Voice Of San Diego Podcast

An immigration raid in the early dinner hours at a popular restaurant in South Park has led to a week of backlash among local leaders. We’ll talk about what we know.    We’re in the final days of this epic budget process at the city of San Diego. Will the beloved fire pits survive???   And finally, the giant water agencies based in San Diego and Los Angeles have resolved their 15-year legal dispute. We’ll explain how interesting it is and a fascinating little fight they started right after it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s memorandum time in the city of San Diego’s budget saga. Councilmembers may be headed for a historic standoff with the mayor. We’ll do a little history lesson to show how interesting it could get.    Only 58 percent of San Diego Unified high schoolers are on track to graduate. Rather than get them on track, they’ve decided to create a new trackSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There had been some controversy about whether the Mayor and San Diego City Council would have to dip into reserves to handle their budget deficit – now it appears they have no choice. We’ll explain how bad the city’s finances are getting.    South County is now home to a massive hotel and convention center many years in the making. The mayor of Chula Vista like all south bay officials was proud. But he quickly distanced himself from his real estate company that appears ready to cash in on an adjacent project.    And Jakob’s got an update from the telenovela that is Grossmont Union High School District.   SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) San Diego County Grand Jury Findings VOSD: Grand Jury Finds Faults in San Diego Unified’s Bond Program Among the report’s findings, the grand jury concluded the district had ‘consistently failed to inform,’ voters of bond-induced tax rate i

The city of San Diego is officially at legal war with La Jolla separatists. Why a ballot measure push a couple years ago is related.  The mayor’s revised budget is still pretty ugly and still gets rid of beach bonfire rings. And finally the budget also has set up an nasty little standoff between the city and county over a homeless shelter in the Midway area. They have stopped letting people into the tent and the operator is furious.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week the crew brought their notes and their game to Soda Bar where they recorded the podcast before packed house, as Scott, Andrea, Jakob and Bella welcomed Keene Simonds, the Executive Officer of the Local Agency Formation Commission, to the lively LIVE podcast recording session. Recorded live at Soda Bar, Wednesday May 7, 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we sat down for an in depth interview with San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Dan Denham. He filled us in with some deep water knowledge during this week’s show.   SHOW NOTES: (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) VOSD: San Diego Council Bashes County Water Authority Over CostsCouncilmembers say they want to see steep cuts in spending by the region’s major water buyer. One suggested refusing to pay the city’s water bills.  by MacKenzie ElmerJanuary 17, 2025 The Truth About the Cost of Water: Dismantling the Water Authority Would Harm All San Diegansby Jim MadafferApril 28, 2025 Axios:  Elo-Rivera to San Diego Water Authority: Lower rates, or else Andrew Keatts        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have another guest this week. Hot off her state of the county speech, County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer is joining us.  Our South Bay reporter did a deep dive into what happened after Chula Vista Mayor John McCann helped secure the release of a woman convicted of fraud several years ago. She’s being sentenced today on another charge.  And we had a story this week out of Encinitas where a homeless service provider is being attacked online and blamed for the increasing visibility of homelessness in the beach town.    SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) INTRO 00:00:00   SEGMENT 1 00:00:53 Spring Fundraising Campaign One week left Goal - 100 new members and $150k by April 29 All gifts will be matched up to $10k thanks to a generous anonymous donor. Donate at vosd.org/podpeople and leave a message about why you support Voice.  Here’s what our members said about why they donate: Leticia S. wrote, &ldq

We have a guest co-host today, Congressman Mike Levin is here with some reports from D.C. where things are normal and not very interesting at all. He was supposed to bring a hot take.  Jakob did a story about how some classrooms in local colleges are filled with fake people. We’ll break down how that works and how much it’s costing.  And we have more trash talk. The new fee for San Diego homeowners is probably coming but it’s got to go through a big hurdle.  SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) INTRO 00:00:00 SEGMENT 1 00:00:42 VOSD Beer Launch Party Beer Launch Party  To celebrate our 20th anniversary, we’ve collaborated with 3 Punk Ales to create a limited edition Voice of San Diego beer can.  Come enjoy a beer with all our reporters at the official launch party. When: Thursday, April 24 at 5 p.m. Where: 3 Punk Ales – 259 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910 SEGMENT 2 00:01:41 Banter SEGM

The South Bay County Supervisor runoff is set. Two mayors will race for the future of the county.  An effort to set aside an area for homeless residents near the airport has hit another snag as the developer of Liberty Station takes the city to court.  And the U.S Secretary of Education was in town. Jakob went to see her.  All that and another Dear VOSD.      SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading)   INTRO 00:00:00   SEGMENT 1 00:55:20 VOSD Beer Launch Party Grossmont Union accounts:  https://www.instagram.com/guhsd_parent/ https://www.instagram.com/studentsforstaff.guhsd/  Sdbikelanes: https://www.instagram.com/sdbikelanes/  Mts lovegang: https://www.instagram.com/sdmts.lovegang/  Sdfloodsurvivors: https://www.instagram.com/sdfloodsurvivors/   SEGMENT 2 00:07:17 Dear VOSD: Luis from City Council District 4 What’s the correct number of city council districts?   SEGMENT 3 0

