San Diego Daily: Empty-homes tax ballot talks, school threat lockdowns, Kaiser strike winds down

Top local headlines

• Empty-homes tax proposal heads to a key committee vote. City leaders are set to consider whether to place an ’empty homes’ excise tax measure on the June 2, 2026 ballot. Supporters say it could raise general-fund revenue and nudge second-home owners to rent long-term; opponents are expected to question enforcement and impacts on property owners.
• Threat calls spark school lockdowns across the region. Police and sheriff’s deputies searched campuses after reported threats at O’Farrell Charter School in Encanto and Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley. Authorities said they found no hazards and indicated the incidents may be linked to a broader pattern of similar hoax calls.
• Kaiser nurses’ strike winds down as talks move. After weeks on the picket line, unionized nurses and other health care workers were told to return to work Tuesday morning as bargaining showed ‘significant movement.’ Patients with appointments should still double-check schedules, especially for specialty clinics.

Why it matters

Housing policy, school safety, and access to health care all landed on the same 72-hour news cycle. Together, they’re shaping what San Diegans may vote on this summer, what families are hearing from campuses right now, and what staffing looks like at one of the region’s biggest health systems.

On the roads

New local reporting highlights a steep decline in traffic stops by San Diego police in recent years, alongside a rise in traffic deaths. City officials and street-safety advocates continue to point to enforcement as one piece of the Vision Zero effort to reduce severe crashes.

Also worth a look

A feature film wrapped shooting at an active studio space in Kearny Mesa, a small but notable signal that more production work could keep landing in San Diego County as new entertainment projects come online.

Sources

https://www.sandiego.gov/blog/peoples-business-february-24-2026
https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2026/02/23/threats-trigger-lockdowns-san-diego-schools-possibly-tied-to-multistate-hoaxes/
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/nurse-strike-kaiser-permanente-near-deal/3985076/
https://www.kpbs.org/news/local/2026/02/23/data-show-san-diego-police-stop-fewer-drivers-while-more-people-die-in-traffic
https://www.kpbs.org/news/arts-culture/2026/02/24/concert-heroes-wraps-production-in-san-diego