Latest news with #SanDiegoCityCouncil
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
County offers $135k grant to save San Diego's fire pits
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava announced Thursday a last-ditch effort to save the city's beachside fire rings from the budgetary chopping block. The county has committed to provide $135,000 in stopgap funding from the Community Enhancement Grant Program to maintain the beloved fire pits through the next fiscal year, covering services like ash removal, debris disposal and safety compliance checks. This work to the rings — located throughout Fiesta Island, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, Mission Bay and La Jolla — was one of the proposed cuts included in Mayor Todd Gloria's budget draft to help the city close a more than $250 million budget deficit. San Diego unveils devices to help wheelchair users visit beaches Some residents of the impacted coastal neighborhoods were incensed by the proposed cut, arguing the fire rings are a core part of the city's culture. Others, however, expressed being more open to it. Supporters of the cuts described the rings as a relative nuisance due to their smoke and some residents' use of them to burn items like trash and furniture. Lawson-Remer explained in a statement the stopgap funding is intended to give the city the opportunity to work out a permanent solution to maintain the fire rings' funding moving forward. 'I believe in protecting the places that bring us together. These fire pits are part of our shared story as San Diegans – places where people connect across generations and backgrounds,' she said. 'This offer is about giving the community time to come together around a long-term solution, without losing an asset that matters so much to our region.' City blocked from applying vendor laws to beachside yoga classes The city will still need to formally accept on the grant. It is expected to be discussed as part of the City Council's Budget Committee Meeting on Friday, when they will be parsing through their proposed revisions to Gloria's proposal. 'Generations of San Diegans, including my family, have gathered around fire rings to celebrate, reflect, and build community,' said LaCava in a statement. 'This grant will allow the city to re-focus on locating the fire pits and ensuring they are used responsibly.' The council will have until June 10 to approve a finalized budget for the next fiscal year, which begins in July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘It's a rigged system': San Diego becomes the 5th US city to ban using AI software to set rent prices
The San Diego City Council recently voted 8-1 to prohibit landlords from using rent price-fixing software that relies on non-public data. The measure was introduced by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who claimed the programs are harming tenants by giving landlords an unfair advantage. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) "It's a rigged system," Councilmember Elo-Rivera told CBS 8. "We know that these companies are able to coordinate with one another via the software to keep prices artificially high, and sometimes even receive coaching from the software, the platform that says, don't negotiate, leave units vacant if necessary, to keep these prices high." Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Berkeley have all banned the use of such software. The Justice Department has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Texas-based RealPage, which controls 80% of the market for rent-setting software, and six of the country's biggest landlords for 'participating in algorithmic pricing schemes that harmed renters.' Attorneys General of several states have joined the fight. If the suit is successful and if bans continue, tenants may soon find some relief from high prices, which could give them much-needed wiggle room in their budgets. San Diego's ban targets software programs made by companies like RealPage. These companies collect private rental market data from landlords and put the data into a program that uses AI algorithms to recommend rental rates, propose rental price increases, and set occupancy rates. Because the programs use sensitive private data there are concerns that they help landlords violate antitrust laws prohibiting competitors from colluding to keep prices higher than they should be. In some cases, the programs even urge landlords to keep units empty or to raise rents. This has consequences. In San Diego, for example, the programs were allegedly causing rental prices to be 2% to 7% higher than they would have been without the programs. Read more: This hedge fund legend warns US stock market will crash a stunning 80% — claims 'Armageddon' is coming. Don't believe him? He earned 4,144% during COVID. Here's 3 ways to protect yourself "What I pay is $4,200 for rent, it's almost more than a mortgage for a house," local renter George Medrano told CBS 8. Medrano said his rent has gone from $2,600 in 2020 to the $4,200 he is paying today, and while he acknowledges market forces were a contributing factor, he also thinks collusion on the part of landlords helped push the price of his unit higher. Not everyone supports the ban, though. Councilmember Raul Campillo voted against it, expressing concern that it could prevent landlords from doing routine and necessary assessments of their company's strength against competitors. A group representing local landlords also expressed concern that the rules were too vague Another local renter, Rowan Liao, also pointed out that when algorithms set rates, at least they are based on math instead of emotions. "I think when prices are written by people, there's unavoidable bias introduced, kind of like emotion-based pricing," Liao said to CBS 8. Still, with the ban in effect, landlords will need to stop using the software, or they could be sued by tenants for a violation of the new rule. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
San Diego bans grocery stores from offering digital-only coupons
San Diego has banned grocery stores from offering only digital coupons after the San Diego City Council voted unanimously in favor of the Grocery Pricing Transparency Ordinance. It's just one move by states looking to alleviate the financial burden many families are facing at the grocery store. The ordinance, which still has to return to council for a second reading, is the first of its kind in the U.S. and is aimed at keeping seniors and low-income families from unfairly paying higher prices for groceries. Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera led the effort to pass the ordinance after his father, who's in his 70s, complained about having difficulty accessing digital coupons and said they didn't always work. 'Simplest policy we've ever written,' Elo-Rivera told CBS 8. 'If you offer a discount digitally, there must be a way to physically access that discount in the store.' I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Elo-Rivera and his colleagues on the council hope the ordinance will help ease some of the inequities that result from the digital divide, where some people don't have access to mobile technology or the internet because of lack of financial means or technological know-how. This divide tends to disproportionately affect seniors and those with low incomes. For instance, in the U.S., 90% of all adults own or use a smartphone, but only 76% of those 65 and over own one. And only 79% of those with an annual income of less than $30,000 do, according to Pew Research Center. Yet another barrier: In San Diego, more than 50,000 San Diego households don't have internet access, according to Elo-Rivera's office. And among those that do, there is still frustration with using grocery apps. 