COVID-19 Update from Council President Pro Tem Barbara Bry
July 17, 2020
July 17, 2020
Contact: Moriah Gaynor
mgaynor@sandiego.gov
C: (619) 207-8616
Dear Neighbors,
On Monday, July 13, San Diego County health officials followed Governor Newsom’s recommendations to close all gyms, places of worship, nail and hair salons and indoor malls indefinitely. Coming just six days after local restaurants, bars and movie theaters faced a three-week restriction on indoor activities, this decision was reached because of the spike in new cases, a higher percentage of people testing positive, and an increase in the number of community outbreaks.
These closures continue to place an unprecedented strain on our economy. The lockdown has placed thousands of hard-working San Diegans under financial stress, and forced many small businesses out of existence while others continue to struggle.
The restaurant industry has been particularly hard hit. On July 14, the City Council voted unanimously to adopt an emergency ordinance allowing restaurant owners to expand onto the street spaces in front of their businesses as well as sidewalks and parking lots.
So please WEAR A FACE MASK WHEN YOU GO OUT IN PUBLIC, observe proper social distancing and wash your hands. Each of us can play a part in stopping the spread of this terrible virus.
With gratitude,
Council President Pro Tem
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District News
District 1 Census Participation Under 70 Percent
Completing the census is critical to securing community resources for the next 10 years, and as of now, less than 70 percent of District 1 residents have completed the census.
If you have yet to complete the census, please do so online at https://2020census.gov/.
Avenida de la Playa from El Paseo Grande to Ciallo de la Plata to Close to Vehicular Traffic from 7/22/20 to 9/27/20
Effective July 22, 2020 thru September, 27, 2020, Avenida de la Playa from El Paseo Grande to Ciallo de la Plata will be closed to vehicular traffic. During this period, local restaurants will set up dining tables over parking stalls in order to serve lunch and dinner, al fresco. From 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., there will be a twenty-foot wide pedestrian walkway down the center of Avenida de la Playa.
The goal is to provide safe outdoor dining in a pleasant atmosphere. A special thanks to Janie Emerson and Phil Wise for their hard work on this program!
"How’s Small Business” District 1 Social Media Feature Series
During this difficult time, I feel it’s important to hear from our local small businesses in their own words, which is why I created “How’s Small Business?"
"How’s Small Business?” features a different small-business owner as they candidly share their experiences during this unprecedented time.
Check out past profiles of Spitfire Tacos / Head of Lettuce, Girard Gourmet, Le Dimora, Geppetto’s Toys, Villa Capri Ristorante, Decker’s Dog + Cat, and Marketplace Grille.
If you are a D1 small business owner and have a pandemic story you would like to share here, please e-mail BarbaraBry@sandiego.gov.
City News
7/16 Special Environment Committee Votes to Accept Consultants’ Reports and Draft a Resolution of Intent for a New Gas and Electric Franchise Agreement
I voted ‘No” on the measure to move the draft Invitation to Bid for a new gas and electric franchise agreement to the full City Council. This is a rushed deal that lacks community input, independent review, and leaves too much on the table.
The City of San Diego’s 50-year gas and electric franchise agreement with San Diego Gas & Electric Company expires January 2021. On July 16, the Environment Committee reviewed the draft Invitation to Bid, prepared by city officials, which provides the basic criteria under which SDG&E and other interested companies can submit a formal proposal. This is one of the most important issues the Council will consider in order for the City to meet its clean energy goals and get the best deal for San Diego residents.
I was disappointed that the Committee voted 3-1 to move the item forward to the full Council.
See my full statement here.
7/15 City Announces Parking Enforcement to Resume August 1
The City of San Diego will resume full enforcement of all parking regulations on Saturday, August 1, 2020. Citations are still being issued for vehicles parked illegally at red, white and blue painted curbs.
7/15 Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods (PSLN) Committee Advances Item on Establishing Rules for the City’s Acquisition and Use of Surveillance Technology and an Establishing a Privacy Commission to City Council
On Wednesday, July 15, Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods (PSLN) Committee convened and discussed a proposal to create an ordinance to establish rules for the City’s acquisition and use of surveillance technology and an ordinance to establish a Privacy Commission.
This proposal, which passed, will actively engage community input and establish a privacy commission that can help explore best practices to protect data and work collaboratively with city staff when introducing new technologies to the city. This item was unanimously supported and forwarded to the full City Council.
The complete PSLN agenda can be found here.
7/14 City Council Votes
The City Council voted on several items this week. Some key items were:
The complete agenda can be found here. Archived minutes can be found here.
County News
7/13 County to Close Indoor Operations at Gyms, Nail Salons and Other Sectors
Following new state guidance, the County closed indoor operations for certain sectors effective July 15.
They include:
These closures will remain in effect until further notice.
Article here.
San Diego County Accepting Applications for Temporary COVID-19 Case Investigators ($25/hour)
The County of San Diego has immediate openings for Temporary Case Investigators that will support the T3 (Test, Trace, Treat) response to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Applications will be accepted until Monday, July 20 at 11:59 p.m.. Those interested can learn more about the opportunity and apply here.
Current Cases in San Diego County
As of 5 p.m. 7/16:
Source here.
State News
7/16 - Governor Newsom Announces $600 Million in Homekey Funds Now Immediately Available for Local Governments to Purchase Housing for Homeless Californians
Governor Newsom announced the availability of $600 million in funding for Homekey, the next phase in the state’s response protecting Californians experiencing homelessness who are at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19.
Administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), the $600 million in grant funding will be made available to counties, cities, and other government entities to purchase and rehabilitate housing including hotels, motels, vacant apartment buildings, and other types of innovative housing, and convert them into permanent, long-term housing for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
Press release here.
Local Resources
Better Business Bureau Extends COVID-19 Emergency Grant Program
The Better Business Bureau’s COVID-19 emergency grant program has been extended through at least September, 2020. These "Main St. Matters" grants are available to main-street businesses with 5-20 employees, and can be applied for here.
8/20 Webinar Hosted by the National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) on Racial Justice
The National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) invites you to its webinar about racial justice on August 20, beginning at 7:00 p.m. PST. The event will feature the nation’s leading scholars and New York Times #1 Best Sellers, Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo, with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Wesley Lowery.
Registration is required here.
7/21 at 11 a.m.
City Council Meeting
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Government Resources
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
State of California COVID-19 Resource
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Testing Information
County Testing Sites
To make a free appointment at a County testing site, please call 2-1-1 or use this link to make an appointment.
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State Managed Sites
Appointment needed via https://lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m..
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Kaiser Permanente
Call 1-833-KP4CARE (1-833-574-2273) (TTY 711) to talk to a licensed care provider 24/7
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Scripps Health Nurses Line
888-261-8431
7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mon - Fri, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat - Sun
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SHARP Healthcare Nurses Line
1-800-827-4277
Mon - Fri, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat - Sun
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UCSD Health COVID-19 Nurses Line
800-926-8273
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day
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