The newest fight at City Hall is a doozy. It’s about that new tax announced at Politifest. It could be up to $5,000 per bedroom for a second home or vacation rental and it’s going to be a fascinating political battle. We’ll explain

The big development at Sports Arena is once again falling apart because of the city’s inability to not trip over itself. We’ll explain why the project leaders and city officials think they can still build it. 

Plus, the city of San Diego is trying to protect people from ICE raids and stop the police from helping. We’ll examine what exactly they’re trying to do.

SHOW NOTES

BANTER 

UT - Property Tax Bills - What’s That???

Thousands of city of San Diego residents have flooded county offices over concern about increased property taxes but, in some cases, there is a simple explanation: trash.

After decades of offering trash collection for free, city of San Diego will now charge many residents for trash collection. Residents got their first-ever annual trash charge of $523.20 in property tax bills that went out in early October.

San Diego County Assessor Jordan Marks said his office, and the tax collector’s, have been inundated with in-person visits and phone calls about higher bills. He said there have been more than 2,000 inquiries over the charge, but it was hard to pinpoint an exact number because it’s been a steady stream for weeks. Residents who call the office, at 619-236-3771, get sent to an automated phone tree with the first option to ask about the trash fee.

“The city of San Diego levied and controls this trash fee on your property tax bills,” says a voice recording. “They are the only party that can answer your important questions and address your issues.”

SEGMENT 1 - Court Ruling

Morning Report: Mayor: ‘Failure I s Not an Option’ for Midway Project

Three days after the 4th District Court of Appeal once again threw out a voter-approved measure that lifted the building height limit for the Midway neighborhood, it was still not clear what it meant for the nearly $4 billion development project at the city’s Sports Arena land.  The mayor said…

Twice, in five years, the city of San Diego has put on the ballot a measure to lift the height limit in the Midway neighborhood. Twice, voters approved it. And, now twice, a Court has thrown it all out because the city didn’t fully study the measures’ impact to the environment.

SEGMENT 2 - Vacation Property Tax 

Vacation Home Tax Moves Forward

San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera’s proposal to tax vacation homes and empty second homes is moving forward.

Battle Lines Drawn on Vacation Rental Tax

Wednesday, the Rules Committee for the San Diego City Council will consider Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera’s push for a tax on empty second homes and vacation rentals.

 

Basics: 
10K homes
Half second homes. Half vacation rentals 
They can tell based on tax rolls
Won’t affect anyone renting out bedroom or normal landlords
Won’t affect ADUs on “accessories” to main property

 

SEGMENT 3

ICE (baby) Local Ordinance - Bella’s vid

KPBS - San Diego City Council passes ordinance restricting SDPD from ICE collaboration

Citing a spike in Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and arrests, the San Diego City Council unanimously gave tentative approval to an ordinance Monday intended to prevent local law enforcement from joining certain federal task forces.

The Due Process and Safety Ordinance will set "clear legal boundaries that protect residents, workers, and visitors regardless of immigration status, gender identity, disability, or healthcare decisions," according to a staff document from Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera's office.

City staff will meet with recognized employee organizations such as the San Diego Police Officers Association to ensure the SDPD will be able to effectively do its job without joining certain task forces led by the federal government.

Elo-Rivera, who sponsored the ordinance, thanked the dozens of people who spoke at the meeting and acknowledged that many in the community may not have felt safe to speak out.

"We can't promise that the federal government won't make your nightmares a reality," he said to young residents in the council chamber waiting for the vote. "I so badly wish I could make that promise to you. Every day the Trump regime makes good on its promise of cruelty, hatred and vindictiveness."

 

CREDITS

Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego.

Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor

Bella Ross, social media producer

Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer.

Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer

Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County.

Become a Member: Voice Member Benefits
Join today and receive insider access.

