National City · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in National City public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Library patron suspension policy
Staff plan to bring a formal suspension letter next meeting for patrons who repeatedly break library rules. Suspensions could run a month to six months, backed by incident reports, with an appeal process.
Closed-session litigation exposure
The council planned to meet behind closed doors about one case that could expose the city to significant legal liability. The public won't learn details unless or until the city discloses an outcome later.
Loss of dedicated library security
The library has gone several months without dedicated security, though police have been responding quickly when called. Board members raised questions about safety.
Councilmember Rodriguez Degree Controversy
Speaker after speaker demanded Councilmember Jose Rodriguez resign, withdraw from the mayoral race, or face censure after his campaign acknowledged he did not earn the SDSU degree listed on city applications in 2016 and 2019. The council took no action on the matter during the meeting.
Youth Marijuana and Vape Protections
Several speakers urged the city to act on new state laws — AB 2249 on kid-friendly marijuana packaging and AB 762 banning disposable vapes — and to go further by removing marijuana billboards and banning single-use marijuana vapes, citing youth health risks and hazardous waste costs.
City Towing and Impound Service Contracts
New agreements with Cortes Towing Enterprises and Tony's Auto Center were up for approval to handle the city's towing and impound needs for three years starting October 2026.
Online police complaint form
The police department is still building an online complaint submission form with attachment uploads, and promises something to show at the next meeting.
Conflict-of-interest concerns raised over Council Member Bush's legal representation
A resident alleged that Council Member Bush's recently retained attorney is related to a principal of Calimoda LLC, a party suing the city, and asked Bush to recuse himself from the case.
Police Response to Mental Health Crises
National City police are facing scrutiny over how they respond to mental health crises. This comes after some hefty civil rights settlements, raising questions about whether the department is adequately addressing these sensitive situations.
Public Safety and Prostitution
Daytime prostitution is making National City residents feel unsafe, and the mayor is fed up. State laws are making it tough for police to crack down, tying up officers and letting the problem persist.
Public Safety Investigation
National City police and the FBI are asking for the public's help to identify individuals responsible for making fake bomb threats. If you have any information, please come forward to assist with the investigation.