Voice of San Diego

03/24/2023

VOSD Podcast: The End of 101 Ash

This week on the VOSD Podcast, the definitive, end-all-be-all, super review with a firm conclusion recap — and finale! — of the 101 Ash St. saga.

Plus: Inspiration Point, where art thou? https://bit.ly/3lFIzst

And I would have gotten away with it, too! If it wasn’t for that damn asbestos. That’s the Scooby-Doo mask reveal moment we have this week, as former real estate advisor to the city of San Diego Jason Hughes pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge after agreeing to pay back $...

03/24/2023

Attn parents: If you want to transfer your child to another school within your school district, these are important dates to keep in mind. 📚

Download our Parent’s Guide to San Diego Schools for all the info you need on school choice, special programs and more: vosd.org/schools

03/24/2023

Morning Report: Ex-City Real Estate Guru Pleads Guilty

Ex-city real estate adviser Jason Hughes pleaded guilty Thursday to a single violation of a state conflict-of-interest law. https://bit.ly/3nmAiu8

Ex-city real estate adviser Jason Hughes pleaded guilty Thursday to a single violation of a state conflict-of-interest law and agreed to pay the city $9.4 million, the amount the city’s ex-101 Ash St. landlord paid him years ago for his work on two city lease deals.

03/24/2023

Hughes Pleads Guilty, And Now State Officials Could Come After His Real Estate License

An ex-city real estate adviser’s state real estate license could be in peril following his Thursday guilty plea to a state conflict-of-interest charge. https://bit.ly/3Z5TRnu

Former city real estate adviser pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge after agreeing to essentially pay back the city $9.4 million he received from the city’s ex-landlord for his work on two city lease deals.

03/23/2023

San Diego Unified’s Chronic Absenteeism Crisis Is at its Worst in Lower Grades

Nearly half of all kindergarteners at San Diego Unified schools are now chronically absent. https://bit.ly/3LOpYVW

Though chronic absenteeism at any level hurts student performance, missing school at a young age could set students back for years to come.

03/23/2023

Ex-City Real Estate Adviser Expected to Plead Guilty to Misdemeanor Conflict of Interest

The San Diego City Council voted 7-2 yesterday to approve a $9.4M settlement with an ex-real estate adviser who is now expected to plead guilty to a conflict-of-interest charge. https://bit.ly/3K0FEny

The District Attorney’s Office expects former city real estate adviser Jason Hughes, once publicly considered a volunteer, to plead guilty to a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge over $9.4 million in previously-secret payments from the city’s ex-landlord for his work on two city leases.

03/23/2023

Escondido Could be Next to Regulate Sidewalk Vending

An ordinance regulating how and where sidewalk vendors can operate will soon be considered by Escondido's City Council. https://bit.ly/40rionX

Escondido's City Council will soon consider regulating sidewalk vending, which will likely reignite an ongoing debate about regulations.

03/23/2023

Ex-City Real Estate Adviser Expected to Plead Guilty to Misdemeanor Conflict of Interest

Big news in the 101 Ash saga: An ex-city real estate adviser is expected to plead guilty to a conflict-of-interest charge and has agreed to pay the city $9.4M. https://bit.ly/3K0FEny

The District Attorney’s Office expects former city real estate adviser Jason Hughes, once publicly considered a volunteer, to plead guilty to a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge over $9.4 million in previously-secret payments from the city’s ex-landlord for his work on two city leases.

03/22/2023

Balboa Park Groups Opposing Potential Safe Campground

City officials are considering whether an often-overlooked lot in Balboa Park could become a safe campsite for unhoused residents. Balboa Park orgs are not happy about it. https://bit.ly/3FFZx0C

City officials are eyeing Inspiration Point as a potential safe campsite for homeless residents. Organizations are already pushing back.

03/22/2023

City Likely to Settle with Ex-Real Estate Adviser For $9.4M

The City Council is holding a special meeting today to vote on a settlement requiring ex-city real estate adviser Jason Hughes to pay back $9.4M he received from the city’s ex-landlord for his work on the 101 Ash St. and Civic Center Plaza leases. https://bit.ly/3mZA77B

The City Council will vote Wednesday on a proposed settlement requiring a ex-real estate adviser to pay back the $9.4 million he received from the city’s ex-landlord.

