With the new fiscal year on the horizon, San Diego City Councilmembers are taking a step back from any plans to charge residents more for things after months of demoralizing public backlash.
Councilmember Henry Foster told us that while the City Council will focus on cuts, he wants it to be done equitably. He disagreed, though, that there isn’t an appetite for finding new revenue.
“From my observation it’s really more so to do with the lack of confidence in the mayor’s ability to execute,” said Foster in an interview with Voice of San Diego.
The San Diego City Council will hold the first of several public meetings on the budget at 6 p.m. tonight at City Hall.
Politics Report: Former Coronado Mayor Leaves GOP, Runs for City Council
The Politics Report was full of tidbits this weekend.
Second-home tax is back: The Council may be over trying to raise money to handle its budget deficit but Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera is not. He is bringing back his tax on second homes. This time, though, it will not apply to vacation rentals. We have more on how it would work.
Bailey leaves GOP: Former Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey became the latest prominent politician to leave the Republican Party. He registered as a no-party-preference voter in his new address in Point Loma last week right before he announced his campaign for San Diego City Council. We have a short Q&A with him.
And we have more details on the plan Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer’s is helping cook up to overhaul county governance.
Members can read the Politics Report here.
Sacramento Report: Lawmakers Want to Make It Easier to Build More Stuff
San Diego lawmakers are taking big swings at legislation that will make it easier to build more buildings.
Our Nadia Lathan reports that San Diego has become California’s leader in building more homes as local builders leverage a state law that allows them to build bigger – and higher – if they include affordable housing units.
Assemblymember David Alvarez wants to push for more results from that law, known as the density bonus law.
But the law has some critics. Some coastal residents complain it allows luxury project developers to override restrictions and isn’t creating enough affordable housing.
Read the Sacramento Report here.
Behind Voice: Public Funds and Plastic Surgery
Our managing editor chatted with reporter Lisa Halverstadt about her latest story on a former county contractor who allegedly stole thousands of public dollars to pay for plastic surgery and other personal bills.
Editor Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña pointed out that we don’t normally cover crime stories. So, why was this one important to tell?
Halverstadt said this story “raises big questions about the county’s oversight of the many nonprofits that deliver services on its behalf.”
Read more in the latest Cup of Chisme.
VOSD Podcast: The Slopulists at Home
On the latest episode, our hosts unpack a new term: “slopulism.” It’s something the New York Times used to describe YouTubers and influencers’ political posts.
Also on the show: More on Halverstadt’s story on the woman who was charged with stealing public funds and Bailey’s run for City Council.
Listen to the VOSD Podcast here.
In Other News
- San Diego will soon lower speed limits for about one-fifth of city streets. It’s the latest action to come from the city’s newly released speed management plan that calls for cars to slow down near schools, business districts, and some dangerous intersections. (Union-Tribune)
- Starting next year more than 200,000 San Diego residents will need to meet new statewide wildfire safety standards. The perimeter known as “Zone Zero” will require homeowners in “very high” fire hazard severity zones to enforce an ember-resistant area five feet from structures. (Times of San Diego)
- North County Transit District is taking a huge revenue hit because of increasing fare evasion. An investigation by KPBS reveals since 2023 about a third of Coast riders and more than half of Sprinter riders were fare evaders. (KPBS)
- “Concerned about conditions inside, two elected San Diego County supervisors set out to inspect the Otay Mesa Detention Center on Friday but were denied access. A county health inspector was allowed to see the kitchen and medical bays but not medical records or policies. No one from the county was allowed to talk to any of the detainees.” (Story from inewsource)
The Morning Report was written by Mariana Martínez Barba and Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña.