Morning Report: A Poway Councilmember’s Hard Fall
EM - News Moderator 
Since his election in November 2024, Poway City Councilmember Tony Blain’s term has been disaster after disaster. It seemed to hit a new peak — or low — last week, when prosecutors charged Blain with four felonies and a misdemeanor. They alleged he solicited a bribe, committed perjury and destroyed public papers.
Our Tigist Layne offers a summary today of Blain’s rise and fall in a new story full of disturbing detail.
In 2023, Blain seemed to be an engaged and thoughtful citizen. He emailed City Councilmembers and staff about everything from graffiti removal to water rates. But before long, his emails became threatening.
In office, he constantly demanded various city officials resign, while trying to wheel, deal and trade votes with his fellow councilmembers.
“Hi, Brian, I actually like you, unlike [Councilmember] De Hoff’s lies / ‘anonymous’ stupid political stories. Work with me on Council and I will support you. If you do anything I hear about that is lying or mean to me, I will work tirelessly to get you OFF Council,” Blain wrote to a fellow councilmember.
The full story is a great read. Check it out here.
Turning San Diego into a Solar Farm?
Our MacKenzie Elmer has an interesting question for you.
“What if San Diego blanketed land, reservoirs and buildings its Public Utilities Department owned with solar and used the money it made off that power to subsidize skyrocketing water rates for poorer people?”
Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera pitched that idea recently.
Elo-Rivera says the city has got to come up with new ways to generate revenue that don’t involve raising utility rates.
The Learning Curve: Safe Parking Lot to Finally Be Real
“After more than two years of bureaucratic wrangling, funding fiascos, a premature obituary, an improbable resurrection and a whole lot of ruffled feathers, officials have finally inked a deal to open a safe parking site for homeless families at San Diego Unified’s old Central Elementary,” writes our Jakob McWhinney.
San Diego Unified board members voted on Tuesday to approve an agreement with the San Diego Housing Commission that essentially finalizes the deal. The site will be open to at least 40 families.
In a couple of weeks now, after developing and pursuing this idea for a couple of years, some families with students in our district will have a little bit of a better night than they would have otherwise,” said Trustee Richard Barrera.
Live! From Soda Bar
Join us next month for a live recording of the most popular public affairs podcast in San Diego. It’s all going down on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. at Soda Bar in City Heights.
Our hosts will discuss the latest news and chat with special guest County Supervisor Joel Anderson.
So get your ticket, grab a friend and prepare to embrace your inner news nerd.
Click here for more information and to get your tickets.
In Other News
- San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera and County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe are teaming up on a proposal to keep renters from having to pay pet, trash collection and other additional fees to landlords. The Union-Tribune has more here.
- The county has agreed to pay the family of a man who died in jail $16 million — the biggest settlement of its kind ever for San Diego County. (Union-Tribune)
- Times of San Diego reports that a year before an 11-year-old boy was killed at a San Carlos intersection, city staff studied whether the intersection needed a crosswalk to improve safety. They decided it didn’t. This weekend, the Union-Tribune profiled a neighbor who advocated for something to be done there. Now, a new stop sign is going in. Related: A 6-year-old boy was killed by a hit-and-run driver while crossing University Avenue with an adult.
- Looking for a new taco spot? San Diego Magazine has a list of the best.
The Morning Report was written by Will Huntsberry and Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña.
The post Morning Report: A Poway Councilmember’s Hard Fall appeared first on Voice of San Diego.
