San Diego City Council

SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO JOIN CITIES OPPOSING TRUMP LAWSUIT OVER SANCTUARY STATE LAWS

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

May 16, 2018 (San Diego) – San Diego’s City Council has voted to join cities and states filing an amicus brief to support California’s sanctuary state laws against a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration. The Council’s action is the polar opposite of County Supervisors, who voted to support the federal lawsuit against our state.


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GRAND JURY WANTS CITY OF SAN DIEGO TO CONSOLIDATE COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUPS

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 20, 2018 (San Diego) – The County Grand Jury has released a report  recommending that the city of San Diego consider consolidating some of  its 43 community planning groups and develop policies to increase diversity in the groups.


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CITY COUNCIL APPROVES MARIJUANA GROWING AND MANUFACTURING IN SAN DIEGO

 

By Miriam Raftery

September 12, 2017 (San Diego) — San Diego’s City Council has voted 6 to 3 in favor of legalizing marijuana growing, manufacturing and testing operations to supply storefronts selling both medical and recreational pot products.


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MAYOR FALCONER WINS RE-ELECTION; DEMOCRATS HAVE STRONG SHOWING IN CRUCIAL COUNCIL RACE AND CITY ATTORNEY CONTEST

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Mara Elliott, City Attorney candidate

June 9,2016 (San Diego) --San Diego Mayor Kevin Falconer, a Republican,  won re-election handily Tuesday with 58% of the vote, avoiding a run-off with independent Lori Saldana, a former Assembly member who received 22%, and Democrat Ed Harris with 19%.

Republican Council members Mark Kersey and Scott Sherman also secured their seats with over 50% of the vote, as did Senate Chief of Staff Chris Ward in the race to succeed fellow Democrat Todd Gloria in District 3.The San Diego City Council Seats that continue into a November run-off are Districts 1 and 9. San Diego may also break one more glass ceiling in November, if Mara Elliott is elected as the first woman City Attorney.


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CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES URBAN AGRICULTURE INCENTIVE ZONE

 

New Program to Reduce Blighted Properties and Encourage Community Gardens in Neighborhoods

East County News Service

March 1, 2016 (San Diego) — The San Diego City Council unanimously approved an Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone, a program that will help expand community access to fresh produce through a property tax incentive for urban agriculture on vacant, blighted land.


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SD VOTERS TO WEIGH MINMUM WAGE HIKE

 

East County News Service

February 8, 2016 (San Diego) – Voters in the city of San Diego will decide in November whether the minimum wage should be raised for all workers within the city limits.


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CITIZENS SEEK BALLOT PROPOSAL TO MAKE SAN DIEGO POLICE REVIEW BOARD INDEPENDENT

 

East County News Service

January 11, 2016 (San Diego) – A ballot proposal has been filed with the San Diego City Clerk on behalf of 20 civic organizations that endorse a Charter Amendment for an independendent Community Review Board on Police Practices. On January 13th at 9 a.m. the City Council's Rules Committee will consider whether or not to refer the measureto the full City Council for placement on the 2016 ballot.


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CLIMATE PLAN ADVANCES IN SAN DIEGO

 

By Miriam Raftery

December 1, 2015 (San Diego) – While world leaders met in Paris at a global climate summit on Monday, San Diego City Council’s Environmental Committee also convened –and voted unanimously to send an ambitious climate action plan to the City Council.


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A WIN FOR TAXI DRIVERS AT SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL

 

East County News Service

November 11, 2014 (San Diego) - San Diego’s City Council on Monday voted 8 to 1 to remove the cap on the number of taxi cab permits issued by the city.  Supporters led by Councilwoman Marti Emerald said the limit on caps had created an underground market.  Permits issued initially for a $3,000 fee were being resold for up to $140,000—with cab owners passing on costs to drivers, who were forced to work long hours at low wages.


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REPUBLICANS GAIN HOPE IN COUNCIL RACES

 

 

By Stevon Marshall and Trevor Hill

June 6, 2014 (San Diego) — Results of Tuesday’s primary races for City Council have raised hopes among Republicans of reducing the power of San Diego’s Democratic majority.

