Morning Report: Some K-8 Schools Losing the 6,7,8
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The San Diego Unified School District will begin phasing out some of the middle-school portions of K-8 schools, reports our Jakob McWhinney. The majority of these schools are concentrated in the southeastern corner of the school district, with a higher proportion of low-income families.
Three of the schools – Audubon, Fulton and Bethune – will now reroute their middle school students to Bell Middle. Golden Hill will also be downsized, but it’s unclear where students will go.
A district official told McWhinney the decision was based on performance data, but teachers and community members say district leaders did not consult them before making the decision.
Note: Grant TK-8 and John Muir Language Academy were spared.
Politics Monday: First, the Podcast
On the latest Voice of San Diego Podcast, we reviewed the curious case against Encinitas City Councilmember Luke Shaffer, why LAFCO keeps haunting the San Diego County Water Authority and the latest in the effort to make people pay to park at the Zoo.
Check out the full podcast here.
About That: High Stakes Balboa Park Vote Monday
The crucial vote for the city’s paid parking plan is just around the corner, with the program, including Zoo parking, estimated to bring in $15.5 million.
Council will vote on the final rates to hit the tiered lots, determine how long free parking will be available at areas like Inspiration Point, and how residents will be able to sign up for discounted parking.
The Independent Budget Analyst (IBA)s Office released a report on Friday detailing a number of different scenarios if Council decides to extend free hours, charge less at the lots, or end parking enforcement early.
The report says that if the current proposal is passed, the amount of revenue more than exceeds the amount of funding needed to restore proposed reductions to Rec centers and libraries.
Any adjustments equals less revenue. That could mean more mid-year budget cuts if Councilmembers aren’t able to get on the same page about the plan.
And the Politics Report: Dealmaking Ends for Minimum Wage
Tuesday the San Diego City Council will discuss a major increase to the city’s minimum wage but just for large hotels (not small hotels), some event venues and one place in Mission Bay where there are roller coasters and lots of aquarium-type attractions, a sort of “world of sea.”
But dealmaking efforts went hard all week long. The Zoo got out of having to pay the higher minimum wage. SDSU venues did too. Hotels and places with both sea life and roller coasters at Mission Bay got a phase in so it will take several years for them to be required to pay $25 per hour minimum. In exchange, the big institutions have apparently agreed not to force the effort to a referendum.
We’ll see Tuesday if there are any other changes.
Members get access to the weekly Politics Report, click here to see it.
Bonus: An except from Nathan Fletcher’s first public statements since he resigned from the County Board of Supervisors. NBC 7 San Diego has more from that event.
Councilmember Wants to Protect Immigrants
At a press conference in City Heights, District 9 Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera presented the framework for a new ordinance meant to protect San Diego’s immigrant community.
“ What we’re doing is about to make San Diego a model for what justice can look like at the local level,” said Councilmember Elo-Rivera.
The ordinance would aim to force federal law enforcement officers to get warrants to operate in non-public areas of city facilities and attempts to define exactly what San Diego police can and cannot do with immigration agents and how transparent they have to be after they do anything. Council President Joe LaCava of District 1 and Councilmember Stephen Whitburn of District 3 were also present to show their support.
The ordinance is expected to come to Council in late September.
Sacramento Report: Let the Redistricting Countdown Begin
California is gearing up for Proposition 50. The measure asks voters to approve new maps for congressional districts that benefit Democrats as a response to a move in Texas to create districts that support Republicans.
Among the districts that could turn blue is Rep. Darrell Issa’s seat in the 48th District.
While Democrats represent about 45 percent of voters in California, they’ll have to present the measure as a way to retain control – even if it means suspending the well-regarded Independent Redistricting Commission. Republicans, who represent 25 percent of voters, can’t get too partisan or it may boost the proposition.
Read Deborah Sullivan Brennan’s full story here.
County Spent Millions on PPE; It’s Sitting in a Warehouse
Since 2020, the county has spent $5.2 million storing tons of masks, gowns, and hand sanitizing stations in a private warehouse. All of that medical gear expired in mid-August, making it useless for any U.S. hospital or clinic.
But Laura Luxemburg, from the foundation Ssubi, saw it as an opportunity. Her organization transports materials like these to other countries so it doesn’t go to waste.
The county, though, ghosted her and Luxemburg anticipates the almost 43 shipping containers worth of material is probably going to a landfill.
In Other News:
- We’ve gotten great feedback on the bonus podcast we released about how we should or shouldn’t use artificial intelligence in our newsroom. We created a committee to discuss the issue and we decided to record that discussion and seek your input. Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña wrote about it in her Cup of Chisme this weekend. We’ll have a followup discussion this week.
- The Union-Tribune reports the city is going to spend millions to do more analysis after an audit by the city found officials have been underestimating its infrastructure funding shortfall by about $1 billion by ignoring hundreds of minor repairs.
- The MTS board can’t agree on how to address their looming budget deficit and failed to pass a fare increase. (KPBS)
- Oranges and limes are in quarantine after a disease fatal to citrus trees was detected in North County. (NBC 7 San Diego)
The Morning Report was written by Mariana Martínez Barba. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña.
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