The most exciting time of the year is just around the corner: Politifest, baby!
Our annual all-day politics summit is happening on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the University of San Diego. Our journalists will moderate debates on local races and measures you’ll find on your ballot in November.
This year our theme is Elections Showdown. We will encourage our speakers to prepare presentations on their vision for San Diego, and then debate on stage. Audience members can vote on their favorite pitch.
It’s looking like we will have a lot to cover that day.
New: Chula Vista is considering putting a hotel tax hike on the ballot, our South County reporter Jim Hinch revealed in a scoop this week. The city is currently in the polling stage, but if the City Council votes to put it on the ballot, things could get interesting between officials and labor leaders.
The leader of the union pushing for a charter reform measure that would extend term limits for councilmembers and more, has already come out strong against a hotel tax. (Read Jim’s story here.)
If those two efforts make it on the ballot, the debates will be so good.
And another school bond! Education reporter Jakob McWhinney reported this week that San Diego Unified School District wants to put a construction bond measure on the November ballot.
Since 2008, school district officials have successfully convinced San Diego voters to support bonds — which residents end up paying for in the form of higher property taxes. Jakob writes that officials say the new bond won’t raise the actual tax rate.
It’s even in the name of the proposed measure: “San Diego Unified School District Repair, Student Safety, No Tax Rate Increase Measure.”
Technically the new bond won’t raise the tax rate, instead it will take the place of previous bonds. That means property owners will be paying off the debt for longer, Jakob explains in The Learning Curve.
Get your tickets to Politifest here and take advantage of the early-bird pricing.
Speaking of Hotel Taxes …
Our City Hall reporter Mariana Martínez Barba had a story this week about a San Diego hotel tax hike voters approved six years ago.
Measure C was supposed to deliver more funding for homelessness services, pay for a Convention Center expansion and road repairs. But the measure was controversial and got stuck in the courts for years.
Now, San Diego officials are free to collect and spend that money, but things have changed since voters approved the hike in 2020 and it’s not looking like we will be getting more homelessness services.
Mariana writes: “The new money … is replacing spending that had already been on the books rather than going toward new services.”
More Chisme to Start Your Week
- Nadia Lathan, our Sacramento reporter, explains how legislators are trying to boost condo development. Read the Sacramento Report here.
- The South County Democratic party has a new leader. Jim Hinch spoke to him about his vision for the group and how he plans to be a “peacemaker.” Read more here.
- Environment reporter MacKenzie Elmer is on a quest to understand why SDG&E is against plug-in solar. Here’s what’s she’s learned so far.
- Inspired by a post on Instagram about Los Angeles, we wondered what San Diego politicians had to say about local businesses. Here are the chronic Yelpers. Should we look for more reviews?