'What I found frustrating is not being able to use it, and then the cashier at the counter couldn't use it, and couldn't show me how to do it,' Fred Davis, a Serving Seniors volunteer, told CBS 8. 'Not only did I not get the discount, but nobody could help me.' Some argue that the difficulty may be by design. Digital discounts are 'a clever ploy by big supermarket chains to get people into the store knowing full well that many of them will wind up paying more than the advertised price,' according to Edgar Dworsky, a consumer advocate and founder of Consumer World. Read more: The US stock market's 'fear gauge' has exploded — but this 1 'shockproof' asset is up 14% and helping American retirees stay calm. Here's how to own it ASAP Unfortunately, the people most affected by this — seniors on fixed incomes and low-income families — are those who could most use them. These groups spend a larger percentage of their income on food and are highly dependent on sales and discounts to get by. As more of these discounts become digital-only, it makes budgeting and reducing food costs almost impossible. Still, digital coupons are popular and their use is expected to continue growing. And there has been some pushback against the proposal. 'The current proposal would actually reduce access to discounts for San Diegans, not expand it,' members of the California Grocers Association said in a statement to CBS 8, in response to the San Diego ordinance. 'The proposal would make special offerings like loyalty programs — which fairly reward a store's best customers — unworkable.' The group implored the San Diego council to consider the ramifications of their proposal. Still, San Diego is not the only jurisdiction looking to create laws that would improve the transparency of grocery pricing. In recent months, lawmakers in New Jersey, Illinois, Rhode Island and Connecticut have been looking at legislation that would require grocery stores offering digital coupons to offer alternatives such as paper coupons. In the end, legislation may not be required. Some retailers now have in-store kiosks that allow all customers to access coupons and promotions. So if you're one of those who's frustrated with digital-only coupons, you may want to vote with your dollars and shop at a store that's tackling coupon inequities. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘This is his homegoing': Life of San Diego trailblazer Leon Williams honored
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Dozens gathered Friday to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Leon Williams, one of San Diego's most remarkable public servants and civil rights leaders who passed earlier this month at the age of 102. A trailblazer as the first Black member of both the San Diego City Council and the county Board of Supervisors, Williams was instrumental in the city's growth in the late 20th century, championing everything from public transit to desegregation through equitable city planning. 'His legacy is expansive,' his youngest son, J.J. Anderson, said at the services. 'He loved San Diego, he loved the county of San Diego and he gave his entire life to this county.' The array of mourners packed into Calvary Baptist Church in Logan Heights for the funeral was a testament to this service, spanning former and present elected officials, community leaders and loved ones. San Diego passes first-in-the-nation policy to ban digital-only coupons at grocery stores 'You can feel my father's love. People knew that he was a real person,' Anderson said. 'He all felt that we all had enough and so we should try to help other people have what we have.' Born in Oklahoma, Williams arrived in San Diego in the 1940s for a job at North Island Naval Air Station. After a deployment in a segregated unit during World War II, he graduated from then-San Diego State College on the G.I. Bill. While he quickly fell in love with the area, he moved to the city during the height of San Diego's Jim Crow era, a period where many businesses refused to serve Black residents and neighborhoods in the city had restrictive housing policies to keep minority groups out. Williams did not take these indignities sitting down. As a student, he participated in protests like sit-ins at segregated restaurants with his peers. In 1947, he defied a 'whites only' housing covenant in Golden Hill by purchasing the home he lived in through the end of his life on E Street. Now, that block bears his name, having been officially dedicated as 'Leon Williams Drive' in 2017. As a public official, Williams advocated for the development of local transit and the city's downtown, the revitalization of Balboa Park, removal of redlining policies from the city's land use codes, and changes that encouraged community-oriented policing, among other things. 'I'm very grateful to the community for coming out and showing love,' Anderson said of the turnout at the funeral. 'My father would be very happy.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
San Diego mulls first-of-its-kind law on digital coupons at grocery stores
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego City Council on Monday is set to consider adopting a new law aimed at expanding accessibility to grocery store coupons that proponents say could become the first of its kind. The proposed ordinance, introduced by City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, is the first action item from the recently-established Select Committee on Addressing Cost of Living to be brought before the full council. Under the proposed ordinance, grocers in the city who offer digital deals would be required to have paper coupons with the same deal available upon request. A sign noting these coupons' availability or prices with any digital deals would also need to be clearly displayed for shoppers. Elo-Rivera's office says this change would help address disparities in access to money-saving opportunities due to the 'digital divide,' or the schism between those with easy access to the internet and those who do not. San Diego's 'hotel room tax' increases soon As nearly every aspect of life has shifted into digital spaces, studies have shown this gap has exacerbated socioeconomic inequality, shutting out people like seniors and low-income households from certain tools and opportunities that are only available online. 'Grocery prices are skyrocketing, yet big chains are making it harder—not easier—for San Diegans to save money,' Elo-Rivera's office said in a release on the ordinance. 'This ordinance is about fairness, transparency, and stopping corporate schemes that squeeze consumers for more money. If a discount is available digitally, it should be available to everyone—period.' The city council is set to take up the item during its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday after it was unanimously passed through the select committee during its first meeting last month. The committee's stated aim is to find ways to bring immediate relief to San Diegans' pocketbooks. Among the proposals it is also considering is a bump to tourism industry workers' minimum wages up to $25 an hour. Should the grocery ordinance pass, San Diego could become the first city in the country to implement such a policy. Lawmakers in Washington, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Illinois have considered similar bills in recent years, but all failed to become law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
