Our Mission
At San Diego United Communities, our mission is to empower neighborhoods to come together under one roof to communicate and discuss San Diego policies. We are San Diego neighborhoods united—a powerful communication hub that amplifies our collective voices. Together, we support one another, share knowledge, and collaborate to preserve our heritage, strengthen our communities, tackle shared challenges, and champion growth rooted in integrity, transparency, and genuine respect for the people who call these neighborhoods home.
⚠️ EXPOSING THE TRUTH: The Mt. Etna Senior Housing Nightmare
⚠️ EXPOSING THE TRUTH: The Mt. Etna Senior Housing Nightmare ⚠️
Last month, San Diego politicians—including Mayor Todd Gloria, Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell, and County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe—stood smiling at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Terrasini Senior Apartments on the Mt. Etna campus. They patted themselves on the back, celebrating a "safe and affordable" haven for our city's vulnerable older adults.But behind the glossy photo-ops lies a reality of empty promises, ignored pleas, and absolute structural neglect.The Senior Residents Council, led by Chairman Bill Joyce, has partnered with San Diego United Communities (SDUC) to expose the horror stories that city leadership and the Midway Rising Group are desperately trying to sweep under the rug.Seniors have called and emailed for months. The Mayor’s office, Dr. Campbell, and the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) have completely ignored them. Once the lease is signed, the care stops.🛑 The Reality: Not Safe, Not AffordableHere is what is actually happening on the ground at the Chelsea Investment Corporation’s Mt. Etna campus (built by Emerson Construction, managed by Hyder Corp and Conam Property Management):
1. Financial Bait-and-Switch & Exploding Rents
- The Last-Minute Hike: During initial certification, seniors were low-balled, only to be hit last-minute with spikes from $1,340 to $1,940.
- The Thanksgiving Eve Cruelty: Despite explicit promises from Chelsea’s Senior Asset Manager that rents would remain stable, an 8.8% rent increase notice was taped to residents' doors on Wednesday evening right before Thanksgiving. It completely ruined the holidays for seniors on fixed incomes.
- The SDHC Disconnect: When residents fought back, pointing out that Hyder Corp ignored proper 60-day notice rules, the San Diego Housing Commission refused to back the residents. What exactly is SDHC’s relationship with Chelsea Development?
- Forced Displacement: New residents moving into Mt Etna are already being told to expect 3–5% increases in January. With 6 to 8 current vacancies, these hikes will force another 6 to 10 vulnerable seniors onto the streets.
Our Demand: The City Council must initiate a rent increase cap for seniors tied directly to the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). This year’s COLA was 2.8%, yet seniors were slapped with an 8.8% hikes
2. Severe ADA & Fire Code Violations
- The Parking Trap: Residents were promised assigned parking. Instead, it is a chaotic first-come, first-served setup.
- Stranded Disabled Residents: The campus has 404 total units (including family units with 2 to 3 cars each) but only 240 total parking spaces. Out of those, there are only 12 ADA spaces spread out across the campus for over 75 disabled residents with placards or plates. That is an abysmal 5%.
- Planter Box Hurdles: Due to a lack of proper ramp access, disabled seniors are being forced to walk excessive distances or physically navigate through planter boxes just to get to their homes.
- Fire Code Violations: Buildings are not properly numbered according to the California Fire Code. The main entrances lack the required 6–8" numbers.
- The Lost Medication Crisis: Because of terrible planning, there are multiple identical apartment numbers across different buildings (e.g., four different room 201s through 517s). Amazon and delivery drivers are constantly dropping packages at the wrong buildings. Worse, seniors have had critical, life-saving medications misdelivered or permanently lost.
3. Vanishing Safety & Predatory Towing
- Where is the Security? Local residents were promised 465 parking spaces and on-site security at community planning meetings. Instead, requests for physical security guards since May 2025 have been denied. Management claims "cameras are enough." Cameras do not deter crime; walking security does. Cameras have NOT been working lately.
- A Dangerous Mixed Campus: The intersection of younger drivers and senior walkers/drivers has created a safety hazard. Cars rocket out of the parking garage at 30 to 40 MPH. Requests for basic traffic calming measures like speed bumps have been ignored for over six months. Is the cost too high for Chelsea?
- Predatory Towing: While management refuses to help residents secure proper parking stickers or communicate clear guidelines, they have unleashed Western Towing and Reliant Security onto the property. Disabled seniors are actively being towed from designated spaces at night.