03/22/2023

City Likely to Settle with Ex-Real Estate Adviser For $9.4M

A proposed settlement deal between ex-city real estate adviser Jason Hughes and the city calls for Hughes to pay the city $9.4M and the city to drop its two conflict-of-interest lawsuits against him. https://bit.ly/3mZA77B

The City Council will vote Wednesday on a proposed settlement requiring a ex-real estate adviser to pay back the $9.4 million he received from the city’s ex-landlord.

03/22/2023

City officials are eyeing Inspiration Point as a potential safe campsite for homeless residents. Balboa Park organizations are already pushing back. Story by Lisa Halverstadt: https://voiceofsandiego.org/2023/03/21/balboa-park-groups-opposing-potential-safe-campground/

03/21/2023

Balboa Park Groups Opposing Potential Safe Campground

Downtown Councilman Stephen Whitburn, who also represents Balboa Park, is pushing for a safe campground — and park groups have let him know they don’t want it in Balboa Park. https://bit.ly/3FFZx0C

City officials are eyeing Inspiration Point as a potential safe campsite for homeless residents. Organizations are already pushing back.

03/21/2023

Cup of Chisme: In My Neighborhood, Kids Are Missing a Lot of School

Nearly all the schools in one San Diego ZIP code are struggling with chronic absenteeism. Plus: What’s up with police staffing levels and a new law to prohibit encampments. https://bit.ly/3Z6WOUG

Nearly all the schools in one San Diego ZIP code are struggling with chronic absenteeism. Plus: What's up with police staffing levels.

03/21/2023

Morning Report: Border Patrol Wants to Beef Up Surveillance Powers Around San Diego

CBP is deploying 35 new surveillance towers at stations in Imperial Beach, El Cajon, Chula Vista and in Otay Mesa. https://bit.ly/3z07z0o

The federal government is working on plans to roll out dozens of new surveillance towers across San Diego. The large, metal structures are equipped with cameras and other technology capable of detecting and classifying people and cars up to several miles away. Customs and Border Protection is deploy...

03/21/2023

Mayor, Downtown Councilman Pushing Homeless Camp Crackdown

Mayor Todd Gloria and downtown Councilman Stephen Whitburn announced a series of plans to attack visible homelessness — and former Mayor Kevin Faulconer is skeptical about their timing. https://bit.ly/3Tq8y3p

Mayor Todd Gloria and a city councilman are urging new tactics to address a surging unsheltered homelessness.

03/21/2023

Feds Want to Expand Autonomous Surveillance Capabilities Along Border

Federal immigration authorities are ramping up their surveillance capabilities with plans to install dozens of new surveillance towers in San Diego County over the next couple years. https://bit.ly/3FHny7t

While U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the technology will reduce demand on agents and unmask networks of illegal activity in San Diego, immigration advocates point to research showing the increasingly militarized border pushes desperate people into more dangerous terrain.

03/20/2023

A Parent's Guide to San Diego Schools

Curious how your neighborhood school stacks up against others in the area? Get your free copy of our Parent's Guide to San Diego Schools: https://bit.ly/3Y8gEPd

A Parent’s Guide to San Diego Schools is a tool for families to help make decisions about a child’s education.

03/20/2023

SDPD Staffing Crisis Expected to Continue for Years

San Diego has been trying to address police understaffing for years, but city budget analysts now say it will need to use overtime to plug staffing shortages for four to five years, at least. https://bit.ly/3YRFHpK

City budget analysts say San Diego police will need to use overtime to plug staffing shortages for four to five years, at least.

03/20/2023

Morning Report: The $67 Million Unanswered Question

Did the city of San Diego pay too much money for a hotel that was purchased under the cloud of a conflict of interest-scandal? Well, we don’t have an answer, yet. https://bit.ly/3lmQ4ob

Did San Diego pay too much for a hotel that was purchased under the cloud of a conflict of interest-scandal? We don’t have an answer, yet.

