San Diego County Board Chair SupNoraVargas delivers hopeful message in 2023 State of the County Address. She vowed to use compassion to address the out-of-control homeless crisis and mental health.
SAN DIEGO – County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas focused on improving life for families, a stronger economy, better infrastructure and mental health care, and combating homelessness in Wednesday evening’s State of the County speech.
During her speech, Vargas also discussed strengthening public safety, reducing food insecurity, fighting for environmental justice and eco-friendly job creation. Vargas said preventing and addressing homelessness “is a top priority,” which is why the board in September declared it a public health crisis. While participating in recent official counts of those living on the street, Vargas said she understood “how years of bad policies had failed communities.”
Vargas said, there must be a comprehensive strategy to confront the homeless epidemic, including working with the 18 city governments in San Diego County, along with faith-based and community groups to help seniors, veterans and LGBTQ residents. “It’s hard to believe that this is something we have to say out loud in 2023: no one should be going hungry,” Vargas added. It’s also important that county residents take care of mental health, which became an especially crucial topic over the past three years, Vargas said.
In a partnership with Sheriff Kelly Martinez, “we are launching a community safety initiative to address gun violence and public safety,” Vargas said. “I am committed to bringing stakeholders together to implement restorative justice policies and practices to keep our communities safe.”
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