In a far-ranging State of the District address on Jan. 30, District 2 Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell touched on everything from monarch butterflies and pesticide use to housing, homelessness, electric scooters, and short-term vacation rentals.
The event at Liberty Station Conference Center was hosted by Campbell in partnership with Point Loma Nazarene University.
Campbell and staffers Joshua Coyne, Carrie Munson, Seamus Kennedy, Monica Eslamian and Teddy Martinez also presented Neighbors Of The Year and Small Businesses Of The Year awards to deserving constituents in Point Loma, Ocean Beach, and Midway, as well as Pacific and Mission beaches, Linda Vista/Morena and Clairemont. The district also includes Bay Ho/Bay Park.
Campbell looked forward — and back — during her inaugural, year-beginning address.
“Last year the Council unanimously approved a new community action plan on homelessness while moving us toward our goal of 100% renewable energy and a council committee recently declared a climate emergency,” said Campbell. “I want to focus on how San Diego can shrink its carbon footprint while creating a better plan for our kids and grandkids. My focus is not just on the natural environment, but also on our city environment. We filled over 3,000 potholes, patched miles of road and fixed more than a thousand streetlights, just in District 2.”
Campbell characterized infrastructure improvements including new crosswalks and sidewalks in District 2 as “investing in our community. They may seem like small changes, but they have made a big difference.”
Added the council member, “We must take a holistic approach to community improvements. My budget this year will include requesting additional money to plant trees to reach the goals of our climate action plan, and will also include providing protection for our wetlands and reducing pollution.”
Noting that it is something that “the community of Ocean Beach has been asking for decades,” Campbell said, “I’m the first council member in District 2 to finally secure funding for the expanding Ocean Beach Library.”
Turning to the future, Campbell noted, “As I look at the year ahead, there are several key issues: housing and homelessness, short-term vacation rentals, environmental protection, public safety, and constituent services.”
The Council member also vetted her five-point campaign — unification, outreach, buildings, wrap-around services, and monitoring — for battling homelessness which she said is “coming to fruition.”
Pointing out the dwindling Monarch butterfly population is becoming a major cause of concern, Campbell also warned against continuing pesticide use.
“We’re making progress on a pesticide-proof pilot park program here in Liberty Station to ensure more of our parks are pesticide-free in 2020,” she said.
Of short-term rentals, she said, “Residents across the city are demanding a comprehensive set of short-term rental regulations. It’s time to act.”
Campbell closed with an invitation. “Consider my office your resource,” she concluded.
District 2 neighbor and business awardees included: Marshall Picard, A 101-year old World War II veteran and Midway resident who helps set up and serve food at The Orchard senior living community; entrepreneur Sarah Mattinson of Olive Bakery, a Mission Beach restaurant, and community hub; Kimberly Wise of Mission Beach for leading a short-term rental committee while running a business and raising a family; Randall’s Sandals, a Pacific Beach shop that hosts beach clean-ups and encourages environmentally responsible shopping through discounts for donations; and Ocean Beach Hardware, Bay City Brewing Co. in Midway, Goodbar in Point Loma; entrepreneur Sandy Hanshaw of Point Loma, Cathie Jolley of Pacific Beach and OB Elementary principal Marco Drapeu.