- Criminal Sex Offenders: Currently there have been sex offenders accepted to live at Mt. Etna with major criminal backgrounds, where is the safety for female vulnerable seniors? There is NONE! NO Vetting process to keep or seniors safe and once again no 24 hour on-site security in-person services. Completely ignored by Mayor Todd Gloria and Jennifer Campbell.
🏢 The Players Who Should Be Ashamed
- Chelsea Investment Corp & Emerson Construction: Prioritizing corporate profits over the basic structural and safety needs of elderly tenants. Fighting residents on basic hot water issues for over 8 months/ They want o build Midway Rising without being able to produce small living spaces for seniors! SHAME ON YOU!
- Hyder Corp & Conam Property Management: Holding 1-star ratings for a reason. They utilize selective enforcement and zero empathy. SHAME ON YOU!
- Serving Seniors: Their on-site presence seems entirely limited to meals. They have completely failed to advocate for the living conditions and rights of the seniors under their roof. SHAME ON YOU!
- Dr. Jennifer Campbell (District 2) & The Mayor’s Office: Total silence. No help with these rampant compliance and safety issues. SHAME ON YOU!
📢 STAND WITH OUR SENIORS: SDUC PRESS CONFERENCENumbers matter. The San Diego City Council is terrified of the growing focus and strength of our coalition, but we cannot stop now. We need a change in leadership, which is why SDUC is proudly endorsing champions for the community like Richard Bailey for District 2.Our seniors deserve to age with dignity, safety, and financial peace of mind. Come out, show your support, and help us hold these shady developers and silent politicians accountable.
📅 Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026🕙 Time: 10:00 AM📍
Location: On the Mt. Etna Property (5257 Mount Etna Dr, San Diego, CA 92117)
BRING YOUR SIGNS AND VOICES!!!!!!
Seniors: Go to the San Diego United Communities (SDUC) website right now and sign in under the Senior Council tab. Power is in the numbers!
Press conference at balboa park to repeal the fees 01/24/26
Emerald Hills & Encanto press conference rally 01/10/26
Ocean Beach is following our tagline
latest updates
SAN DIEGO UNITED COMMUNITIES IS CALLING ALL NEIGHBORHOODS TO SHOW UP AGAIN TO SEND SAN DIEGO CITY LEADERSHIP A MESSAGE.
Greetings Neighbors.
Hope you are all enjoying the New Year.
Hope this email will help clarify and shed some light as to why showing up to a press conference for another neighborhood in San Diego in 2026 is more than just a nice gesture; it is a strategic move that strengthens the entire city’s advocacy landscape. In a city where land use, housing, and infrastructure decisions are often made at the citywide level, neighborhood isolation can be a weakness. 2026 is our election year so it is crucial and imperative that we hit up every neighborhood bringing awareness regarding all of our issues which includes the ridiculous policies that don’t make sense for our Coastal City.
Here is why your presence matters this upcoming Saturday January 10, 2026, at 10am for our 2nd San Diego United Communities Press Conference.
Address: 5643 Bethune Court, San Diego, CA 92114
1. Strength in Numbers (The "Visual" Impact)
Press conferences are designed for the media and for City Hall. A small group of five people from one street can be easily dismissed as "NIMBYs" or a local grievance. However, when 50+ people from Point Loma, Barrio Logan, North Park, and Mira Mesa all stand together, for Encanto and Emerald Hills this weekend it signals to the Mayor and City Council that the issue has broad political consequences. It transforms a "neighborhood issue" into a "voter issue."
2. Breaking the "Silo" Effect
The City of San Diego often handles issues neighborhood by neighborhood (through Community Plan Updates or specific project permits). By supporting another area, you prevent the city from using a "divide and conquer" strategy.
- Shared Precedents: If a controversial policy or "reckless development" is approved in Preserve Greater Golden Hill, it sets a legal and administrative precedent that can be used later in your neighborhood. Donating to their appeal legal process will help us all in the long run.
- Coalition Building: Groups like San Diego United Communities have shown that when neighborhoods join forces, they can pool resources for legal fees, expert speakers, and media outreach.
3. Mutual Reciprocity
Advocacy is exhausting. When you show up for a neighborhood like Barrio Logan or Mission Hills today, you are "depositing" into a bank of goodwill. When your neighborhood faces a crisis—whether it’s a park closure, a high-density project without infrastructure, or a safety concern, those residents are much more likely to drive across town to stand behind you at your press conference.
4. Influencing Media Narratives
Journalists look for a "hook." A story about one neighborhood complaining is routine; a story about citywide solidarity is a headline.
