Looking forward to 2015
By Councilmember Scott Sherman
Last year, in the wake of the Filner scandals, Mayor Faulconer took the helm and brought much needed leadership and stability to our city government.
I am proud to have helped lead several successful measures in 2014 that moved our city forward.
First, I helped lead the approval of the 2014 budget that increased library hours to an additional 203 hours per week citywide and included the city’s first comprehensive after-school program to provide one-on-one assistance to San Diego’s children.
These after-school programs can be found at the Linda Vista, San Carlos and Serra Mesa libraries in District 7.
The new budget also increased the funding for road and infrastructure repair on our streets by hiring 16 additional full-time workers to focus on pothole repair. The new funding is expected to double the amount of repairs annually to the city.
The budget invested 50 percent of all new revenue back into our community roads, an overall addition of $21 million.
In District 7, I was proud to announce the reopening of overnight camping at the Kumeyaay Campgrounds. My staff also worked with the city to find over $3 million in state grants to build a new skate park in Linda Vista.
In addition, my office spearheaded $50,000 in renovations to six parks in Navajo and $1.7 million in upgrades to Cabrillo Heights Neighborhood Park in Serra Mesa.
As chairman of the Audit Committee, we completed important audits that will improve neighborhood services in our Graffiti Control Program and improved San Diego’s hiring practices within the Personnel Department.
Though 2014 was a great year, I am looking to make 2015 even better. My goals for the year include continuing to find cost-savings within city operations and reinvest much needed funds back into our streets, libraries, parks, and public safety.
I also want to hear from you. I receive my best ideas for government reforms and programs from the people I represent. What ideas do you have to improve our great city? Please send me your ideas to [email protected] or call 619-236-6677.
