The Chargers stadium initiative needs 67,000 signatures to get on the November ballot, and signature gatherers were out in full force Sunday - outside supermarkets, Walmarts and others stores - trying to get people to sign.
If the measure passes, the hotel tax would go up to help pay for a downtown stadium.
“This is a great thing, man,” signature gatherer Israel Vamos said. “It’s going to be a beautiful park. It produces a lot of business and everybody seems happy. It’s good for the city and the economy.”
The Chargers brought in heavyweights like NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Ladainian Tomlinson for a rally to kick off the Chargers stadium initiative drive Saturday.
"Once we win this – I assure you, there’s going to be a stadium right where we’re standing here," Chargers owner Dean Spanos told the screaming crowd. "It’s going to be something San Diego will be proud of for years to come.”
Not everyone is supporting the initiative though. Former San Diego County Taxpayers Association board member April Boling said it could hurt local businesses.
“It’s going to make us one of the highest rates in the country and we will undoubtedly lose some business because of that,” she explained.
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Even so, some San Diegans aren’t bothered by the prospect of a hotel tax hike.
“I live in San Diego so I’m not going to be using the hotel tax a lot. It’s going to bring a lot of revenue into our city,” one Chargers fan explained while adding her name.
“It is worth it,” another fan said. “I mean we pay all these other taxes, you know? Football is San Diego.”
