Aria is the Policy Manager at Circulate Planning & Policy. Prior to working at Circulate, Aria spent three years working as a legislative staffer in the United States Senate. She primarily worked on transportation and appropriations policy. Aria graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2022 with a double major in Global Studies and Finance. She also minored in Chinese Language and Culture.
During her free time, you can find her hiking, going to the beach, exploring new neighborhoods, and crocheting.
Aria Grossman's activity stream
-
Policy Letter: Speed Management Plan Implementation
Circulate and members of the Vision Zero Coalition sent a letter to Chair Whitburn and members of the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee expressing support for the City's Draft Speed Management Plan. The letter urges the City to adopt a formal policy prioritizing implementation in school zones to ensure that kids walking to school benefit from this plan as soon as possible. Adoption and funding of this policy must be made a priority, children's lives depend on it.
-
Aria Grossman published Preservation and Progress Package A in Policy Letters 2026-01-13 11:03:37 -0800
Policy Letter: Preservation and Progress Package A
Policy Letter: Preservation and Progress Package A
Circulate sent a letter to Chair Lee and members of the Land Use and Housing Committee expressing support for Preservation and Progress Package A. Historic preservation regulations serve an important function, but too often create an unintended barrier to the development of new homes. This package is a critical first step in reforming the City's Heritage Preservation Program to reduce barriers to new homes in San Diego.
-
Aria Grossman published Policy Letter: Community Parking District Revenue Priorities in Policy Letters 2026-01-09 09:57:23 -0800
Policy Letter: Community Parking District Revenue Priorities
Policy Letter: Community Parking District Revenue Priorities
Circulate led the Vision Zero Coalition in sending Mayor Gloria a letter urging the City to use Community Parking District (CPD) revenues to make San Diego safer for pedestrians and cyclists. If the City continues to prioritize making space for people to store their cars, the revenue ought to go towards preventing death and injury from them.
-
Aria Grossman published Policy Letter: Housing for the 21st Century Act in Policy Letters 2025-12-16 09:31:01 -0800
Policy Letter: Housing for the 21st Century Act
Policy Letter: Housing for the 21st Century Act
Circulate joined a coalition of 35 organizations nationwide in sending the House Financial Services Committee a letter in support of advancing the Housing for the 21st Century Act.
-
Aria Grossman published Policy Letter: Comments on SANDAG's 2025 Regional Transportation Plan in Policy Letters 2025-12-10 15:03:16 -0800
Policy Letter: Comments on SANDAG's 2025 Regional Transportation Plan
Policy Letter: Comments on SANDAG's 2025 Regional Transportation Plan
Circulate San Diego sent a letter commenting on the San Diego Association of Government's (SANDAG) Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Overall, the 2025 plan represents a more realistic projection of revenues and expenditures when compared to previous plans. Circulate applauds this development and improvements to near-term transit frequency, and encourages SANDAG to continue progress in these areas in future plans.
-
Aria Grossman published San Diego Unified School District Redevelopment Efforts in Policy Letters 2025-12-08 17:02:00 -0800
San Diego Unified School District Redevelopment Efforts
POLICY LETTER: SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (SDUSD) REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS
Circulate San Diego led a coalition letter urging the School Board to prioritize maximizing the number of units built as it makes redevelopment decisions. SDUSD has a unique opportunity to support its employees and the broader community by enabling the development of a dense, transit-connected community. The School Board ought to take all measures possible to maximize the public benefit of this opportunity.
-
Aria Grossman published Policy Letter: Automatic License Plate Readers in Policy Letters 2025-12-08 16:52:22 -0800
Policy Letter: Automatic License Plate Readers
POLICY LETTER: AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS
Circulate San Diego sent a letter in support of the City's use of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPR). Enforcement is a critical part of traffic safety. ALPRs are an important enforcement tool at the City's disposal that should continue to be employed to make our streets safer.
-
Aria Grossman published Policy Letter: Clairemont Community Plan Update in Policy Letters 2025-11-21 12:06:49 -0800
Policy Letter: Clairemont Community Plan Update
Policy Letter: Clairemont Community Plan Update
Circulate San Diego sent a letter in support of the Clairemont Community Plan Update. The proposed plan would increase density near commercial and transit-connected areas, more than doubling allowable building heights in critical zones.
-
Aria Grossman published College Area Community Plan Update Letter of Support in Policy Letters 2025-11-21 11:45:32 -0800
Policy Letter: College Area Community Plan Update
Policy Letter: College Area Community Plan Update
Circulate San Diego submitted a letter in support of the proposed College Area Community Plan update. The update would provide for new higher-density housing near transit, integrate pedestrian and cyclist facilities, and enable transit priority features.
