A City Divided: How San Diego Neighborhoods Voted on the Empty Homes Tax
The final vote tally for San Diego's Measure A reveals a stark geographic and demographic divide across the city. The proposed tax on vacant second homes ultimately failed, with fifty three percent of voters casting a ballot against it. However, a closer look at the precinct level data uncovers a fascinating narrative about how different communities perceive the housing crisis and the role of taxation. The results show a clear correlation between a neighborhood's rate of homeownership and its willingness to support the controversial measure.
In urban, renter dominated neighborhoods, support for the empty homes tax was overwhelming. Communities like North Park, Hillcrest, and Golden Hill saw some of the highest approval ratings in the city, with North Park leading the charge at over seventy one percent in favor. For many residents in these areas, the tax represented a necessary step to discourage property speculation and potentially free up housing inventory in highly desirable, walkable neighborhoods where rent prices have soared in recent years.
Conversely, the measure faced fierce opposition in suburban and coastal enclaves where homeownership rates are significantly higher. Neighborhoods such as La Jolla, Rancho Bernardo, and Del Mar Heights voted decisively against the tax. In these areas, the proposal was largely viewed not as a tool for housing equity, but as an intrusive and punitive tax on private property. The opposition was not limited to affluent coastal zones; middle class suburban communities like Clairemont and Tierrasanta also rejected the measure by comfortable margins.
This electoral split highlights the complex challenge facing San Diego policymakers as they attempt to navigate the ongoing housing shortage. The failure of Measure A suggests that while there is strong appetite for housing reform among renters, any policy perceived as a direct threat to property rights will face an uphill battle among the city's homeowners. Moving forward, finding consensus will likely require solutions that focus on incentivizing new construction rather than penalizing existing property owners.
Read the full article here: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/07/03/san-diegos-second-homes-tax-which-neighborhoods-voted-for-it-and-against-it/