City Heights Parents and Advocates Demand Action on Vision Zero

City Heights CDC’s Community Development team joined parents, advocates, and local leaders at a press conference calling on the City of San Diego to uphold its commitment to Vision Zero, the city-wide goal of eliminating traffic deaths by the end of this year.

According to the Vision Zero framework, the City of San Diego holds both the authority and responsibility to allocate resources, funding, planning, and personnel to ensure pedestrian safety through infrastructure improvements. We are halfway through the year and data continues to highlight several high-risk corridors in San Diego where traffic violence and near-fatal incidents are disproportionately concentrated.

One such location is the stretch near Rosa Parks Elementary, specifically at 45th Street and Landis Street. This intersection is in a densely populated area surrounded by a park, recreation center, shopping plaza, and residential homes. Parents from Rosa Parks have consistently raised concerns about the dangers at this intersection, especially during school drop-off and pick-up hours.

In the absence of adequate infrastructure, such as Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), parents formed informal “parent patrols,” placing cones and manually directing traffic to protect their children. While admirable, these efforts reflect a deeper issue: families should not be forced to serve as frontline traffic regulators in place of systemic action. Due to the growing threat of ICE raids and fears of family separation, many parents have since stepped back from volunteering. As the upcoming school year approaches, there is no plan for these patrols to resume, underscoring concerns about the sustainability and equity of these volunteer-driven solutions.

Currently, the City relies on a reactive system that often requires a minimum number of accidents to trigger infrastructure improvements. This approach is dangerous, particularly in school zones where the consequences of inaction can be devastating. We must take immediate action to protect City Heights families and students. By installing RRFBs at 45th and Landis, a practical, proven, and community-supported solution that aligns with the City’s own Vision Zero goals, we can save a life.

We don’t need a death to act. We need the City to listen.