As Mayor, Alvarez Will Appoint Director of Veterans Affairs, Promote City Hiring of Vets, and Work with Private Sector to Provide Jobs
News Wire
SAN DIEGO – San Diego mayoral candidate David Alvarez today outlined a three-point plan to provide area veterans with jobs and training. Speaking at the Workshop for Warriors in Barrio Logan, Councilman Alvarez pledged to:
- Immediately fill the Director of Veterans Affairs position in the Mayor’s Office.
- Work with the Navy and Marine Corps to place transitioning military personnel in vacant City positions.
- Form a public-private partnership with local industries to provide jobs for veterans.
- Develop better partnerships with San Diego County, veterans organizations, Congressional Offices and the Department of Veterans Affairs, improving mental health services, increasing resources to victims of domestic violence, and providing more transitional and ongoing support for veterans young and old in our region.
- Host a regular “Veterans Roundtable” in the Mayor’s office to ensure regular communication between the City and the veterans community.
“As Mayor,” Alvarez said, “I will work with the veterans community to find the best-qualified person to serve as Veterans Affairs Director, and I will get him or her the resources needed to do the job.” San Diego is one of the few cities to establish a Veterans Affairs Director position, but the job lacked focus in the last administration, and the position is now vacant.
Alvarez continued, “Our servicemembers exit the military with a vast array of skills that can be used in a wide variety of City positions, from public safety officers to civil engineers and beyond. I will work closely with the region’s Navy and Marine Corps to match these highly skilled transitioning veterans with City jobs.” In addition, Alvarez said that his administration will maintain a regular presence at military personnel facilities to inform servicemembers not only about City jobs but also about support services offered by the City and its partner agencies.
Alvarez pledged to work closely with local business leaders to utilize the skills that veterans can bring to the private sector. Alvarez said, “San Diego’s veterans have the skills and experience needed to bring new vigor to our leading industries, from biotech to tourism to manufacturing. As Mayor, I will work closely with the leaders of these industries to connect these good job opportunities with highly skilled veterans in our community.”
More information on Alvarez’s vision for San Diego can be found in his Blueprint for San Diego’s Future at www.AlvarezForMayor.com/blueprintsd.
