Following hours of public comment, the San Diego City Council’s Rules Committee rejected a proposed ballot measure on Wednesday that would have taxed empty second homes and short-term vacation rentals in the city, despite a last-minute amendment to save it.
By a 3-2 vote, the committee denied the advance of the proposed tax, which would have advanced to the full city council with a yes vote. From there, if passed again, it would have landed on the June ballot.
“If someone can afford to own a second home and not use it, they absolutely can afford to pay that tax, and should,” Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee said. “But I’ve noticed the shifting purpose of this measure from generating revenue to returning housing stock to the market. One takes away from the other.”…