Category: Economy

Time for bullied San Diegans to fight back, only starting with trash fee

Editorial Board / San Diego Union-Tribune / April 17, 2025

San Diegans already disillusioned with City Hall have new reasons for angst. In a bizarre story that raised eyebrows around the world, the Union-Tribune revealed Sunday that newly elected City Attorney Heather Ferbert has allowed a top aide to receive pay and accrue vacation benefits while on a four-month global cruise.

Ferbert’s reputation may be permanently damaged by her obliviousness to the message this sends during the city’s latest budget crisis — and by her refusal to take basic follow-up questions about the immense favor she granted to attorney Jean Jordan on top of her nearly $300,000 in annual compensation. “There’s nothing else to add,” Ferbert’s spokesperson said in an email to a reporter, only adding to the amateur hour vibe of the matter. Of course there is. Let the public record requests begin. Let’s see how much work Jordan is actually doing while at sea.

By Linda Taggart

Subject: Urgent Concerns Regarding Proposed Cuts to San Diego Humane Society Funding

Dear Mayor Gloria,

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the proposed 20% cut ($3.5 million) in the City of San Diego’s contract with the San Diego Humane Society, as outlined in the draft budget.

I understand you have publicly stated there would be “no cuts to public safety,” but I, along with many others, respectfully disagree. Humane Law Enforcement is a critical component of public safety, for both animals and people.

These proposed cuts would have devastating consequences for the residents and animals of San Diego. The San Diego Humane Society provides essential services that directly impact the safety and well-being of our community. Specifically, these cuts would eliminate the following:

By David Garrick / San Diego U-T / April 6, 2025

A sweeping proposal to revamp many San Diego parking rules — including plans to end free street parking on Sundays and install meters in Balboa Park — is facing backlash from residents, merchant groups and nonprofits. With the proposal headed for a City Council vote in late May, officials are making some concessions such as a plan to allow $9-per-year residential permits in any neighborhood where Sunday metered parking will no longer be free.

But the city is holding firm on other proposed changes that face opposition, including plans to dramatically shrink the share of meter revenue that nonprofit community parking districts get to keep for neighborhood projects.

The parking districts would also be required to diversify their governing boards, which are now dominated by merchants and don’t often include residents, community-based organizations or advocacy groups.

Editordude: The following “Reader Rant” is in response to a series of comments by Shelly OB who accused members of the new Community Coalition of being out-of-touch old people.

By Trudy Grundland

Shelly, it’s obvious that you are a woman who likes facts. I do too.

California legislators write the housing laws that allow developers to build, and the state of California gives cities new housing quotas every 8 years, divided into 4 income categories: above affordable income, affordable/moderate, low, very low income.

Cities must give permits to developers in order to reach their quota, or get fined by the state. Repeat: Cities must give permits. Developers DON’T have to build.

Cities give incentives to make it less expensive and easier for developers to build bigger = more units = meet quota. The state gave the City of San Diego a quota of 40% for above affordable = >$3K/month rent. That’s ridiculous because we have more than enough expensive housing. I’m sure you will agree.

The current 8 year cycle is April 2021-April 2029. The city is 50% through this state-mandated timeframe to meet its housing quotas. It has reached 173% of quota for above affordable income units, it is below 50% on the other 3 income levels.

From UC Peeps

The official proposed monthly trash collection fees are out and, while they are down slightly from the initial $53/month, they are still higher that other cities in the county.

City officials have said they will mail out protest cards beginning the week of April 21st to each of the estimated 233,000 households that would pay the new trash tax. 

By Lisa Mortensen

On Tuesday, April 15th, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria will present his budget report to the city council.  It will be interesting to learn if he is going to address the needed staffing cuts with a shredder or electric buffer at the podium. It’s obvious Todd needs to perform major surgery on the bloated city staffing but we realize he isn’t capable of plugging in the needed power tools.

We all know Todd is very adept at political speak but we must read between the lines and connect the dots

As usual the folks at Peninsula News are on top of what’s happening at the bay front. Here’s the latest …. (For any links in their article, please see the original.)

David Garrick at the U-T announced this morning that the City of San Diego is knocking 10% off its proposed trash fee as a response to all the push back from residents. But is that enough to placate angry residents?

Garrick:

The revised proposal announced Wednesday suggests a monthly rate of $47.59 for full-service customers — more than $5 less than the initial proposal of $53 per month that the city announced in February.

The fee would still rise in coming years when the city adds new services like bulky trash pickup. But instead of rising to $65 in July 2027, the fee would rise to $59.42 at that time.

By Bruce Coons / SOHO March-April 2025

San Diego’s shift away from downtown as the focal point for high-density development and investment is deeply misguided. Downtown San Diego is uniquely suited to support high-density housing and mixed-use projects, thanks to its existing infrastructure, central location, and vibrant cultural and economic hubs, like the main library, the Ballpark District, and the Gaslamp Quarter District. Additionally, it holds a wealth of historic buildings that, through adaptive reuse, could play a key role in revitalizing the urban core while maintaining San Diego’s unique identity.

Instead, we’re seeing millions of square feet of prime real estate downtown go underutilized. These spaces could and should be transformed into a thriving, dynamic blend of housing, diverse businesses, restaurants, schools, and museums and other cultural institutions. These buildings could and should be transformed into a thriving urban core, including a dynamic blend of high-end and affordable housing. Such development would complement the area’s popular existing assets while driving economic growth and funding civic improvements, like a much-needed new city hall.

Moreover, the disastrous wildfires in Los Angeles highlight a critical issue: how we plan and build in areas prone to natural disasters. Downtown San Diego, with its dense urban core, paved streets, and minimal vegetation, is naturally more defensible against wildfires compared to neighborhoods like Hillcrest, North Park, and South Park, which are built along canyons and natural brush zones. Prioritizing high-density development downtown would not only take advantage of this safer environment, but, crucially, also reduce the number of lives and structures at risk in fire-prone areas.

Around 4,000 new apartments are set to open throughout San Diego County this year, 2025, coming near or matching totals of the past few years. But many of the new complexes will be charging well above the average, with some hitting $3,000 a month.

So, they’re not really a solution to the affordable housing crisis.

A few weeks ago, the U-T ran this story and reported:

The largest complex will be in Convoy District, the 531-unit Alexan Camellia, expected to open late this year. Rents are not set yet but, like most new projects this year, prospective tenants might experience sticker shock.

“(Developers) need to charge high rents because of the high cost of construction,” said Nathan Moeder, principal with real estate analysts London Moeder Advisors.

By Ed Baier /The Beachcam

The US Border Patrol has been working, patrolling, and observing in the 92106 – 92107 zip code areas for the past week. What’s going on? Why have they set up shop in these particular areas of San Diego County?

Is there a new Border Patrol Sector that we the public don’t know about?

By Kate Callen

A funny thing happened on the way to a March 27 conclave about accessory dwelling units (ADUs) featuring Mayor Todd Gloria and building industry VIPs.

It turned out there were two different ADU workshops in Mission Valley that night. I attended one of them. When I walked in and saw no mayor and no VIPs, I figured I was at the wrong event.

In fact, I had come to the right place.

The Gloria event would have trumpeted his ADU “reform” efforts to soothe public fury over massive projects by predatory developers. (One reform involves developer fees that would be “opt-in” or voluntary. Cool idea, Mr. Mayor! Let’s have “opt-in” trash fees!)

The other event took me back to the original “granny flat” concept where modest structures built by and for families create multi-generational housing with financial stability.