Sometimes People Don't Mind Paying More

Sewer and water ratepayers in San Diego recognize that a rate hike is the only way to pay for replacing aging infrastructure.

1 minute read

February 26, 2007, 5:00 AM PST

By travis.cleveland


Despite its reputation as a city of citizens that want everything but don't want to pay for it, San Diego water and sewer ratepayers are tacitly opting for change.

"It seems likely that San Diego's water and sewer rates will soon rise, as environmental and business leaders embraced the idea yesterday and a formal protest continued to fall far short of pre-empting a City Council vote."

"'I recognize the burden this puts on ratepayers,' said Bruce Reznik, executive director of the environmental group San Diego Coastkeeper, 'but if we want the city to have clean beaches and bays, this is the kind of investment in our sewer infrastructure we need.'"

Friday, February 23, 2007 in San Diego Union Tribune

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6, 2026 - Grist

People walking in downtown St. Louis, walking past shops.

Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment

The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.

November 1, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

construction near Boston, with machinery digging at large pit.

Mass. votes against statewide minimum lot size for single-family homes

Over 2 million residents voted on Question 7; it was decided by just over 30,000 votes.

3 seconds ago - GBH

A bridge over the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

Maryland’s $15 billion bridge project gains key approval

The Maryland Transit Authority said the project will create over 60,000 jobs and add $23 billion to the local economy.

1 hour ago - WTOP News

A crowd of people cheering for an unseen performer.

‘No clear next steps’ for Chicago's permanent festival grounds

Eleventh Ward Ald. Nicole Lee has suggested Soldier Field as a possible location for the permanent event space.

2 hours ago - Chicago Sun Times

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.