SD District 3 Update
San diego District 3
Councilmember Stephen Whitburn represents District 3, which includes communities located in the urban core of San Diego, including: Balboa Park, Bankers Hill/Park West, Downtown, Golden Hill, Hillcrest, Little Italy, Middletown, Mission Hills, North Park, South Park and University Heights
Councilmember Whitburn stated that San Diego has recovered from the Pandemic more quickly than other cities. We have a great mixture of economic diversity in our downtown - businesses, corporations, small businesses, tourism and a large and growing residential population .
Many upcoming projects will further enhance our downtown, including tech hubs, civic center redevelopment, and many new green spaces. Councilmember Whitburn gave us an overview of initiatives currently underway.
The City’s Homelessness Challenge
Complexities
There are many issues and cohorts experiencing homelessness. Economically homeless - those who have a loss of a job or those who suffer the loss of a job or some other unfortunate event where economically they can no longer afford the rent - are most often assisted by agencies who can help fine a better housing solution.
Safety
Others who may be experiencing illness, addiction or other conditions that complicate resolutions are likely to be living on the streets or in encampments. This creates an unsafe and unsanitary situation for all. Those living on downtown streets or encampments are preyed upon by drug dealers. Sadly the city is losing a person every day to fentanyl overdose. In University Heights, where there are lots of canyons, where there are encampments, there have been fires.
Impact on the City
Along with the human and safety tolls, it's also an economic issue. Some businesses have moved out, some meeting planners have decided not to hold events or convention due to this situation, and tourism is impacted as well.
Encampment Ordinance
To address the situation the City Council passes and encampment ban, which goes into effect July 30, 2023. It is designed to boost public safety and get more homeless people quickly into shelters, where they can receive treatment, housing assistance and job-placement help.
San Diego taxpayers spend many millions each year on shelters and homeless services, and the ban is designed to ensure homeless people take advantage of those services, instead of camping on streets.
The ordinance has two key elements: it prohibits encampments on public property, and requires that people can be cited or arrested if they refuse an available shelter bed
The ban will be enforced in three phases and is dependent on the city having available alternative shelter available:
First Contact: Individuals will be contacted by law enforcement personnel, who will offer them alternative shelter. Individuals will have an option to accept the offer.
Second Contact: Individuals who do not accept, will receive a second visit from an officer who will again offer shelter. Individuals who declining will be cited.
Third Contact: Individuals who do not accept will be subject to a custodial arrest, and will face the justice system. The state of California recently put into effect called something called Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (or CARE) Court, which would provide a framework for courts to compel people with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders into treatment, while also providing participants with supportive housing and wrap-around services.. This is designed to give judges a greater ability to work with individuals with severe mental health or addiction issues and get them into care.
Conservatorship
State conservatorship is put into place when somebody is not able to care for themselves in a proper way. The state legislature is currently looking at proposals to change the requirements for this statute, so that those that are putting themselves and others in harm’s way can be helped.
In some areas of San Diego, the new law allows enforcement of anti-camping laws and arrests even if there are no shelter beds available. This applies to encampments within two blocks of existing shelters or schools and in all city parks, riverbeds, waterways, trolley stops and transportation hubs. The law justifies stricter enforcement in those areas by citing public safety concerns.
temporary Shelters
Shelters and Services
The city is opening two outdoor shelters (safe sleeping / safe camping sites) for those who do not want to go to an indoor shelter for various reasons.
20th and B (currently an active city maintenance yard) can accommodate 50 tents, which the city provides. Each tent can accomodate two people. being 110. Meals, showers and connections to services will be available. These are considered ‘low barrier shelters’ where no drugs etc. are tolerated. This facility is currently open.
O Lot (an unused multi-level parking lot that is sandwiched between the Naval Medical Center San Diego and the I5 freeway) will be able to accomodate up to 400 tents and up to 600 people. It will have separate areas for families, seniors, single males, teenagers, etc. It will also have full set of surround services, including housing navigators, who work with individuals, identifying what it is that will help that individual and then point them in the right direction.
Affordable Housing
Parallel to shelters, the city has affordable housing resources available, and initiatives to grow the supply of affordable housing in the downtown on city-owned property. The plan for the old Downtown Library is to redevelop it into affordable housing. The Homelessness Navigation Center in East Village (Imperial Ave) is also city-owned and is also earmarked to be redeveloped into affordable housing.
“Our goal is to get people to a better place”
Parks
The city is investing green space in downtown.
Children’s Park
This site is located across from the Children’s Museum. It being redeveloped and is set to open this fall. It will be contain a children's play area and a dog park, and will be staffed 24 hours a day with many activations / programs to ensure that the park is used for what it intended.
East Village Green
This site is located between 13 and 15 G streets. It will contain a community center, children's play areas and a dog park dog. It is scheduled for completion in 2025.
IQHQ
This new development, located on West Broadway and Harbor Drive, will also contain public park space.
Downtown Enhancements
Gaslamp Promenade
The Gaslamp Promenade project has completed a milestone - bollards that will allow for more foot traffic in the area have been installed and are now activated. Bollards will keep vehicle traffic off of Fifth Avenue from Broadway to K Street, making the area pedestrian-only daily from 12 p.m.-2 am. Other amenities will be added to the Gaslight promenade in the years to come.
Street Lights
The city is working to repair streetlights that were lost during the past few years. More than 600 streetlights will be repaired. Many were damaged by people who unfasten the bottoms of those streetlights and pulled up the wiring and hooked up their cell phones to charge their cell phones while living in encampments.
About Our Speaker
Councilmember Stephen Whitburn represents San Diego City Council District 3, which includes the neighborhoods of Downtown, Little Italy, Bankers Hill/Park West, Middletown, Mission Hills, Mission Valley, Hillcrest, University Heights, North Park, Balboa Park, South Park, and Golden Hill.
He serves on several communities and outside organizations. He is Chair of the City’s Audit Committee, and a member of the Land Use and Housing Committee, and the Community and Neighborhood Services Committee.