1. What is your view of how elected leaders won approval of first-ever trash collection fees on more than 200,000 single-family homeowners?
Trash collection is a basic city service, and residents deserve a system that is fair, transparent and easy to understand.
Right now, that’s not what we’re seeing. The rollout has been confusing, with unclear communication and a transition process that left many residents frustrated. The city should have done a much better job preparing people for this change.
I’m especially concerned about how this fee is being collected through the county property tax bill. Requiring the full amount upfront creates real risks, particularly for seniors and those on fixed incomes. No one should be put in a position where falling behind on a basic service could lead to liens or even foreclosure.
This needs to be corrected. Any fee should be clearly explained, fairly structured and limited to covering actual costs, not generating excess revenue.
Residents deserve accountability, transparency, and a system that works for them, not against them.
2. What is your view of the imposition of parking fees at Balboa Park and do you think the mayor and council did enough to control costs before taking this step?
I strongly oppose parking fees at Balboa Park. This is our city’s crown jewel, and it should remain accessible to everyone. Charging for parking moves us toward a system of haves and have-nots, where access to public spaces depends on your ability to pay. That’s not the kind of city we should be building.
The same concern applies to our beaches. Public access should remain open and equitable. Instead of charging residents more, the city should focus on better cost controls and explore alternative revenue sources that don’t burden everyday San Diegans.
3. Voters gave landslide approval in 2006 to a “managed competition” process in which some city services can be outsourced and strongly supported pension reforms for most city workers in 2012, but elected leaders have pursued neither policy in recent years. Would you?
Voters supported these policies because they wanted efficiency and accountability. Those goals still matter, but this shouldn’t be about ideology, it should be about results.
I’m open to managed competition when it clearly improves service delivery and reduces costs without compromising quality or harming workers. At the same time, we need to invest in our city workforce and make sure departments have the tools they need to succeed. Every decision should be focused on delivering better outcomes for residents.
4. What is the single issue you feel deserves more attention?
Affordability, full stop. Not just housing, but the full cost of living. It’s your SDG&E bill, your gas bill, your water bill, your groceries and now new city fees layered on top.
People are being squeezed from every direction. We need a city that actually works for us. That means every decision at City Hall should be grounded in one question: How does this impact the people who live here?
We need better budgeting practices, sticking to approved spending, prioritizing essential services and using taxpayer dollars wisely. Before asking residents to pay more, the city needs to show it is managing what it already has responsibly.
At the same time, we should invest in solutions that help people stay in their homes, rent relief for older adults, emergency prevention funding and targeted support for those on the edge of displacement.
Residents should see value in their city. If we’re asking people to contribute more, they should feel it in safer streets, reliable services and stronger neighborhoods. That’s how we restore trust and make sure San Diego works for the people who call it home.
San Diegans are being asked to pay more at a time when the cost of living is already pushing people to the brink. What’s missing from too many decisions at City Hall is clarity, fairness and follow-through.
We need to rebuild trust by being honest about costs, improving how we budget and delivering real value to residents. We should look beyond residents for revenue by maximizing our Transient Occupancy Tax and ensuring online travel companies pay their fair share. Visitors and corporations should be part of the solution, not just residents.
Go to mandyhavlik.com for more information about the candidate.