Dear Inquirer,

This week, the San Diego City Council ratified charging for parking at Balboa Park and approved a $150-300 annual parking pass for Balboa Park. I voted no.

San Diegans are already feeling the strain of high costs – from gas to groceries to rent and more. The last thing that low- and middle-income folks need is to be shut out of enjoying a space that provides connection, recreation, and joy to so many for no cost at all.

My conviction comes from speaking to San Diego residents – including many of you, who have written my office about the impact this may have on your lives. I’ve also heard from many of the small business owners, organization leaders, and artists who rely on the park economically, nearly all of whom have expressed their concerns about these fees.

That being said: I was hopeful that an annual pass option could at a minimum relieve some of the pain for folks, as opposed to having to pay daily rates. And while I appreciate the effort here to make that happen, unfortunately the adopted fees are simply too high.

But the key argument I made was this: “Instead of tightening our own belt, the city is tightening the belts of the very people it’s supposed to serve.” Voters rejected a one-cent sales tax last year, and the message I learned from that was NOT that you wanted us to nickel and dime you, but that you wanted us to live within our means.

Trash, parking, and more, I will stand with the public that faces rising costs by trying to keep city programs free or as low as possible, because that’s what I’ve learned the public truly wants, by listening to their pleas at City Council and in the District.

I’ll continue leading on solutions that keep Balboa Park and all our public spaces accessible for everyone, including Mission Bay. At the same meeting, I vehemently opposed charging for parking at Mission Bay, point out the legal and economic problems that could result, and given no other council members tried to fight to include it in our budget plans for next year, I think it is not a real plan at the moment. I will keep you updated on this moving forward.

I go to work every single day trying to embody the words honesty, integrity, and transparency.

That’s why I’m proposing two policies that put clear, transparent processes in place when asking our residents to potentially increase fees – residents should never feel duped by their City government.

The first proposal would ensure that when residents receive Proposition 218-mandated mailers about a new fee, the very first page must clearly state that a fee is being proposed and explain residents’ right to protest it. Additionally, the mailer must include a simple, easy-to-find protest form so the public can meaningfully participate in the process.

The second proposal gives the Council the option to require a cost-of-service study or economic impact analysis before placing a measure on the ballot that could lead to a future fee, ensuring voters have the full facts up front.

I believe strongly that in order to rebuild trust with our citizens, we must avoid the sorts of issues that came up when the trash fee was considered earlier this year. I hope to bring these proposals to the Rules Committee before the end of the year.

This week, I joined our partners at FACT, SANDAG, and Caltrans to celebrate the relaunch of RideFACTNOW — an on-demand, affordable transportation service for seniors and people with disabilities across our region.

Mobility is about independence. It’s about dignity. And as the cost of living continues to squeeze so many families, having reliable, low-cost transportation can make all the difference. Whether it’s getting to a doctor’s appointment, visiting family, or simply staying connected to the community, RideFACTNOW helps remove barriers for people who need it most.

A couple of years ago, when I served as Vice Chair of SANDAG’s Transportation Committee, I worked closely with staff to strengthen the funding formula behind this program so FACT could survive — and grow. Seeing it come back stronger than ever is a moment of real pride.

Huge thank you to the teams at FACT, SANDAG, and Caltrans for their dedication to keeping San Diegans moving safely and affordably. If you’d like to use RideFACTNOW, call (888) 924-3228 and/or check out their website here for more information.

Thank you to the thirty-plus neighbors who braved the rain on Saturday for Coffee with Campillo. These conversations reflect what matters most to me in public service: being present, listening, and working together to strengthen our neighborhoods. I’m proud to have held more than 50 town halls, coffee events, and office hours since taking office, and I’m already looking forward to the next one.

A new little Padre is on deck, and Rafa is stepping up to the plate as Big Brother.

Baby Girl coming January 2026. 🤎💛

This email series is called the 'Raul Roundup.’ I'll be sending along a few things I'm seeing online, reading about in the news, and doing as your City Councilmember. These fun, informative, and short emails will arrive straight to your inbox every Friday.

Hope you have a great weekend.

All the best,

Raul

P.S. Feel free to forward this email to a friend, family member, neighbor, colleague, etc., who might find this Roundup interesting or informative. And if you’re the person who has been forwarded this email, you can subscribe here!

Office of Councilmember
Raul A. Campillo
City Administration Building
202 C Street, 10th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101

619-236-6677

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