San Diego, CA

City attorney needs to back up her stand on trash outsourcing

Published

11 months ago

March 28, 2025

City attorney needs to back up her stand on trash outsourcing

The bitter controversy over City Hall’s plan to implement new trash collection fees on 233,000 households at a far higher cost than San Diego voters were told before they approved such fees in 2022’s Measure B is fueled by the perception that this was an obvious bait-and-switch. In an interview last month, Mayor Todd Gloria rejected the idea that anything untoward was going on. He said the expected standard rate for newly billed homeowners of $53 a month — not the city’s previous forecast of $23 to $29 — reflected residents’ input on the level of trash services they wanted to receive.

But now the debate over Measure B has taken on another dimension that should aggravate all San Diegans, whatever their view of the mayor’s argument: Exactly what does Measure B allow or require the city to do? This has sparked a sense of déjà vu among residents familiar with their city leaders’ long history of not sweating the details on ballot measures, especially on a 2012 pension reform initiative later scrapped by state courts.

The question emerged when residents upset with the city’s fee plan inquired about whether outsourcing trash service to private companies to reduce bills for residents was an option. City Attorney Heather Ferbert says no. “Charter section 117(c) gives the City a choice between engaging in managed competition or using City forces,” she wrote in an email to a U-T reporter. “In the case of Measure B, that choice was given to the voters. The clear language of the ballot measure specified that City forces would continue to provide trash collection for eligible residences.”

But Republican Jan Goldsmith — city attorney from 2008 to 2016 and a state Superior Court judge from 1998 to 2008 — says the City Charter takes precedent over Measure B, which amended an existing law, not the charter. Goldsmith says the California Supreme Court has found that any city law that is at odds with that city’s charter is void.

Given how often such charters have been likened to the local equivalent of the U.S. Constitution, Goldsmith’s analysis carries obvious weight. The nonpartisan League of California Cities’ formal guidance to its members on charter cities’ authority backs him up.

Ferbert has indicated she may take a more formal, in-depth look at this issue. This step is badly needed. Without it, the cynicism about city leaders’ devotion to municipal employee unions — which hate outsourcing of government services — will only keep building. The city attorney, the mayor and the entire City Council are all Democrats.

But this detail shouldn’t — repeat, shouldn’t — matter to Ferbert. So San Diegans need to hear the city attorney cite what court precedents she believes validate her view — and as soon as possible.

Originally Published: March 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM PDT

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San Diego, CA

How to watch San Diego State vs. UNLV basketball game

Published

2 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

How to watch San Diego State vs. UNLV basketball game

Remarkably, the San Diego State Aztecs can still win a share of the Mountain West title despite losing four of their last five games.

SDSU (19-10, 13-6) needs to beat UNLV (16-14, 11-8) on Friday night in its home finale and then have New Mexico win at Utah State on Saturday for a three-way tie.

The Aztecs had their destiny in their hands less than a week ago, but then lost at New Mexico (13-6) on Saturday and then again at Boise State on Tuesday night, pretty much snuffing out their NCAA Tournament at-large bid chances and apparently ending their hopes at the MW title in their final season in the conference.

But then Utah State (14-5) was routed at UNLV and New Mexico lost at home to Nevada, setting up the possibility of a three-way tie. It’ll be moot, however, if the Aggies beat the Lobos, which will give them the title outright and the No. 1 seed in next week’s conference tournament in Las Vegas.

That’s life in the MW, which the Aztecs and Aggies are leaving after this season to join the new-look Pac-12, along with Boise State, Fresno State and Colorado State.

The big picture

The Aztecs were voted the unanimous preseason favorite to win the regular-season title, based on a loaded roster under coach Brian Dutcher, including the return of Miles Byrd and Magoon Gwath after pulling out of the NBA Draft, and Reese Dixon-Waters after missing last year with a foot injury.

But it’s been a rough go from almost the start, when a rough showing in the non-conference schedule put them on the bubble for an at-large NCAA Tournament berth.

They started to find themselves early in league play by running off a seven-game losing streak, but then lost consecutive games at Grand Canyon and Utah State. Their current skid includes a surprising home loss to Grand Canyon and then a startling road loss to Colorado State.

They routed Utah State at home last week before losing at New Mexico on Saturday and then being routed at Boise State on Tuesday night, when they were outrebounded 37-15.

The last three games were all Quad 1 opportunities in the NCAA NET Rankings, but going 1-2 in those games further hurt their already weak chances at an at-large tourney berth. Those rankings are used by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee as the primary sorting tool for selection and seeding for March Madness.

Now they’ll almost certainly have to win three games in three days at the MW tournament to claim the automatic bid to reach March Madness for the sixth straight year.

Key facts

The Aztecs will be facing UNLV for the final time in the regular season, as the Runnin’ Rebels will be remaining behind in the MW.

The teams will meet for the 86th time overall, with the Aztecs leading the series 45-40. SDSU is 21-14 against the Runnin’ Rebels in San Diego and 18-8 on Steve Fisher Court.

Below is a look at how to watch UNLV at San Diego State

How to watch UNLV at San Diego State

Date: Friday, March 6

Game time: 7 p.m. PT

Where: Viejas Arena | San Diego

How to watch: CBS Sports Network

How to listen: San Diego Sports 760 (local)

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San Diego, CA

Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight

Published

14 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight

On Thursday, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County recorded its largest increase since Sept. 28, 2023, rising 8.7 cents to $4.894, its highest amount since Nov. 13.

The average price has increased 15 consecutive days, rising 28.7 cents, including 7 cents on Wednesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 22.4 cents more than one week ago, 38.6 cents higher than one month ago and 14.5 cents greater than one year ago.

The average price has dropped $1.541 since rising to a record $6.435 on Oct. 5, 2022.

“Gas prices are rising primarily due to a recent surge in crude oil following strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, told City News Service. “Any conflict with Iran can send oil prices higher, as Iran is a major oil producer and about a fifth of the oil consumed globally travels through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.

“Gas prices are increasing because of seasonal factors too. Refineries are beginning the switch to more expensive summer-blend fuel, and demand is picking up as we head into the spring break season with more people on the road.”

The national average price rose 5.3 cents to $3.251, its highest amount since Sept. 11, 2024. It has risen five consecutive days, increasing 26.9 cents, including 8.9 cents on Wednesday.

The national average price is 26.8 cents more than one week ago, 36 cents higher than one month ago and 14.4 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.765 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.

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San Diego, CA

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)

San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.

The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.

The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.

San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.

The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.

Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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