Two Democratic Council members, Myrtle Cole and David Alvarez, won their races outright in districts 4 and 8, with over 50% of the vote in Tuesday’s primary, so they won’t have to vie in a run-off race in November. Republican Lori Zapf, a Councilwoman who had to run in a different district due to reapportionment, also won her district 2 race with over 50%.

But in district 6, Republican Chris Cate will face off against Democrat Carol Kim in the fall. If Cate wins, Republicans would narrow Democrats’ balance of power on the Council to a slim one-vote majority.


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KUMEYAAY CAMPGROUND AT MISSION TRAILS HAS REOPENED

 

 

May 25, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—After being closed or two years due to city budget cuts, Kumeyaay Campground at Mission Trails Regional Park is now open again to campers on Friday and Saturday nights.

The San Diego City Council authorized the funding at the request of Councilmember Scott Sherman, according to an article in the Mission Trails Regional Park newsletter.


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SAN DIEGO MOVES CLOSER TO A RAISE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE

By Nadin Abbott

March 25, 2014 (San Diego) On Monday, San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria brought a proposal to place a rise in the city’s minimum wage on the November ballot before the Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.  The proposal also includes paid sick days for workers in San Diego.

The committee approved the motion 2-1 on a partisan vote, with Councilmembers Marti Emerald and Sherri Lightner  voting for it and Councilman Mark Kersey against it.  Next, the City Attorney will draft language and return to the Committee. If approved, next the full City Council would need to pass the measure before it can come before voters.


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CASTLEROCK PROJECT TO BE HEARD BY SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 16

 

 

Environmental concerns, conflict of interests by Lightner raised

By Miriam Raftery

September 16, 2013 (San Diego) – San Diego’s City Council will hold a hearing today at 2 p.m. on the controversial Castlerock housing project.  The project is proposed by Pardee Homes near the boundary between Santee and San Diego.   The Planning Commission previously recommended annexing land for the project to Santee. Council has the option to approve, modify or disapprove the project and if approved, to determine whether or not it should be transferred to Santee’s jurisdiction.

Campaign contribution forms reveal that Council President Sherri Lightner accepted $4300 in donations from 12  Pardee Homes employees during her primary challenge. “If Pardee reimbursed its employees, the contributions would be illegal. Regardless of the contributions legality, we believe Pardree’s contributions are an inappropriate attempt to purchase your vote for a quadruple up-zone on Castlerock,”  wrote Van Collingsworth, executive director of Preserve Wild Santee, in a letter to Lightner.

Comments submitted jointly by the Chaparral Institute and Preserve Wild Santee raised serious concerns over water supplies, traffic, environmental and public health impacts if the project is built near Mission Trails Regional Park.


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MAYOR’S PREVALING WAGE ORDINANCE APPROVED BY SD COUNCIL

By Miriam Raftery

 

July 31, 2013 (San Diego) --  On Tuesday, the San Diego City Council yesterday enacted a significant reform benefitting city workers.  Mayor Bob Filner’s proposal to require that construction workers on city projects be paid a prevailing wage won approval in a 5 to 4 vote.  The prevailing wage is defined as the most commonly paid wage for a particular type of work in San Diego County.

“This decision to pay a fair, livable wage to the hard working men and women in the construction business is long overdue,” said Mayor Filner.  “I applaud the City Councilmembers who stood up to do the right thing and voted in favor of the Prevailing Wage Ordinance.”


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MAYOR FILNER APPOINTS NEIGHBORHOOD CHAMPIONS TO SD PLANNING COMMISSION

 

June 18, 2013 (San Diego)--Mayor Bob Filner appointed Theresa Quiroz and Anthony Wagner, two long-time neighborhood champions, to the City’s Planning Commission last week.

“I want to thank Theresa and Anthony for their commitment to our community and believe they will provide a strong voice for our neighborhoods in this new role” Mayor Filner said. “Their experience in community groups, knowledge of land use issues, and belief in healthy and vibrant neighborhoods will make them great additions to the Planning Commission.”

The appointments were approved unanimously by the San Diego City Council.