03/17/2023

VOSD Podcast: Mayor Gloria Won't Take No for an Answer

This week on the VOSD Podcast, the next big homelessness plan, La Jolla wants to see other people and a startling cluster of chronic absenteeism in schools. https://bit.ly/3TEQ7bH

“No is not an acceptable answer.” Just before we recorded our podcast on Thursday, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilman Stephen Whitburn unveiled new tactics to curb homelessness: More safe camping options, more supportive services and new bans on vehicle habitation and camping on public p...

03/17/2023

Of the 15 San Diego Unified Schools with the Most Chronic Absenteeism, 14 Are South of I-8

The number of students missing significant amounts of school both nationally and locally has exploded in recent years, but some of San Diego’s poorest areas have seen the most distressing increases. https://bit.ly/3JEdVsA

Chronic absenteeism has reached sky-high levels nationally and locally, but the bad news isn’t evenly distributed.

03/17/2023

SDPD Staffing Crisis Expected to Continue for Years

San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit wants to hire more civilians to take on some duties now handled by officers, an acknowledgement the agency needs to try different tacks to address staffing gaps. https://bit.ly/3YRFHpK

City budget analysts say San Diego police will need to use overtime to plug staffing shortages for four to five years, at least.

03/17/2023

Mayor, Downtown Councilman Pushing Homeless Camp Crackdown

Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilman Stephen Whitburn, who represents downtown, are calling for a crackdown on homeless camps and people living in vehicles. https://bit.ly/3Tq8y3p

Mayor Todd Gloria and a city councilman are urging new tactics to address a surging unsheltered homelessness.

03/16/2023

Of the 15 San Diego Unified Schools with the Most Chronic Absenteeism, 14 Are South of I-8

Chronic absenteeism has reached sky-high levels nationally and locally. At one school in San Diego, 89% of students missed at least 10% of the last school year. https://bit.ly/3JEdVsA

Chronic absenteeism has reached sky-high levels nationally and locally, but the bad news isn’t evenly distributed.

03/16/2023

Of the 15 San Diego Unified Schools with the Most Chronic Absenteeism, 14 Are South of I-8

Of the 20 San Diego County schools with the highest chronic absenteeism rates, seven are clustered in just one ZIP code. https://bit.ly/3JEdVsA

Chronic absenteeism has reached sky-high levels nationally and locally, but the bad news isn’t evenly distributed.

03/16/2023

SDPD Staffing Crisis Expected to Continue for Years

A San Diego police staffing shortage that’s fueled increasing response times and overtime payouts appears unlikely to be solved anytime soon. https://bit.ly/3YRFHpK

City budget analysts say San Diego police will need to use overtime to plug staffing shortages for four to five years, at least.

03/15/2023

The Learning Curve: Understanding a Chronic Absenteeism Crisis

Every school that feeds into Logan Memorial’s high school has chronic absenteeism rates well above the district’s average. The school’s head counselor thinks there’s no “silver bullet” to solve the problem. https://bit.ly/3Jn4YCv

Nearly every school that feeds into Logan Memorial’s high school has chronic absenteeism rates well above the district’s average.

03/15/2023

DA Stephan Pushing New Homeless Shelter App

County supervisors on Tuesday signed off on District Attorney Summer Stephan’s push to create a phone app to link homeless San Diegans with shelter beds. https://bit.ly/3FmTUUU

We pulled this post from the March 15 Morning Report. County supervisors on Tuesday signed off on District Attorney Summer Stephan’s push to create a phone app to link homeless San Diegans with shelter beds. The goal for the $300,000 pilot is to create a system that informs outreach workers and ot...

03/15/2023

Of the 15 San Diego Unified Schools with the Most Chronic Absenteeism, 14 Are South of I-8

Of the 15 San Diego Unified schools with the highest levels of chronic absenteeism, 14 are south of Interstate 8. https://bit.ly/3JEdVsA

Chronic absenteeism has reached sky-high levels nationally and locally, but the bad news isn’t evenly distributed.

