San Diego mayor faces backlash over massive trash-fee billing error
A billing mistake that added excessive trash-collection charges to thousands of San Diego property tax statements has intensified calls for Mayor Todd Gloria to reinstate a chief operating officer.
Thousands of San Diego residents were sent property-tax bills that included trash-collection fees far exceeding the standard rate, some as high as three times the usual charge. The error surfaced as Mayor Todd Gloria returned from a trip to New York City where he represented the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and city leaders turned to County Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Cohen to correct the mistake with minimal refunds. Councilmembers, including Henry Foster, Kent Lee and Sean Elo-Rivera, seized the moment to demand that Gloria hire a chief operating officer, a position he dismissed last year.
Critics argue the blunder highlights administrative shortcomings and could influence upcoming elections. Gloria responded in a press release, acknowledging the lapse and promising new safeguards to avoid recurrence.
Why it matters
The billing error exposes governance gaps in San Diego and fuels political pressure ahead of elections.
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