Category: Civil Rights

Assemblymember Ward Introduces Legislation to Protect Mission Bay Park and an Update on City Leases for Dana Landing and Sportsmen’s Seafood

By Donna Frye

It’s a nice change to write about something that is good, respects the public’s concerns, and protects and preserves dedicated public parkland. It’s not a usual occurrence which makes it all the more welcome.

The good news is that Assemblymember Chris Ward introduced legislation (AB 2525) on February 20, 2026 to exempt all of Mission Bay Park from the State Surplus Land Act.

Even though it has to go through various legislative committees and the governor needs to sign it to become law, I am optimistic that Mission Bay Park will be protected and preserved as the voters intended it to be. It will also eliminate any conflicts between the San Diego City Charter and the Surplus Land Act.

For those who may not be aware of why this is such good news, here is some background about how we got here.

The San Diego Community Coalition publishes this email bulletin to keep our members and the general public informed about important Council and Planning Commission hearings and other city public meetings.

Wednesday, March 11: Audit Committee, 9:00 a.m.

Agenda:

Item 2: 2026 High Risk Re-Review: Performance Audit of The Fire-Rescue Department’s Emergency Medical Response Process

Why it matters: The auditor’s report flagged several problems, chiefly “slow turnout times across all stations … crews do not leave the station to respond to an incident for about 4 minutes and 20 seconds after a medical call is received, on average.” Auditors recommend that the department “track all phases of the emergency dispatch process and evaluate and standardize dispatch times to achieve accountability.”

Wednesday, March 11: Public Safety Committee, 2:00 p.m.

Agenda: 

Item 5: Electronic Bicycle Safety Regulations Pursuant to AB 2234

Why it matters: In response to an increase in head trauma and orthopedic injuries related to e-bike use, “many involving children and teenagers,” this ordinance would seek to prevent accidents by “establishing a minimum operating age for younger riders, reinforcing helmet requirements, and clarifying passenger limitations.”

by Roberto Camacho / Times of San Diego • Palabra / March 1, 2026

In a typically cool spring morning in San Diego, muralist Daniel Angeles took a phone call that chilled his soul: His first piece of public art in the city’s Latino-centric Barrio Logan, a large mural called “Birth of the Hummingbird,” was being erased. He clicked on a live video and was horrified that his masterwork was being painted over — the vibrant colors of his mural gradually covered by mundane, muddy browns.

Angeles called the property’s owner, who, years before, had allowed him to paint the building’s street-facing wall and fence. Angeles thought of invoking the California Art Preservation Act and the federal Visual Artist Rights Act of 1990, written to help artists preserve public works. Damaging or modifying works without an artist’s consent can be unlawful. Property owners are supposed to send notice three months before demolition or repainting, giving artists time to remove, document or relocate their murals.

“I was shocked. I couldn’t do anything since I was at a music performance for my oldest daughter,” Angeles said. “She was performing when this youngster FaceTimed me as he was running toward the wall to show me a couple of guys were going over the art with rollers and dark paint. I couldn’t believe that it was going away.”

Angeles, who paints under the name Dentlok, is a celebrated muralist, tattoo artist and long-time resident of the neighborhood. He said he received no warning before his prized mural was erased.

By Tanja Kropf / Clairemont Explore / March 4, 2026

Questions about trust in City Hall, including whether residents believe their leaders are listening, dominated a March 2 Linda Vista town hall with San Diego City Council Member Raul Campillo, who represents District 7.

Campillo recently held a series of town halls in his district, in the neighborhoods of Linda Vista, Serra Mesa, Navajo, and Tierrasanta.

From the failed one-cent sales tax measure to trash fees, parking fees, bonus ADUs, fire safety laws, and e-bikes, the evening revealed a consistent theme. Residents are skeptical of San Diego’s government, a concern Campillo says he doesn’t take lightly.

Hot Button Items That Lead San Diegans to Distrust City Hall

Voters Rejected Sales Tax Increase

Campillo began the evening by reflecting on the failed one-cent sales tax ballot measure, which he had supported.

“As many of you know, in 2024, I was pushing hard for the one-cent sales tax on the ballot,” started Campillo. That measure failed.

“What that told me was San Diego voters are not ready to trust the city with more money, and so we need to listen accordingly,” he said. Campillo said that view was not widely shared by his fellow council members or by Mayor Todd Gloria.

The first District 2 candidate forum organized by the League of Women Voters San Diego is tonight, Thursday, March 5  –    5:30-7:30 PM  at the Cathy Hopper Clairemont Friendship Center, located at  4425 Bannock Ave, San Diego 92117   This Forum is also hosted by the Clairemont Town Council.

Seven candidates have confirmed their attendance, and several more may come.

From SOHO / March-April 2026 Newsletter

San Diego’s historic districts and individually designated resources are not abstract planning concepts. They are neighborhoods, cultural landscapes, and places that tell the story of our region and its people. Once protections are weakened or removed, the impacts are often permanent. That is why careful environmental review and adherence to adopted community plans are essential.

On February 24, 2026, the San Diego City Council voted to approve the so-called “Preservation and Progress Package A,” following extensive public testimony in opposition, and repeated warnings regarding the measure’s violations of law. Environmental review and preservation safeguards exist to prevent irreversible harm to historic neighborhoods. The Council chose to ignore those safeguards.

