Good morning from Hillcrest. Lots of news today.
- Leading off, the city of San Diego has imposed a hiring freeze that as the U-T and I explain is colder than the one already in effect.
- The city not only decided to stop charging a processing fee for business taxes, but also will refund some of the money it had collected. The decision comes after the city lost a lawsuit that contended the city had illegally instituted the tax.
- The city of San Diego’s recycling rate increased, drawing praise all around in this U-T story. Our own Rob Davis says food waste is the next recycling target.
- The quest to find a temporary homeless shelter in the city became more quixotic yesterday as City Council members didn’t respond with any ideas. CityBeat also chimed in. (Update: We originally noted that CityBeat’s story quoted an assistant police chief saying Central Division cops prefer a downtown location. However, CityBeat has since corrected the story and removed that statement.)
- I report on a stinky, and potentially harmful, situation at a luxury downtown condo complex that’s now evolved into a lawsuit about sewer pipes.
- CityBeat reports on the Ethics Commission’s failed attempt to gain more teeth from the City Council.
- Watkins alert! Mayor Jerry Sanders will meet with the embattled airport authority chairman tomorrow for a chat about his failure to disclose his interest on required conflict forms and his Chargers ticket expenses.
- San Diego County decided to shed 83 positions, but none will be layoffs.
- In opinion news, our own Scott Lewis writes the city’s pension benefits are unsustainable. CityBeat says there’s a solution to the county’s marijuana problem: Legalize it.