On Sunday, March 31st, 1985, a group of young Black men drove back to southeastern San Diego after visiting Balboa Park. It was just after 6:00 PM and the sun was retreating into the horizon. As a truck driven by 23-year-old Sagon Penn pulled into a driveway on a quiet street in Encanto, they were followed by two police cars. What happened next would leave one officer dead, another officer and a civilian ride along severely injured, a young man in a years long legal limbo and a city reeling.  On the 40th anniversary of the incident, I have author Peter Houlahan in the studio with me. His book, “Reap the Whirlwind: Violence, Race, Justice and the story of Sagon Penn,” is a fascinating deep dive into the case, the compelling figures who drove the story and the impact it all had on San Diego and beyond.    SHOW NOTES 10News Story: New book revisits the impact the story of Sagon Penn has had on communities of color in San Diego You can find book from Counterpoint Press here: Reap the Wh

Coming up on the show, we are in the final stretch of the District 1 County Supervisor race.  The mailers are getting SPICY, and one especially pissed off a lot of people.  Last month, Mayor Todd Gloria announced he was eliminating the position of chief operating officer and taking over the gig himself. Now, former COO Eric Dargan is suing Gloria and the city for discrimination and for breaking promises in his contract. We’ll break it down.  Finally, why are officials at Chula Vista Elementary school trading corruption allegations? Investigative reporter Will Huntsberry joins us this week to explain. SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) INTRO 00:00:00 SEGMENT 1 00:04:13Hyperlocal IG Accounts Grossmont Union accounts: https://www.instagram.com/guhsd_parent/https://www.instagram.com/studentsforstaff.guhsd/  Sdbikelanes: https://www.instagram.com/sdbikelanes/  Mts lovegang: https://www.instagram.com/sdmts

The Padres are playing their opening game as we record. We’ll explain a new minimum wage increase they are fighting. We’ve got a few updates on what the city is doing to get you to pay for parking. Why San Diego is on the hook for monthly rent payment on an empty homeless shelter. And the historic San Diego Taxpayers Association has no leadership.  Also, the hospitals are fighting. Palomar Health is borrowing money from friends and that never goes well.   SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) INTRO 00:00:00 SEGMENT 1 00:01:10 Axios Opening Day at Petco: Padres face Braves, Profar returns Bella's Tarot Cards SEGMENT 2 00:10:34 Tax Association VOSD Politics Report: Taxpayers ‘Cash Flow Problem’ SEGMENT 3 00:15:13 Homeless Senior Center VOSD San Diego Is on the Hook for Monthly $77,000 Payments of Shuttered Senior Shelter SEGMENT 4 00:19:15 SD CPR Parking Update from Bella KPBS Charging on Sundays? Surge pr

We’ve got a Dear VOSD response finally on the city’s history of charging for parking.  Grossmont Union School District has had some very tense meetings. We’ll talk about a hot mic moment that went viral.  And as part of our 20th anniversary talk, we have reflections from several of the journalists and former writers at Voice of San Diego who made a difference here. SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) INTRO 00:00:00 SEGMENT 1 00:02:16 SD County - Registrar’s Office  First Supervisorial District Special Primary Election  Luke Bergmann Resigns - VOSD County’s Top Behavioral Health Official Resigns Dept of Education - NPR Trump signs order aiming to close the Education Department Trash Fees - NBC San Diego City of San Diego announces how much trash pickup will actually cost SEGMENT 2 00:19:23 Dear VOSD: Parking Instagram  New fiscal year, same structural budget deficit SEGMENT 3 00:34:

There was a surprisingly tense conversation about water rates at the city. The reality that they’re going to soar is starting to set in and we’ll discuss.  Finally, we’ve got a guest, I have been on his show many times but he’s never been on ours. Darren Smith, the best unemployed radio guy in town is here to explain us some sports and more.  We’ll go through some headlines with him and get into it.     SHOW NOTES INTRO 00:00:00 Intro SEGMENT 1 00:01:48 San Diego Football Club opening day drama KPBS San Diego FC announces security, messaging measures after homophobic chants AXIOS SDFC confronts fans' homophobic chant that's plagued soccer for years   NBC San Diego Homophobic chant at San Diego FC's inaugural home match condemned by coach, sporting director SEGMENT 2 00:13:41 COVID-19 Five Years Later Guardian Article: ‘We have ignored lessons’: how Covid continues to affect lives five years later Reuters:COVID-19 shut us down fi

What exactly happened at City Council this week? We have one of them here, Councilmember Henry Foster joins us to talk about housing, ADUs, land use, the city’s deficit and more.   SHOW NOTES INTRO 00:00:00 Intro SEGMENT 1 00:02:09 San Diego Football Club opening day drama AXIOS SDFC confronts fans' homophobic chant that's plagued soccer for years   NBC San Diego Homophobic chant at San Diego FC's inaugural home match condemned by coach, sporting director SEGMENT 2 00:11:13 Mailers D1 County Superintendent RaceSD County San Diego County’s First Supervisorial DistrictVOSD County Workers Back Imperial Beach Mayor in Supervisor BidVOSD Morning Report: Housing and the Supe Race San Diego’s Budget DeficitVOSD Morning Report: Deep Cuts Coming to City   SEGMENT 3 00:24:05 Henry Foster on HousingVOSD Morning Report: Council Spares ADU Bonus ProgramVOSD Morning Report: Mayor Cans COO City of San Diego March 4, 2025 City Council Meeting Audio Clip: 00:36:10Daniel Hor

