. The project is set for completion in late 2025. COUNCILMEMBER LACAVA JOINS STATE SENATOR CATHERINE BLAKESPEAR’S HOMELESSNESS SUMMIT Councilmember LaCava moderates the panel with Lisa Jones (San Diego Housing Commission,) Steve Russell (San Diego Housing Federation,) and Kelsey Brewer (Jamboree Housing Corporation). Councilmember LaCava moderated one panel, Bridging Divides for Homeless Solutions, and served on a second panel discussing Homelessness in a Polarized World. The summit attracted over 100 elected officials, city staff, service providers, and advocates for a robust discussion focused on solutions. Senator Blakespear has posted the video of the summit here. Extremely high housing costs, rising rents, rising utility rates, and wages that don’t keep pace have caused San Diego to become one of the least affordable regions in the country. As a result, the unhoused population continues to expand faster than we can house them. For those housed, an unexpected bill, being laid off, or incurring a disability may push them onto the streets or doubling up with friends and family. For our seniors, their fixed retirement, or no longer having an extended family, means their safety net is full of holes and results in the fastest growing segment of first-time homeless. For those with means, staying housed can mean being forced to move where housing is more affordable, even across county lines or out of state. The key takeaway in addressing homelessness and providing housing security for everyone in our region is housing that is truly affordable. The goal is straightforward, while the solutions are nuanced and complex. We must, in part, navigate impacts to existing neighborhoods, secure sufficient and sustainable funding, and every city and the incorporated areas must commit to being part of the solution. PACIFIC BEACH BOARDWALK IS LOOKING A LOT BRIGHTER The Pacific Beach Boardwalk is brighter and safer after the City of San Diego repaired over 20 broken streetlights. A big thanks to the residents who reached out to my office to alert us of the situation and thank you to all city crews and electricians who worked to address this public safety concern. If you notice something wrong in your neighborhood, please call me at 619-236-6611, send me an email at [email protected], or attend a local meeting with one of my council representatives and let us know how we can help you. ‌ NEW! CONNECT WITH YOUR COUNCIL REP Connect with the D1 Community Representative in your neighborhood on Friday, November 17th. This is an excellent opportunity for you to meet with my staff at a location near you. You are our eyes and ears in your neighborhoods; share your thoughts, concerns, or suggestions with my community reps: Joaquin Quintero, 9:30 to 11:45 am Carmel Valley Branch Library (3919 Townsgate Dr) Emily Lynch, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm La Jolla Riford Library (7555 Draper Ave) Karla Tirado, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm Pacific Beach Taylor Branch Library (4275 Cass St) COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES Constituent services are 'Job One' in my council office. Team LaCava representatives attend your community’s monthly meetings and are your link to City staff and issue resolution. You are always welcome and encouraged to reach out to us from anywhere in the District or the City. District 1 Office: 619-236-6611 and [email protected] Venessa Jackson will direct your call to the staff best suited to respond to your issue. Vicky Joes, Chief of Staff [email protected] and 619-236-6611 Emily Lynch, Community Representative La Jolla [email protected] and 619-236-6159 Karla Tirado, Community Representative Pacific Beach [email protected] and 619-236-6981 Joaquin Quintero, Community Representative Carmel Valley, Del Mar Mesa, Del Mar Heights, Torrey Hills, Torrey Pines, University City, and Pacific Highlands Ranch. [email protected] and 619-236-6979 To stay up-to-date on all District 1 news and updates, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. To ensure you receive our occasional updates, sign up here. Councilmember LaCava joined San Diego's regional transit agencies to announce Free Ride Day and Clean Air Day in the City of San Diego. 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