Tag Archive for: Mayor Todd Gloria

Regional Leaders Hail Settlement Agreement

Community leaders from across San Diego County expressed their support for the end of long running litigation between the San Diego County Water Authority and Metropolitan Water District following the morning news conference announcing the settlement.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria

“Settling litigation between Metropolitan and the Water Authority is a springboard for stabilizing rates through water exchanges and transfers. I’m proud of the work our city delegates have done to get to this point and believe strongly that this is necessary to secure our future as a city and region.” – San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria

“The San Diego County Water Authority’s skilled and trained workforce keeps the water flowing across our region. By ending 15 years of litigation, the Water Authority can continue their focus on reducing the cost of water and the workers can focus on what they do best – making sure we never have to think about whether water will flow from our faucet.” – Brigette Browning, President, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO – The Union of Unions

Brigette Browning, President, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO – The Union of Unions

“We applaud the Water Authority and Metropolitan for ending this long-running litigation, recognizing that we’re stronger together. Our $262 billion economy runs on the supply the Water Authority provides. Looking ahead, the creation of water markets in California and across the Southwest will provide rate benefits that businesses in our region need to grow and thrive.” –  Mark Cafferty, President & COO, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation

“Biocom California as an organization was literally founded around the issue of water availability in the 1990s. One of the reasons we were able to grow to be one of the largest life science clusters in the world is because of the foresight of the San Diego County Water Authority. We are thrilled that two entities we work with and respect have resolved their differences, and are excited for what this means for California’s water future.” – Tim Scott, President and CEO, Biocom California

Nick Serrano to Lead Water Authority

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s deputy chief of staff, Nick Serrano takes over as leader of the governing board for the region’s major water wholesaler.

The board of the San Diego County Water Authority voted Thursday to elect Serrano as chair, installing Lakeside Water District representative Frank Hillaker as vice chair and San Dieguito Water District representative Joy Lyndes as Secretary. Serrano took over the top board spot after serving as vice chair under the former leader, Mel Katz, a Del Mar representative, as is general practice for power succession at the Water Authority.

San Diego Gets $733 Million Federal Loan to Repair Aging Storm Drainage System

Mayor Todd Gloria has signed for the first installment of a $733 million federal loan to fund repairs to San Diego’s aging storm drainage system and protect coastal wetlands.

Gloria was joined by official from the Environmental Protection Agency at a signing ceremony Tuesday at Torrey Pines State Reserve overlooking the Los Peñasquitos Watershed, which will be protected by the stormwater project.

San Diego Makes Huge Investment in Stormwater Infrastructure with EPA Loan

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria on Tuesday signed off on a loan with the Environmental Protection Agency to fix up the city’s aging storm drain system.

The loan will allow for up to $733 million to be invested in stormwater infrastructure projects over the next five years. It’s one of the biggest infrastructure investments in recent years. The mayor’s signature kicked off the first installment of $225 million.

The loan will fund more than 80 projects.

“Our storm drain system is largely underground and out of sight, but the implications of this aging infrastructure failing are massive – from serious flooding in our neighborhoods to pollution of our bays and the ocean,” Gloria said in a statement. “While replacing storm drains and upgrading pump stations doesn’t capture the public’s attention like fixing potholes, these major investments in critical infrastructure are incredibly important to our neighborhoods and quality of life.”

Creating 700 Acres of New Marshland Across San Diego is Key to City’s New Climate Action Plan

The revised and more aggressive climate action plan San Diego adopted this month commits officials to creating 700 acres of marshland across the city, more than triple the 220 acres of new marshland Mayor Todd Gloria had previously promised in northeastern Mission Bay.

The revised climate action plan prioritizes new marsh areas — sometimes called wetlands — because they serve the dual purpose of removing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from the air and fighting sea-level rise by acting as a coastal sponge.

Mayor Signs Ambitious Zero Emissions by 2035 Climate Action Plan Update

Mayor Todd Gloria signed into law an update to the city’s Climate Action Plan Wednesday, which includes setting a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

The San Diego City Council approved the update last week 8-0, with Councilman Chris Cate absent. City staff will bring a full implementation plan back to the council by February 2023.

Summer of Water Conservation in California

State, regional, and local leaders are joining forces to urge water conservation across San Diego County and statewide at the start of summer. With drought conditions worsening in every corner of the Southwest, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called on residents and businesses to take additional conservation measures to help ease the effects of extreme drought during the hot summer months.

San Diegans Praised For Saving Water But Urged To Do More

“We are navigating across the American West with unprecedented drought, uncharted conditions.”

That was the dire warning from California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot during a news conference Thursday at the headquarters of the San Diego County Water Authority. He said federal water officials were worried too.

As Summer Begins, Thinking About Our Drought Problem: Empathy

In the rainless season we call summer in California, images of shrinking bodies of water have a way of looming large.

After more than 22 years of drought compounded by warmer temperatures, Lake Mead and Lake Powell — water sources that are vital to life in the Southwest — have declined to their lowest levels since they were filled. The two reservoirs now sit at just 28 percent of capacity.

Mayor Gloria and Other Leaders Urge Water Conservation, Warn of ‘Collapse of Colorado River’ System

San Diego County’s water supplies are in good shape in the face of severe statewide drought, but local and state leaders said San Diegans should still take steps to avoid water waste and limit outdoor irrigation.

“We’re here on a somber note, and that is as we move into summer… we are navigating across the American West, an unprecedented drought,” California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said.