Morning Report: A Change Could Bring Row Homes to San Diego
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Mayor Todd Gloria said he supports one of the most interesting housing proposals currently floating around City Hall – at least with caveats – at Politifest earlier this month.
The proposal, backed by a coalition of community groups, would end the city’s policy of requiring minimum lot sizes for single-family homes. As our Will Huntsberry writes: “That may sound about as exciting as a truckload of No. 2 pencils, but it actually has the potential to significantly change the city’s housing landscape.”
Essentially, the policy would make it much easier to build townhomes and row homes where traditional homes are currently sitting. Advocates say it could reduce home prices by 40 percent and increase the number of homes available to more middle-income families.
Some advocates have suggested minimum lot sizes should be abolished citywide, but Gloria supports a more targeted approach. He said he would consider eliminating minimum lot sizes near transit job centers, and in places with existing infrastructure.
A detailed proposal may still be a few months in the making, but it appears to be gradually moving forward.
Speaking of Changes … Three Schools Switch to Block Schedules
Two weeks ago, education reporter Jakob McWhinney reported that San Diego Unified board members put off a vote to transition four high schools to a 4×4 schedule.
Also known as a block schedule, this approach splits the academic calendar into two halves, during which students take four classes at a time, McWhinney writes.
Teachers and families from Point Loma High were especially upset about the potential change. They felt the district was forcing it on the school with no input from the community.
McWhinney writes that on Tuesday, board members voted to move three schools to the new schedule. They left Point Loma High alone.
Your Guide to San Diego Schools
San Diego Unified’s choice window is now open. If you’re a parent and want to explore your child’s school options, now is the time.
Our guide to San Diego schools has everything you need to know about the choice process and how schools in the county are performing.
Download our free guide to San Diego schools here.
District Attorney Weighs in on Proposition 50 (No)
Summer Stephan, the San Diego County District Attorney, often says she does not like to get involved in politics. She left the Republican Party years ago but refused to become a Democrat. Fortunate for her, because of change to state law, after she won election in 2022, she got a six-year term. She doesn’t have to run for re-election until 2028.
Still, her prominence and comfortable position hasn’t made her more prominent in political battles. She rarely makes significant political statements.
But she decided to get into the biggest political fight of the year: Proposition 50 is one of the most nakedly partisan ballot measure battles we’ve ever seen and Stephan has decided to side with opponents of it. She joined dozens of other district attorneys in announcing their opposition to Proposition 50 Wednesday.
We asked for comment: And Stephan’s staff sent us the letter the prosecutors released. “Partisan gerrymandering is fundamentally wrong, regardless of who perpetrates it or where it occurs. Two wrongs do not make a right,” reads the letter.
Get into it: You can watch our Politifest debate about Proposition 50 between Assemblymember Chris Ward and Jon Slavet the host of the State of Gold podcast. Joey Safchik from NBC 7 San Diego moderated it.
Palomar College Officially Axes Anti-Racism Policy
Palomar College trustees officially ended the college’s anti-racism policy on Tuesday.
Board members faced stiff pushback from students and staff members. They said they felt compelled to make the decision to shield Palomar from negative backlash. Board members were clearly alluding to other colleges and organizations that have been fighting with the Trump Administration over official efforts to support diversity and inclusion.
Board members cited multiple colleges and companies that have rolled back their diversity policies.
“These are the organizations that we want to prepare our students to go into, and that’s what’s happening out there,” one board member said. “Eliminating this policy isn’t saying that there can’t be other avenues where it’s addressed. But this particular policy, the way that it is, and having it be part of the board policies is problematic.”
We Want to Hear from You
As the government shutdown enters its third week, our Sacramento reporter Nadia Lathan is looking to connect with federal employees or military service members who have not received a paycheck as a result of the shutdown.
She’d like to know how it has affected your ability to pay rent and buy groceries. Email her at nadia.lathan@voiceofsandiego.org.
In Other News
- See a breakdown of which areas got the most rain in recent days. Hint: Mountain areas got the most precipitation. (KUSI & FOX 5)
- A lawsuit filed in San Diego federal court is challenging a law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom just days ago that banned the sale of new Glock handguns. Some national groups, like the National Rifle Association, as well as some San Diego locals are plaintiffs in the suit. (10 News)
- San Diego’s real estate market is cooling — at least a little bit. Home prices fell more than one percent in August. (Union-Tribune)
- City officials want to charge hotels and restaurants for valet parking and on-street dining that takes up parking spaces that could otherwise be used for meters. Business owners don’t love the idea. (U-T)
The Morning Report was written by Will Huntsberry and Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña. It was edited by Scott Lewis.
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