Mold Remediation in San Diego, CA

Three measures are on the Nov 5. ballot for San Diego voters including Measure E to raise the sales tax to 8.75% to support city infrastructure projects.

Credit: TEGNA

SAN DIEGO — Early Presidential General Election results Tuesday evening appear to have San Diegans rejecting a ballot measure intended to increase sales tax in the city to raise $400 million for city infrastructure needs -- but the tally remains close.

San Diegans had several ballot measures to vote on when they cast their ballots, including three in the city and while two of them are on relatively technical issues, one could increase the sales tax to raise $400 million for city infrastructure needs.

The no votes lead as of Tuesday night, with an unknown amount of ballots still to be counted.

Measure E, known as the San Diego Transaction and Use Tax, would increase the tax on transactions in the city by 1%, bringing the total sales tax to 8.75%. The current rate in the city, 7.75%, leaves the city tied for the fourth lowest of the state's 482 municipalities and lower than nine of the county's 18 cities, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

The additional $400 million raised by the proposal can legally go to a wide range of city needs, including infrastructure projects, core services and general city needs -- money desperately needed to maintain San Diego, officials say.

Other cities in San Diego County also have money on the ballot, with El Cajon, La Mesa, Oceanside looking for renewals of existing sales taxes and cities such as Encinitas, Escondido, Lemon Grove, San Marcos, Santee and the county of San Diego seeking to add additional taxes.

All of these proposals have a time limit, ranging from 10-20 years. The city of San Diego's ballot measure will continue, "until ended by voters, requiring citizen oversight and independent audits," the ballot measure reads. The open-endedness of the timeline and what the funds could potentially be used for has opponents worried about its scope.

"The San Diego County Taxpayers Association opposes the proposed San Diego Transaction and Use Tax due to concerns about the city's history of poor performance and continued management failures," an organization white paper read. "Given this history, the absence of expected accountability and transparency measures, such as a sunset clause, is particularly troubling."

Measure C, which appears to have passed, will eliminate the need for San Diego Unified School District Board of Education primary elections when two or fewer candidates are running for a position. The candidates would automatically move to a general election.

Measure D, proposed by City Attorney Mara Elliott, will likely pass. It seeks to make the city's Ethics Commission more independent from political machinations. If passed, the measure would allow the commission to be eliminated by voter approval only, and would allow the commission to appoint its own executive director without City Council approval, initiate its own investigations and law enforcement referrals, have expressly defined qualifications and term limits, and is provided "sufficient resources," the ballot measure reads.

A little more than two hours south of Los Angeles is a culinary hub that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Along with its perfect weather, San Diego has a spectacular dining scene where the chefs swank their creativity while uplifting their local communities using fresh ingredients from farmers in the region.

San Diego’s restaurants take people on a culinary journey around the world. Chefs have created Spanish restaurants, restaurants with influences from the Mediterranean, places with the best Japanese wagyu steaks in the world, and Tijuana-style street tacos.

Get your appetites ready. Here are the ten best restaurants to try while visiting San Diego.

ANIMAE

Inside the stunning ANIMAE is a restaurant where the food is just as delightful as the aesthetic. The world-class steakhouse restaurant is located in the Marina District of San Diego. As the brainchild of celebrity chef and restaurateur Brian Malarkey, ANIMAE is a unique take on a West Coast Steakhouse with Asian culinary influences.

According to the team, ANIMAE is one of the few restaurants in San Diego serving Japan’s finest A5 wagyu beef. It’s considered the highest grade of Japanese wagyu beef and one of the most exclusive in the world.

Born And Raised

Michelin Restaurants Guide describes Born & Raised as a place where if Frank Sinatra and Tupac were to meet and break bread, it would likely be at this incredible steakhouse. If you can get in during happy hour, consider yourself lucky because you can taste the delicious food for a cheaper price. If you go during dinner, expect to spend more than $100 per person but it will be worth it and so are the views.

Callie

The name Callie is of Greek origin and derives from the Greek word kalos, which means beautiful. Chef Travis Swikard brings the stunning Mediterranean coastline together through food. Callie guests will taste diverse flavors from the Mediterranean coastline, including Greece, Spain, Italy, Morocco, the Middle East, and more.

Chef Swikard also brings it home, putting the farmers, fishermen, and ingredients of his home in Southern California to the forefront as he blends them with Mediterranean flavors.

Campfire

Prepare to set up “camp and dine” with those you love. Campfire celebrates the spirit of its name, where you gather around a fire with your friends and loved ones to break bread and share stories.

Led by Chef Eric Bost, the team draws inspiration from the coasts, forests, mountains, and deserts that make up California’s vibrant and eclectic landscape. The menu boasts an incredible adventure of flavors that will hit all the perfect notes in your belly.

