Why residents are changing their minds about San Diego’s trash service fees

After more than 100 years of free garbage services according to popular ordinance, a new price could be imposed thanks to Measure B.

The city’s feedback meetings aim to explain how, why and when this will happen.

They are even changing the minds of those who initially voted no to this measure.

A room in Rancho Bernardo is filled with people who want to know:

“How the city spends our money and taxes us,” said Donna Myers, one of the conference attendees. Raising awareness about waste study events hosted by the City of San Diego.

Fortunately for them, there is no shortage of posters, diagrams and demonstrations to explain it.

“So in response to the passage of Measure B, we have initiated a public process to engage with the public,” said Jeremy Bauer, deputy director of the Department of Environmental Services.

The measure, passed in 2022, allows the city to charge fees for waste management services that do not currently exist.

Leaving the bill for eligible single-family and multi-family properties.

“Of course I want to see low fees. Because I’m on a fixed income and, you know, my husband is in a memory care facility that costs a lot of money per month,” said Gloria Van Grove, another attendee at the event.

The people’s ordinance was passed in 1919 and prohibited the city from charging for waste collection and disposal.

It was even amended in 1986, before the vote on Measure B overturned that.

“And do you remember whether you voted yes or no on Measure B? I asked.

“I voted no,” Van Grove said.

But even those who were initially against it are coming forward and sharing their thoughts.

Some even change their minds on the subject, after obtaining more information 2 years later.

“If I were voting today, I would vote yes,” Myers said.

The city’s outreach programs are scheduled weekly through December 10, with investigationsoffered online for those who cannot come.

So the city’s residents can express their opinion.

“This will make me feel a little better.” It just depends on what the city council decides to do with our opinions,” Van Grove said.