-
Aria Grossman published PRESS RELEASE: Victims of Traffic Violence, Advocates Honored Lives Lost to Traffic Crashes in Press Room 2025-11-16 13:13:49 -0800
PRESS RELEASE: Victims of Traffic Violence, Advocates Honored Lives Lost to Traffic Crashes
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aria Grossman, (619) 736-0072, [email protected]Victims of Traffic Violence, Advocates Honored Lives Lost to Traffic Crashes
San Diego, November 16, 2025— Elected officials, Families for Safe Streets San Diego, and Circulate San Diego gathered today to observe World Day of Remembrance and honor lives lost to traffic crashes. They were joined by community members who dispersed across the San Diego region to place memorial signs at crash sites in honor of the 538 victims who died in traffic crashes in the past two years.
Speakers honored family, friends, and neighbors who were tragically killed in traffic crashes and called on elected officials to support policies and funding to prevent future road deaths.
“As a cofounder of Families for Safe Streets San Diego — and as someone who lost my husband in a preventable crash — I know the devastation behind every statistic,” said Laura Keenan. “Across San Diego County, 538 lives were taken in two years. In the City of San Diego alone, 146 people were killed on city streets — excluding freeway locations — and in Encinitas at least nine more. We are impacted families, and we know these were not accidents; they were failures of design and policy. We have proven tools to prevent these tragedies; what we need is the will to use them. Our leaders must invest in safety proactively, not only after tragedy strikes, so no more families are forced to endure this pain.”
“We must remember that many of the deaths we commemorate today were preventable,” said Aria Grossman, Policy Manager at Circulate San Diego. “We know what must be done to prevent future tragedies, and it’s time the City actually make these infrastructure investments and policy changes. A goal of zero road deaths is not enough. It’s time to take bold action.”
Councilmembers LaCava, Whitburn, and Campillo, and District Attorney Summer Stephan attended the event in a show of support for making San Diego roads safer. Councilmembers also participated in hanging memorial signs to honor San Diegans whose lives were lost too soon.
“Today, we mourn the friends, family, and neighbors that have tragically perished on our roads. As we remember them, we must recommit ourselves to a world where no person feels unsafe simply taking a stroll or bike ride through the neighborhood,” said Councilmember Raul Campillo, San Diego City Council, District 7. “I will continue to prioritize lifesaving investments in road safety across our city in order to achieve that goal.”
"I'm honored to stand with the families of loved ones lost to traffic violence and our partners at Families for Safe Streets and Circulate San Diego in renewing our commitment to safer streets, said Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, San Diego City Council, District 3. “In District 3 and across our city, my office remains determined to work hand-in-hand with advocacy groups, community members and law enforcement to stop pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle tragedies before they happen."
“Today we honor those whose lives were cut short by preventable collisions and stand with the families who continue to carry unimaginable loss,” said District Attorney, Summer Stephan. “As District Attorney, I see firsthand the devastating impact of impaired, distracted, and reckless driving. Accountability is essential, but our deeper mission is prevention — ensuring that no family has to endure another empty seat at the table. I’m grateful for the dedicated advocacy of Families for Safe Streets San Diego, whose courage and leadership are driving meaningful change in our community. Today is a solemn reminder that every decision behind the wheel matters, and that together — through awareness, enforcement, responsible choices, and strong community partnerships — we can save lives.”
Circulate San Diego, Families for Safe Streets San Diego, and the full Vision Zero Coalition are calling on the Mayor and City Council to support the Coalition’s 2027 budget ask to:
- Fix the Fatal 15 Intersections, where people are most at risk;
- Paint curbs red to daylight intersections and improve visibility; and
- Slow speeds near school zones, so children can arrive at school safely.
Concerned San Diegans can join the coalition’s call to our elected officials at https://www.circulatesd.org/stop_deaths_on_our_streets.
###
-
Aria Grossman published MEDIA ADVISORY: Families for Safe Streets to Observe World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in San Diego in Press Room 2025-11-13 10:16:41 -0800
MEDIA ADVISORY: Families for Safe Streets to Observe World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in San Diego
MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aria Grossman, (619) 736-0072, [email protected]
Families for Safe Streets to Observe World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in San Diego
San Diego, November 13, 2025— Families for Safe Streets San Diego (FSSSD), Circulate San Diego, and advocacy organizations are organizing an event to observe World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on November 16, 2025, beginning at 9:30 AM.
