City Code prohibits construction on 3rd Monday in January; See What Is Closed and Open today, Jan. 19
By Susan Narucki
First off, I want to thank you all for the great work that the OB Rag does for our community. I am a faithful reader and I appreciate the reporting that Paul Krueger, Kate Callen, and many others do to keep us informed and hold our elected officials accountable.
I write to you on January 19, 2026, a federal holiday in which we celebrate the life and accomplishments of Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We live on Normal Street, directly across from the Normal Street Promenade project.
Since 7:00 a.m., I have been listening to the sound of construction on the city of San Diego’s Normal Street Promenade, across the street from my home. The sound of heavy equipment and jackhammers is ongoing.
According to the San Diego municipal code, construction is prohibited on the 3rd Monday of January. I spoke to the representatives from Griffith Construction, and they said that they were “allowed” to work on this day because the city gave them permission.
Here’s what I, a citizen, would like to know: why does the city of San Diego think that this is acceptable? We have four ongoing construction projects within three blocks of our home – and even those not city run all seem to be working today.
Apparently, according to the city of San Diego, San Diego and our city code enforcers, there is no need to enforce the law to honor one of the greatest civil rights leaders that America has ever seen.
I don’t know if there is anything to do with this information, but if there is, please feel free to contact me. I have a video of the jackhammers on my phone.
Thanks for your time and the great work that you do!
Sincerely,
Susan Narucki
Susan Narucki is a Distinguished Professor of Music in the Department of Music, UC San Diego
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Here’s an official email notice from the City of San Diego
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday Schedule for City of San Diego Offices and Services
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY, JAN. 19
SAN DIEGO – On Monday, Jan. 19, City of San Diego administrative offices and other services will be closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. The following is a guide to which services are?impacted?by the holiday closure and those still?operating?on a normal schedule.
WHAT’S CLOSED (IMPACTED BY HOLIDAY CLOSURES):
· All City of San Diego administrative offices.
· All City libraries will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19, and will reopen at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20.
· Container Sales (trash, recycling and organic waste bins) will be closed.
· City swimming pools and recreation centers.
· Public buildings in Balboa Park, including the Municipal Gym, Morley Field, Botanical Building and Balboa Park Activity Center.
o Check with individual museums and other park attractions for their holiday schedules.
· Barrett, Hodges, Lower Otay, Sutherland and Upper Otay reservoirs.
o El Capitan, Miramar, Murray and San Vicente reservoirs will be open during regular operating hours.
· Parks and Recreation Department Open Space, Permit Center and Maintenance Assessment District offices.
· Tecolote Nature Center.
· The Development Services Department office will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19.
o Online services will still be available, including applying for permits, scheduling inspections, making payments or requesting Building and Land Use Enforcement investigations.
o Check online permit processing timelines for intake, review and permit issuance.
· The Personnel Department’s Testing and Background/Fingerprinting offices.
· The Office of the City Clerk will be closed. Passport services?will not be available for customers served by the Office of the City Clerk on Monday, Jan. 19.
· Your Safe Place – A Family Justice Center.
o Anyone experiencing immediate danger or a medical emergency should dial 9-1-1.
o Additional information can be found on the San Diego Police Department’s domestic violence webpage.
· There will be no street sweeping on Monday, Jan. 19.
WHAT’S OPEN (NORMAL OPERATING SCHEDULE):?
· Curbside trash, recyclables and organic waste will be collected as scheduled for customers served by the City’s Environmental Services Department.
o Residents with private hauler collection services should check with their provider for holiday service schedules.
· Delivery of new gray trash bins will continue as scheduled.
· Miramar Landfill, Greenery, Recycling Center and Mattress Collection Site will be open (note that Container Sales – of trash, recycling and organic waste bins – will be closed).
· The Environmental Services Department customer services phone lines will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
· El Capitan, Miramar, Murray and San Vicente reservoirs.
o All?other City reservoirs? will be closed.
· Chollas Lake, weather permitting.
· Mission Trails Regional Park and Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center.
· Tecolote Canyon Natural Park.
· City golf courses (holiday rates apply).
· City skate parks and plazas, and the Pacific Highlands Ranch Pump Track at 5977 Village Center Loop Road.
