SAN DIEGO — Those living in the City of San Diego voted on Measure B in the November 8, 2022 general election to decide if the city can amend the existing municipal code to change how they recover costs for solid waste management services.
Measure B Live Election Results
A ballot measure that would take a step toward repealing "The People's Ordinance" trash collection model in the city of San Diego remained in limbo Wednesday, with ballot returns showing the measure too close to call.
Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego City Councilman and chair of the conservative political action committee Reform California, said he was confident the voters had stopped Measure B in Tuesday's election.
"We are very pleased with the initial voting results in the Measure B race," he said. "Because these initial results tend to disproportionately reflect Democrat-leaning voters, we believe the NO side will continue to pick up votes and increase our vote share as all ballots are processed.
"Defeating Measure B is important because San Diego residents are already struggling with high cost-of-living caused by reckless policies supported by Mayor Todd Gloria and the City Council," DeMaio said. "Preventing a costly Garbage Tax from being imposed in the city of San Diego will be a big win for working families."
Measure B's passage would allow the City Council to adopt a monthly fee for single-family homes and multi-family complexes with up to four residences on a single lot. The measure would not impose a specific fee on its own. Such a fee would require a study to determine the city's costs to provide the services, as well as City Council approval.
Supporters say the measure would end a system that allowed a benefit for certain residents, while those living in apartments or condos have to pay for private haulers. According to the ballot argument in support of the measure, its passage would "fix this broken and unfair system so San Diego can start delivering better services for all of us, like bulky item pickup and free replacement of broken trash bins."
Opponents say homeowners already pay for trash pickup through property taxes and thus would be charged twice for the same service if Measure B passes.
"San Diegans already have one of the highest cost of living burdens in the nation and we should not be adding to the existing burdens of working families with this costly garbage tax," opponents said in their ballot argument.
A YES vote on Measure B means
The City of San Diego can amend the existing municipal code to change how they recover costs for solid waste management services.
A NO vote on Measure B means
Nothing will change. Some newer apartment and condominium complex owners will continue to pay for trash pick-up, but others and all single-family homes will not. Regular trash pick-up must continue at least once per week.
Measure B explained
Measure B is asking voters in the City of San Diego if they're willing to pay for trash service. Supporters say this is about fairness and preparing for the future, but those opposed say, for several reasons, this measure is garbage.
To understand the history, we have to take you back to 1919. San Diego voters passed "The People's Ordinance" which guaranteed free trash pick-up at least once a week. The idea was that the city could sell the trash to hog farmers and that would help cover the costs, but almost immediately the city lost money.
Today, the city spends more than $42 million a year to collect trash and expects that number to jump above $48 million in five years.
OFFICIAL BALLOT QUESTION
MEASURE B AMENDS SAN DIEGO MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 66.0127 RELATED TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES: Shall the San Diego Municipal Code be amended so that all City residents receive comparable trash, recycling, and other solid waste management services, by allowing the City to recover its cost of providing these services to eligible residential properties, which could allow the City to provide additional services, such as weekly recycling, bulky item pickup, and curbside container replacement and delivery, at no extra charge?
WATCH RELATED: Measure B: Should San Diego's current trash-service law be changed?