Many San Diegans left City Hall that day disheartened, not because preservation lost a political fight, but because the Council chose to advance destructive changes to our historic preservation ordinance without the environmental review and public accountability the law requires.

Citywide opposition was overwhelming. Since the City released the Preservation and Progress initiative, over 600 written comments were submitted, with roughly 12 to 1 opposed. Twenty-eight community planning groups voted no, along with 12 city wide historic organizations. The City’s own Historical Resources Board rejected it twice, in two separate votes. Preservation organizations representing thousands of residents across San Diego urged caution, transparency, and lawful process.

Yet Package A passed. Council President Joe LaCava acknowledged the breadth of public concern and voted against the measure. The remaining members present, who numbered only 5, as a third of the council was missing in action, voted in favor.

Every Saturday at 10:30 am. San Diego Climate Mobilization Coalition Meetings March 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th

Every Saturday 10 am – 12 pm Peace Vigil for Palestine

The San Diego River Park Foundation has volunteer opportunities in Ocean Beach:

Every Sunday 1:30 pm – 4 pm Otay Mesa Vigil Otay Mesa Detention Center

March 2nd Monday 4 pm San Diego Townhall on Mental Health Programs in County Jails.

March 2nd Monday  12 pm – 1 pm Interfaith Vigil For Earth Justice

March 5th Thursday 2:30 pm and 6 pm Critical Incidents: Death At the Border Film Screening

March 6th Friday 5 pm – 8 pm Active Duty Social Event by Vets for Peace

March 7th Saturday 12 pm – 2 pm Election Volunteer Fair: Preparing for 2026 Elections

March 8th Sunday 10:30 am International Women’s Day Event by Women’s March Waterfront Park

By Kate Callen

Are you happy with the way San Diego is governed? Do you think our elected officials listen attentively to you and care about your neighborhood?

If your answer is “F*** No!,” you should participate in a 60-year-old system of local democracy where your vote has real impact: Cast your ballots in next month’s Community Planning Group (CPG) elections.

Every March, San Diego’s 41 active CPGs hold elections for open board seats. Unlike elections at higher levels of government, these don’t involve negative campaigning and Big Money mailers. Candidates present their backgrounds and positions, and almost all ballots are cast in person.

It’s a miracle San Diego still has CPGs. The all-volunteer advisory boards, established in 1976 to give citizens a voice in urban planning, came under attack in 2018 for being anti-progress, anti-inclusivity, undemocratic, unscrupulous, and just too darn old.

By South OB Girl

San Diegans promoting the protection of historical resources and historical districts departed from City Hall on Tuesday disheartened and disgusted.

The vote of San Diego City Council to approve City Planning’s Preservation and Progress Package A had been a disappointment for many.  Members of the public in attendance however had not been just OBceans.  Dozens of people from throughout San Diego attended Tuesday’s meeting and organizations and individuals from throughout the city gave compelling speeches during public comment.

Only a small number of people, about 4 people, spoke in favor of approving Package A.  However, the odds were not looking in favor of the opposition from the beginning of the afternoon session and before public comment even started.

There are 9 City Council members and 3 of them were absent on Tuesday.  Marni von Wilpert, Raul Campillo, and Sean Elo-Rivera were absent.  There were whispers in the audience that they must have been absent to avoid the issue completely, as all three will be launching into fresh campaign trails.

So that left 6 votes on Tuesday. 

by Lynne Miller 

Don’t be disheartened.  We are on the path that will win, it will just take awhile, and a commitment from all of you.

The last lines of Starry Starry Nights go like this:

“They would not listen, they’re not listening still
Perhaps they never will”.

My friends inside and outside of Coastal CareTakers sent letters to the city council and submitted comments for the Feb. 24th meeting. Then they showed up, and filled the chambers, and they had a lot to say. And what they said was brilliant! Everyone did their homework, and when each person took the mic and spoke for Ocean Beach and all of San Diego, they were spot on!

The only problem — the Council had decided how they would vote before the meeting. If they had entered the chambers with an open mind, and “really listened” they would have voted to put Package A where it belongs, at the end of the crumbling OB Pier where real sharks could shred it and put it to rest!!!

The following photos were submitted by Cory Miller and taken at the Tuesday, Feb. 24 City Council hearing on OB’s historical district in City Council Chambers. Text was submitted by South OB Girl, an irregular Rag columnist.

A full half hour early, approximately 30 OBceans had already arrived. Council Chambers wasn’t open yet and we waited in the lobby. Security opened the Chambers up since so many people were waiting . Everyone began submitting their speaker slips right away. 20 people in this photo with at least 10 to a dozen people not in the photo.

Yessiree folks, step right up to the latest display of Councilmember Jen Campbell kniving her community of OB and her District 2 in the back by leading the City Council in a vote of 5 to 1 to dismember OB’s historical district.

After a hearing of not even 2 and a half hours, the Council voted on Jen Campbell’s own motion to approve the controversial Package A. Council President Joe LaCava was the only holdout.

So the vote to approve the staff report and approve Package A included Campbell, Whitburn — who seconded the motion –, Moreno and Lee.

Three councilmembers never even made it to the hearing. Campillo, von Wipert, and Elo-Rivera.