Costa Brava

Inside Costa Brava, people will discover the essence of Spain without leaving San Diego. The restaurant offers an authentic Spanish dining experience, blending traditional and modern Spanish dishes. As you’re transported to Spain through the menu of tapas and paella, the owners didn’t forget to include a delicious menu curated with Spanish wines to pair with your meal.

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Ed Fernandez

Ed Fernandez offers a comfortable establishment in South San Diego. Locals bring their friends to show off just how significant food is in San Diego. Ed Fernandez has a reputation in town as the best place for birria in all of San Diego. Its mouth-watering birria is a slow-cooked beef stew flavored with chiles and spices, but according to the owners, the essential ingredients are passion and love.

Juniper And Ivy

Owner Michael Rosen decided it was time to start a serious conversation about food, wine, and local ingredients and what they are capable of when treated with passion, precision, and inventiveness. He jumped on the opportunity when he came across an abandoned warehouse in San Diego’s Little Italy. What started as a love letter to San Diego, food, and wine is now a destination for fine dining on the West Coast.

Oscar’s Mexican Seafood

Oscar’s Mexican Seafood is the go-to spot for Mexican-style seafood in Southern California. With a few locations across San Diego, one thing remains consistent: the creativity and flavors of the tacos will have you craving more. The Mexican seafood delights will give your tastebuds an explosive and flavorful experience that highlights San Diego’s oceanic fare.

Valle

Located on the oceanfront on the coast of Oceanside, Valle offers guests a taste of contemporary Mexican cuisine. Led by Chef Roberto Alcocer, Valle was awarded a Michelin Star for its impeccably executed tasting menus showcasing the best of California produce and a robust wine list of producers hailing from Northern Mexico – including bottles from Chef Roberto’s own winery.

Valle is authentic and approachable. It offers oceanfront views of the iconic Oceanside Pier and a warm atmosphere while still providing guests with an elevated, one-of-a-kind culinary homage to Baja.

Las Cuatro Milpas

If you’re looking for an authentic taco experience, visit San Diego’s oldest Mexican restaurant, Las Cuatro Milpas. The iconic spot here in San Diego is an unpretentious place that makes everyone feel like they have a seat at the table from the moment they walk in. Visitors will be served homemade traditional Mexican food that will make you feel like you’re eating in someone’s mother’s kitchen. The lines are long at this beloved restaurant, but it’s worth waiting.

San Diego has a diverse range of restaurants that offer people entertaining and flavorful nights out in town. It has more than 40 Michelin restaurants and a ton of mom-and-pop restaurants that also deserve an award. As one of the sunniest cities in America, there’s also no shortage of warmth and shine in San Diego restaurants.

We’re tracking 178 races across San Diego County in the 2024 general election. San Diegans were asked to vote on city council members, whether to authorize a sales tax and whether their school district can issue bonds to fund repairs and new classrooms. There are six mayoral races, including in the city of San Diego and Oceanside. Also on the ballot are board seats for healthcare, fire protection and water districts.

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County races

There are three Board of Supervisors districts holding elections this year. Board Chair Nora Vargas, Joel Anderson, and Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer are running to keep their seats in Districts 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Supervisors are limited to two four-year terms.

Measure G is the only countywide measure on the ballot. A “yes” vote authorizes a half-cent sales tax, raising an expected $350 million each year. The money would fund repairs and upgrades to roads, bridges, storm drains and rail lines to prevent railway bluff collapse, reduce traffic congestion and improve transportation safety. It would also fund improvements to public transit, fill potholes and protect wildlife habitat and air quality.

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City races

Mayors, treasurers and city council members are running for office across San Diego’s 18 cities. City measures — many of which, if passed, would issue or extend taxes to fund government services — are on the ballot as well.

Community planning groups in unincorporated areas within San Diego County, such as Fallbrook and Valley Center, are also shown below.

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School districts

Results for school district board races across San Diego County, including those for community colleges and the county Board of Education, are in. Also on ballots are 22 school district bond measures. On most of the measures, a “yes” vote authorizes millions in bonds to fund repairs, upgrades to school facilities and career-readiness programs.

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Fire protection districts

Several fire protection districts have board seats on the ballot. Districts provide structural fire protection and advanced life-support emergency medical services across multiple cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego County.

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Healthcare districts

Three of the county’s four healthcare districts are electing board members. The Tri-City Health Care District operates a community hospital for Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside and parts of the Camp Pendleton U.S. Marine Corps Base. Palomar has acute care facilities and skilled nursing facilities in Escondido and Poway. In La Mesa, the Grossmont Healthcare District owns a hospital that is operated by Sharp, a private nonprofit corporation.

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Water districts

Seventeen races for irrigation and water district board members will be decided by voters in San Diego.

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Tuesday is the 2024 Presidential Election and the last day to cast your ballot in San Diego County.

24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are

All Vote Centers or ballot drop boxes will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Any voter who is in line at a vote center or an official ballot drop box at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. However, no one can join the line after the 8 p.m. deadline. For those voting by mail, ensure your ballot will be postmarked by Nov. 5 for your vote to count.