The newest fight at City Hall is a doozy. It&rsquo;s about that new tax announced at Politifest. It could be up to $5,000 per bedroom for a second home or vacation rental and it&rsquo;s going to be a fascinating political battle. We&rsquo;ll explain
The big development at Sports Arena is once again falling apart because of the city&rsquo;s inability to not trip over itself. We&rsquo;ll explain why the project leaders and city officials think they can still build it.&nbsp;
Plus, the city of San Diego is trying to protect people from ICE raids and stop the police from helping. We&rsquo;ll examine what exactly they&rsquo;re trying to do.
SHOW NOTES
BANTER&nbsp;
UT - <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/10/22/san-diegans-flood-county-offices-over-increased-property-taxes-turns-out-it-was-the-trash-bill/">Property Tax Bills - What&rsquo;s That???</a>
Thousands of city of San Diego residents have flooded county offices over concern about increased property taxes but, in some cases, there is a simple explanation: trash.
After decades of offering trash collection for free, city of San Diego will now charge many residents for trash collection. Residents got their first-ever annual trash charge of $523.20 in property tax bills that went out in early October.
San Diego County Assessor Jordan Marks said his office, and the tax collector&rsquo;s, have been inundated with in-person visits and phone calls about higher bills. He said there have been more than 2,000 inquiries over the charge, but it was hard to pinpoint an exact number because it&rsquo;s been a steady stream for weeks. Residents who call the office, at 619-236-3771, get sent to an automated phone tree with the first option to ask about the trash fee.
&ldquo;The city of San Diego levied and controls this trash fee on your property tax bills,&rdquo; says a voice recording. &ldquo;They are the only party that can answer your important questions and address your issues.&rdquo;
SEGMENT 1 - Court Ruling
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/21/morning-report-mayor-failure-is-not-an-option-for-midway-project/">Morning Report: Mayor: &lsquo;Failure I s Not an Option&rsquo; for Midway Project</a>
Three days after the 4th District Court of Appeal once again threw out a voter-approved measure that lifted the building height limit for the Midway neighborhood, it was still not clear what it meant for the nearly $4 billion development project at the city&rsquo;s Sports Arena land.&nbsp; The mayor said&hellip;
Twice, in five years, the city of San Diego has put on the ballot a measure to lift the height limit in the Midway neighborhood. Twice, voters approved it. And, now twice, a Court has thrown it all out because the city didn&rsquo;t fully study the measures&rsquo; impact to the environment.
SEGMENT 2 - Vacation Property Tax&nbsp;
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/23/vacation-home-tax-moves-forward/">Vacation Home Tax Moves Forward</a>
San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera&rsquo;s proposal to tax vacation homes and empty second homes is moving forward.
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/20/battle-lines-drawn-on-vacation-rental-tax/">Battle Lines Drawn on Vacation Rental Tax</a>
Wednesday, the Rules Committee for the San Diego City Council will consider Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera&rsquo;s push for a tax on empty second homes and vacation rentals.
&nbsp;
Basics:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">10K homes</li>
<li aria-level="1">Half second homes. Half vacation rentals&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">They can tell based on tax rolls Won&rsquo;t affect anyone renting out bedroom or normal landlords</li>
<li aria-level="1">Won&rsquo;t affect ADUs on &ldquo;accessories&rdquo; to main property</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
SEGMENT 3
ICE (baby) Local Ordinance - Bella&rsquo;s vid
KPBS -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2025/10/20/san-diego-city-council-passes-ordinance-restricting-sdpd-from-ice-collaboration">San Diego City Council passes ordinance restricting SDPD from ICE collaboration</a>
Citing a spike in Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and arrests, the San Diego City Council unanimously gave tentative approval to an ordinance Monday intended to prevent local law enforcement from joining certain federal task forces.
The Due Process and Safety Ordinance will set "clear legal boundaries that protect residents, workers, and visitors regardless of immigration status, gender identity, disability, or healthcare decisions," according to a staff document from Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera's office.
City staff will meet with recognized employee organizations such as the San Diego Police Officers Association to ensure the SDPD will be able to effectively do its job without joining certain task forces led by the federal government.
Elo-Rivera, who sponsored the ordinance, thanked the dozens of people who spoke at the meeting and acknowledged that many in the community may not have felt safe to speak out.
"We can't promise that the federal government won't make your nightmares a reality," he said to young residents in the council chamber waiting for the vote. "I so badly wish I could make that promise to you. Every day the Trump regime makes good on its promise of cruelty, hatred and vindictiveness."
&nbsp;
CREDITS
Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego.
Andrea Lopez-Villafa&ntilde;a, managing editor
Bella Ross, social media producer
Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer.
Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer
Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy:<a href="https://vosd.fundjournalism.org/?amount=15&amp;campaign=701f3000001Dna8&amp;frequency=monthly"> Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County.</a>
Become a Member:<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/member-benefits/"> Voice Member Benefits Join today and receive insider access.</a>

This is Voice of San Diego’s weekly spitfire roundup of news. We cover local and regional politics, the environment, education, the border and more. This show features our investigative reporting and interviews with lawmakers and other special guests.

This is Voice of San Diego&rsquo;s weekly spitfire roundup of news. We cover local and regional politics, the environment, education, the border and more. This show features our investigative reporting and interviews with lawmakers and other special guests.