Roads, Police and Cost of Living: San Diego’s Councilmembers’ Top Priorities

Last week, Mayor Todd Gloria laid out his plan for 2026.  

He plans to prioritize addressing the budget deficit, building more homes and getting projects across the finish line, he said during his State of the City address.  

Councilmembers are also ready to hit the ground running with their own policy priorities – some go directly against what the mayor wants to do. 

While Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera is focused on protecting residents from the federal government, other councilmembers like Jennifer Campbell and Raul Campillo are pushing to protect critical city services. Council President Joe LaCava wants find new ways to fund infrastructure projects.  

Several councilmembers said the budget is a top priority and so is finding sustainable revenue sources, but none mentioned new ideas to generate money for the city. 

Councilmember Kent Lee did not respond to a request for comment. Councilmember Henry Foster declined to comment. 

LaCava Wants More Funding for Infrastructure Projects 

Council President LaCava said he plans to introduce a policy that will allow nonprofits to fully fund public infrastructure projects. His office explained the city is used to working with private developers for big projects, and they want to create a process for nonprofits.  

To do that, he said his goal is to bring a draft package to the City Council’s Rules Committee in the spring which would also include municipal code changes. 

He said the package would provide guidance to city departments and nonprofit partners on expectations for financing, construction documents, permits, and on-going maintenance. 

He said the policy would harness private-public-partnerships, and “ensure that when a non-profit or philanthropist wants to fully fund and build an infrastructure project with significant public benefit that we are ready to make that happen.” 

LaCava also told Voice his other priority is passing a balanced budget “driven by realistic and sustainable revenue.” He did not specify where the revenue would come from. 

Campbell: Roads Are a Priority 

Councilmember Campbell said she wants to make sure residents of District 2 receive “their fair share” of infrastructure repairs, from streetlights to road repairs.  

She said with the first phase of the city’s Pure Water project off Morena Boulevard nearing completion, she will ensure the roads are returned to their normal condition and fully resurfaced once underground construction is finished this year. 

Campbell said the budget is also a top priority. “It will be more important than ever to find ways to ensure our key city services are funded despite another tight budget year,” she told Voice in an email statement.  She did not specify how she will ensure city services are funded. 

Whitburn Wants to Curb Costs 

“My top priority is to curb the escalating costs that are worrying many San Diegans,” Councilmember Stephen Whitburn said in a statement.  

He told Voice that every decision the City Council makes should be evaluated by its impact on residents’ finances. He also said he wants to ensure rents stabilize and sell excess water supply to reduce the need for rate increases. He did not further elaborate on how he plans to address these two priorities. 

Councilmember Whitburn also wants the Council to come to a consensus about repealing the parking fees in Balboa Park.  

Von Wilpert Is Prioritizing Public Safety  

This year, Councilmember Marni von Wilpert said she’s focusing on supporting police, firefighters, and lifeguards “at a level that maintains critical services for the whole city.” She did not explain how she plans to support these city services.  

Like Councilmember Campbell, von Wilpert said roads are a top priority in her district. “I’m focused on making sure my district’s infrastructure is maintained and improved,” von Wilpert told Voice in an email statement. 

Councilmember von Wilpert is also running for the District 48 Congressional seat this year.  

Campillo Wants to Rebuild Trust 

Councilmember Raul Campillo said public safety “remains his highest property,” in an email statement to Voice. He said he will ensure public safety departments will be adequately staffed and provide proper resources. 

On the budget, he echoed similar statements to LaCava and Campbell on conserving critical city services. 

Councilmember Campillo also said he will advance several pieces of legislation to “reinforce his belief that local government exists to serve its residents.” 

He did not specify what legislation he plans to bring forward. Earlier this month, he proposed a reduction in downtown special event parking fees. 

Moreno Fights for More Parks and Housing 

District 8 Councilmember Vivian Moreno wants to see more parks for her residents.  

In an interview with Voice she said she wants to ensure additional funding is secured for Grove Park in South Bay. She said phase one is fully funded and would like to break ground on the project this year. 

Moreno said her other top priority is building more affordable housing. Last year, the City Council passed an ordinance to restrict developers from converting homes deemed affordable housing into market rate units.  

Moreno said this year she’s focused on using money collected through the neighborhood enhancement fee fund for the city to either buy affordable housing units or give the funding to an affordable housing developer. The neighborhood enhancement fee is a new development fee. It can only be used for affordable housing, recreation amenities, active transportation, and transit infrastructure projects.  

“ Because the law is one thing, but now we’re going to have actual money,” said Councilmember Moreno in an interview with Voice. “So that’s another biggie I’m going to be very much focused on,” she said. 

Elo-Rivera Pushes Back on Feds and Self-Driving Cars 

District 9 is home to one of San Diego’s most diverse populations, and Councilmember Elo-Rivera said his top priority is to protect his constituents from the federal government. 

He wants to see the just and due process ordinance he brought to Council late last year implemented. 

Elo-Rivera presented the ordinance to build upon California’s state sanctuary law, which limits local cooperation with the federal government on immigration enforcement. While the ordinance does increase transparency, it doesn’t significantly expand protections.  

“Nothing else really matters if we’re not protecting people,” said Elo-Rivera in an interview with Voice. “That will continue to be our number one priority.” 

He plans to push his additional policies in the pipeline – a vacation home tax and a ban on “junk fee” for renters – for Council approval this year. Councilmember Elo-Rivera wants to crack down on additional fees pushed on renters like pet fees and trash collection. 

He also said to protect San Diego workers he will continue to push for the local regulation of Waymo, a self-driving car company, to ensure taxi drivers aren’t left out of work.   

“We are currently discussing the stakeholders, which workers are most vulnerable, which jobs would have the most negative impact on the public if they were to be done without human beings as part of the equation,” he said.  

Since our interview, the San Diego Metropolitan System (MTS) Board of Directors, including Councilmember Elo-Rivera who sits on the board, voted unanimously to oppose the expansion of the technology without local regulation or oversight. 

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