"Neighborhoods across San Diego unite to demand better infrastructure" is a much more powerful narrative than "Residents in Clairemont upset about new bike lane."
5. Increasing Accountability
Elected officials are sensitive to optics. Seeing representatives from multiple Council Districts at one event reminds them that the community is watching—and communicating—with each other. It makes it harder for a Councilmember to say "my hands are tied" when they see a unified front of educated constituents from all over the city.
It is crucial that everyone start showing up to our press conference events folks. The power is in bodies present at these events whether its your neighborhood or not especially wearing your community shirts.
Our next lineup for press conferences will be for the following neighborhoods:
· Jamacha Rd.
· College Area
· Pacific Beach
· La Jolla
If you are interested in having San Diego United Communities, come speak at one of your meetings, please reach out. We have a large collection of contacts, along with a strong social media presence and can also help organize a rally in your community. We have been gathering emails, phone numbers and bridged the gap amongst communities fighting over the same bogus policies. We are all officially in this fight together at this point.
Our group is not only going to focus on responsible development, but we will also tackle other San Diego Tax paying issues coming our way and will be holding a press conference to support Repealing the Parking Fees later in January at Balboa Park. Save the tentative date of 01/24/26 at 10am for the Rally. Exact location in Balboa Park will be sent soon.
Many more events are coming down the pipeline; all we ask is to share and help us spread awareness but most importantly help us build this movement and show up to our events before elections. Help us Reform our San Diego Government.
Thank you!
San Diego United Communities
COMMUNITY RALLY on 12/16/25 was a huge success!
San Diego United Communities is rallied the troops to ask San Diegans to please show up in massive forces in your neighborhood shirts and signs or wear color blue to this event.
December 15 2025
1pm
202 C Street 12th Floor
Many people showed up, sending a stronger message to San Diego Leadership.
Many in attendance did not live in this neighborhood but were part of this massive movement. It will eventually come to your neighborhood soon.
Enough is Enough!
Bogus policies need to be stopped by San Diego Citizens.
United as One!
Spread the word
Help us raise awareness about San Diego United Communities and the work we do. Share our website, social media pages, and information about our events and programs with your family, friends, and colleagues. Most importantly attend these events, we must show the power in numbers.
REPEAL THE FEES
WHY REPEAL THE TRASH FEE...
Voters approved a 2022 measure based on misleading estimates of $23-29/month, but now face new trash fees of $43.60/month and rising to $55 - the highest in the county. San Diego should contract with private trash haulers like every other city in the county to save the City and taxpayers.
THE STORY OF PAID PARKING
WHY PARKING FEES SHOULD BE REPEALED...
New paid parking at Balboa Park. New paid parking at the Zoo. Increased parking at meters throughout San Diego. "Surge" pricing to $10/HR in the Gaslamp. Paid parking on Sundays. Attempts for new paid parking at beaches...when will it end?
The City estimates these new parking rates will generate nearly $30M annually in new revenue.
These increases aren't primarily about encouraging transit use or improving parking turnover; if that were the goal, the city would have raised rates years ago.
This is fundamentally about addressing a staggering $250 million budget deficit, driven by years of overspending, excessive staffing, and financial mismanagement, all passed onto workers, visitors, and residents through higher everyday costs.
Paid parking is not meant to be a city profit-center. At most, the public purpose of paid parking is to recover the nominal cost of parking stall maintenance and generate turnover to create better access to desirable public spaces.
But these news fees are bailing out the city's poor spending and management decisions while making access to the best part of San Diego more expensive for everyone.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRH3oG0Eeif/
CLICK AND SIGN TO REPEAL THE FEES TODAY
"Testimonies"
Eric Law
In our struggle, I cite Benjamin Franklin often: "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately."
Margaret Virissimo
Fighting against the destruction of a city is important for preserving human life, cultural heritage, economic stability, and environmental health. The reasons span humanitarian, social, and practical concerns.
Jane Rodrigues
Grass Root Efforts seems to be the only way to be heard in San Diego. I hope this group can get through and mke a huge difference with some wins.
mark inglewood
The destruction of one's home and neighborhood causes significant psychological trauma and disrupts social networks. Restoring the original environment can help minimize this trauma.
james kennedy
Grassroots efforts can succeed against city governments primarily because they derive immense power and credibility from authentic community engagement and a deep, localized understanding of the issues. This focus on the "lived experience" of everyday people creates pressure that elected officials, who are accountable to voters, find difficult to ignore
albert jones
I am so thankful for this group, uniting San Diego neighborhoods through one platform.