Chula Vista mayor touts 25% drop in street homelessness; total count rose as runoff nears

Chula Vista's count of homeless people living outdoors fell 24.5% this year, from 470 in January 2025 to 355 in January 2026, according to the Regional Task Force on Homelessness. Mayor John McCann has made that drop the center of his re-election campaign against school board trustee Francisco Tamayo in the Nov. 3 runoff.

The same count shows Chula Vista's total homeless population went up. RTFH counted 695 homeless people in the city in 2026, up from 614 in 2025, an increase of about 13%. The number of people in shelters or transitional housing more than doubled, from 144 to 340.

McCann's official candidate statement says his "strict homeless encampment ban keeps public spaces safe and accessible, reducing homeless by 25%." The RTFH figures support a 25% drop in people sleeping outside, not in homelessness overall.

Voice of San Diego reported Oct. 22 that most of the sheltered increase came from 211 people placed in hotels in the city by a county program. Newsline could not confirm that figure.

Chula Vista's results outpaced the region's. Countywide, the unsheltered count fell 11%, from 5,714 to 5,108, while total homelessness dropped 1%, from 9,905 to 9,803. In the City of San Diego, the unsheltered count fell 6.6%, from 3,354 to 3,132. RTFH notes that San Diego's 2026 unsheltered figure includes 258 people in safe parking lots and 509 at city safe sleeping sites.

Downtown San Diego has moved the other way since the January count. The Downtown San Diego Partnership's monthly count found 1,074 people sleeping outside downtown in September 2026, up from 800 in September 2025. Its June count was 955, up from 756 a year earlier.

Chula Vista's Encampment Restriction Ordinance, adopted in 2024, bans campsites on public property within 1,000 feet of schools, city parks, major transit stops and shelter or safe parking sites. The list includes the Palomar Street, H Street and E Street trolley stops, along with Otay Valley and Sweetwater Valley regional parks. Violations can be charged as a misdemeanor or an infraction. Under the ordinance, the city must give written notice at least 24 hours before clearing a campsite unless police or the city manager find an imminent threat to health or safety.

The city's Village at Otay bridge shelter offers stays of 90 to 120 days and takes clients only by referral from the police-led Homeless Outreach Team and the operator, CityNet, the city says. Voice of San Diego, citing the city's housing director, reported that the 62-bed shelter has enrolled 210 people since 2023 and moved 39 into permanent or temporary housing last fiscal year.

McCann, a Navy veteran first elected in 2022, describes the shelter as "high barrier, so you've got to be clean," according to Voice of San Diego's account of an Oct. 2 forum. His campaign site says he "enacted one of the strictest homeless encampment bans." He is endorsed by the city's police officers association and firefighters.

Tamayo, a Chula Vista Elementary School District trustee and technology executive, has not called for repealing the camping rules. At the same forum, he said, "Shelters are fine. It's a great idea and I can't argue that one," and proposed adding job training, Voice of San Diego reported. His website lists "Address Homelessness with Accountability & Compassion" as a priority but gives no detailed plan.

On public safety, Tamayo's ballot statement promises a "Chula Vista Heroes Plan," building and staffing an East Chula Vista police substation, fully staffing Fire Station 10 and creating housing for police, firefighters, teachers and nurses. He is endorsed by all four sitting council members and several labor groups.

On taxes, McCann's statement says he fought "higher gas, mileage, and sales taxes," and his website says he helped block a SANDAG tax. Tamayo's statement and website do not take a position on taxes.

Chula Vista shoppers pay 8.75% sales tax, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. That rate includes two city half-cent taxes. One is temporary and expires March 31, 2027. The other, in effect since October 2018, has no end date. The city clerk's list of Nov. 3 contests shows no city measure to extend the expiring tax.

Voters countywide will decide a citizen-backed half-cent sales tax for health care, food aid, child care, Tijuana River sewage projects and public safety. It would raise Chula Vista's rate to 9.25%. Newsline found no expiration date in the ordinance text posted by the Registrar of Voters.

McCann has the clear money lead. His campaign reported $249,353 in contributions this year through Oct. 17, plus $20,000 he lent the campaign. It had spent $295,656, with $49,209 in the bank and $52,576 in debts. Tamayo's campaign reported $8,149 in contributions and a $10,000 loan from Tamayo. It had spent $13,940, had $4,209 left and raised nothing from Sept. 20 to Oct. 17.

Outside groups are also spending. The National Association of Realtors Fund reported $58,438 on videos and voter data supporting McCann. A Lincoln Club committee opposing Tamayo reported spending $23,340 through Oct. 17. The firefighters' union PAC reported smaller amounts for McCann signs and door hangers.

In the June 2 primary, McCann received 30,921 votes, or 56.1%, to Tamayo's 21,801, or 39.5%, according to the Registrar of Voters. Yair Gersten finished third with 4.4%. The city charter sends the top two to a November runoff.