★ ★ ★PUBLICRECORDSEP 16 2026

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

San Diego City Council Meeting - September 16, 2026: Adoption of Islamophobia Definition and 107 Ash Street Affordable Housing Amendment

City Council — Wednesday, September 16, 2026

BodySan Diego, California

SessionCity Council

DateWednesday, September 16, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:26:13

Transcript — VerbatimClick a line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:02

Okay, good afternoon.

0:03

We're going to get started with the afternoon session of the City Council.

0:06

I will now reconvene the City Council meeting of Tuesday, September 15th, 2026.

0:12

Clerk, please call the roll.

0:14

Thank you, Council President.

0:15

Councilmember Campbell.

0:16

Councilmember Whitburn.

0:18

Councilmember Foster.

0:20

Here.

0:21

Councilmember Von Wilbert.

0:23

Council President Pro Tem Lee.

0:25

Councilmember Campio.

0:27

Here.

0:27

Councilmember Moreno, present.

0:29

Councilmember Elo Rivera.

0:31

And Council President Lacava.

0:33

Present.

0:33

Also attend the meeting our assistant city attorney, Michelle Garland, independent budget analyst, Charles Matica, and myself, your city clerk, Deanna Fuentes.

0:42

Thank you, Council President.

0:43

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

0:44

A quorum is now present.

0:46

Uh I see a lot of new faces, and I know emotions can run high when we talk have these kinds of topics.

0:52

So before we start today's meeting, I want to remind everyone about the city's practices and procedures for public comment at City Council meetings.

0:59

The city welcomes public participation at our council meetings.

1:02

Speakers may address the council during public comment and also in connection with the specific item of business on the agenda.

1:09

However, the city must make sure that no one person or group of people disrupt the meeting in a way that prohibits other speakers and the council members from expressing their ideas and opinions.

1:19

So to make sure that everyone here has an opportunity to address the council, I will alert an individual or individual.

1:25

So if I think their conduct becomes disruptive.

1:27

If the disruption continues, I will rule the individual out of order.

1:31

And if the disruption continues further, I will pause the council meeting so we can restore order.

1:37

That may include a recess.

1:39

At that point, I will direct the individual to leave the room, and if the individual refuses, police will escort the individual out of the building.

1:46

And if we have to repeat this process of warning and recessing, all members of the public will be excused from the council chamber, credential media will be allowed to remain.

1:54

Once again, we have these practices and procedures to protect the rights of other speakers who wish to address the council and to allow the council to conduct the public's business and for the safety of those in the audience as well as safety of city staff.

2:09

All right, with that, Clerk, please introduce item 330.

2:15

Thank you, Council President.

2:17

Item 330 is the resolution adopting a working definition of Islamophobia as an educational tool to identify, condemn, and combat anti-Muslim hate and affirm the City of San Diego's commitment to religious freedom and civil rights.

2:30

Public comment time for this item will be one minute.

2:33

We did receive 65 comments, 64 comments in favor, and one comment in opposition via our e-comment form, which have been distributed to the council.

2:43

Thank you, Council President.

2:44

All right, thank you, City Clerk.

2:46

Before I turn it over to the presentation, I want to thank Councilmember Ela Rivera for his partnership with this resolution and the work of care and so many other community members to share the data, their stories, and everyday reality of why this resolution is needed.

3:01

As Council President, I believe this was important to be direct docketed and provide the entire council the opportunity to participate.

3:09

Councilmember Elo Rivera, would you like to add some additional thoughts?

3:14

Just to thank you and your office for your partnership on this.

3:17

Brian and Anisa for their work.

3:19

Thank you, Council President.

3:20

All right, thank you, sir.

3:22

With that, I will ask my team to introduce themselves and the presenters and let us know how much time you all need.

3:28

Thank you, Council President.

3:30

Council President, members of the City Council, I am Brian Elliott, Policy Director for Council Member, Council President Joe Lakava.

3:36

I'm joined by Anissa Muhammad, Council Representative for Councilmember Sean Ila Rivera to present item 330, the resolution adopting a working definition of Islamophobia as an educational tool to identify, condemn, and combat anti-Muslim hate and affirm the City of San Diego's commitment to religious freedom and civil rights.

3:56

You're to present this item with us our community members, Iliash bin Batul, Shaykh Assim Bilow, and Dr.

4:02

Arua al Aquaj.

4:05

And then we'll need 12 minutes for the presentation, please.

4:09

All right, begin when you're ready.

4:11

Good afternoon.

4:15

And I want to begin with a verse from the Quran where God says, addressing us, Bismillah Rahman Rahim.

4:25

Yeah, you haladen alilla a bilkist.

4:39

That all you who believe, be steadfast for the sake of God, and bear witness to justice.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Anti-Semitism Awareness████████████████████████24%

Public Safety██████████████14%

Anti-Semitism██████████████14%

Public Comment█████████████13%

Affordable Housing█████████████13%

Islamophobia Awareness██████6%

Religious Freedom████4%

Procedural███3%

Public Health███3%

Summary of Proceedings

San Diego City Council Meeting - September 16, 2026

On September 16, 2026, the San Diego City Council convened for an afternoon session to consider two major items: a resolution adopting a working definition of Islamophobia as an educational tool, and an amendment to the ground lease for the redevelopment of 107 Ash Street (formerly 101 Ash Street) into affordable housing. The meeting included extensive public testimony, with overwhelming support for both items. The council unanimously approved both measures.

