San Diego, CA
City mailer gives homeowners chance to oppose controversial trash collection fee
Homeowner John Horwath has spent 29 years rolling his trash bins onto and off his Normal Heights street. While he understands why the city is preparing to begin charging the monthly fee, he voted against the change a few years ago and has “mixed feelings” about it now.
“You know, that $47.50 doesn’t seem like much, but on a fixed income, it sure is,” said Horwath, a retiree living on a fixed Social Security income. “Grocery store, where I’m headed right now, it’s going to be a hundred and a quarter. I mean, everything is just going up. So, $47.50 does mean something.”
On Friday, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association opposed the effort. Back in 2022, voters approved Measure B, which gave the city the green light to charge for trash pickup.
In 2022, voters approved a ballot measure that suggested the fee would be between $20-$30 a month for trash pickup. An updated estimated charge of $53 received ample pushback from constituents earlier this year, though, and, under pressure, the city lowered the anticipated fee by about $5, to the current $47.50.
Some residents of San Diego are now expressing concerns that they’re being asked to pay more than they expected when they cast a vote.
“It is unfair to charge residents and ratepayers additional funds if the city government isn’t able to balance its budget through its other programs,” said Garrison Ham, who sits on the taxpayers’ association board.
The city, however, maintains that the fee, which would be imposed on most single-family homeowners, is necessary to balance the budget, which faces a $258 million shortfall, and Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed budget draft relies on the revenue the trash fee would generate.
Horwath’s neighbor, Nik Hawks, is not keen on the fee, either.
“One option is we just put our trash out on the street and make a protest, but that just sullies our own street,” Hawks said.
There is a cleaner way to protest: Per state law, homeowners who would be responsible for paying the city of San Diego’s new trash collection fee can send in a written protest, and if more than 50% of them do so, the city cannot enact the controversial change. In fact, the city this week is sending out a mailer about the program which includes a form that can be filled out to protest the fee.
In a statement, a city spokesperson said, “Residents in every other city in San Diego County pay for their trash services, as do all the City of San Diego residents who live in apartments, condos and on private streets – about half our population… What the City is proposing will free up millions of dollars in the City’s operating fund to pay for priorities like parks, libraries, police and firefighters, and road repair.”
San Diego, CA
Spring Valley Christian school teacher suspected of sexually abusing child
A 49-year-old teacher at Christian High School, suspected of sexually abusing a minor, was arrested Tuesday outside the Spring Valley school affiliated with Shadow Mountain Community Church.
Kevin G. Conover was booked at the San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of oral copulation with a victim under 18, aggravated sexual abuse of a child under 14, three counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child, and continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies initially responded to a radio call regarding sexual assault allegations of a minor by a family member on Oct. 1, prompting an immediate investigation by Child Abuse Unit detectives, who later found probable cause to arrest Conover, sheriff’s officials said.
Conover was described as a teacher at the school in Tuesday’s statement from the sheriff’s office announcing his arrest. However, there were no references to him on the school’s website on Tuesday night.
The investigation remains ongoing by the Child Abuse Unit as investigators conduct a follow-up into the allegations.
Anyone with information regarding the alleged abuse was urged to call the Child Abuse Unit at 858-285-6112. Calls after business hours should be directed to 858-868-3200. Tipsters who remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
San Diego, CA
100-unit affordable housing community ‘The Iris’ opens in San Ysidro
Housing developer National CORE, the San Diego Housing Commission, the county and city of San Diego celebrated the grand opening Tuesday of a 100-unit affordable housing community in San Ysidro.
The Iris, 1663 Dairy Mart Road, is across the street from a trolley stop and the newly renovated Howard Lane Park. It features 42 one-bedroom, 32 two-bedroom, and 25 three-bedroom apartments for low-income families and individuals, along with a manager’s unit.
“I am proud to support The Iris at San Ysidro because it reflects the kind of thoughtful development our region needs,” said San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre. “It is housing that is affordable, sustainable and connected to parks, transit and community services.”
Residents at The Iris have “extremely low,” to low income making anywhere from 25% to 60% of the Area Median Income. AMI is $130,800 for a family of two, $165,500 for a family of four, according to the county’s figures.
The Iris includes 15 permanent supportive housing units for people who have experienced homelessness and 50 apartments designed to support residents with mobility challenges and five homes for people with hearing loss.
All units at The Iris will be required to remain affordable for 55 years for households with income up to 60% of San Diego’s Area Median Income.
SDHC awarded 25 housing vouchers to The Iris to help pay rent for residents with extremely low income. These vouchers are tied directly to this development, so that when a household moves on, the voucher stays to help another household with extremely low income.
The project was developed by National CORE and featured public/private partnerships, such as a county investment of $5 million from the Innovative Housing Trust Fund and $6.5 million in No Place Like Home funds. County Behavioral Health Services will also provide supportive services to residents for the next 20 years.
The Iris includes a community room with office space, a laundry room and a courtyard play area with outdoor seating.
City News Service contributed to this article.
San Diego, CA
San Diego FC acquire Lewis Morgan from Red Bull New York | MLSSoccer.com
TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Trade
- SD receive: Lewis Morgan, $525k GAM
- RBNY receive: Up to $1.1m GAM, SuperDraft pick
San Diego FC have acquired midfielder Lewis Morgan from Red Bull New York, the clubs announced Tuesday.
In exchange for the 29-year-old Scottish international, New York will receive up to $1.1 million in General Allocation Money (GAM). The funds include $450k guaranteed GAM in 2026 and up to $650k in conditional GAM.
The Red Bulls retain a portion of Morgan’s 2026 salary budget charge and receive San Diego’s natural third-round pick in the 2027 MLS SuperDraft. Additionally, San Diego will get $525k GAM in 2027 from New York.
Morgan is under contract with San Diego through 2026 with club options for 2027 and 2028.
“Lewis is an attacker who can play across the front three and brings qualities that will add to our group in 2026,” said SDFC sporting director Tyler Heaps.
“He’s proven he can contribute goals and assists in this league, and we look forward to welcoming him to San Diego when we start preseason in the new year.”
Morgan has spent the past six seasons in MLS, starting with Inter Miami CF (2020-21) before getting traded to New York (2022-25).
The former Celtic attacker was named the 2024 MLS Comeback Player of the Year and helped the Red Bulls make MLS Cup presented by Audi that season. He missed most of the 2023 and 2025 campaigns due to injury.
For his MLS career, Morgan has 38g/17a in 140 combined games (all competitions) with Miami and New York.
He’s earned seven caps with Scotland, including at UEFA Euro 2024.
“Lewis has always handled himself with the utmost professionalism, through many tough moments in his career and many fantastic ones,” said RBNY head of sport Julian de Guzman.
“We wish Lewis the best of luck in San Diego.”
San Diego are coming off a historic debut season, where they set expansion club records for points (63) and wins (19). They made the Western Conference Final in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The Red Bulls are in reset mode after seeing their 15-year playoff streak end. They finished 10th in the Eastern Conference table (43 points).
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