San Diego has reversed course on another balance-budgeting decision that caused public outrage after making cuts to other community services and securing additional state funding, the city said Wednesday. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and other local leaders announced all public restrooms in Missi on Bay would reopen Friday after San Diegans, business owners and visitors complained that closures to half its facilities were creating long lines and forcing long walks. The 13 public restrooms were closed in July to cut costs and address a $118 million budget deficit for the fiscal year 2026-27 budget. The idea originated with Mayor Todd Gloria’s budget proposal, which called for closing 38 city-run public restrooms to help reduce spending. Gloria said funding to reopen the restrooms came from cuts to community project programs in Districts 1 and 3 and new state funding, “which will alleviate the city’s dependence on general fund dollars for those functions provided for in that grant.” “Of course Mission Bay is one of our most heavily used parks in the city of San Diego, particularly during the summer season,” Gloria said. “Families and visitors reasonably expect basic public amenities to be open, like public restrooms. “But when faced with choices like preventing fire station brownouts and fixing more roads, we had to make reductions somewhere. And since this budget was adopted, my office and my city staff have continued to look for responsible ways to restore this and other public services. In this particular case, we now have one.” The reopenings would last through the remainder of the year, when the city will analyze the budget to determine whether there are resources to keep them open. The closures received immediate pushback from visitors, and complaints have not let up since. One sign posted directly on a public restroom said, “If you are as OUTRAGED as I am at these closures, Please contact the Mayor and all city council members!” A screenshot of the map posted on the City of San Diego’s website showing the previously closed restrooms in red the Mission Bay area. The bathrooms will be reopened starting Aug. 14. According to the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst, closing 13 of the 28 public restrooms in Mission Bay Park was expected to save about $547,000. The analysis also projected savings of about $18,000 by closing seven of the 14 portable restrooms on Fiesta Island. Additional savings would come from closing all five public restrooms at Shoreline Beach, except those near the Children’s Pool in La Jolla, as well as some comfort stations in Balboa Park and public restrooms in downtown San Diego. Together, those additional closures were projected to save more than $1.5 million. It was not clear if those restrooms would be reopened. The city of San Diego also reversed course on parking fees at Balboa Park and part of an increase to trash fees following pushback from residents. Paid parking will end on Dec. 31 and trash fees will be reduced next year. The decision behind closed doors on May 20 was a win for opponents of the hotly debated fees, but also represented a compromise by requiring the group of homeowners suing the city over the trash fees to drop the suit, as well as a related group to end an effort to repeal the fees via ballot measure this fall. ...read more read less