This week, the City Council voted to implement a citywide trash fee — and I voted NO.

Why? Because the voters approved a $23 to $29 monthly estimate in 2022, and the final fee is over $43 a month.

Voter relied on the language of Measure B from 2022, and I do not think the City faithfully followed it. It also said trash cans would be included “at no extra cost” – but they’re being charged as part of the fee. That’s not what people were promised.

We can’t expect public trust if we don’t keep our word.

I’m also deeply concerned about fairness. This will hit thousands of renters in single-family homes, as well as seniors and low-income homeowners. And by adding $500 to annual property tax bills, we’re making it harder for families to buy or keep their homes.

Going forward, we must make sure our processes are more transparent and just—no more bait-and-switches. I’ll keep pushing for:

• Transparent ballot language
• Cost studies before asking voters to decide
• A better protest process that actually reflects the public’s will

This isn’t just about policy. It’s about keeping our promises — and that’s why I had to vote no.

We did it! We are keeping Lake Murray open 7-days a week! Thanks in large part to your advocacy and persistence, the City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget on Tuesday, which fully restores weekday access to Lake Murray.

Make no mistake--we had to work for this. But that is what we do for the things we love. I heard from many of you about what Lake Murray means to you; just like Lake Murray holds a special place in my heart as the location of my son's very first outing, it's where you learned to fish, push your partners in their wheelchairs, bring your kids and grandkids to play along the water, watch little league baseball, and so much more.

I want you to know that I fought hard for Lake Murray as your Councilmember and as your neighbor. I also want you to know that I could not have made a case for its restoration in our budget without your calls, emails, petition signatures, and letters, which numbered in the thousands. This was only won by our collective effort.

Thank you for taking the time to show up for Lake Murray. If we can accomplish this together, there’s no limit to what else we can protect and restore in our community.

I’m proud to stand with you—and for you. Let’s keep going.

At this week’s Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, as Chair I invited the Nonprofit Institute at USD to present about how recent federal policies are hurting local nonprofits and the communities they serve.

San Diego County is home to over 13,000 nonprofits, employing more than 106,000 people — that’s 8% of all private-sector jobs. These groups support everything from housing and food access to legal aid and youth programs. But new federal executive orders are creating chaos:

• 81% of nonprofit leaders are seeing rising fear, anxiety, and confusion in the communities they serve
• 48% report a spike in demand for basic needs like food and housing
• 58% have already had to change or reduce services due to shifting federal support
• For federally funded orgs, that funding makes up an average of 31% of their budget — and many are worried about cuts

The message was clear: the need hasn’t changed, but the funding landscape has. That’s why I’ll keep using my role to advocate for stable, supportive policy — so our nonprofits can keep showing up for San Diegans.

Join me for another Coffee with Campillo next weekend!

We’ve got the coffee covered — just bring your questions, concerns, and ideas.

Date: Saturday, June 21

Time: 9:30am to 11am

Location: Tierrasanta Library, 4985 La Cuenta Dr, San Diego, CA 92124

Being an elected official isn’t just about making decisions — it’s about listening. These conversations help shape the work I do at City Hall, and I hope you’ll stop by and share what’s on your mind.

RSVP at this link.

As we near our 100th Raul Roundup (next week!), I’ve been thinking about how to continue to keep it engaging and interesting for you all. Something I keep coming back to is that simply being kind is one of the most important virtues – but in today’s day and age, it tends to be the people that are abrasive and the loudest voice in the room who get the recognition. That’s why I wanted to launch a new recurring Raul Roundup blurb where I recognize acts of kindness out in the world that can help set an example of how we can all be more kind to each other.

To that point: this week, I’d like to recognize former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who recently came out with a book titled “A Different Kind of Power.” In it, she makes the case that world leaders should lead more with empathy and kindness – that, in fact, empathy and kindness may be the exact solutions required at a tense moment in global history.

Ardern’s interview recently in the New York Times sheds more light on her book and on the argument she is trying to make; she says: “Because, even [when I was prime minister], ideas of empathy and compassion and kindness in leadership were treated as if there was a naïveté there, and probably even more so now, and I just push back on that.”

I think Ardern has a point. As an elected leader myself, I share a lot of her point of view. Though we live in tough times, where it is certainly true that big, bold solutions are required to some of our problems, we can always be kind. And in the long run, if we set the example that being kind is the right way to go about things, I know our world will only get better and better.