A familiar chant rang out at Liberty Station on Saturday, as organizers with San Diego United Communities and the Repeal the Fees campaign gathered to collect signatures for two different initiatives.

One petition would repeal the city’s paid parking program at Balboa Park, which was implemented in January of this year. The other is to repeal the city’s trash collection fees, which were introduced under Measure B after voters approved it in 2022. The fees were ultimately implemented in implemented in June of 2025.

The petition drive was organized by San Diego United Communities. The non-political group was founded by Margaret Virissimo in 2025. According to Virissimo, the organization represents more than 100 neighborhoods across the county with the goal of pushing for change.

“If you’re out there fighting, don’t do it alone, join our coalition. We are one voice united here in San Diego,” said Virissimo.

While the issue of paid parking at Balboa Park has become the focus for many San Diegans these last few months, some residents who showed up were also passionate about repealing the trash collection fees. It’s an issue Ranie Patrick, and her husband, Austin, volunteered their time for.

“I think there’s enough going on in the world that we don’t necessarily need to add this extra thing for people to worry about,” said Patrick. “Obviously it was passed by voters at some point but I think what they’re seeing, being charged for, and what they feel that they agreed on is two different things,” Patrick added.

Other voters argue that the fees outlined in Measure B don’t align with what they’re now actually paying. Meanwhile, a trial regarding the fees is expected to get underway in May.

“Even if it wasn’t a line item, it’s there. We should be getting trash pickup as just city residents,” said Tresa Skiles, a volunteer who came to sign both petitions on Saturday.

As for the paid parking initiative, the Repeal the Fees campaign estimates they’ve collected roughly 10,000 signatures in the last month or so. 24,000 signatures would force the City Council to rehear the issue and potentially repeal the fees without a public vote.

The petition would need 81,000 signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The campaign told NBC 7 that they will get an updated number on the total number of signatures in May. The deadline to qualify for the November ballot is the first week of July.