SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A debate on a new tax for short-term vacation rentals, such as Airbnb’s, and second homes that aren’t rented out long-term could be coming to San Diego.

The proposal was approved 3 to 1 by the city’s rules committee, but it’s still months away from a final decision, which would be up to voters.

The proposal would charge a $5,000 tax per bedroom each year on properties, which the city says would impact about 10,644 properties in San Diego and bring in up to $135 million a year.

“Homes should be for San Diegans, not just for profit,” Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who initiated the ballot proposal, said.

Elo-Rivera was one of three councilmembers who voted Wednesday in favor of the measure, while Councilmember Raul Campillo was the lone ‘no’ vote.

“We are going to see significant economic harms and elimination of jobs; livelihoods are at stake because of this,” Campillo argued.

He said this tax could drive away tourists, hurt property owners who rely on that income, and argued that it would not add housing; instead, it might force local owners to sell because they couldn’t afford the tax, leading more out-of-state investors to buy up properties.

Campillo said in 2023 that the city collected $34.7 million in local Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) from Airbnbs.

Before the vote Wednesday, opposing rallies were held outside City Council prior to the meeting starting.

“I support councilmember Elo Rivera’s proposal to tax the roughly 5,600 second homes in San Diego that sit vacant when not used by their owners,” one woman said at the podium in favor of the proposal.

“More than 80 percent of hosts live right here in the city,” another person said, against the tax proposal.

This is expected to be up for a second consideration in the Rules Committee in 2026 and would need to pass the full council by March to make it on the June ballot for voters to decide.

Military officials have identified the Camp Pendleton-based Marine pilot and California native killed in a helicopter crash last week.

Maj. Tyler R. Braconi, 35, died when an AH-1Z Viper carrying two crew members crashed Thursday evening during routine training for the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course near an unpopulated area of Imperial Gables.

The flight had departed from Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton and experienced an “aviation mishap” near the California-Arizona border, officials said.

Assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 369, Marine Aircraft Group 39 and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Braconi commissioned in 2012, was promoted to major in 2022 and previously served with HMLA-267 and as an exchange pilot with the Australian Army.

LA MESA, CA — Two people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 8 in San Diego, including a police officer who stopped to help motorists, authorities announced Tuesday.

The crash was reported shortly before 10:30 p.m. Monday on Interstate 8 near Fairmount Avenue in San Diego, according to the La Mesa Police Department. La Mesa police Officer Lauren Craven saw the crash and stopped to assist the motorists when she was struck by an oncoming vehicle.

“California Highway Patrol officers performed lifesaving efforts, but tragically, Officer Craven died at the scene,” the department said in a news release.

CHP officials told 10News that a driver involved in the collision also died at the scene.

The CHP was handling the investigation.

Craven joined the department in February 2024 and was assigned to the patrol division. She was 25 years old.

“The La Mesa Police Department would like to thank our allied agencies for their unwavering support,” the department said. “We ask that the La Mesa community keep Officer Craven, her family, and the La Mesa Police Department in their thoughts and prayers.”