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SD CITY COUNCIL TO HEAR MEDICAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE APRIL 22

 

April 17, 2013 (San Diego)--Today, the City of San Diego published Mayor Filner's proposal for medical cannabis regulation in the City of San Diego.  The proposal is based on the recommendations of the medical marijuana taskforce, organized by City Council President Todd Gloria in 2010.


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SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL MAKES HISTORY WITH UNANIMOUS IMMIGRATION VOTE

 

 

By Nadin Abbott

Photos by Tom Abbott

April 9, 2013 (San Diego)—At the cusp of the U.S. Senate taking on immigration reform, the San Diego City Council today sent a bipartisan message to Washington. With a unanimous vote, the San Diego City Council passed a resolution asking for comprehensive, common sense, immigration reform. The partisan divide in Washington was not evident in San Diego, where Republicans joined their Democratic colleagues to stand united on this issue.

Council Member David Alvarez chaired the effort with Council Member Mark Kersey.  Before the vote, Alvarez said, “The language is meant to send a message to Washington DC...This is a united message.” He noted that almost everybody is affected by this issue; immigration touches all of us.


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SD COUNCIL VOTES TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY DISPATCH COMMUNICATIONS

March 17, 2013 (San Diego) -- On March 11,  San Diego’s City Council unanimously approved funding for a new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. The CAD system is used for dispatching emergency 9-1-1 calls and is of critical importance to emergency response times. In an emergency, seconds can make every difference, including that of a life or death situation. The current software was originally written in the mid-1970s and the existing CAD system was installed in 1991.  The council’s action approved $6.9 million in one- time revenue toward the long overdue CAD system replacement.

The new CAD system will improve response times and modernize the tools available for the efficient dispatching of 9-1-1 calls. By committing the necessary funding to upgrade the CAD system, we increase public safety for all San Diegans and give our first responders the tools necessary to serve our residents. It is estimated that the CAD system replacement will take three to five years, depending on the scope of work.


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SAN DIEGO COALITION CALLS ON CITY COUNCIL TO SAY “NO” TO POWER PLANT NEAR MISSION TRAILS PARK

September 21, 2012 (San Diego)-A coalition of local community groups announces that it will fill the San Diego City Council chambers on Monday, September 24 at 2 p.m.

They will call on the City Council to uphold a recent Planning Commission decision to deny a community plan amendment request that would have paved the way for a 100 megawatt gas-fired power plant on open space designated land adjacent to Mission Trails Regional Park.


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GOVERNOR SIGNS KEHOE’S BILL TO PROTECT SAN DIEGO OPEN SPACE AND CANYONLANDS

September 8, 2012 (San Diego) -- Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) announced yesterday that Governor Jerry Brown has signed her bill to allow the City of San Diego to convert up to approximately 10,000 acres of city-owned “designated” open space to “dedicated” open space.   


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READERS’ EDITORIAL: SAVE BALBOA PARK: COUNCIL TO VOTE MONDAY ON DESTRUCTIVE PLAN

By Jeanne Brown, Co-president, League of Women Voters of San Diego


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SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL SHIFTS RIGHT

By Nadin Abbott

Photographs Nadin Abbott and Tom Abbott

June 6th, 2012 (San Diego)--Two Republican candidates supported by the conservative Lincoln Club of San Diego won outright their seats to City Council, winning over 50 percent of the vote. One was businessman Scott Sherman (District 7), and the other was Mike Kersey (District 5).

District 1 will see a run off in November between Ray Ellis, a Republican also backed by the Lincoln Club,  and Sherri Lightner, who is backed by the Democratic Party, nurses and teachers.


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PETERS MAKES CASE FOR ELECTABILITY IN NEW 52ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

 
In exclusive interview with East County Magazine, Peters talks about key issues in our region
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
May 30, 2012 (San Diego) –“I’m the candidate with the best record of working across the aisle to get things done,”  says Scott Peters, a Democrat. He is  one of ten candidates vying for the new 52nd Congressional district seat currently held by Republican Brian Bilbray.

