'San Diego' didn't want to do anything. Who actually said that and what did they actually do?
If an unabashed in your face city leader like Ed Koch (a former mayor of NYC) or an off the cuff leader (pick any) makes a comment or suggestion in a press conference or to his buddy at a diner, that doesn't represent the position of 'the city' or (pick an entity). It means nothing and its a big leap to claim it represent the majority will of thousands of people.
Before repeating such 'news', find out who said it and in what context. If its a bill being proposed, then maybe there's actually something there. But if its a bill being proposed by say the People Workers Party councilperson, with no support from the other 16 councilpeople, its going nowhere and clearly doesn't represent anything more than a politcal gesture.