Downtown San Diego

San Diego officials are tightening the city’s belt once again, confronting a financial hole that continues to widen despite a wave of new fees and rate increases approved earlier this year. Mayor Todd Gloria has instructed every department to clamp down on spending immediately, warning that the coming budget cycle will demand even tougher decisions.

Local labor unions are preparing a campaign to place a one-cent city sales tax increase on San Diego’s 2026 ballot, arguing that years of deferred maintenance and underfunded services have pushed the city to a breaking point.

The San Diego Association of Governments has voted to discontinue its longstanding diversity requirements for contractors and consultants, marking a significant change in how the regional agency oversees its procurement and hiring policies.

Beginning in January, parking at the San Diego Zoo will cost $16 per day, ending decades of free parking at one of the region’s most visited destinations. Zoo officials say the new fee is intended to address rising operational and infrastructure expenses, but the announcement comes at a time of broader debate about the future of Balboa Park and the city’s overall approach to fees and public amenities.

SAN DIEGO — San Diego’s Congressional delegation conducted a joint visit Monday to the downtown federal courthouse basement detention center, aiming to assess conditions after weeks of denied access by federal officials.

San Diego civil rights attorney John Gomez has secured an 8.5-million-dollar judgment for the family of Anthony McGaff, marking one of the most closely watched transit-safety cases in recent local memory. The verdict, delivered after days of jury deliberation, speaks not only to the tragedy of McGaff’s death but also to wider questions about how public agencies respond when danger unfolds in real time.

The Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) has voiced strong opposition to elements of the City of San Diego’s proposed Preservation and Progress Initiative, urging the Planning Commission to delay approval of “Package A” until further public review and documentation are provided.

A public announcement is scheduled for Wednesday in Balboa Park, where officials and members of Bill Walton’s family will gather to discuss proposals that would name honorary sites in both San Diego and La Mesa after the late basketball legend and philanthropist. It's the first time a proposal to honor Walton with city designation has been made since Walton's passing in 2024.

San Diego Public Advocate Shane Harris has called on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to declare a Local Emergency as thousands of residents face the threat of food insecurity amid a potential federal government shutdown.

Elo-Rivera, who represents District 9, has long positioned himself as a leading voice on affordability, equity, and opportunity in San Diego. Yet as the cost of living continues to rise, his decisions at City Hall are being closely scrutinized against the promises of his platform.