Elo-Rivera is San Diego City Council president and lives in Kensington.
Our world has been shaken by uncertainty and loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, spiking inflation and years of divisive politics.
My vision for San Diego in 2023 is that we steady the ship, unite in common purpose and lift up those who most need it.
San Diego has not been spared from the tumult experienced globally and nationwide since the emergence of COVID-19, but past decisions made at the local level have exacerbated the challenges. San Diegans face a multi-decade failure to invest in the people and services that are the core of city government. This has left us in a place where every neighborhood is frustrated by not being able to count on its streetlights to shine, its roads to be decent or its calls for help to be quickly responded to. Our failure to create sufficient housing opportunities has meant the miseries and challenges of homelessness have found their way to previously quiet parks and streets.
Over the past two years, the City Council and mayor have made historic investments in infrastructure and have reversed the trend of divesting in the public employees who are the backbone of our city. While many of these investments will take years to fully be felt, I believe San Diegans will start to feel the benefits this year. More roads will be repaired, more lights will be on and more workers will be there to respond to their needs.
As the basics come together, we can move beyond being separate neighborhoods fighting over insufficient services and toward becoming a community that acts more like a family. And, just as a family should, we should ensure our older adults and young people feel loved and prioritized. Many of us are accustomed to the idea of caring for aging parents or looking after children and younger siblings. But when we think about those beyond our own families, this becomes a greater challenge. However, it is a challenge we should and can rise to.
Older adults are the fastest growing population falling into homelessness in San Diego. This is shameful and unacceptable. By prioritizing older people, we can prevent them from falling into homelessness where they are vulnerable to attacks, suffer health problems and even face death.
In 2022, the City Council created the Housing Instability Prevention Program to provide financial to struggling older adults so they can remain in their homes. We’ll work to expand that program this year. For those already on the streets, we will strive to expand non-congregate shelter options specifically for older people so they can accept help knowing their needs will be met.
As for San Diego’s youth, not only were their school and extracurricular opportunities disrupted in recent years, but also they have struggled to find stability as more and more families have been displaced by rising rents. Over the past two years, the city of San Diego provided over $218 million in emergency rental assistance to 18,318 households, preventing thousands of families from experiencing housing instability or homelessness. This year, I’m looking forward to the City Council considering an ordinance to expand protections for renters. My office and the Mayor’s Office have worked hard to get tenants’ rights advocates and the rental housing industry to agree on a foundation of protections that will prevent unnecessary displacement and homelessness.
In our work to youth, we cannot overlook affordable transportation options, which unlock both economic and educational opportunity. I look forward to partnering with county Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas to provide transit es to youth 24 and under. In doing so, we can liberate our young people from the economic burdens of car ownership, resulting in hundreds of dollars in crucial monthly savings.
In my vision for 2023, I see greater for our older adults and our youth. By doing this, we show our strength and courage by taking responsibility for our community. We can meet the challenges of providing for those in need and, in the process, restore a sense of community. It’s a chance for us to work for each other and an opportunity to unite around a common goal for the people of San Diego.
