Community Garden

Even though our grant application to Caltrans to build a  community garden at Cherokee and E. Mountain View Dr. was not funded, we're pleased to share that the Selby Team has generously committed $5,000 in matching funds! This means every dollar you donate will be matched, doubling your impact on bringing our community garden to life.

A parallel effort is underway to procure a permit from the city to install a water meter at the site. Sara Al-Agra and Ben Mendoza from the office of Sean Elo-Rivera are working to determine the exact permits required.

Candidates for City Attorney

San Diego will choose between two candidates, Brian Maienschein and Heather Ferbert, for our new City Attorney in a primary this coming March with a final runoff in November 2024. Below we include a statement from Ferbert and are reaching out to Maienschein for a statement to include in our next newsletter.

BY HEATHER FERBERT

As a Chief Deputy City Attorney, people often wonder about the role of the San Diego City Attorney's Office and why it matters. The office is essential in shaping the future of our neighborhoods by ensuring equitable infrastructure and a high quality of life. We not only handle lawsuits filed against the City but also enforce policies that often resonate with Smart Growth principles including safe streets, predictable and fair development policy, and inclusivity in our communities.

Nowhere is the City Attorney's role more vital than in addressing homelessness by achieving a balance between individual rights and the community's welfare. The adoption of the Unsafe Camping Ordinance was a delicate challenge, and the City Attorney's expertise was sought to harmonize human rights with public health and safety. 

One way the City can address homelessness is preserving existing housing in our City. We cannot afford to lose housing to flagrantly illegal uses. I’ve spent years of my career creating and protecting affordable housing in San Diego because every San Diegan deserves a safe place to call home. My plan to create a Housing Protection Unit within the City will leverage Smart Growth’s emphasis on sustainable development and efficient land use. Combined with robust enforcement of housing-related codes, we can ensure compliance with tenant protections and create a more vibrant and inclusive community.

Community Feedback Poll

NH4SG is supporting the Normal Heights Community Planning Group in obtaining community input needed to continue to represent your voice to the city. Your input is very important! 

If you have not filled this survey out yet, please take a minute to state your opinions on the future of Normal Heights .

Housing Action Package 2.0 Delayed

The Housing Action Package 2.0 (HAP 2.0) was rejected by the City Council in a 5-3 vote. Mayor Gloria has vowed to bring back an amended package for a vote soon. The HAP 2.0 contained some good ideas, but contained too many fatal flows to be passed in chambers. 

The City of San Diego states that HAP 2.0 will  “...incentivize and promote new home opportunities in all communities that San Diegans of all income levels can afford,” however, the HAP 2.0 proposal does not include a provision to create moderate-income housing.

This omission comes against a critical backdrop – the city's failure to meet housing allocations set by the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). The shortfall is stark, with only a fraction of very low, low, and moderate-income housing needs being met, and an alarming excess in above-moderate income housing production.

Table: City of San Diego Allocation and Production Totals

Chart: City of San Diego Allocation and Production Percentages