Morning Report: Big Water Rate Vote Is Coming
EM - News Moderator 
We’re on the edge of our seats.
Tomorrow the San Diego City Council will decide whether to charge San Diegans more for water over the next four years.
As our MacKenize Elmer reported, not approving the rate increase could wreak havoc on the city’s Public Utilities Department. And while the San Diego County Water Authority’s leader said they won’t turn off the water if the city can’t pay its water bill, not paying up could cost the city a lot in fees.
So, will they do it?
Last month when the Council was going to vote on the rates, councilmembers couldn’t get behind them. They punted the discussion to this month. A couple of them said they needed to see some big changes.
Nothing seems to have changed.
Dive deeper: Scott Lewis covered the intrigue in more depth in this week’s Politics Report. Plus, he explains how one Councilmember’s argument against a new tax on vacation rentals may have been just the argument proponents of it are looking for.
Podcast: Your Property Tax Bill and Wild Week at City Council
You may have found a charge of $523.20 from “SD solid waste mgmt” on your property tax bill this month – and had a small panic attack.
Yup, it’s the new trash fee. Luckily, our podcast hosts put their heads together to break down each fee and why you’re also paying for things like “mosquito surveillance” and a zoo maintenance fee.
And more on the second-home/vacation rental tax: Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera has had a busy month at City Council. His latest proposal to push for a tax on empty second homes and vacation rentals brought a heated debate on soaring fees.
Sacramento Report: California Police Departments Embrace AI
Last month, Chula Vista officials made the controversial decision to approve the purchase of AI technology to draft police reports. Our Sacramento Reporter, Nadia Lathan, wanted to understand why police across the state are opting for AI software, like Draft One, to document and establish facts.
Police departments say the technology can save them from hours of police reports. Civil rights groups fear it could produce false information. They also worry the software could exhibit racial and gender biases – and question whether law enforcement would do enough to fact-check the AI-generated reports.
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed Senate Bill 524 to set up guardrails for the technology, but attorneys still worry there’s not enough transparency about its use.
In other Legislature news: Students across San Diego participated in a walkout on Friday to get Assemblymember David Alvarez’s attention. They want him to support the California Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act.
Voice intern Jenna Ramiscal writes that the bill, introduced in March, aims to hold oil, gas and coal companies financially accountable for emissions that drive climate change.
A spokesperson said Alvarez was supportive of students taking a stand but would not comment on the assemblymember’s stance on the bill.
In Other News
- KPBS reports that a coalition of tribes launched a commission to safeguard the Chuckwalla National Monument. The tribes want to protect the high desert along Imperial and Riverside County with fears the Trump administration may threaten to sell the lands in the future.
- The city says it will install stop signs at Lake Badin Avenue and Jackson Drive after the death of a 12-year-old boy, reports the Union-Tribune. For more than a year, the San Carlos community insisted the city install stop signs or reduce the speed limit.
- The Union-Tribune also reports San Diego county water costs could more than double over a decade. San Diego’s Pure Water Project could lead to higher wholesale rates for all its member agencies.
- NBC San Diego also reports further developments on a La Mesa officer who was hit and killed after responding to a crash on the I-8. The driver of the car that hit the officer was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The Morning Report was written by Mariana Martínez Barba. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña and Scott Lewis.
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