San Diego Daily Local Headlines: Balboa Park Ballot Talk, Convention Center Upgrades, School Hoax Threats

1) Balboa Park funding plan heads toward voters

A proposed parcel tax could land on San Diego ballots later this year, aiming to finance up to $1 billion in long-term upgrades across Balboa Park. The plan would fund projects such as major facility restorations, new park infrastructure and other improvements. A political sweetener: supporters say paid parking in the park would end while the bonds are being paid off, tying day-to-day visitor costs directly to the financing plan.

2) Convention Center renovations begin, starting with the roof

Work is expected to ramp up at the San Diego Convention Center as the aging facility begins a multi-year modernization effort. Early plans focus on roof work, and a little-known rooftop feature is expected to go away: unused tennis courts slated for removal as part of a new roof that is described as solar-ready. The funding comes from hotel-room tax revenue that began flowing after years of legal wrangling tied to a voter-approved measure.

3) School threats prompt lockdowns; investigators say they were not credible

Multiple campuses in the region were briefly put on lockdown after threats were phoned in, prompting searches by law enforcement. Authorities later reported no hazards were found, and investigators said the incidents appeared consistent with a wider pattern of similar, essentially identical hoax threats reported elsewhere.

4) Pacific Beach apartment complex expansion approved

The City Council has signed off on plans to add 138 apartments at AVA Pacific Beach, expanding one of the neighborhood’s largest complexes. The proposal includes a small number of affordable units, new parking structures and a landscaped linear park intended to improve the pedestrian experience. The project still faces additional review, including at the state coastal level.

Also on the radar

Park rangers intervened at La Jolla Cove after visitors were recorded harassing sea lions. Officials reiterated that approaching or disturbing marine mammals can violate local, state and federal rules, and the city continues to rely on enforcement and education to protect wildlife in the area.

Sources

https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2026/02/25/balboa-park-property-tax-ballot-measure-upgrades-paid-parking/
https://www.kpbs.org/news/economy/2026/02/25/repairs-renovations-set-to-begin-at-the-san-diego-convention-center
https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2026/02/23/threats-trigger-lockdowns-san-diego-schools-possibly-tied-to-multistate-hoaxes/
https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2026/02/23/city-council-approves-ava-pacific-beach-plans-add-138-apartments/
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/tourist-family-removed-la-jolla-cove-harassing-sea-lions/3985209/