· Dog off-leash areas.
· San Diego Police and San Diego Fire-Rescue emergency crews.
PARKING IMPACTS?
Parking meters, street parking time restrictions, yellow zones, short-term green zones and one-to-two-hour time parking zones will not be enforced on Monday, Jan. 19. Posted street sweeping routes will also not be enforced on this date. All other parking violations will be enforced. Parking regulations on Port of San Diego properties and within other municipalities may differ. Kindly review the posted signage for clarification.
This is because the developers, who do not live in San Diego, are more important than you are. They have more money and we citizens have to make sure they keep building $3000 a month units for people who moved here from LA and Seattle. None of this solves homelessness, which is not a mental health issue, like the mayor likes to say, but economic based on overpriced rents and lack of decent paying jobs for normal people, not just the top 10% of the population, who seem to be moving here. They own the mayor. He is there for them.
Excellent analysis, Scott.
Uh, not all construction companies have MLK Day as an official holiday. In the past (and probably still), union carpenters didn’t have the holiday. The construction may not be tied to housing (as you allude) but this project as was spoken of in the article. Maybe have a discussion with Hillcrest Business Association Executive Director Ben Nicholls.
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/hillcrests-long-awaited-normal-street-promenade-project-begins/3714202/
Hello Chris,
Thank you for your message. What I am referring to is the San Diego Municipal Code, referenced below.
My understanding is that the Municipal Code exists as a protection for citizens of the city so that they can have peaceful enjoyment of their residence on a public holiday. I’ve copied it below, in case anyone is interested.
I appreciate everyone’s input and suggestions – and am grateful just to feel heard – by SOMEONE – about all of this!
Susan
Restricted Hours of Construction San Diego Municipal Code Section 59.5.0404.
Excessive construction noise is not allowed during the time described below. Hand
painting and shielded interior work that is not audible beyond the property would not
generally be considered excessive noise. Off-site noise that is associated with a specific
project such as staging of concrete trucks under residential properties prior to 7:00 AM is
considered excessive noise.
Restricted hours of construction are:
• Between the hours of 7:00 pm and 7:00 am.
• Sundays
• Holidays which are:
o January 1st
o Third Monday in January, known as “Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.’s
Birthday”
o Third Monday in February, known as “Washington’s Birthday”
o March 31st, known as “Cesar Chavez Day”;
o Last Monday in May, known as “Memorial Day”;
o July 4th;
o First Monday in September, known as “Labor Day”;
o November 11th, known as “Veteran’s Day”;
o Fourth Thursday in November, known as “Thanksgiving Day”;
o December 25th;
If January 1st, March 31st, July 4th, November 11th or December 25th falls upon a
Sunday, the Monday following is a holiday, and if they fall on a Saturday, the preceding
Friday is a holiday.
I just know the contractor would not have just gone to work by their own discretion. There was an approval somewhere, likely in the contract. Washington’s birthday and Chavez day will likely also be the same result.
I second Scott’s comment. I am having to move my private practice office for the 2nd time in 2 years because the Mayor cares more about developers more than he does our current small businesses. To add insult to injury, the City is adding a business tax to our fees this year to help them cover the costs of the same construction that’s so loud, massive and intrusive it’s forcing us out. That construction company should have to pay a fine for operating on MLK day. You can send your video to Mayor Gloria directly (mayortoddgloria@sandiego.gov) and copy his second in charge (Randy Reyes), but they will likely ignore it.
Thank you both for your comments. I’m going to follow up, but since it’s a SANDAG project, the City apparently sanctioned their work today, according to the onsite manager. That being said, he had no permit to show me; nor did they inform residents within 500 feet of their intent to work on a Federal holiday as is also part of the municipal code.
It’s appalling to me that, to the City of San Diego, today is just another Monday. It isn’t, and they should be ashamed.
And it is appalling that they are treating small businesses and community members with such disrespect. I appreciate knowing that I am not alone, but wish we could get things to change.
Note the twisted irony within the list above – we know MLK was assassinated in Memphis while there to support the sanitation workers’ strike, yet on this national holiday of remembrance to honor this fallen civil rights icon, our sanitation workers are not among the list of those given the day off to do so!
Thanks Keith for this, and happy new year, dude.