Update from District 6 Councilmember Lorie Zapf

Lorie Zapf

Last month Mayor Kevin Faulconer released his budget proposal for the next year. Like many of you, I was thrilled to see such a big emphasis on fixing our streets and infrastructure.

For the past decade, San Diego has not been able to spend enough on street repair to keep up with our maintenance needs. This was partially why I was so supportive of vital financial reforms like managed competition and pension reform, so we could save taxpayer dollars and reinvest that money into core neighborhood services. Over the past three years, our budget situation has stabilized thanks to voter-approved reforms and a rebounding economy, and we are seeing the fruits of those efforts.

I strongly support the proposed 66% increase in infrastructure spending for next year’s budget. That includes hiring 14 new people for Pothole Repair Crews so we can get reported potholes filled faster. I was especially excited about the Crews because my office regularly holds Pothole Patrols, where we hit the streets of District 6 looking for and reporting potholes. According to a 2012 City audit, my office reports more potholes to be fixed than any other City Council office.

Additionally, as Chair of the Smart Growth and Land Use Committee, I grew increasingly frustrated when the City would repave a street only to have a utility company dig it up a few months later. I worked to pass new rules that require utility companies to submit twice yearly reports on all projects they have planned in the next 24 months for better coordination with the City. I also expanded a moratorium which prohibits utility companies from excavating on newly resurfaced streets for an additional 2 years. This ensures when our roads get fixed, they stay that way longer.

As your Councilmember, I have been working hard to improve all neighborhood services. I will continue to work with our new Mayor to take a more aggressive approach to fixing our infrastructure problems, and I look forward to working with him to keep improving Clairemont.