Cup of Chisme: What You Missed
EM - News Moderator 
If you joined us for Politifest 2025 on Saturday, you already know how much fun we had. If you didn’t make it, don’t worry. I’ll catch you up.
This year, we hosted a Solutions Showdown where we encouraged speakers to present solutions to the region’s greatest problems: housing affordability, high water and power rates, child care access, homelessness and more.
During the event, audience members voted for their favorite solutions. I have the winner list below.
The Winners
- How do we get the city we want?
- Sean Elo-Rivera, city of San Diego councilmember: San Diego must stop selling itself short and instead leverage its global appeal to generate resources that make our city more affordable, fair and fun for the people who call it home.
- How will we solve the cross-border sewage crisis?
- Carlos de la Parra, managing partner at Centro Luken: Rip up the concrete and bring the Tijuana River back to its natural state.
- What do we do about street homelessness?
- Iain De Jong, president & CEO of Org Code Consulting: Increase supportive housing for homeless San Diegans throughout the city and ensure it succeeds.
- How do we build more housing people can afford?
- Ricardo Flores, executive director of LISC San Diego: Lower housing prices by increasing property rights for single family homeowners.
- How can we make the cost of electricity more affordable?
- Bill Powers, energy systems consultant: Go with public power.
- What should we do when people with behavioral health problems refuse treatment?
- Dr. Aaron Meyer, Behavioral Health officer, city of San Diego; associate clinical professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego: San Diego must implement a multi-pronged system of behavioral health care that tailors responses to individual needs. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
- How do we solve the child care crisis?
- Courtney Baltiyskyy, with YMCA of San Diego: Take it to the ballot box to secure local, dedicated funding.
- How do we ensure that all children receive an excellent education?
- David Miyashiro, superintendent of Cajon Valley Union School District: Redesign the outdated school system to match the modern world and the world of work.
- How do we make water more affordable in San Diego?
- Nick Serrano, chair of San Diego County Water Authority: Stop doing things the way they have always been done.
Throughout the week, our reporters will publish stories about the proposals and all things Politifest. We’ll also have videos of the panels up soon.
Water Rate Increase TBD
Early this week, my husband texted me something along the lines of, ‘My friend wants to know what’s going on with water price increases.’
If you’re wondering that too, here’s what you need to know: The San Diego City Council on Tuesday voted to put off the rate increase decision for a few weeks.
The proposal on the table is for a 63 percent water and 31 percent wastewater increase over the next four years. After weeks of raising parking rates and other fees, councilmembers couldn’t get behind another hike.
Councilmember Kent Lee joined us on the podcast Friday to discuss the vote and comments he made from the dais about how city leaders have eroded public trust.
I asked him what residents get out of the Council’s decision to delay the vote.
He said he doesn’t have an answer for that yet, and only the next couple of weeks will tell if the city has done everything to lower rates. The time will also allow city leaders to reflect on how the city communicates the need to raise revenue during a tough budget year.
“Collectively everyone could acknowledge the real truth, which was this wasn’t enough. We couldn’t accept that this was the final amount,” he said.
What happens next? They are going to meet again on the rates on Oct. 28. In the meantime, we’ll be watching the city’s Public Utilities Department. As our MacKenzie Elmer reported, the department is struggling financially.
More Chisme to Start Your Week
- San Diego Councilmember Henry Foster is running for re-election. Our City Hall reporter Mariana Martínez Barba published a story about how Foster was once fired from the city and recommended he not be rehired. Read the story here.
- Our Lisa Halverstadt revealed that the county’s full-time chief pharmacy officer, who is tasked with overseeing county pharmacy practices and standards, also works at a law firm advising pharmaceutical companies. Both of her employers told us her work doesn’t present a conflict. Read more here.
- Halverstadt also broke the news that County Supervisor Joel Anderson is interested in running for county treasurer-tax collector.
- Education reporter Jakob McWhinney explained why San Diego Unified decided to slow down a proposal to move all high schools to a schedule that would change how many classes students take.
The post Cup of Chisme: What You Missed appeared first on Voice of San Diego.