Public Comments & Testimony

Item 330 (Islamophobia Definition): Over 30 speakers appeared in chambers and nine participated online. The council received 65 e-comments (64 in favor, 1 opposed). Speakers included community leaders, interfaith clergy, educators, and survivors of the May 18, 2026 attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego. Nearly all urged adoption, citing rising anti-Muslim hate, the need for education, and solidarity. One speaker expressed opposition, arguing that the resolution did not go far enough and criticizing the council's prior adoption of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. A few speakers also raised concerns about the lack of an active shooter alert system and the need for further concrete actions.
Item 331 (107 Ash Street Amendment): Five speakers testified in chambers, and two online. Most urged approval, emphasizing the need for affordable housing. Two speakers raised concerns about the absence of a building condition report, the developer's profit, and a potential conflict of interest involving the head of the San Diego Planning Commission. The city received one e-comment in opposition.
Non-Agenda Public Comment: Three speakers addressed youth drug prevention, smoke-free policies in mixed-use zones, and restrictions on marijuana packaging targeting children.

Discussion Items

Item 330 – Resolution Adopting a Working Definition of Islamophobia: Council President Lacava and Councilmember Elo Rivera co-sponsored the resolution, which defines Islamophobia as an educational tool and affirms the city's commitment to religious freedom and civil rights. Presenters from the Muslim community shared personal stories of trauma from the May 18, 2026 terrorist attack (three killed, 140 children endangered) and cited statewide statistics: 50% of California Muslim students reported peer bullying based on religion, 63% of Muslim Americans experienced religious discrimination, and 8,683 civil rights complaints were filed nationally. The council debate highlighted the need to name and combat anti-Muslim hate, with several members noting their own family ties to the Muslim community. Council President Lacava committed to working on an active shooter alert system. The motion passed unanimously 8-0.
Item 331 – First Amendment to Ground Lease for 107 Ash Street: The amendment increases the ground lease from 60 to 65 years, extends affordability from 55 to 65 years, adds two units (total 252, with 249 affordable), and improves the city's note from 4% simple interest to 5% compounded annually. The project includes child care and commercial space. Staff noted the financing is now assembled a year ahead of schedule. Councilmembers asked about building condition and the developer's experience; staff confirmed the adaptive reuse will extend the building's useful life. Concerns about past city real estate transactions were raised, but councilmembers emphasized that this amendment reflects a new, vetted deal. The motion passed unanimously 8-0.

Key Outcomes

Item 330: Adopted unanimously (8-0) – Resolution adopting a working definition of Islamophobia and affirming the city's commitment to religious freedom and civil rights. Council President Lacava pledged to explore an active shooter alert system.
Item 331: Approved unanimously (8-0) – First amendment to the ground lease for 107 Ash Street, allowing the development of 249 affordable housing units (100% affordable) with a 65-year lease and improved financial terms for the city.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, good afternoon. We're going to get started with the afternoon session of the City Council. I will now reconvene the City Council meeting of Tuesday, September 15th, 2026. Clerk, please call the roll. Thank you, Council President. Councilmember Campbell. Councilmember Whitburn. Councilmember Foster. Here. Councilmember Von Wilbert. Council President Pro Tem Lee. Councilmember Campio. Here. Councilmember Moreno, present. Councilmember Elo Rivera. And Council President Lacava. Present. Also attend the meeting our assistant city attorney, Michelle Garland, independent budget analyst, Charles Matica, and myself, your city clerk, Deanna Fuentes. Thank you, Council President. All right, thank you, City Clerk. A quorum is now present. Uh I see a lot of new faces, and I know emotions can run high when we talk have these kinds of topics. So before we start today's meeting, I want to remind everyone about the city's practices and procedures for public comment at City Council meetings. The city welcomes public participation at our council meetings. Speakers may address the council during public comment and also in connection with the specific item of business on the agenda. However, the city must make sure that no one person or group of people disrupt the meeting in a way that prohibits other speakers and the council members from expressing their ideas and opinions. So to make sure that everyone here has an opportunity to address the council, I will alert an individual or individual. So if I think their conduct becomes disruptive. If the disruption continues, I will rule the individual out of order. And if the disruption continues further, I will pause the council meeting so we can restore order. That may include a recess. At that point, I will direct the individual to leave the room, and if the individual refuses, police will escort the individual out of the building. And if we have to repeat this process of warning and recessing, all members of the public will be excused from the council chamber, credential media will be allowed to remain. Once again, we have these practices and procedures to protect the rights of other speakers who wish to address the council and to allow the council to conduct the public's business and for the safety of those in the audience as well as safety of city staff. All right, with that, Clerk, please introduce item 330. Thank you, Council President. Item 330 is the resolution adopting a working definition of Islamophobia as an educational tool to identify, condemn, and combat anti-Muslim hate and affirm the City of San Diego's commitment to religious freedom and civil rights. Public comment time for this item will be one minute. We did receive 65 comments, 64 comments in favor, and one comment in opposition via our e-comment form, which have been distributed to the council. Thank you, Council President. All right, thank you, City Clerk. Before I turn it over to the presentation, I want to thank Councilmember Ela Rivera for his partnership with this resolution and the work of care and so many other community members to share the data, their stories, and everyday reality of why this resolution is needed. As Council President, I believe this was important to be direct docketed and provide the entire council the opportunity to participate. Councilmember Elo Rivera, would you like to add some additional thoughts? Just to thank you and your office for your partnership on this. Brian and Anisa for their work. Thank you, Council President. All right, thank you, sir. With that, I will ask my team to introduce themselves and the presenters and let us know how much time you all need. Thank you, Council President.

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