Nestled at the southernmost tip of California, San Ysidro is a community that is vibrant, historic, and uniquely positioned at one of the most important gateways between the United States and Mexico. But despite its undeniable strategic and economic importance, San Ysidro remains a neighborhood under the jurisdiction of the City of San Diego — a city that it does not even touch by land.
It’s time to start the conversation: San Ysidro should become its own city.
And the biggest winners in this bold move? Our students, our schools, and our community’s future.
1. A City Without Connection — Literally and Figuratively
San Ysidro is geographically disconnected from the rest of San Diego. To reach another neighborhood within San Diego proper, you must pass through the city of Chula Vista and National City. This geographic separation is more than symbolic — it represents a long-standing lack of attention, resources, and representation from a city government headquartered miles away and more focused on central and northern communities.
This disconnect has left San Ysidro underserved in critical areas, especially education infrastructure. The needs of local students — who are primarily Latino, many of whom are bilingual and from working-class families — have consistently been marginalized in budget allocations and long-term planning.
2. The Border as an Economic Powerhouse
San Ysidro hosts the San Ysidro Port of Entry, one of the busiest land border crossings in the world. An enormous number of people cross the border here daily, contributing to a bustling local economy powered by retail, hospitality, and transportation. Local businesses generate millions in sales tax revenue each year — money that currently flows north to San Diego’s general fund.
If San Ysidro were an independent city, it could retain this revenue and reinvest it directly into its own infrastructure — especially modern, fully funded, and technologically advanced schools. These schools could be designed with the needs of border communities in mind: bilingual curriculum, cross-cultural education, and STEM programs focused on logistics, border security, and international trade.
3. Local Control Means Smarter Investment in Education
One of the most compelling arguments for cityhood is local control of property taxes and public investment. Right now, decisions about how local funds are spent — including those generated from property taxes — are made in San Diego City Hall, not in San Ysidro. Becoming an independent municipality would allow residents to decide how their tax dollars are spent, rather than competing for scraps from a budget that prioritizes more affluent neighborhoods.
This autonomy could lead to:
- New public schools that meet seismic and technological standards.
- Better teacher pay to attract and retain top talent.
- After-school and college readiness programs built by locals for locals.
- Partnerships with cross-border educational institutions.
4. Building a Civic Identity That Reflects the People
Becoming a city isn’t just about infrastructure — it’s about empowerment. San Ysidro has a rich history, a diverse population, and a culture that is distinct from the rest of San Diego. Creating a city government that reflects the voices and values of its people means education policies, zoning, development, and social programs that truly understand and respond to local needs.
This would empower young people growing up in San Ysidro to see government not as something distant and unresponsive — but as something they can shape, lead, and benefit from.
Let’s Jumpstart the Discussion
This isn’t a call for rebellion — it’s a call for responsibility, for vision, and above all, for fairness. San Ysidro is more than just a neighborhood at the edge of a city. It is a vibrant community with deep roots, rich culture, and the geographic and economic strength to stand as a city in its own right. But beyond that, we have a moral responsibility — to our children and to future generations — to give them the best chance at a brighter future through quality education, local investment, and self-determination.
Becoming a city isn’t just about drawing new borders. It’s about claiming the right to chart our own course. It means accountability. It means control over the taxes we pay. And it means having the power to invest directly in our schools, our infrastructure, and our community’s long-term success — on our terms.
Today, La Jolla — one of San Diego’s wealthiest communities — is being given the opportunity to explore separation from the city to better serve its own interests. If that door is open to them, it must also be open to San Ysidro — a resilient, hardworking, and predominantly Latino community that has too often been overlooked. The right to self-govern, to shape our own future, and to invest in our children should never be a privilege reserved only for the wealthy.
San Ysidro stands at the gateway of international commerce and cultural exchange. It is a place of tremendous potential — not just economically, but humanly. Our families deserve a voice that understands their struggles and champions their hopes. If La Jolla can seek independence to protect its priorities, then San Ysidro should have the same opportunity to protect and uplift its people.
And that conversation must begin with those who shape our children’s future every day.
The San Ysidro School Board has both a legal and moral obligation to explore how cityhood could impact our students and their families. When an idea has the potential to transform local education — from school funding to classroom resources to long-term academic outcomes — it must be approached not with fear, but with courage and clarity. This isn’t about politics — it’s about protecting the promise we make to every child who walks through our school doors.
The time to begin this conversation is now.
Because our children can’t afford to wait any longer.
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