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San Diego County is preparing for a potentially very strong El Niño during the 2026–27 fall and winter rainy season. El Niño increases the odds of more frequent or stronger storms, flooding and coastal impacts, but it does not guarantee above-average local rainfall. County and city agencies are urging advance preparation, including attention to drainage, road conditions, alerts and flood readiness.
Federal prosecutors announced charges against 12 home-based childcare providers in San Diego County, alleging they obtained more than $10 million in childcare subsidies through false attendance records. The subsidies are intended to help low-income families afford care and are paid to providers through local resource agencies. The cases are allegations, not convictions, and prosecutors said the investigation remains ongoing.
The San Diego City Council voted unanimously on September 15, 2026, to adopt a working definition of Islamophobia. The action was proposed by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera and Council President Joe LaCava as an educational tool intended to help the city identify, condemn and combat anti-Muslim hate while reaffirming commitments to religious freedom and civil rights. It followed a deadly May attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego that heightened concerns about Muslim residents’ safety.
Measure B is a proposed countywide, open-ended half-cent sales-tax increase on San Diego County’s November 2026 ballot. Supporters say revenue would offset looming pressures on health coverage, food security, Tijuana River pollution mitigation, and public safety; opponents object to raising sales taxes and to the absence of a sunset date. The campaign entered a more public phase with a Yes on B launch event and organized opposition activity ahead of the election.
San Diego County commissioned ECOnorthwest to measure the economic effects of chronic transboundary sewage and pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. The preliminary analysis links persistent pollution and beach closures to effects on tourism, businesses, health, workforce patterns, tax revenue and schools. The county had sought public input for the study beginning in May, and the final report is expected in mid-October 2026.
San Diego’s City Council unanimously approved new labor agreements for police officers and lifeguards on September 15, 2026, following contracts reached with three other city unions in June. The agreements defer general wage increases until fiscal 2029, avoiding immediate new salary costs while the city addresses a structural budget deficit and recent service cuts. Police and lifeguard staffing cannot readily be reduced through furloughs because replacement overtime could raise costs.
Carlsbad identified active coastal-bluff retreat north of the Encinas Creek Bridge that threatens the southbound shoulder of Carlsbad Boulevard, public safety and coastal access. The city declared a local emergency and proposed extending an existing rock revetment with 4- to 8-ton riprap to limit further erosion. The City Council unanimously authorized city crews to begin stabilization procedures amid concern about potential El Niño storm surges.