Surrounded by more than 150 District 1 residents, council president pro tem Barbara Bry delivered her inaugural “State of the District Address” on Jan. 25.
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 watchwords to guide our 2018 endeavors,” said Bry. “The three ‘I’s’ are imaginative, innovative, and inclusive. These watchwords 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 UC San Diego, and creating a thriving and inclusive innovation economy were among her top priorities for this year.
She 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 the 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, saying “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. 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 Bry. 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.
