Cup of Chisme: Home Is Where We Build It

It’s been a minute.

We have a lot to go over this morning, so grab some cafecito and let’s get into it.

Where We Are Building Homes

Would it shock you to learn the city of Encinitas is closer to meeting its state-mandated housing goals than any other city in the county?

Or that Imperial Beach hasn’t built a single affordable home in years? Maybe the fact that El Cajon has permitted far fewer homes than anyone else is surprising.

Our latest series on where homes are being built in San Diego County revealed all that and more. You can read the stories here.

Voice of San Diego’s investigative reporter Will Huntsberry joined us on the podcast to talk about the findings. You can listen to the full discussion here.

Our “In Whose Backyard” series was produced in collaboration with our Public Matters partners at KPBS and inewsource.

Related: North County reporter Tigist Layne played with the data from our housing series and found that the city of Poway’s housing numbers are so low because of its zoning laws and protected open spaces. The city is essentially a haven for single-family homes. You can read that story here.

Inside Voice: Will is going to continue reporting on housing. Our editor Scott Lewis wrote about why this focus will help our organization meet the moment. If you have tips for Will, you can email him at will@vosd.org.

Roadway Project Drama

Back when I was a community reporter, I spent a lot of time speaking with business owners. Beyond having wonderful stories, I learned that they are also individuals who have a great pulse on what is happening in their neighborhood.

Voice contributor Dan Friedell spoke to City Heights business owners about how months of delays with a construction project nearly closed their doors. One shop owner had to cut staff. Others had to keep reminding customers that they were open despite the fences and equipment blocking their doors for months.

City Heights has so much to offer, as Friedell writes, it would have been a shame to lose some of those popular spots. But now, it seems the project is almost done.

Some business owners aren’t holding their breath. Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who represents the neighborhood, told Freidell he wants to better understand why the projected dragged on while crews worked out issues.

“I have a huge problem with people who are profiting off the city, doing work in neighborhoods that have often been disrespected and underappreciated, and like, leaving them in a really disrespectful way,” he said. “And right now … I couldn’t tell you what the consequences are in any meaningful way. And that’s a problem.”

More Chisme to Start Your Week

• Imperial Beach has a new mayor. Our Jim Hinch has the deets here.
• Hospital leaders, county officials and advocates feared that emergency rooms would be overwhelmed with patients who became eligible for forced treatment as a result of a new state law. Lisa Halverstadt reports that those fears have not yet materialized.
• A judge dismissed the sexual harassment lawsuit against former County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher.

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