03/15/2023

These Aren’t Your Grandparent’s Streetlights

Activists are raising alarms because the new surveillance platform San Diego wants to install on streetlights is more sophisticated than the last. https://bit.ly/3JrgEpc

Surveillance technology has advanced in the years since San Diego’s smart streetlights program went bust. The new proposed platform is more sophisticated than the last and offers analytics not previously available to officials.

03/15/2023

North County Report: Lack of Funding Shut Down Aid to Families on the Brink

A homelessness prevention program for families in Escondido can no longer operate after losing its federal funding source. Now hundreds of at-risk families have to seek help elsewhere. https://bit.ly/3ZzNutL

A homelessness prevention program for families in Escondido came to a standstill after losing its federal funding source. Now program leaders are hoping the city will help them find new money.

03/14/2023

How San Diego Climate Action Works and What it Might Cost

San Diego produced new tools to track action on the city's lofty climate goals and cost estimates for the first time. But the city still faces two lawsuits alleging there's been enough inaction to warrant a remedy in the courts. https://bit.ly/3YwOHR7

San Diego would have to find millions in new money to reduce its carbon footprint. The city has just 12 years to remove the equivalent of 2.2 million gas-powered cars off the road.

03/14/2023

Of the 15 San Diego Unified Schools with the Most Chronic Absenteeism, 14 Are South of I-8

The number of students missing significant amounts of school both nationally and locally has exploded in recent years, but some of San Diego’s poorest areas have seen the most distressing increases. https://bit.ly/3JEdVsA

Chronic absenteeism has reached sky-high levels nationally and locally, but the bad news isn’t evenly distributed.

03/14/2023

San Diego Business Groups Balk at City’s New Climate Policy Guide

At the city’s Environment Committee meeting last week, industry representatives argued the city was too focused on cutting emissions, and not enough on other considerations. https://bit.ly/3yrPpoj

At the city's Environment Committee meeting Thursday, industry representatives during public comment argued the city was too focused on cutting emissions, and not enough on other considerations.

03/14/2023

Of the 15 San Diego Unified Schools with the Most Chronic Absenteeism, 14 Are South of I-8

Chronic absenteeism has reached sky-high levels nationally and locally, but the bad news isn’t evenly distributed. https://bit.ly/3JEdVsA

Chronic absenteeism has reached sky-high levels nationally and locally, but the bad news isn’t evenly distributed.

03/12/2023

Amid an Overdose Crisis, Many San Diegans Struggle to Access Detox

Experts and advocates agree that detox should be available on demand to those who seek it. But quickly accessing a Medi-Cal bed — especially in central San Diego — is now akin to winning the lottery. https://bit.ly/3L19edv

San Diego's limited number of detox beds for Medi-Cal patients are forcing many grappling with addiction to wait – or stop seeking a bed.

03/11/2023

San Diego Business Groups Balk at City’s New Climate Policy Guide

San Diego is experimenting with a new scoring system that is supposed to help City Councils present and future weigh which climate actions to take. Business interest groups are worried that tool doesn't value impacts on jobs and economy enough. https://bit.ly/3yrPpoj

At the city's Environment Committee meeting Thursday, industry representatives during public comment argued the city was too focused on cutting emissions, and not enough on other considerations.

03/11/2023

These Aren’t Your Grandparent’s Streetlights

Surveillance technology has advanced in the years since San Diego’s smart streetlights program went bust. Though police say they plan to use the devices like they did before, the new platform is more sophisticated than the last. https://bit.ly/3JrgEpc

Surveillance technology has advanced in the years since San Diego’s smart streetlights program went bust. The new proposed platform is more sophisticated than the last and offers analytics not previously available to officials.

03/11/2023

North County Report: Lack of Funding Shut Down Aid to Families on the Brink

A program that prevents families from becoming homeless in Escondido needs a new funding source after federal dollars fell through. Program leaders are hoping the city will step in. https://bit.ly/3ZzNutL

A homelessness prevention program for families in Escondido came to a standstill after losing its federal funding source. Now program leaders are hoping the city will help them find new money.