SAN DIEGO, CA — The ballot question adopted by the San Diego City Council for a measure set to go before voters in March that imposes a new tax to expand the convention center runs afoul of California election laws that require the summary to be a true, impartial and transparent synopsis of the measure, according to a lawsuit filed by voters.
See below for press conference details.
As written, the ballot question to raise the transient occupancy tax (TOT) to expand the convention center and fund homeless programs and street repairs is not in compliance with California Election Code 13119, enacted into state law to ensure that voters have the information they need to make good decisions. State law requires that the ballot summary be neither argumentative nor prejudicial. For measures that impose a tax, it also requires that the ballot summary include the amount of money to be raised annually and the duration of the tax. Voters in the lawsuit assert that the City Council failed to comply with these requirements thereby undermining the voters’ right to true, impartial, and transparent information.
PRESS CONFERENCE
What: Voters file a lawsuit challenging the city council and city attorney’s failure to comply with state law ensuring transparency and impartiality on the convention center expansion ballot measure.
When: Thursday, December 12 at 10 a.m.
Where: City Concourse, outside of City Hall
Speakers include:
- Andrea Guerrero, executive director of Alliance San Diego
- Michael McConnell, voter and petitioner
- Isidro Ortiz, voter and petitioner
About Alliance San Diego
Alliance San Diego is a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) community empowerment organization working to ensure that all people can achieve their full potential in an environment of harmony, safety, equality, and justice. Our mission is to provide a means for diverse individuals and organizations to share information, collaborate on issues and mobilize for change in the pursuit of social justice, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. We pursue this mission through targeted civic engagement programs and strategic coalitions that focus on specific issues and policy reforms.
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