Morning Report: County’s Housing Pride Depends on ADUs
EM - News Moderator 
This post has been updated.
San Diego County officials are super proud that they are three-quarters of the way toward meeting the housing goals set by the state for areas outside of cities in the region. Nearly a third of the projects it’s permitted the past four years, though, are ADUs.
How it happened: The county’s ADU boom has come amid state and local policies to promote them and the county’s implementation of state-mandated environmental rules that homebuilders have argued are drastically slowing development.
Building industry advocates say ADUs are one of the few housing options that can proceed as the county grapples with how to implement its controversial vehicle miles traveled policy, which is meant to minimize driving and greenhouse gas emissions.
Panic Spreads About Water Rate Vote Tuesday
The city of San Diego’s independent budget analyst warned Friday that if the City Council doesn’t pass all of the expected water rate increases Tuesday, the water department is in trouble.
“At this point, any decrease in revenue due to either approvals of a lower rate increase, delays in the rate increase, or not approving the rate increase at all will require significant reductions to the operating expenses of the water system,” analysts wrote in their report released Friday.
The Council and mayor have been on a relentless effort to raise fees across the city and they’re growing weary. But the water rate increases are needed for things the city and the San Diego County Water Authority already mostly bought.
For your ears: On the latest episode of the VOSD Podcast, our hosts explain how we are wading through uncharted waters with the city’s upcoming water rate vote. Listen here now.
Sacramento Report: Inside the Policy Fight for Coastal Student Housing
Colleges are squaring up with the Coastal Commission to push for more affordable student housing along the roughly 840-mile coast, writes our Sacramento Reporter, Nadia Lathan.
The 49-year-old governing body has long been a gatekeeper of the coastline, with previous efforts to build more coastal housing dying on the Senate Floor.
Democratic Assemblymember David Alvarez has authored a new bill that would give universities power to decide how much parking is needed in what’s known as the “coastal zone.” Those in favor of more development in the coastal zone see it as a way to reduce housing development costs, and spur more of it.
DC Explained: The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Begins to Hit Home
Since President Donald Trump and Congress enacted the H.R. 1 or “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” back in July, San Diego leaders have sounded the alarm of what comes next.
In his latest DC Explained, Voice contributor Alan Berube breaks down what H.R.1 does to Medi-Cal, California’s affordable insurance option, and how it will affect the approximately 1 million San Diegans who rely on it.
Medicaid accounts for most of the bill’s spending cuts, and is funded jointly by federal and state governments. Berube writes that H.R.1 will largely impact low-income families and limit eligibility for the program with more paperwork requirements.
Is San Diego a Carrie? The City Is Buying More Shoes
The city of San Diego is looking to expand a contract with a shoe manufacturer, City and Boot World, up to an additional $1 million to keep city workers on their feet, quite literally.
The Council will vote next week to increase the footwear provider’s contract from $2.2 million to $3.2 million. The city wants to ensure workers can have access to safe shoe options that prevent any injuries while on the job.
San Diego requires employees in 18 city departments wear safety footwear while fulfilling their duties. That includes: Environmental Services, General Services, San Diego Fire-Rescue, Homelessness Solutions and Strategies, Parks and Recreation, the IT Department and the City Treasurer. Some teams in these departments perform tasks outside of the office, for example teams with the City Treasurer install parking meters.
“City workers keep San Diego running, and they deserve the tools and protections necessary to do their jobs safely,” said Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera on the item. “Supporting this contract is a straightforward way to ensure our employees have the proper safety shoes so they can serve the public without unnecessary risk.”
Politifest: A San Diego Worthy of Pride
From the egregious cost of living to homelessness and potholes, San Diego has no shortage of problems.
Our Politifest Solutions Showdown on Oct. 4 at University of San Diego is in search of the fixes.
We’re excited to bring you a solutions showdown between Mayor Todd Gloria, Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera and Aimee Faucett, who will be representing the a more conservative take as former chief of staff for former Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Reporter Will Huntsberry will moderate.
The panelists will each pitch a package of solutions they believe will create a San Diego we can all be proud of.
In this week’s Politics Report: Scott Lewis wrote about what he’s looking forward to at Politifest. (We got a Proposition 50 debate confirmed too!).
In Other News
- Experts warn that the Colorado River could dwindle to dangerously low levels next year and call for immediate cuts to water use. If cuts happen, San Diego and Imperial Counties would be the last to face them. (KPBS)
- The San Diego Fire Department treated 7 patients at Rosa Parks Elementary School Friday after they were exposed to an odor. (ABC 10 San Diego)
- San Diego County’s longest-serving judge, David Gill, died at 90 last week. (ABC 10 San Diego)
- An all-star cast featuring Leonardo DiCaprio filmed all over San Diego County for the latest action-comedy-thriller “One Battle After Another”. (Union-Tribune)
The Morning Report was written by Mariana Martínez Barba, Lisa Halverstadt, Will Huntsberry. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña and Scott Lewis.
Correction: An earlier version of the Morning Report misstated the county’s progress on state housing goals. It has permitted more than three quarters of the new homes the state called for in unincorporated areas by 2029.
The post Morning Report: County’s Housing Pride Depends on ADUs appeared first on Voice of San Diego.