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So far, about 830,000 people have returned their mail-in ballots and another 42,000 voters have cast their ballots early and in person.

If you’re not registered to vote and want to participate in the election, you may visit any vote center to conditionally register and vote provisionally through Nov. 5.

We have what you need to know below:

When is the 2024 General Election in San Diego County?

Election Day for the 2024 General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. All polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. San Diego County voters had the option of submitting their ballots early by either using drop boxes across the county or by voting at an official Vote Center.

Where can I find a vote center?

San Diego County has hundreds of locations across San Diego County. It is not necessary to go to a specific polling place. Instead, voters can head to the location most convenient for them to vote in person, drop off their completed mail ballots, or register to vote as a conditional voter.

Voters can check whether they are registered here.

Find a vote center near you with this map or this list

When are ballots due in San Diego County?

Ballots are due when the polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Anyone in line at a vote center by 8 p.m. on Election Day will be able to cast their ballot in person.

For those mailing their ballots through the USPS, ensure yours will be postmarked on Tuesday. If you're unsure, drop your ballot at a secure drop box location before 8 p.m.

Can I vote by mail this year?

Yes, voting by mail is encouraged. Every registered voter in California will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the 2024 General Election.

First, make sure your ballot is ready to go by signing and dating your return envelope and sealing your ballot inside.

Then, find a ballot-box dropoff location near you or return to any U.S. Postal Service blue box starting on Oct. 8.

Your return envelope must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the Registrar’s office within seven days following Election Day.

Can I vote online in San Diego County?

No, California does not allow online voting.

How to watch:8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 on KPBS-TV3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10 on KPBS-TV8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10 on KPBS 27 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 on KPBS 2Or stream on the PBS app

On the big screen:Screens at San Diego Natural History Museum beginning Nov. 22Free with museum admission ($14-$24). sdnhm.org.

"America's Wildest City" is a new hour-long documentary from PBS Nature that takes us into our own backyard — home to more biodiversity than any other county in the continental U.S.

San Diego filmmaker Nate Dappen runs Day's Edge Productions and pitched the project to PBS Nature. He said he wanted to make a film that honors the incredible biological forces in the region.

"The thing that makes San Diego unique is that it's a landscape that is basically isolated by mountains on one side, desert on another, and the Pacific Ocean. All these different habitats come together in a really small area to create a ton of unique habitats," Dappen said.

The film canvases the entire county — showcasing the surprising and unique wildlife from its coastlines, lakes, mountains and deserts.

Yet some of the most impactful scenes focus on critters you might see every day. Think: squirrels.

Dappen says that putting together a nature documentary takes some creative thinking, but most of all: patience. In the film, they follow some western grebes as they mate, nest and grapple with dramatic water level changes due to dam maintenance in Lake Hodges.

"We spent maybe 40 days on Lake Hodges filming those birds as a team in a variety of different ways. (It) required a tremendous amount of patience and a ton of expertise from scientists at the natural history museum or local experts," he said.

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In a still from "America's Wildest City," a pod of orcas swims through the waters off of San Diego, CA.

Terra Mater Studios GmbH and Day’s Edge Productions

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In a still from "America's Wildest City," a harbor seal rests on La Jolla's rocky shores.

Terra Mater Studios GmbH and Day’s Edge Productions

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A still from "America's Wildest City," a young squirrel is shown surveying its surroundings from a rock pile in San Diego, CA.

Terra Mater Studios GmbH and Day’s Edge Productions

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In a still from "America's Wildest City," the first light of day shines on the mountains surrounding Anza in San Diego County.

Terra Mater Studios GmbH and Day’s Edge Productions

Though the film was made for a national audience, it encourages locals to pay more attention to what's right under their noses.

"If you put out a bird feeder, if you put out native flowers, if you just sit there and you watch for an hour, you'll see so much rad stuff. You'll see hummingbirds, you'll see crows. You'll see all sorts of insects and pollinators — butterflies come through here. It really is just all around us. I think that any place that you're at in San Diego, if you just sit down and watch, you realize that you're surrounded by beautiful nature," Dappen said.

From orcas to superblooms, Dappen hopes San Diegans recognize the impact human activity has on the land.

"The more we appreciate that, the more we'll make choices in service of protecting it," he said.

For Dappen, this is most powerfully represented in possibly the smallest creature spotlighted in the film: the tiny grunion eggs nestled in San Diego's coastlines. Activities like beach grooming or raking along the sand are now banned during the grunion mating season.

"The story of the grunion, I think, is so symbolic to me of our power to destroy and then our singular power to protect," Dappen said. "We're such a unique species. We do things that are self-interested all the time, and we make choices that are for our own well-being or for the well-being of people that we love at the expense of other things. But I think we're the only species on the planet that cares."