We’ve spent a lot of time writing about the group of tax increases voters in San Diego may have to consider in November. Each group has big dreams for those dollars.
But now, there’s something else you need to know.
There are several statewide propositions that could directly affect all the planned San Diego tax hikes and even some voters passed a while ago.
The Politics Report: Our Scott Lewis gets into the statewide propositions. He writes that the implications are enormous: “One statewide proposition could severely limit local tax increases. Another would make them easier to pass. Once would retroactively rescind tax increases governments have collected for years, while another would make it harder to ever try to make it harder to raise taxes.”
Lewis provides a refresher on what needs to happen now to pass taxes and how some of these propositions would change everything. Read the Politics Report here.
More Time to Clean Beaches
San Diego creeks and beaches have long suffered from bacterial contamination that often makes them unsafe to use. A recent decision gives cities four more years to clean them up.
On Wednesday the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board extended the cleanup deadline until 2028. Local officials say the extra time will help them make final improvements to stormwater systems. Environmental groups argue that it’s another delay tactic that leaves pollution unchecked.
“When you see a sign that says beach closure, or an advisory to stay out of the water, that’s not going to change,” said Livia Beaudin, an attorney with Coast Law Group.
In other Sacramento news, the state is launching a pilot program to reunite communities divided by freeways, which would connect neighborhoods in San Diego and National City.
In its short, sad life, a young mountain lion captured public attention when it wandered through downtown Oceanside. The big cats are proposed for state endangered listing, so more on that soon.
And primary results for San Diego’s 75th Assembly District took a recent turn that could leave two Republicans batting for the seat in November.
Read the Sacramento Report here.
VOSD Podcast: Subsidies for Developers and Government Confusion
Last week on the podcast we experimented with a new feature called, “I can explain that!”
In the first — and maybe last? Who knows we will see — edition host Scott Lewis takes a crack at explaining — brace yourself — Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts.
In this case, the district is a tax mechanism that would actually represent a massive incentive for the developers, who are set to take on the Sports Arena redevelopment project. Lewis takes a barrage of questions from his co-hosts about how it all works and why we should care.
The podcast crew also interviewed senior investigative reporter Will Huntsberry about a story he broke last week. Normally, in the wake of a disaster, local governments set up an assistance center, where survivors can come to get connected with lots of different resources. But after the Jan. 22 floods, it took officials 12 days to set up their own center. That’s because county and city officials were arguing back and forth about whose job it was.
Check out the podcast here or on whatever platform you listen.
Another Month of Sobering Newly Homeless Numbers
For the 23rd month in a row, the number of people becoming homeless in San Diego County outpaced the number moving into homes.
The Regional Task Force on Homelessness reported late last week that 1,195 people accessed homeless services for the first time in February and 1,041 exited homelessness.
It’s yet another reminder: Local efforts to combat homelessness aren’t keeping up with the flood of people losing their homes.
In Other News
- San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria announced that the city issued more housing permits last year than it has in years. Axios San Diego looked at how those number to compare to how much housing San Diego needs. Read more here.
- The Union-Tribune reports that groups in opposition of a homeless shelter near the airport — the site is known as H Barracks — are laying the groundwork to fight the proposal in court.
- California is not even close to meeting its climate change mandates. (CalMatters)
- The January storms caused litter and debris to build up in the Tijuana River Watershed so volunteers spent this weekend collecting hundreds of pounds of trash. (CBS 8)
- Curious about the odd lights in the sky? Here’s the parachute team responsible and what you need to know. (NBC 7)