Why Three SD Ballot-Box Measures Failed

London: “Land-use decisions are way too complicated to be part of initiatives, referendums and ballot box planning.”

SAN DIEGO—Measures B-D, which were turned down by San Diego County voters Tuesday, presented them with choices that will impact our local workforce-housing, hospitality and tourism markets. Measure B San Diego was presented to approve a general-plan amendment in Northern San Diego County to provide more housing affordable to middle-income families via a proposed Lilac Hills Ranch project in Escondido, Measure C was the proposal to raise hotel taxes to pay for a dual building with a new football stadium and convention center in Downtown San Diego, and Measure D was a tourism and tax initiative to increase San Diego’s hotel occupancy tax to 5%. As we recently reported, there were pros and cons to all three initiatives.

We spoke exclusively with London Group Realty Advisors’ president Gary London to discuss the results of Measure B and Robert Rauch, founder and CEO of RAR Hospitality, to discuss Measures C and D and what might be the next steps for all three situations.