Morning Report: Remember Homebuying?
EM - News Moderator 
For the final installment of Beef Week, our Will Huntsberry got real and shared a first-hand account of watching the American Dream end. For him and many others in San Diego, even young professionals with bright futures, buying a home has become unrealistic.
Only 15 percent of San Diegans can afford a median-priced home.
Huntsberry walked through the dilemma and the things readers may be thinking as they follow him. Like, say, “Well, then, move.” He acknowledges he doesn’t have a right to own a home here. But it’s not just here. It’s getting worse everywhere.
“What I’m writing isn’t news to most people. But it can’t possibly be overstated as a destabilizing force in the American psyche,” he writes. The piece features cameos from the mayor of Encinitas and San Diego’s Sean Elo-Rivera, who wants to see government actually build housing rather than just subsidize it.
South County Report: More National City Hall Drama
National City’s City Attorney Barry Schultz is the latest to leave the troubled city.
“I have provided notice to the Council that I will not want to extend my term as city attorney,” Schultz said at the tail end of Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
He’s just the latest: The Council ousted previous City Manager Benjamin Martinez in April. Three department directors have resigned too.
“It is a bit of a mess,” said Mayor Ron Morrison But Morrison said he’s confident new leaders will steer the city in the right direction.
Schultz’s departure comes amidst an ongoing and chaotic feud involving the mayor, his allies and the owners of a local cemetery.
Dysfunction on top of dysfunction: Tuesday’s late-night Council meeting devolved into a bitter fight after members began debating who should be the city’s next deputy mayor.
Read the South County Report here.
All the New Fees Weren’t Enough, Mayor Demands Cuts
In a memo to city staff, Mayor Todd Gloria is telling department leaders to tighten their belts. A year of painful and controversial fee increases has not ended the city’s financial crisis.
The Mayor laid out a series of actions to cut costs, like suspending non-essential overtime and reviewing city contracts to renegotiate or terminate.
“It is important that we take early, responsible steps to manage costs,” said David Rolland, director of communications in an email statement to Voice of San Diego.
“When we see signs that our budget is tightening, acting early lets us make thoughtful adjustments instead of rushed or painful cuts later.”
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In Other News
- The city of San Diego settled with a man for $25,000 in a federal civil lawsuit. The man alleged police officers violated his fourth amendment rights by smashing his car window during a 2024 traffic stop. (The Union-Tribune)
- The state’s food SNAP program, CalFresh, is in limbo again. The Trump administration threatens to withhold money for federal food assistance in California and 21 other states next week unless states start sharing data on CalFresh recipients. (KPBS)
- Emergency responders across the county are getting a $4 million boost. The San Diego Workforce Partnership granted multiple cities, nonprofits, and community colleges funds to expand emergency medical services and firefighting training programs. (NBC 7 San Diego)
- After human remains were recovered at a Southcrest property, an investigation by ABC10 News San Diego revealed the police’s main suspect has a lengthy criminal history. 74-year-old Dwight William Rhone has been convicted of multiple violent crimes, and is currently behind bars awaiting trial on a 2023 murder. (ABC 10)
The Morning Report was written by Mariana Martínez Barba. It was edited by Scott Lewis.
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