Morning Report: We Learned the City Needs Money
EM - News Moderator 
We started 2025 with a strong message from the mayor: This is the era of austerity.
The city was looking at a tough budget year after voters turned down a sales tax increase proposal. Mayor Todd Gloria was determined to “right-size” the ship.
He held his State of the City address inside the City Council chambers rather than a fancy theater. He talked about cutting costs and questioning the way we’ve done things.
For our latest What We Learned This Year story, City Hall reporter Mariana Martínez Barba unpacks where we are today. The city has implemented new trash and parking fees, but spending is still up and things are not looking good for the city’s budget.
What We Learned This Year: Our reporters are looking back at some of the biggest stories in 2025. We’ll recap what we learned here.
2025’s Story in Pictures
Throughout 2025, Voice of San Diego’s contributing photojournalists focused on telling San Diego’s story.
They spent time documenting the city’s most pressing challenges. They showed us the challenges that people living in recreational vehicles face. They watched as military troops reinforced the border wall with wire. They captured the struggles of people living on the street and the city’s efforts to get them housed.
They also witnessed joyful moments, like a family securing housing and kids participating in a school’s haunted trail.
Click here to view the photos of 2025.
Border Report: A Look Back at Changes to Immigration Enforcement
In honor of our What We Learned This Year reporting week, Voice contributor Kate Morrissey decided to look back at what she learned about the border in 2025.
One big takeaway: The authority that immigration officials and border agents wield expanded far beyond the border and outside of normal areas of operation to courtroom hallways, green card appointments and quiet San Diego neighborhoods.
Morrissey explains what changes made greater enforcement possible. She also documents how that enforcement also led to violence and unlawful detentions.
In Other News
- Editor’s note: We are taking a few days off to rest and spend time with loved ones. We’ll be back on Friday. Happy New Year!
- A bit of good news: A new trolley line seems to be improving performance across the trolley system. (Union-Tribune)
- Need help getting rid of your dry Christmas tree? The city of San Diego can help. (KPBS)
- KPBS also reports that the city of San Diego is on track to get $19.7 million from its cannabis business tax. But that’s about $1.5 million short of what officials projected.
The Morning Report was written by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña.
The post Morning Report: We Learned the City Needs Money appeared first on Voice of San Diego.