When: Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: San Diego County Bicycle Coalition Office – 300 15th St, San Diego, CA 92101
Who:
- Joe LaCava, Council President, City of San Diego
- Stephen Whitburn, Councilmember, City of San Diego
- Raul Campillo, Councilmember, City of San Diego
- Sean Elo-Rivera, Councilmember, City of San Diego
- Summer Stephan, District Attorney, County of San Diego
- Laura Keenan, founder of Families for Safe Streets San Diego
- Members of Families for Safe Streets San Diego:
- Nancy Cavanaugh
- Katie Gordon
- Michelle Gonzalez
- Bridget and John Chalekian
What: The event will feature testimonials from family member of those who were killed in crashes in the San Diego area. Many elected officials and community leaders will attend and be available for one-on-one interviews after the event.
After the event, volunteers will disburse across the San Diego region to place memorial signs at crash sites to honor victims who died in the past two years.Representatives from the San Diego County’s District Attorney’s Victim Advocates team will be in attendance to provide support and resources to attendees who have recently lost loved ones.
Visuals: Press-conference format with family of victims sharing testimonials of traffic violence. After the event, press may accompany volunteers hanging memorial signs to honor victims at crash sites across the San Diego region, with attending elected officials.
Background:In San Diego County, 538 people were killed in traffic crashes in 2023 and 2024. World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is a worldwide day to honor these individuals along with the 1.35 million people killed around the world each year in preventable traffic crashes and call for safer streets.
Families for Safe Streets San Diego is a group of families who have lost loved ones to traffic violence while they were walking or biking.
More information is available at: https://www.circulatesd.org/2025_world_day_of_remembrance
###
-
Aria Grossman published PRESS RELEASE - Circulate Launches Online Tool for San Diegans to Demand Safer Streets in Press Room 2025-11-05 10:51:45 -0800
PRESS RELEASE - Circulate Launches Online Tool for San Diegans to Demand Safer Streets
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2025Contact: Aria Grossman
(619) 736-0072
[email protected]Circulate Launches Online Tool for San Diegans to Demand Safer Streets
San Diego, November 5, 2025 — Today, Circulate San Diego launched an online tool to help San Diegans generate an email to Mayor Todd Gloria and the San Diego City Council, demanding funding for safe streets.
Circulate, whose mission is to create excellent mobility choices and vibrant, healthy neighborhoods, is asking for the community’s help to call on our elected officials to fund road safety through our “Stop Deaths on Our Streets” campaign.
“Circulate and vision zero allies have been calling on the City to take road deaths seriously and invest in life-saving infrastructure,” said Aria Grossman, Policy Manager at Circulate. “Tragically, the City has not answered this call. By maintaining the status quo, the City is choosing to allow this trend of deaths to continue. It is time for the City to take action and make significant investments to save lives.”
Nearly 50 pedestrians and cyclists are killed on City of San Diego streets each year. The City has pledged to end traffic deaths, but these numbers are not budging. In just one week in late October, 11-year-old Andrew and 6-year-old Lucas were killed in separate crashes. San Diegans should be outraged. Act now and tell your elected officials to prevent future tragedies and dedicate funding to Stop Deaths on Our Streets.
Enough is enough. Circulate is inviting San Diegans who are horrified by these recent deaths of local children to make their voices heard. With Circulate’s online tool, San Diegans can write to their leaders directly. The tool and more information about the campaign are available at https://www.circulatesd.org/stop_deaths_on_our_streets.
###
-
Aria Grossman published Action Alert: Stop Deaths on Our Streets in Blog Posts 2025-11-03 17:40:33 -0800
Action Alert: Stop Deaths on Our Streets
Nearly 50 pedestrians and cyclists are killed on San Diego streets each year. The City has pledged to end traffic deaths, but these numbers are not budging. In just one week in late October, two children were killed in separate crashes. By maintaining the status quo, the City is choosing to allow this trend to continue. It is time for the City to take bold action and make significant investments in safety infrastructure.
The Vision Zero Coalition has called on our elected officials to take action and fund road safety to stop deaths on our streets. The City has not answered this call. This year, the Coalition is again asking the City to:
- Fix the Fatal 15 Intersections, where people are most at risk;
- Paint curbs red to daylight intersections and improve visibility; and
- Slow speeds near school zones, so children can arrive at school safely.
Join the Vision Zero Coalition in urging Mayor Todd Gloria and the San Diego City Council to dedicate funding towards making our streets safer. When the consequence is death, inaction is not an option.
-
Aria Grossman published Policy Letter: Investing Parking District Revenue in Safety Improvements in Policy Letters 2025-10-27 13:23:45 -0700
-
Aria Grossman published Policy Letter: City’s Response to Grand Jury Development Impact Fee Report in Policy Letters 2025-10-22 14:00:02 -0700
