Morning Report: San Diego Can Now Clear Freeway Encampments
EM - News Moderator 
Mayor Todd Gloria has reached an agreement with the state that allows the city to clear homeless encampments along freeways and receive reimbursement from the state.
City Hall reporter Mariana Martínez Barba reports the agreement is part of a pilot program and only applies to 5-miles of state freeways in the neighborhoods of Little Italy, Sherman Heights, Barrio Logan, East Village and downtown.
City officials say this will improve their response to complaints about homeless encampments and allow staff to offer people living along the freeways services.
San Diego is the first city to reach an agreement with the state. State Sen. Catherine Blakespear earlier this year proposed legislation that would require more collaboration between the state and local municipalities.
Martínez Barba visited an encampment in Sherman Heights and spoke to homeless people who are worried this will only make life harder.
A Full Board
Paloma Aguirre is officially a San Diego County supervisor – and she already has some committee assignments.
After a tough, monthslong campaign resulted in Aguirre’s victory in the race for the District 1 seat on the Board of Supervisors, the former mayor of Imperial Beach was sworn in on Tuesday. The new Democratic majority on the Board quickly moved to give Aguirre a handful of committee assignments, including ones overseeing regional planning, border affairs and shoreline preservation.
During an address, Aguirre promised to step up the fight against federal immigration enforcement, boost affordable housing and push for the adoption of countywide tenant protections. She also pledged to push county staff hard to solve one of the region’s longest-lasting dilemmas, and an issue that has defined her tenure as a politician, – the Tijuana River sewage crisis.
“Every county department is on notice,” she said. “Our sewage crisis demands urgency and results. I’m not interested in more delays, blame or excuses.”
New Rules for ADUs
The San Diego City Council on Tuesday put new restrictions on the number of accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, that can be built on single-family lots.
The reforms package will scale back construction and address parking, fire safety, and infrastructure issues that many residents have complained about for years.
San Diego’s ADU program has been championed by pro-housing advocates and got the city some national attention. But the program has also faced a lot of criticism from community members.
The changes will now advance to the mayor’s desk for his signature.
Song of the Week
The Stereotypes, “New Situation”: This one is a real throwback to the heyday of early garage rock. The song is powered by a motorik drum beat and whose bass and guitars are crunchy they feel filthy. Sprinkle in some delightful organ and singer John Finkbiner’s classic snarl, and you get a song that sounds as at home in its native landscape of the early aughts or the generations of rock that inspired and preceded it.
Read more about the Song of the Week.
Like what you hear? Check out The Stereotypes at Casbah on Wednesday, July 23 alongside fellow favorites Bang Bang Jet Away.
Do you have a “Song of the Week” suggestion? Shoot us an email and a sentence or two about why you’ve been bumping this song lately. Friendly reminder: all songs should be by local artists.
In Other News
- San Diego, like much of the country, saw a slowing in home sales during what is typically peak season. (Union-Tribune)
- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a program that would offer training to small business owners and employees about their rights should ICE raid. (City News Service)
- Researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography have created a tool meant to predict whether local beaches will be hit with sewage from the Tijuana River. (Axios)
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