As a season of painful budget negotiations, offset by nationwide economic volatility, failed tax measures, and declining revenue, comes to an end, the final budget proposed by San Diego City Council includes bold restorations to library services and recreation center hours. Now, it heads to the Mayor’s desk, where it is subjected to final approval or a veto.

Thousands of San Diegans spoke out in the budget development process this year, particularly in opposition to deep cuts to services that serve as lifelines to the community…

“Spending money on criminalization does not make us safer, it instills fear and tears communities apart. Are you willing to fund systems that hurt people while cutting the youth programs and services that uplift them?” said Noah Yee Yick, a policy advocate at the Center on Policy Initiatives.