Voice Of San Diego Podcast

Our annual Parents Guide to San Diego Schools is almost done. We have added a new metric this year and it reveals how well schools recovered, or didn’t, from COVID.  Jakob here took it and turned it into a story. It’s a bit of a downer.  Another local government is promising to protect people from Trump’s immigration action. We’ll review the supposed protections.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria gave his state of the city speech. If last year was the everything is awesome speech, this year was the everything is definitely not awesome speech. This was the tough conversations speech. The we can do hard things speech.  The dynamic PowerPoint that went with included such rousing lists like refocus, reimagine, revisit and re-evaluate…   SHOW NOTES 00:00:00 Opening  January 28th Event: Meet the Beat: South County January 28 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Free Have you met our newest journalist Jim Hinch yet? Have refreshments and get to know the face behind Voice’s South County Report. This event is open to the public.   00:06:14 State of the City Part I 2025 State of the City Livestream Mayor: Steep Budget Cuts Are Coming San Diego by Will Huntsberry and Lisa Halverstadt   00:16:43 State of the City Part II 2024 State of the City Livestream   00:32:45 State of the City Part III Morning Report: Deep Cuts Coming to City   00:37:48 County Updat

We are going to go through some updates to stories but we’ve got a special co-host today, San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo. We’ve got some questions for him and he said he’s come up with a contribution to our hot takes segment at the end.    SHOW NOTES Segment 1  00:02:15 Updates  00:06:28 Fletcher Nathan Fletcher’s Accuser Drops Sexual Assault Claim — for Now 00:08:13 Vargas South County Report: Supervisor Race Takes Shape   Segment 2  00:11:17 She Said What?  County Supervisor Candidates Have No Love for New Immigration Policy New San Diego Council President Wants to End SeaWorld Fireworks 00:23:55 Padres Matthew Seidler denies allegations of wrongdoing from wife of late Padres owner Peter Seidler (Associated Press)   Matt Seidler responds to Sheel Seidler’s lawsuit, says Padres not going anywhere (Union Tribune)   Segment 3  00:30:27 Raul Campillo Interview 00:55:21 Do you want to run for mayor?   Segment

This is our first show of 2025 and it is already starting with some huge news: We finally will discuss the incredible news that County Supervisor Nora Vargas will not be taking the oath of office for her re-election.    The balance of power in the county is once again up for grabs, right as the county braces for thousands more people being forced into treatment.    What’s going to happen? Who’s going to run?   We’ll get into everything plus an update about stunning news from the San Diego Housing Commission: It has decided it no longer has the resources to dole out vouchers to specific low-income housing projects. IT’s a move that could have major implications for the Sports Arena project and other efforts to provide housing.         SHOW NOTES   Segment 1  0:05:21 - 0:11:28   The Libby App  (app that Scott uses to read books) The Power Broker (book) Segment 2 0:11:33 - 0:19:26   Politics Report: Another County Supe

This is the last episode of 2024 and we have a super mega roundtable for you.  I am in studio with the core four – Lopez, Jakob, Bella – and we have one open seat so we’re going to bring in one reporter at a time. We’ll ask them each what’s going to happen. What’s one thing they want to know "What’s going to happen?"  I think that’s the core compelling ingredient of media of all kinds. If a piece of content makes you wonder “What’s going to happen?” you’re hooked. So prepare to be hooked.   Show Outline and Notes You can show your support for our podcast today by going to vosd.org/podpeople. 00:00:00 Intro 00:06:56 Segment 1 What’s Going to Happen to TikTok? Bella Ross - Social Media Producer Pew Research on TikTok Book: Infinite Just What’s Going to Happen to Forces of Gentrification on the South Bay? Jim Hinch - South County Reporter Gentrification Is Coming for South San Diego County

