FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 21, 2021

CONTACTS:
Mayor Gloria: MayorPress@sandiego.gov

Pro Tem Atkins: Barbara.CosioMoreno@sen.ca.gov

SAN DIEGO Mayor Todd Gloria was joined today by State Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins and other state and local elected officials to highlight the San Diego projects and programs that will receive millions of dollars in funding from the state budget that was signed last week.

The dollars that San Diego is receiving from the state will upgrade critical infrastructure, help us fight homelessness, ensure a reliable supply of clean water, enhance our arts and culture and much more, Mayor Gloria said. Senate Leader Atkins, along with Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and our entire legislative delegation, deserve the gratitude of all San Diegans for their leadership in bringing home a substantial amount of funding that will move our city forward.

Topping the list of beneficiaries is the City of San Diegos Pure Water program, a transformational project that will convert wastewater to drinkable water and provide roughly half of San Diegos water supply by 2035. It received $50 million from the state budget.

Mayor Gloria advocated strongly for a massive investment in fighting homelessness along with members of Californias Big City Mayors coalition. The state will invest $12 billion across the state over the next two years in efforts to address homelessness, including $1 billion in direct funding to cities. Of that, San Diego is expected to receive at least $27.3 million this year.

Mayor Gloria also worked with Pro Tem Atkins to secure funding for a number of other projects, including:

• $18 million for an energy-storage project at San Vicente Reservoir,
• $8.4 million to help rehabilitate the Ocean Beach Pier,
• $3.7 million for building renovations at the Casa del Prado in Balboa Park,
• $3.1 million to prevent polluted stormwater runoff from entering Chollas Creek in the community of Southcrest, and
• $1 million for gun violence restraining order trainings for law enforcement agencies.

Pro Tem Atkins was also instrumental in securing funding for the following projects:

• $35 million to replace an aging research vessel used by Scripps Institution of Oceanography,

• $35 million for the renovation and remodel of a historic theater and community room at the San Diego Community College Districts Educational Cultural Complex,

• $30 million for planning, design, site development and construction of a replacement UCSD Hillcrest Medical Center
• $3 million for capital improvements at the San Diego Symphonys new Rady Shell bayfront concert venue, and
• $2.5 million for renovations at the Barnes Tennis Center in Point Loma.

Ten years ago, my neighbors sent me to Sacramento to vote on my first state budget, Pro Tem Atkins said. This year, I was proud to stand up for our community once again and vote on a budget that makes huge investments in the San Diego region. With millions of dollars directly benefitting our neighborhoods, parks, libraries, small businesses, nonprofit organizations and local infrastructure enhancements, this budget will not only benefit San Diegans this year, but for years to come.

Joining Mayor Gloria and Pro Tem Atkins today at the Ocean Beach Pier were Assemblymember Chris Ward, City Council President Dr. Jennifer Campbell and City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera. Assemblymember Ward helped secure the funding for the Casa del Prado in Balboa Park and the renovations at Barnes Tennis Center.

The Legislature worked hard to enact a state budget that significantly addresses our most immediate challenges, including homelessness, climate, education and small business support, Assemblymember Ward said. I am particularly grateful for the local funding identified to address longstanding needs for the greater San Diego community. It was a partnership with our delegation and the leadership of Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Mayor Todd Gloria that gave us the successes we celebrate this month after Governor Gavin Newsoms approval.

I am grateful for the $8.4 million that our representatives in Sacramento, Senator Toni Atkins and Assemblymember Chris Ward, have dedicated towards the Ocean Beach Pier, said Council President Campbell, who represents District 2. Mayor Gloria and I advocated for this money that provides a wonderful start for our community as we decide on the future of the Pier.

Despite enormous challenges and economic uncertainty, our Citys state representatives worked diligently this budget cycle to bring much-needed funding from Sacramento to San Diego communities, said Councilmember Elo-Rivera, who represents District 9. From cleaner creeks in Southcrest, to Chollas Lake improvements, to safer streets in Rolando, these are transformative investments that address historic underinvestment and will move us closer to our goal of creating a City that is more sustainable, safe, and livable for all San Diegans."

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