I was the only Councilmember to vote no on a ballot proposal for a new tax – here’s why

This week, a ballot measure proposal for a tax on empty homes came to City Council. It passed 8-1 with myself as the lone “NO” vote and I’ll tell you why.

I’m all ears on ideas that could potentially put homes on the market, and it seems like this proposal certainly would. When this item came to Rules Committee the prior week, I asked the City Attorney’s Office for one thing to help make my decision at full Council: A robust legal memo analyzing the tax’s ability to withstand a lawsuit. I did not receive it. It is hard to believe that after months of developing this proposal, based largely in part off of a model that has been stopped by a San Francisco court in 2024, that there is no memo to share.

I voted "NO" because I did not receive the information I needed to be confident in my decision. And confidence in our decisions is something the public truly lacks these days. The cost of litigation, the cost to our reputation, the inability to deeply analyze the legality of the policy all required me to oppose it. I’ll continue to scrutinize policies and ideas that come to Council not because I want them to fail, but because I want our City to succeed, and diligence is what earns public confidence.

Our Town Hall series is finished. My work for you is not.

We wrapped up Community Town Halls this week, which were immense successes. All 264 of you attended and asked tough questions, brought up concerns about your community, and shared your ideas.

To put it simply, my job is being responsive to the needs, wants, and concerns of each and every one of my constituents. The most effective way I have found to do that well is to meet people where they are and encourage open and honest discussion about what they care about most. One of our neighbors wrote up a synopsis of one of them, and you can read it here.

Thank you to everyone who attended. I’m thankful for your partnership in making the City of San Diego a place for everyone to thrive.

My E-Bike proposal to make our neighborhoods safer is coming next week. We need you!

On Wednesday, March 11, I’m bringing my E-bike proposal to Public Safety Committee.

My initiative seeks to increase safety for children as well as reduce reckless riding and incidents by imposing passenger restrictions and an age limit of 12 years. If approved, passengers would only be allowed if the e-bike is specifically designed to accommodate multiple riders with a permanent second seat and children under 12 years of age would not be allowed to operate e-bikes.

I want my colleagues to see widespread community support for this proposal. Let’s get it across the line together. Follow this link to register your support and learn about how you can attend the meeting.

Exploring the City’s use of AI for efficiency

This week, I invited PandA, the City of San Diego’s Performance & Analytics Department, to San Diego City Council’s Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee to share information on artificial intelligence (AI) policy, governance, risk management, and adoption by City departments.

We continue to step up as a leader in how cities use AI the right way. Our goal is simple: help our employees do their jobs better — not replace them. These tools mean less time spent on repetitive tasks and more time serving the public.

Not only do these tools benefit our staff, they provide guidance that helps small businesses improve their cybersecurity. Supporting small businesses this way makes our whole region stronger and more competitive. This is how we make sure innovation is balanced with privacy protection, transparency, and public trust

Citywide survey on budget

One of the single most impactful ways you can shape the City of San Diego is by participating in its budget process, which we are in the midst of. Budget Review Committee – in which our City departments share their budget needs – begin soon and you can be a part of this conversation.

One way to offer your input is by filling out the Official City of San Diego Resident Budget Survey linked here. Your responses filter directly to those responsible for developing the budget, which allows them to track resident’s expressed needs and incorporate them into calculations and recommendations.

Another way is by replying to this email. My job as your Councilmember is to take your ideas to my colleagues at the City and it is not a job I take lightly. Please share with me your hopes for this upcoming budget and I will be sure to advocate for you, your families, and your neighbors when the time comes.

Sincerely,