This week we have a special episode for you. This coming year is going to be a difficult one for leaders of San Diego Unified School District. They are facing a massive budget deficit, ongoing stagnation in enrollment. They’re grappling with the aftermath of scandals involving sexual misconduct allegations that got the attention of the federal government and brought down the district’s superintendent. Cody Petterson was just named the new school board president. He’ll guide the five member Board of Education for the District.  He’s taking over that role from his colleague, trustee Shana Hazan.  Both of them came into the studio to talk about all these issues and more. It was a frank and interesting exchange on some very touchy topics in education.   Show Notes You can show your support for our podcast today by going to vosd.org/podpeople   Links San Diego Unified School District Board of Education  About Shana Hazan Board President - District B Term Expires: De

December 13, 2024 The election just ended. The election just started. We often accuse politicians of being short sighted but one thing they definitely plan far in advance is their next political move. We may have heard the first shots in the 2028 mayoral race.  The city has a new president of the City Council and the region has a new Republican leader, same as the old one.  And the county passed a rule about what the sheriff can and cannot do with immigration enforcement officers and the sheriff said thank you but I run my own show.  We get into the meat and potatoes of it all. Show Notes San Diego's Pension Scandal: Wikipedia San Diego pension scandal VOSD Mayor Announces New Pension Board Nominees; Whistleblower’s Name Absentby Andrew DonohueFebruary 28, 2005   La Jolla Secession: VOSD Morning Report: In Point Loma, Talk of Secessionby Randy DotingaJanuary 6, 2011 VOSD Mayor Gloria Chimes in on La Jolla Secession‘As a Mayor, I wouldn’t recommend it,’ he said

