Richard Bailey

Want to repeal parking fees at Balboa Park? Here’s how we get on the ballot:

✅ Join us at Liberty Station Public Market, 9am-1pm, to sign the petition or drop off completed petitions.

✅ Find a signing location near you via our interactive map: https://tinyurl.com/petitionstations

✅ Chip in to help us mail petitions direct to voters. $1 = 1 Signature. https://shorturl.at/maIJF

We’re working toward 80,000 signatures, and your role makes a huge impact.

We have 3 months to collect the remaining signatures to force a vote to repeal the parking fees and we need your help to get there!

See you Saturday, San Diego

Join me in Balboa Park this Saturday to kick off the signature drive for our citizen-led “Balboa Park Free Parking Restoration Act.”

Balboa Park belongs to the people. San Diegans shouldn’t be nickel-and-dimed to enjoy one of our city’s greatest public spaces.

Since the City Council won’t act, we’re taking this repeal-the-fees initiative directly to the voters.

𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 9:30 a.m.
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: https://repealthefees.com/balboa-park-free-parking-restoration-act

- Richard Bailey

Thank you, City of Coronado.

As my last day in office concludes and I reflect back on the past 12 years, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity I’ve had to represent Coronado. It was truly an honor.

During those 12 years, I’ve served with 10 other Councilmembers. I’d like to thank all of them for their service to our city and community. All of the success we had during that time was a product of collaboration between people with different backgrounds, experience, perspectives, and skill sets coming together to find the best path forward for our city, community, and constituents.

Some of my favorite successes include:

*TJ cross-border sewage progress - $250M more funds announced in 12/17

*Refinancing CDA bonds to make CUSD eligible for more school funding earlier than anticipated

*Securing the future of Grand Caribe Isle into park space for the Cays

*Installing beach accessibility mats

*Vons expansion into Coramart

*92118 Day

*Cleaning up the entrance to Coronado

*Cays median improvements

*Shores median improvements (2025)

*Smart traffic signals on the Silver Strand

*Balanced budgets

*Eliminating the business license tax

*Reforming the community grant process

*Progress on the Coronado Bridge su***de prevention efforts

*Lighting the Christmas Tree at Rotary Plaza

*Electric Fire Truck

Of course none of these successes were possible without our incredible city staff. For as much as our residents take pride in calling Coronado “home,” our staff takes pride in working here. Perhaps there is no better example of this than when the public services department, police officers, and fire fighters were working around the clock for days during the massive storms in early 2024. I will miss working with them all.

There is still much work to be done. Newly-elected Councilmembers Amy Steward and Mark Fleming will undoubtedly identify new priorities as well as build off the progress made to date to help finish the TJ sewage project, update the Orange Avenue Business District, take the Coronado Bridge su***de-prevention project to the next step, and synchronize the Orange Ave traffic signals once Caltrans updates its software system, among others.

I wish the new the City Council, Carrie Downey, Mark Fleming, Amy Steward and Mayor John Duncan all the best as they represent our city going forward.

If I could offer any advice it would be the following:

-clearly define the mission and metrics of success

-have a bias towards action

-don’t underestimate what can be accomplished with dedication and focus

-get the small stuff right so you’re trusted on the big stuff

-never forget to keep all of Coronado residents in mind, not just those that scream the loudest

I fully trust this new City Council along with a great executive team will serve our community well during the next four years.

As for me, I don’t know what is next but I’m sure I’ll be somewhere between the beaches of Coronado and the mountains of Nepal.

Thank you for the honor of a lifetime.

Cottages at the Cays update: Since 1968, Grand Caribe Isle has been subject to several attempts to redevelop the site into a hotel.

The most recent proposal was the Cottages at the Cays, pictured below.

Earlier today, the Port of San Diego bought out the remaining years left on the lease of the current developer, Cays Resort LLC.

The Port will use funds from the existing boat storage yard to finance the buyout of $3 million.

In approximately ten years, coinciding with the 2034 date of converting the existing land use to recreation, the Port plans to turn the boat storage area into a park.

This decision removes any possibility of turning the land into a hotel or other commercial enterprise.

Thanks to the Port (especially Coronado’s Port Commissioner Frank Urtasun) and Cays Resort LLC ownership for their willingness to negotiate a deal that is supported by the Cays community.

Paul Connelly is sworn in as Coronado Police Chief. Welcome to Coronado, Chief Connelly!

How many Coronado businesses can say that they have been in businesses for 100 years? Congratulations to Holland's!

They will be having a celebration this Saturday to mark the occasion.

With sadness in my heart, I share that Belinda Jones, who worked for the Coronado Chamber of Commerce, passed away yesterday. Belinda was a very special person.

She had a warm heart, a wonderful personality, and had the ability to tell a great story. Through her work with the Chamber, she did so much to improve Coronado. She will be deeply missed by all those who knew her.

It is with profound and deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Belinda Jones last night. Her courageous battle with returning cancer has come to an end.

Belinda faced her journey with incredible strength and grace. She brought light and love into the lives of everyone who knew her. Coronado was her paradise and so her role at the Chamber was a dream come true, for her and for us.

To honor her life and legacy, we are planning a Celebration of Life on her birthday, December 20. More details will follow soon, and we hope you will join us in remembering and celebrating the wonderful impact she made on all of us in her special place.

Please keep Belinda’s family in your thoughts and prayers.