To make matters worse, the city council on Monday voted 5-2 to kill Councilmember David Alvarez’s hotel tax measure (an increase of 1 percent) where the money would have gone directly to homeless programs. The measure was seen as a longshot to make the ballot since the mayor’s convention center bill had already been approved for the ballot, but it stings nonetheless.
An aquatic safety center proposed for Mission Bay Bark won’t be on the November ballot based on concerns that supporters haven’t conducted enough community outreach. Councilman David Alvarez of Logan Heights said the aquatic center is a worthy project that would bolster the city’s nonprofit junior lifeguard program, but voted against placing it on the ballot because he said the community needs more information.
Read MoreWhen it comes to whom we're endorsing, there ain't much suspense. We endorsed Alvarez in the primary, and he's still in the race, so he's still our guy. Alvarez would lead from the bottom up. He'd make decisions based on what's best for the middle class and those who are struggling to join it. As he's shown in Barrio Logan, he'd have the backs of neighborhood residents when they need equal access to services or are up against powerful interests.
Read MoreCouncilman David Alvarez criticized his colleagues for not being more aggressive in the face of the SDSU report, which showed that blacks and Hispanics are significantly more likely to be searched and questioned in the field after being stopped by police. "I'm not seeing us take any real action," said Alvarez, urging his colleagues to be more bold. “The City of San Diego needs to accept this uncomfortable reality and must address it with swift and decisive action.”
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