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COUNCILWOMAN MARTI EMERALD ISSUES STATEMENT ON SELLING HER HOME IN DISTRICT

July 22, 2011 (Tierrasanta) – San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald has issued the following statement in response to inquiries regarding her decision to sell her home Tierrasanta.
The move follows the death of her husband, Mike Klarfeld, in February, and has raised questions as to whether she intends to continue representing the district.

Emerald offered assurances to constituents in her explanation:


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FIRE STATION BROWNOUTS TO END JULY 1, COUNCIL APPROVES BUDGET AMENDMENT BY EMERALD

 

June 6, 2011 (San Diego) –  San Diego City Council has voted 7-1 to approve a budget that will eliminate brown-outs at city fire stations starting July 1, also restoring funds for libraries and city parks.

 

After staff projected that reserve accounts will have more money than estimated earlier, several proposals were made to utilize the new-found surplus. Council adopted an amendment proposed by Councilmember Marti Emerald to restore eight fire engines that have been shut down for over a year. Brownouts have been blamed for at least one death, a toddler who choked to death waiting on a fire engine with paramedics to arrive from a distant location while a station a block away was closed.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: WHY IS OUR DRINKING WATER BEING SIPHONED OFF BY SDG&E FOR SUNRISE POWERLINK CONSTRUCTION?

 

An open letter to San Diego's Mayor and City Council

 

By John Pilch
President, San Carlos Area Council

 

March 22, 2011 (San Diego) --I'm intrigued by what's happening in the San Carlos Community with respect to water usage. While we're being advised of the continuing Stage 2 Drought Alert, the City of San Diego is selling water from two  hydrants on Lake Murray Blvd. West Frontage Road to the contractor who is constructing the Southwest Powerlink.


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COUNCIL RESTRICTS WAL-MART SUPERCENTERS IN SAN DIEGO

UPDATE DEC. 2:  The council has voted 5-3 to override a veto by the mayor to enact this law.  The same members who initially supported the ban voted for the override.


Requires impact study before a Supercenter could be built; mayor may veto measure
 

November 29, 2010 (San Diego) – Negative TV advertising by Wal-Mart didn’t dissuade members of the San Diego City Council from voting against Wal-Mart. By a 5-3 vote last week, Councilmembers voted to require a neighborhood impact study be conducted before a building permit may be issued for big-box vendors such as Wal-Mart that want to open stores over 90,000 square feet that sell groceries.


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SAN DIEGO VOTERS TO DECIDE ON SALES TAX INCREASE

 

 

August 5, 2010 (San Diego) – The San Diego City Council voted 6-2 in a special session Wednesday to let voters decide whether the City should have a temporary (five year) half-cent increase in sales tax. The “Reform before Revenue” measure, proposed by Councilmembers Donna Frye and Todd Gloria, will require that key pension and financial reforms be met before the tax increase would take effect. 


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SYLVIA'S SOAPBOX: OUR DIEGUITO RIVER PARK IS IN DANGER

 

By Sylvia Hampton

 

July 9, 2010 (San Diego) -- One of our most prized regional achievements and treasures in San Diego County is the San Dieguito River Park, located in our back yard. When Mayor Sander’s budget was approved by the San Diego City Council recently it included cutting $254,000 annual contribution to the river park, which is 36% of the park’s budget.

 


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CONTROVERSY GROWS OVER ARIZONA IMMIGRATION LAW

 

Council votes to oppose measure; local conference unites groups in opposition

 

National polls show majority favors Arizona's new law

 

By Bill Pogue and Miriam Raftery

 

May 10, 2010 (San Diego) – The San Diego City Council has voted 7 to 1 to condemn Arizona’s tough immigration law, Senate Bill 1070. "This law threatens to divide our union," Councilman Ben Hueso said. "I believe it violates the Constitution. It victimizes legal residents as well as those who are here in the country illegally. And, it discourages the victims of crimes in the immigrant community to access justice."

 

Councilmembers joined mayors of San Francisco and Minneapolis, 12 City Councilmembers in New York City, Tucson and Flagstaff city governments in criticizing the measure. San Diego Unified School Board is also preparing to vote on opposing the measure as well as warning parents that travel to Arizona may subject their families to unlawful scrutiny.


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