Team Carlsbad,
Here’s an update on what’s happening in our great city and among our team members.
State of Emergency – Traffic safety
It’s been three weeks since we proclaimed a local emergency for traffic safety, and I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am to see all that Team Carlsbad has accomplished in that time. Crews have restriped green bike lanes at nearly a dozen locations and installed speed feedback signs and electronic message boards at areas with higher collision rates.
At the same time, staff are out in the community leading enforcement and education efforts, making sure people take responsibility for creating safer streets together and know the rules of the road. Our safer streets messaging has reached more than 377,790 people on social media alone!
Even with the tropical storm last weekend, Team Carlsbad sprung to action as well to clear the roads of downed tree branches, debris and other issues that arose from the rain.
Thank you for all that you are doing to keep our roads safe in the face of this emergency and supporting our community as they safely get where they need to go, no matter if they’re driving, biking or walking.
COVID update
In August, there were 35 new positive cases and two workplace exposures. It may seem like the pandemic has wound down, but people are still catching variants. HR has masks available if you’d like one.
Additionally, a new COVID-19 booster designed to protect against multiple strains of the virus has begun to arrive in San Diego.
The so-called “bivalent” booster replaces the previous booster shot and is designed to generate an immune response to both the original COVID-19 virus and the more contagious BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.
The Pfizer/BioNTech version of the new booster is for people 12 and over, while the Moderna booster is for people 18 and older.
County health officials say initial supplies of the new booster will be limited. Contact your healthcare provider or pharmacy about when you can receive one. Learn more about the booster and where to get it on the county’s coronavirus vaccine website.
Weekend festivities
Despite the heat and rain, Family Movie Night went off at Stagecoach Park without a hitch. Community members spent their evening out on the field watching the Pixar classic Up. Thank you to Parks & Recreation staff for your commitment to putting on such a great event and to Carlsbad Police for spreading the word on traffic safety.
Over the weekend, Library & Cultural Arts staff also opened a new exhibition at the Cannon Art Gallery celebrating the beauty, function and possibilities found in chairs, as interpreted by talented artists. Events like this are right in line with our community vision of emphasizing arts, history and cultural resources. I am very appreciative of staff for continuing to provide unique, meaningful exhibits to the community.
Teaching the next generation
Our Environmental Sustainability Department is continuing to invest in themselves while paying it forward for the next generation of workers. Recently, city staff taught students key lessons on habitat management as part of the UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education Series.
Also last month, Sustainable Materials Management staff attended a recycling conference where they connected with recycling professionals and industry leaders from all over the country to learn best practices in reducing waste and creating a more sustainable community right here in Carlsbad.
Remembering 9/11
Sunday marked 21 years since 9/11, and I want to acknowledge our country’s shared, somber anniversary. As I remember the heroism and courage of the first responders and the thousands who lost their lives on that day, I also think about all the spouses, children, parents, siblings and friends who have had to live with that pain for more than two decades. These loved ones are missed, but never forgotten.
That’s all for now. Stay safe, be kind to one another, have a great rest of the week and I'll see you soon.
Take care!