In San Diego, whenever city hall faces a challenge, the answer always seems to be the same: raise taxes, raise fees, and pass the burden onto small businesses and working families. Instead of addressing inefficiency, bureaucracy, or wasteful spending, city leaders continue to choose the easy path — taking more from those who already carry the heaviest load. The result is a city that’s more expensive, less competitive, and increasingly difficult for local employers to survive in.

The latest proposal to charge hotels and restaurants more for valet stands and on-street dining is just the newest example of this misguided approach. City officials claim they’re merely trying to recover potential parking-meter revenue. But for the small businesses that form the backbone of our tourism and hospit

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