SHOW NOTES INTRO 00:00:00 Intro Parent’s Guide on Instagram!   SEGMENT 1 00:00:57 Parent’s Guide on Instagram! The wait is OVER This year’s A Parent’s Guide to San Diego Schools is here and ready to help answer all your local education questions! The Guide explains school choice opportunities and enrollment deadlines, what’s available for after-school care, school performance data in an easy-to-use format and much more — all for FREE!!! Donor Thank You’s Ways to Give Women Leading The Conversation San Diego’s most influential women leaders. Thursday, March 20, 2025 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Farmer & Seahorse, Illumina Theatre 10996 Torreyana Rd., San Diego, CA SD 101 Video and Washington Post Tik-Tok  Dave Jorgenson on Blue Sky Bella Ross on Blue Sky   SEGMENT 2 00:13:42 South County Endorsements From La Prensa Story Friends Clash in County Special Election (2/3/2025) By Arturo Castañares Editor-at-Large   SEGMENT 3 00:21:36 Cann

If you listened last week, you were set up for the big news this week. The mayor is flexing his muscles.    We’ll explain the difference between eliminating a position and firing someone and what happened to the now former top bureaucrat at the city.    And the parents guide is coming out. Jakob and Andrea here have been working hard on it. We’ll talk. SHOW NOTES INTRO 00:00:00 Intro What our supporters have to say.   SEGMENT 1 00:03:00 The Reader and Alt Weeklies   KPBS: San Diego Reader ends print edition after 52 years The Union-Tribune: A cultural shift you can’t deny’: San Diego Reader ceases printing and goes fully digital The Times of San Diego: San Diego Reader Ends 52-Year Print Run, But Will Keep the Alt-Press Faith Online The Reader Instagram account: Not ended, but changed. The San Diego Reader is now SanDiegoReader.com! SEGMENT 2 00:13:15 The Chula Vista School Board Drama   VOSD: Why a Chula Vista School Board Member Ran for a Seat He

It’s the 20th anniversary of the launch of Voice of San Diego, the greatest nonprofit news organization go live in 2005. We launched before YouTube. We’ll reminisce a bit with a sort of special guest.  The city of San Diego’s budget deficit has provoked some tense conversations. A City Council budget committee hearing last week had some great clips. And where are the kids? San Diego Unified School District is going to have to deal with another drop in enrollment.   SHOW NOTES INTRO 00:00:00 Intro SEGMENT 1 00:00:00 “Dear VOSD” Jim from University Heights - When it comes to parking, why is La Jolla an exception? Parking and RIP Donald Shoup Donald Shoup, distinguished professor emeritus whose decades of teaching and scholarship at UCLA greatly influenced the field of land-use planning as well as generations of scholars, students and urban planners, died Feb. 6, 2025, at age 86. Shoup was a titan in the fields of urban planning and specifically parking reform, a

Coming up on the show today, a special interview with San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez. She is ready to talk about deaths in county jails, local law enforcement’s relationship with federal immigration agents and more.    SHOW NOTES 2017 California Senate Bill 54, commonly referred to as "SB 54" and also known as the "California Values Act" is a 2017 California state law that prevents state and local law enforcement agencies from using their resources on behalf of federal immigration enforcement agencies AG Says Sheriff Must Find Solution to Jail Deaths – Or Face ConsequencesIf death rates in San Diego jails don’t come down, Attorney General Rob Bonta said he could pursue multiple legal remedies.by Will HuntsberryOctober 10, 2023 Border Report: Understanding San Diego’s Stricter ‘Sanctuary’ Policy by Kate MorrisseyJanuary 6, 2025 Proposition 36 Has Already Led to Hundreds of Arrests in San Diegoby Jakob McWhinneyFebruary 5, 2025   Become a Member &

Is it the end of San Diego’s decidedly pro-housing majority? There was an earthquake at City Hall this week about ADUs  At the same time, Poway City Council has reached a telenovela level of drama, we’ll break it down.   SHOW NOTES   00:00:00 Opening  00:04:15 Controversial Encanto ADU Policy From KPBS San Diego City Council repeals controversial footnote targeting Southeastern neighborhoods   Encanto neighbors say their infrastructure can’t support the ‘granny towers’ coming to backyards   Gloria 'exploring options' after surprise City Council vote seeking repeal of landmark housing program   San Diego City Council Meeting Cue to: 3:51:00 - 3:55:00   00:29:22 Poway Telenovela Poway City Attorney Accuses Councilmember of Harassment, Intimidation Poway City Attorney Alan Fenstermacher accused Councilmember Tony Blain during a contentious City Council meeting of harassment, intimidation, bullying and retaliation.    https://voiceofs