CAO Message: Ways the County Makes the Season Bright

A message from Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer:

Can you believe we’re at the end of another year? As busy as everyone has been, the time was bound to fly by. The year was action-packed – and it was achievement-packed.

We cut ribbons on a Live Well Center, affordable housing units, a library, and sports facilities. We broke ground on a community center, a fire station, and a psychiatric health facility. Added mobile probation centers and neared completion of the next Youth Transition Campus phase. 

We preserved more land and pushed ahead on getting greenhouse gas emissions to zero. We put computers, naloxone, and pool alarms in the hands of people who need them. Carried out extensive homelessness outreach and added firefighting resources.

Those are a few new highlights, and they come in addition to the vast number of things we do to protect and enrich our community every day. Since we’re in the midst of the holidays, I wanted to point out a few ways the County is helping San Diegans celebrate the season.

At Edgemoor Skilled Nursing Facility, residents are enjoying a variety of holiday performances throughout the month. Activities include making ornaments, trivia games, Elf on the Shelf, and a visit from Santa.   

At our Youth Transition Campus, Probation staff put together a holiday event for the youth that included cocoa, desserts, and a live performance by the San Diego Symphony! For a lot of the young people, it was the first time they’d been to a live concert.

Probation, Sheriff and District Attorney staff kept up the long-running Shop with a Cop, taking local kids out to buy gifts. Police officers are bringing toys to Polinsky Children’s Center. These events all help build positive relationships with law enforcement.

We held our annual giveaway of refurbished County computers to foster families, and through Promises 2 Kids and Emmanuel Faith, we’re holding celebrations for young people in foster care. Sheriff’s stations and County airports are collection points for Toys for Tots, and the DA’s CARE Center is hosting a toy giveaway.

County Library and Parks and Recreation are bringing ways to celebrate to communities all around the county: Santa visits, gingerbread house decorating, tree-lightings, a festival with snow, a singalong, musical performances, and more.  

Then there are many of you in your individual offices and our employee resource groups holding your own fundraisers and drives to benefit our residents. 

The holidays are a time we do a little extra for the people in our lives who mean a lot to us. As you can see, that extends to those we serve and our mission. You’re not complying with some state or federal mandate to be festive. You put the effort into these celebrations because you care deeply about the people who enjoy them. That I get to spend my days working with you, seeing the commitment you demonstrate, is all the gift I could ever wish for.

Take pride in everything you’ve accomplished this year, and I hope you’ll make the most of the holiday season. May your days be merry and bright, and your nights warmed by the company of loved ones.

Thank you and happy holidays!