We’ve got the full crew in today to host a conversation with Mayor Todd Gloria, fresh off re-election, the mayor has no honeymoon. A huge budget deficit is coming up and his plan to deal with it – a tax increase – failed.  For more on the issues: Can San Diego Finally Pass a Sales Tax Increase? Politics Report: The Civic Center Dream 101 Ash St. Newly Homeless Residents Still Outpacing Newly Housed Homelessness Crisis Response System 2023 Data and Performance Report Morning Report: The Battle Against Homeless Shelters Wendy's - 'Where's the Beef ' Ad (Original - 1984) La Jollans Are Trying to Divorce San Diego (Again) November 1, 2024 Podcast: 2024 Election Draft Pick (start at 16:40 for Andrea’s description of the Mayor’s pup)   Support VOSD: Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week is thanksgiving so what better time for us to bring back beef week? It’s more like Beef 10 Days. It may seem incongruent but we should all be thankful we can beef in local politics without violence or whatever.    And we have a special guest this week, Council President Sean Elo-Rivera is here. We’ll talk about the election and some tough decisions coming up for him and his colleagues.   LINKS For more on the issues: Beef Week No Longer ‘Norita.’ Some of Nora Vargas’ Constituents Sour on her Leadership It’s Impossible to Pee Legally in San Diego   Sean Elo-Rivera Official City Webpage Sean Elo-Rivera Instagram   Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Registrar of Voters made us wait six days for an update on the vote count from November 5 – 16 days ago. The main local race we’re still watching is the Oceanside mayoral race. Just 31 votes separated the incumbent and her challenger.  Senior investigative reporter Will Huntsberry will join us later on the show to explain why the city of San Diego has purchased at least $1 million worth of gear from a man involved in one of the largest law enforcement scandals in San Diego’s history.  And new data about local schools just dropped. There’s some encouraging news but it’s still kind of bleak.    For more on the issues: Bill Walton FBI files   Pop culture in the FBI filing cabinet:   Sanctuary City rhetoric   KTLA’s Story on LA’s Sanctuary City declaration   A Man Convicted in a Major Law Enforcement Scandal Is Doing Big Business with the City   Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are still processing the election, as I am sure all of you are. But at least some questions have been answered. We’ll go through those updates.  And, where does the city of San Diego go from here? The mayor and Council President got re-elected but a sales tax failed and a deficit looms. A lot of people are worried about big cities and we get it.   For more on the issues:   Deadly Failure: A Sailor’s Struggle in a Fractured Mental Health System, NBC San Diego VOD VOSD Story   Election 2024San Diego County Unofficial Election Results The Learning Curve: Bazzo Has Likely Won – Just Barely Politics Report: Baked Months Ago   Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, that was an election. We will go back through the races we drafted last week. As always, there are a couple nail-biters as we begin the tradition of waiting for updates every afternoon.  But we can say that San Diego incumbents did well. Mayor Todd Gloria and the City Councilmembers hoping for another term did fine. So did Terra Lawson Remer, the county supervisor who faced down millions in spending against her.  Turns out all she had to do was all we suspected she had to do: Connect her opponent Kevin Faulconer to Trump. But like everywhere else in the country, Trump did better here than before. For more on the issues: Union Tribune College/Talmadge/Montezuma Rd Fire Photo  Scott’s Twitter/X palm tree post Jakob’s Twitter/X young voters post Voices of the Voters Election Results: We’re Waiting on These Races North County Report: Election Results Are Rolling InSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming up on the show this week… It’s time. This is our last show before the apocalypse. We’ve got a special roundtable to go through our ranking of the best elections to watch Tuesday. Local elections that is. The Voice of San Diego elections draft and the elections contest are back. We’ll do it.   For more on the issues: San Diego 2024 Election: What’s at Stake Politifest 2024: News and Media   Voice of San Diego relies on reader and listener support: Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the last lap of this election season and we have updates on several major races in San Diego.  Is Mayor Todd Gloria overstating his creation of homeless shelter beds? Yes. Did Terra Lawson Remer use campaign funds for her kid’s preschool? Yes. She has a good defense but it’s interesting.  And in South Bay, the chair of the County board of Supervisors has created several enemies.  Finally, remember that fake charity that had fake volunteers selling concessions at Petco Park? Well two of its workers are now running a new charity. The thing is, we cannot figure out what the charity does.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming up on the show this week…  We’ve got more mailers here to dissect. We’ll cut through what campaigns want voters to know and what we don’t even understand like: Why are California realtors bullying a candidate for her poker playing skills? There’s a newspaper endorsement that’s not really a newspaper endorsement … It is silly season in San Diego.  To wrap it up, We’ll talk about a key school board race and the latest in the biggest race of them all – the District 3 County Supervisor contest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming up on the show this week…  The race between Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and former mayor Kevin Faulconer is easily the hottest race this year. Millions are being spent on behalf of the candidate. The mailers are getting wild. We’ll get into it.  Speaking of mailers, we’ve got some good ones.  Plus, the latest in the city attorneys race and can a new million dollar infusion help a cop beat the incumbent mayor in the mayor’s race?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got through Politifest. We’re going to discuss some of the many things people said and didn’t say. It was a big day for us.  Also, why does Brian Maienschein, who is running for city attorney, have a campaign finance account for an attorney general race in 2030. We posted an explainer we can give you the cliff’s notes on.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A million dollars has already gone into the big county supervisors race from outside groups – most of it in support of mayor Kevin Faulconer, and if you’re in the district, you can tell from your mailbox. Usually mail waits until ballots are out.  That’ll be our introduction into Politifest Week. We’ve been trying to run the show like normal while preparing for our big annual gathering. We’re going to go through some of the sessions we’re most excited to see.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why the San Diego Republican party has had it with Carl DeMaio. Nobody has been more influential than him in the party but resources are now  going to flow to DeMaio’s opponent in a closely watched Assembly race. We’ll get into the beef.  Also, we’ve got more details on the allegations of sexual harassment against former San Diego Unified Superintendent Lamont Jackson. New documents reveal the allegations against him from two former high-ranking district officials.  And if you haven’t heard, we welcomed a new reporter this month. Jim Hinch is covering South County San Diego. He’ll join us later on the show to discuss his latest stories.  All of that and more in this week's episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The city of San Diego stands to lose hundreds of shelter beds. Mayor Todd Gloria is proposing one solution: move some people from the Golden Hall shelter to the city’s safe camping sites.  Feels like the city and county are going backwards on shelter. We’ll dig into it.  University researchers raised an alarm about a toxic gas in the Tijuana River Valley, but the county says there’s no reason to panic right now.  And moments after we published a story about battery storage fire fears, a site in Escondido went up in flames. All of that and more in this week's episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.