FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 28, 2022

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO Mayor Todd Gloria today led a community celebration in Oak Park to highlight $68.5 million in state budget funding for critically important projects in the City of San Diego part of $485 million for projects and programs regionwide. Mayor Gloria was joined by members of San Diegos state legislative delegation and of the City Council, as well as representatives from the office of Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Led by Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins, San Diegos legislative delegation in the state Capitol is advancing opportunity for our communities through the state budget, said Mayor Todd Gloria. Just as they did last year, the members of the Senate and the Assembly that we have sent to Sacramento did an incredible job in 2022 of bringing state tax dollars home to San Diego for dozens of projects that will greatly improve our quality of life.

The biggest single allocation of funding to the City is $20 million for construction of a new Oak Park Library, a project championed by Atkins along with Assemblymember Weber and other members of the delegation. Of the total funding for the City of San Diego, $29.25 million will fund park and recreation projects, $27.9 million will fund library projects, $7.3 million will fund cultural projects and $4.05 million will fund projects that promote green jobs and enhance public safety.

Thanks to the states fiscal health and responsible budgeting by the Legislature and the Governor, the 2022-23 state budget makes historic investments for projects and programs in the San Diego region, including many specifically for the City of San Diego, Senate President pro Tem Atkins said. By looking at this budget through an equity lens, we were able to prioritize projects in all parts of the city, with an emphasis on underserved communities. Over 80 percent of the local funds are being directed toward parks and recreation and our local libraries, two critical resources that enrich our communities and benefit everyone.

The specific projects to be funded include:

• Oak Park Library design and construction $20 million
• Ward Canyon Park expansion, Normal Heights $8 million
• Carmel Knolls Park comfort station, Carmel Mission Park comfort station, Sage Canyon Park concession building plus field renovation, Rancho Bernardo Community Park renovations, Black Mountain Mine Open Space environmental study, Canyonside Community Park Tennis Center expansion, and Peñasquitos Creek Neighborhood Park comfort station $7 million
• Villa Montezuma museum restoration, Sherman Heights $5 million
• Ocean Beach Library expansion $4.5 million
• Clay Park Improvements, Rolando Village $4 million
• San Diego Urban Sustainability Coalition, construction of a light office complex in Valencia Park $3.3 million
• Olive Grove Community Park upgrades, Clairemont Mesa $3 million
• South Clairemont Community Park recreation center upgrades $2 million
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Swimming Pool upgrade, Encanto $2 million
• Camino de la Costa Viewpoint coastal-access projects, La Jolla $2 million
• University City Library expansion $1.9 million
• New San Carlos Library, Phase 1 $1.5 million
• San Diego Natural History Museum improvements, Balboa Park $1.3 million
• Marston House restoration and repair $1 million
• San Diego Family Justice Center Your Safe Place, additional legal and community services for victims of domestic abuse, family violence and sex trafficking $750,000
• Mountain View Park Sports Court improvements $600,000
• Mountain View Sports Court tennis courts renovation at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in Encanto $500,000
• Serra Mesa trail improvements $150,000

The funded projects span all nine City Council districts.

The single largest project to receive funding in the San Diego County region is improvements to the LOSSAN rail corridor, for which $300 million has been allocated. Another 185.5 million will go to dozens of projects across the region.

What others are saying:

This years budget included historic spending of just over $300 billion, including historic spending in infrastructure investment, transportation and housing, all of which will benefit constituents in San Diego, said Senator Ben Hueso. Specifically, our office secured $5 million for the City of San Diego for the restoration of the Villa Montezuma Museum, $1 million to the San Diego Unified School District for further development of the Earthlab Open-Air Climate Park and $20 million for the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to end State Route 125 toll fees in 2027 as opposed to 2042.

I am proud to have secured funds to meet the needs of our communities throughout San Diego County, Assemblymember Brian Maienschein said. By enriching our public programs, parks and other resources, I am confident that many throughout our region will benefit from these advancements for years to come.

Californias strong budget is a testament of our states resilient economy. Our residents and taxpayers have endured so much, and I am pleased that the FY 2022-2023 budget reinvests in people and our communities, said Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. Specific to my district, I am elated that more than $51 million will be allocated to several infrastructure and recreational projects across Assembly District 79. These projects will bring about meaningful change to our residents quality of life and health.

Whether it's funding for critical beach sand replenishment between Encinitas and Solana Beach, improvements to our parks and community centers or helping to make EVs more accessible, there's always so much to be done in San Diego County, Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath said. Im proud to be a part of this team representing our communities and their unique needs up in the state Capitol. Thank you to Mayor Gloria for taking the time to highlight the work San Diegos elected representatives are doing to deliver for our residents.

I am pleased to support a state budget that provides economic assistance and mortgage relief for struggling families along with a historic investment in our local schools, Assemblymember David Alvarez said. I look forward to working with our local delegation to provide more needed funding for our communities.

As elected representatives, we must recognize the need for a more equitable plan that reaches historically underserved neighborhoods, City Council President pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe said. Im happy Council District 4 could receive funds that improve accessibility to our parks, libraries and economic opportunities. I applaud San Diego's state leaders for approaching this FY23 budget with an equity lens.

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