Residents from throughout District 1 gathered at University City High School on January 25 ad Council President ProTem Barbara Bry delivered her first annual State of the District Address.
President Pro Tem Bry shared her new philosophy for governing this year and also previewed her goals. “Going forward into this new year, we will continue our efforts to keep San Diego safe, clean and prosperous, and I am adding three new watch words to guide our 2018 endeavors,” said Council President Pro Tem Bry. “The three “I’s” are imaginative, innovative, and inclusive. These watch words are not clichés. They are imperatives.”
Police recruitment and retention, regulating short-term rentals, advancing a community choice energy program, combating workplace sexual harassment, moving forward with the fire station at UCSD, and creating a thriving and inclusive innovation economy were among the Council President Pro Tem’s top priorities for 2018.
Bry also reflected on the accomplishments of her first year in office and cited several citywide initiatives she led and supported, including: defeating an unnecessary special election, which saved taxpayers $5 million; working to revise Charter Section 225 to improve transparency; restoring arts funding in the FY 2018 budget; advocating for and securing an independent search firm for the selection of a new police chief; and pushing for a significant pay increase for the SDPD to help recruit and retain officers.
In addition to her citywide accomplishments, Bry highlighted neighborhood improvements made with the input of community residents and assistance from City staff. In the northern part of District 1, which includes Carmel Valley, Torrey Hills, Del Mar Mesa, and Del Mar Heights, Bry’s office worked to reset dangerous traffic signals, reopened the Carmel Valley Rec Center pool after repairs, painted out graffiti, repaired potholes, had traffic view-blocking vegetation removed, and secured signage to improve pedestrian safety. In University City and La Jolla, Bry’s office convened a commuter roundtable to address the transportation needs of the largest employment hub in region (UTC/Torrey Pines Mesa), installed pylons to prevent illegal turns, and completed dozens of right-of-way repairs.
Bry credits these neighborhood victories in part to grassroots community engagement. “These and many other improvements in the District were pursued because of the suggestions District 1 residents offered through community coffees, town hall meetings, neighborhood cleanups, office hours, and even canvassing door-to-door,” said Council President Pro Tem Bry. “This grassroots approach to community outreach and ongoing dialogue will continue for the rest of my tenure.”
Steven Gallagher, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences for Scripps Institution of Oceanography welcomed the audience and introduced Council President Pro Tem Bry. Assistant Vice Chancellor Gallagher discussed the recent collaboration between Bry’s office and Scripps on establishing Walter Munk Way along the La Jolla Boardwalk as well as Bry’s commitment to combating climate change at the local level.
Watch the entire State of the District address on YouTube at:
Courtesy of Hilary Nemchik, Communications Director, Council President Pro Tem Barbara Bry (District 1), (619) 235-5286, hnemchik@sandiego.gov, https://www.sandiego.gov/citycouncil/cd1
Council President Pro Tem Barbara Bry represents San Diego City Council District 1, which includes the communities of Carmel Valley, Del Mar Heights, Del Mar Mesa, La Jolla, Pacific Highlands Ranch, Torrey Hills, Torrey Pines, and University City.
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