In his 2019 State of the City address, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer stressed the importance of rising beyond political division to solve problems that have long been cumulating in the San Diego region.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur national landscape has become one that seeks to divide us. But let us never allow our differences to blind us to the common humanity we all share. We cannot achieve the goal of inclusion using the tools of division,\u201d Mayor Faulconer stated in a press release. \u201cWe are stronger than the national political division. We are smarter than the partisan rhetoric. And we are better together than we are apart. The state of our city is strong, and united, we will make it even stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mayor touched on key issues including homelessness, climate change, and city infrastructure. He also touted some of the programs he has helped institute such as the Clean SD program which has removed more than 2,700 tons of trash from the San Diego River and the city\u2019s urban canyons.<\/p>\n
He outlined several projects with the intention of protecting the region\u2019s energy, water, and natural resources. These included the creation of a new power division to supply renewable energy to residents and businesses, connecting the public trolley system to the airport, and constructing an immense water-recycling facility with the goal of delivering one-third of the city\u2019s water by 2035.<\/p>\n
Faulconer has invited other regional public and business leaders to join him in planning and executing many of these goals.<\/p>\n
Following a state audit which found the City of San Diego\u2019s response to the recent hepatitis A outbreak inadequate, Assemblymember Todd Gloria of the 78th district announced he had drafted new legislation targeting future potential outbreaks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe recent state audit confirmed many of our worst fears: people fell ill and died that didn\u2019t have to. We want to make sure an outbreak like this never happens again,\u201d said the assemblymember. \u201cThe public should feel confident that its officials know what to do and how to handle public health emergencies. That\u2019s why I introduced AB 262 \u2013 legislation that makes very clear the responsibility of local government and public health officers to protect the public against future communicable disease outbreaks.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new bill, titled AB 262, would establish specified duties for local governments in the event of outbreak of a communicable disease. It would require public health officials to inform cities in their jurisdiction about outbreaks, as well as make relevant information about outbreaks available within affected jurisdictions.<\/p>\n
The state audit revealed multiple areas lacking in county\u2019s response following the declaration of a public health emergency in August 2017. County officials failed to communicate location date concerning the concentration of outbreak cases to the city. As well, state auditors found that despite talks between the county and city taking place in August, sanitary measures were not implemented until later in September. By April of 2018, the county had reported a total of 587 related cases, with 402 hospitalizations and 20 deaths caused by the outbreak.<\/p>\n
AB 262 was joint-authored by local assemblymembers Lorena Gonzalez and Tasha Boeren-Hovath. The bill is pending its referral to the state assembly committee for review.<\/p>\n
United Way of San Diego County and 2-1-1 San Diego are partnering to leverage funds granted by the California Department of Community Services Development (CSD), to promote the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and expand free tax preparation services. The two nonprofits are partnering with several other nonprofit organizations to help low- and moderate-income families prepare and file their 2018 taxes for free, and potentially add thousands of dollars to their refunds.<\/p>\n
The two nonprofit organizations say their aim is to raise awareness and usage of the more than 60 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites countywide, as well as increase overall claims for state and federal EITCs that are available to eligible workers.<\/p>\n
In 2018 (tax year 2017), United Way of San Diego County, 2-1-1 San Diego and many other San Diego County Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Coalition partners, supported and provided the public with access to 630 volunteers who provided free tax assistance to 31,092 residents and brought more than $40 million in federal and state refunds back to working families in San Diego communities \u2013 largely due to Earned Income Tax Credits.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach year, too many hard-working San Diegans are missing out on hundreds or even thousands of dollars in tax refunds that they\u2019ve earned,\u201d said United Way President and CEO Nancy Sasaki. \u201cThese grants will help us connect with more local residents and share vital information about one of the nation\u2019s most successful anti-poverty measures \u2013 the Earned Income Tax Credit.\u201d<\/p>\n