San Diego, CA
Escondido council brainstorms priorities: a homeless shelter, repairs, a new flag
A homeless shelter, traffic improvements, an updated general plan and a rebranding of the city were among the Escondido City Council’s ideas on how to use revenue from a new sales tax.
Voters in November passed Measure I to create a one-cent sales tax that is projected to raise $28 million annually for 20 years.
During a visioning workshop with the council Wednesday, City Manager Sean McGlynn said the sales tax kicks in April 1, and the city should begin seeing proceeds in mid-summer.
While the new money is good news for the city, McGlynn also acknowledged that it is a finite revenue stream and does not solve the city’s long-term structural deficit issue.
“We still have work to do,” he said.
After meeting earlier with consultants to create a list of areas to discuss, council members at the workshop brainstormed ways to use the new revenue to improve public safety and security, make the city more business-friendly, expand community development and address organizational capacity and financial stewardship.
Under public safety, council members suggested cameras that read license plates to catch traffic violators, flashing lights on crosswalks, better recruitment of experienced police officers, more police operations and a homeless shelter.
“With respect to homelessness, what people want to see is fewer homeless people on the street and being provided for in a safe, productive area,” Mayor Dane White said about the need for a shelter. “It’s really just the next step in the process.”
Other council members also said they had heard from their constituents that the city must do more about homelessness.
Council members agreed the city should be more business-friendly, with some suggesting they streamline the process for permits. Councilmember Consuelo Martinez suggested creating a position to help people navigate the process of opening and operating a business, and Councilmember Christian Garcia said the city should have more communication with business owners, who also should give input in updating the general plan.
In other discussions about the general plan, which White referred to as the road map to the city, council members agreed an update is long overdue.
“The road map to the city points straight to the ’80s,” White said.
The mayor and other council members also suggested the city do a better job of marketing itself to areas outside of Escondido.
“How about a rebranding of the city?” White said.
“I don’t know when that flag was made,” he continued, referring to the blue city flag that contains the words “Escondido” and “City of Choice.” “Let’s update and modernize and have a beautiful flag and a great motto and bring it up to date. How do we want everybody else to view the city of Escondido?”
Suggestions for community development included improved public transportation, the exploration of a business improvement district and more city-sponsored events that highlight Escondido’s diverse cultures.
McGlynn said the city also should consider more city staff members to handle new projects, as some staff members have had to perform double duties because of shortages.
Besides the new projects, the city also has a backlog of deferred maintenance. Council members on Wednesday were presented a binder that includes a seven-page list of repairs needed at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, the central plant, City Hall, fire stations, the police station, the public works yard and other areas.
San Diego, CA
City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness
Last week Mayor Todd Gloria released the budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal budget. Protected homeless services is among his top priorities mentioned in the proposal. However, some of the reductions he’s proposing could impact thousands of San Diegans experiencing homelessness.
Located on 17th and K Street, the Neil Good Day Center offers an array of services to nearly seven thousand people experiencing homelessness. The services include giving them a place to shower and do laundry, and connecting them to a case manager, among others.
“These are critical services that are helping people off the streets, but really better their lives and their health and their employment situation as well,” Deacon Vargas with Father Joe’s Villages said.
Deacon Jim Vargas heads Father Joe’s Villages, which runs the center. He said through their prevention and diversion strategies, they’ve managed to keep nearly one thousand individuals from falling into homelessness.
“So by helping them pay rent, or helping them with their utilities, or helping them to reunite with family,” Vargas said.
Right now, the city allocates at least $850,000 per year to the Neil Good Day Center, according to Vargas.
But the future and funding for these services are in limbo because of Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed budget cuts.
“The impact to those whom we’ve been serving the Daily Center would be very severe,” Deacon Vargas said.
In a statement to NBC 7, Mayor Todd Gloria said in part, “We must find more efficient and cost-effective ways to address this crisis and prioritize funding for programs that provide shelter beds and maximize resources to programs that place people into permanent housing.”
Since it’s still at a proposal stage, Deacon Vargas said it’s unclear how the city will decide to move forward.
However, Deacon Vargas said services would be significantly reduced because they would be forced to operate solely on a budget of about half a million dollars they receive from philanthropy.
“The hours would be cut. Some days would be cut. We would have showers that might be impacted because they’re given seven days a week and we’d close two days a week, then the showers would be five days a week, the case management,” Deacon Vargas said.
Deacon Vargas is certain of one thing.
He would like to continue offering services at the Day Center, even if the city goes through with the funding cuts.
“As we work with individuals at the Day Center and at Father Joe’s Villages, the community becomes healthier as a result of it,” Deacon Vargas said.
The budget also recommends additional cuts to homeless services, but does not give specifics as to where those cuts would be.
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San Diego, CA
Solans, Luna, Guilavogui help RSL beat slumping San Diego, extend unbeaten streak to 6 games :: WRALSportsFan.com
SANDY, Utah — SANDY, Utah (AP) — Sergi Solans had two goals and an assist, Diego Luna added a goal and two assists, and Real Salt Lake beat San Diego FC 4-2 on Saturday night to extend its unbeaten streak to six games.
Morgan Guilavogui scored his first goal in MLS and had an assist for Real Salt Lake (5-1-1). The 28-year-old designated player has five goal contributions in his first six career games.
RSL hasn’t lost since a 1-0 defeat at Vancouver in the season opener.
San Diego (3-3-2) has lost three in a row and is winless in five straight.
Luna opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he re-directed a misplayed pass by Duran Ferree, San Diego’s 19-year-old goalkeeper, into the net.
Moments later, Solans headed home a perfectly-placed cross played by Luna from outside the right corner of the 18-yard box to the back post to make it 2-0. Solans, a 23-year-old forward, flicked a header from the center of the area inside the right post and past the outstretched arm of Ferree to make it 3-1 in the 37th minute.
Guilavogui slammed home a first-touch shot to give RSL a three-goal lead in the 45th.
Marcus Ingvartsen scored a goal in the 14th minute and Anders Dreyer converted from the penalty spot in the 66th for San Diego.
Ingvartsen has five goals and an assist this season and has 10 goal contributions (seven goals, three assists) in 16 career MLS appearances.
Rafael Cabral had three saves for RSL.
Ferree finished with five saves.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
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