Community leaders, youth organizers, and advocates gathered outside San Diego City Hall on Monday with a clear message: San Diego’s budget should invest in young people, not scale back the services they rely on.
The press conference, organized by Youth Will, brought together a coalition of voices calling on Todd Gloria to reconsider proposed cuts impacting youth services, libraries, and parks – including the future of the Office of Child and Youth Success (OCYS).
Mayor Gloria’s proposed budget would significantly reduce or eliminate support for OCYS, an office originally established to ensure young people in San Diego have a voice in shaping the city’s future.
Advocates say the stakes go beyond a single department.
They point to a broader pattern of disinvestment in programs that support youth development, access to safe spaces, and opportunities for leadership — particularly in communities that already face systemic inequities.
In the days leading up to the press conference, Youth Will had already begun sounding the alarm, alongside a broad coalition of San Diego’s leading community organizations.
An op-ed published in Voice of San Diego, written by Youth Will’s Director of Programming & Organizing, Claire Snyder, laid out the stakes of the proposed budget cuts and urged city leaders to reconsider disinvesting in young people.
The conversation continued at City Hall, where local media documented the press conference and the concerns raised by advocates and youth leaders. Coverage from The San Diego Union-Tribune and FOX 5 San Diego captured the urgency of the moment and amplified calls to protect youth services, libraries, and parks.
Together, the op-ed and the voices gathered outside City Hall reflect a coordinated effort to ensure young people are not left out of San Diego’s budget priorities.
Speakers shared personal stories and urgent calls to action, grounding the policy debate in lived experience.
Tianna Fair, a former intern with OCYS, spoke about the impact the office had on her life:
“The confidence they had in me was so personal and beautiful; I will never forget it. I am proof that OCYS matters in a real human way.”
CJ Mendoza of Youth Will emphasized the power of young people to shape a better future:
“When you believe in youth power, you’ll believe in a future that’s brighter… Save OCYS. Invest in youth future now.”
Miss Layla of Giving Hands pointed directly to broader budget priorities:
“We have to look at the budget and why the police are getting $15 million. And all of these people behind me – and the young people they represent – are defunded, devalued, discriminated against and disrespected.”
Patrick Stewart, CEO of the Library Foundation, underscored the ripple effects:
“This proposed budget… directly harms youth, weakens families and widens the inequities that already exist.”
The mayor’s budget proposal is still under consideration, leaving room for revisions through collaboration with community members and City Council and, critically, San Diego’s youth.
For the many organizations, advocates, and young people involved, the work continues beyond a single press conference. This moment reflects a broader, collective effort to protect critical resources, expand opportunity and ensure that youth voices are not only heard, but meaningfully included in decisions that shape their future.
As the city moves forward in this budget process, the message from City Hall on April 20 was clear: San Diego’s future depends on how it shows up for its youth today.
