CAO Message: Summer and a Season to Celebrate

A message from Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer:

We are heading into the thick of summer – and if you’ve stepped outside the last couple days, it’s really feeling like it. Many of you are taking well-deserved time off, soaking up all the activities San Diego offers, or just lounging around the beach. Whatever way you spend your time, make the most of it!

As always, there’s a lot going on to enjoy right here at the County. And much of that is driven by the energy of our employee resource groups.

Last month, the County took its second official holiday for Juneteenth and marked the event with a flag-raising and building lighting at the CAC. The African American Association of County Employees explained how the day is a moment for both celebration and reflection.

Continuing the freedom theme, the County of San Diego Filipino-American Employees’ Association hosted a Philippine Independence Day celebration. Filled with traditional dances and food, it’s always a wonderfully vibrant event. Edgemoor Skilled Nursing Facility held its own celebration for employees and residents.

This weekend, thousands of people will join San Diego Pride festivities. The LGBTQ&A ERG and Board Chairwoman Nora Vargas hosted a flag-raising at the CAC in recognition of Pride Month, showing our support for the community.    

And coming up August 9, the Indigenous Sovereign Nations ERG will hold an event celebrating International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples with music, dance and traditional foods. Watch InSite for more details.

We didn’t hold a big party or anything, but a lot of us here at the County are celebrating another successful budget process. The budget is the engine for everything we do for the people of San Diego. Putting it together is a ton of work, and I send my thanks to everyone who had a hand in it.

As was true for the last few years’ budgets, this one included a substantial increase in staff: another 500+ positions this time. That will bring needed help into our workforce. Of course, that’s as soon as we can hire them. We are pushing hard to get that done, but it remains a challenge in this job market. We will be holding hiring halls and continue to make same-day job offers to candidates. That’s honestly kind of remarkable for government hiring and speaks to our efforts to get people on board quicker. And speaking again of the Pride Festival this weekend, Human Resources will have a booth with recruiters there, joined by members of our LGBTQ&A ERG. 

I’d ask all of you to steer any qualified job seekers that you know our way. It’s a good time to remind everyone of our Referral Reward Program. You can get $1,000 by referring someone we hire for a number of hard-to-fill positions. You’ll help your colleagues while helping yourself!

The budget also reflects our commitment to serving our residents and tackling many of our region’s most pressing issues. We earmark the dollars, but then it’s all of you who do the hard work that changes lives. I thank you so much for all your efforts. I hope as you do take vacation time, it’s with a sense of satisfaction and pride in meaningful jobs well done.

There will be more challenges to come. Keep focusing on our residents, keep doing the great work you do. And along the way, take the time to relax, recharge and enjoy the summer season.