A favorable Court of Appeal ruling has affirmed that Measure C — the 2020 citizens’ initiative to increase San Diego’s transient occupancy tax — passed with 65% voter approval. The decision allows the City to move forward with long-delayed improvements to the San Diego Convention Center, stronger investments to reduce homelessness, and new funding for street repair. 

This ruling is a win for San Diego — and for the voters who overwhelmingly said yes to this back in 2020. It finally allows us to move forward with long-overdue improvements to our Convention Center, stronger investments to reduce homelessness, and real dollars to fix our streets. This decision clears the way for progress that benefits everyone — our workers, our businesses, and our city’s future. 

Now that the measure is affirmed to have passed, the next steps are:   

• Clarifying Ordinance: The City Council will introduce and pass a clarifying ordinance to realign timelines that were delayed during the legal process.   

• Convention Center Financing: The City can immediately begin securing financing for the Convention Center upgrades; however, under the settlement with Fifth Avenue Landing LLC, the City cannot pursue any expansion that encroaches on the company’s leasehold until after 2026.   

• Modernization Planning: The San Diego Convention Center Corporation is currently evaluating and updating its facility needs to ensure funds from Measure C are invested effectively in space upgrades and modernization efforts. 

Families in Barrio Logan and Logan Heights now have a brighter, more welcoming playground thanks to a nearly $50,000 contribution from San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Wave FC’s support funded the resurfacing of the children’s playground at Dolores Magdaleno Memorial Park and Recreation Center. 

This project is a strong example of how public-private partnerships can directly benefit our neighborhoods. Students from the nearby Logan Memorial Educational Complex joined the celebration. 

I’m grateful to Wave FC for stepping up to invest in our community and encourage others to join the City in finding creative ways to support the neighborhoods we call home. 

Meet Carmen. When she retired, her rent skyrocketed, consuming nearly all of her income. She worried she’d have to leave San Diego — the city she loves — just to find an affordable place to live. 

Thanks to the City’s Bridge to Home program, Carmen didn’t have to go. Bridge to Home helps provide gap financing to affordable housing developments like Ventana al Sur in San Ysidro, which made it possible for Carmen and other seniors to find stable, affordable homes. 

Bridge to Home works by partnering with organizations like MAAC and Kingdom Development to contribute a needed portion of funding to bring new affordable communities to life in every corner of San Diego. These investments mean seniors can age in place without leaving the communities they love, veterans can find stability, and families can stay close to schools and jobs. 

Carmen now lives in a brand-new one-bedroom apartment filled with light and surrounded by neighbors who share her gratitude. “These apartments give us the opportunity to live with dignity,” she said. 

Her story is just one example of how Bridge to Home is turning policy into real homes for real people — and ensuring San Diegans can stay in the communities they call home. 

Encanto Community Park received a fresh burst of life as City staff, community volunteers, and fourth-grade students from Encanto Elementary joined me to plant 20 new trees and refresh park facilities. 

Together with partners like New Vision Church, California Coast Credit Union, and Hands On San Diego, we painted benches, mulched, and made improvements that will be enjoyed by neighbors for years to come. 

This work is part of Ready, Set, Grow San Diego — our Urban Forestry initiative made possible by a $10 million federal grant that’s funding thousands of new trees citywide.  

These efforts mean more shade, cleaner air, and greener neighborhoods, all while teaching the next generation about stewardship of our public spaces. 

By investing in our parks, we’re making good on our commitment to safe, vibrant, and green spaces in every community. 

Last week, we asked: Which San Diego park is the largest by acreage? 

Here’s how you voted: 

▪️ “Balboa Park” — 22.38% 
▪️ “Mission Trails Regional Park” — 61.54% ✅ 
▪️ “Otay Valley Regional Park” — 16.08% 

The correct answer is Mission Trails Regional Park. Spanning nearly 8,000 acres, it’s one of the largest urban parks in the United States. With trails, campgrounds, and rich cultural history, it offers San Diegans countless ways to connect with nature without ever leaving the city. 

This week’s question: San Diego’s iconic California Tower in Balboa Park was closed to the public for 80 years. In what year did it reopen for visitors to climb again? 

▪️ 2012 
▪️ 2015 
▪️ 2018 

Answer below or send your guess to askthemayor@sandiego.gov — and check back next week to see if you got it right! 

Across San Diego, kids can eat, stay, and play for free throughout October at more than 100 museums, attractions, hotels, and restaurants. This program sparks curiosity for children, helps families make memories, and boosts our local economy. I’m grateful to the San Diego Tourism Authority, San Diego Museum Council, and community partners who make Kids Free Month possible.