Morning Report: Supe Chair Pitches Extra Term, Other Reforms
EM - News Moderator 
Wednesday, San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Terra Lawson-Remer officially proposed an overhaul of county government that would give her and other supervisors an additional term in office and shift some power to new oversight officials appointed by supervisors.
Flanked by a coalition of labor leaders, activists, environmentalists and other supporters, Lawson-Remer said the proposed changes are intended to bring “accountability, transparency and change that will benefit everyone.”
If it goes on the ballot and voters approve it, the proposal would:
- Give supervisors a maximum of three terms in office, effective immediately. The new limit would replace a two-term limit approved by 68 percent of county voters in 2010.
- Give supervisors the power to confirm appointments to senior government positions and fire department heads. Currently, the chief administrative officer — the county’s top bureaucrat — hires and fires senior leaders.
- Give supervisors the power to hire their own independent analyst and auditor to evaluate county budgets and audit county programs.
- Establish an independent volunteer ethics commission. Supervisors would appointed the commissioners along with the county counsel.
The proposed measure faces several hurdles. Lawson-Remer said she plans to present the proposal to fellow supervisors on April 21. If the Board of Supervisors approve it, the proposed measure will go before San Diego County voters in November.
Birds in the Sky
Recently, Voice intern Rami Alarian reported on San Diego police helicopters breaking up college parties.
That led us to wonder: Why are there so many police helicopters flying around San Diego? What do they do up there?
Alarian looked into it.
Turns out, the most common activity for police helicopters is… watching stuff.
“San Diego’s police helicopters are equipped to fly around and look at things,” Alarian writes. “Inside are two police officers, one flying the helicopter and one looking through a variety of cameras to scan the ground.”
The department has four helicopters. Usually only one at a time is in the air, a police department spokesperson said. The monitoring they do supports officers on the ground.
Coastal Cities Struggle on Home Building
Our Tigist Layne has recently been tracking North County cities’ progress toward meeting their housing goals. She recently wrote about how San Marcos, in particular, is crushing its goals.
But San Marcos is very unlike most other cities.
In her latest North County Report, Tigist provided updates on Del Mar, Encinitas and Oceanside.
Each city is required to permit a certain number of homes for people in four income categories: very low, low, moderate and above moderate. No city is hitting every target.
Encinitas, one of the most housing-resistant cities in California, is actually on track to hit its overall number, although most of the houses have been permitted in the above-moderate category.
Read the full North County Report here.
In Other News
- The Imperial County Board of Supervisors late Tuesday voted 4-1 to clear the way for a massive data center complex that would bring jobs and revenue but could strain the county’s power and water supply. (KPBS)
- The data center has inspired a whole crop of activists in Imperial Valley who believe the project may under-deliver on its promises and ultimately harm residents. (inewsource)
- An early investor in the company behind a 1.7-million-square-foot San Diego biotech research hub is suing developer IQHQ for alleged fraud and breach of contract. The investor, a Denver-based housing company, says it gave IQHQ millions based on false promises and gained little. The research hub remains mostly empty. (Union-Tribune)
- Lord love an osprey — unless it’s trying to poop on your tennis game, that is. Two ospreys have taken up residence on a light pole at a La Jolla tennis court. Tennis players are staring up in wonder at the protected species, while also trying to avoid their droppings. (CBS 8)
- San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan testified before a state legislative committee in support of a proposal that would close a sentencing loophole defendants have used to reduce or eliminate prison sentences for crimes committed as a juvenile. (KPBS)
- At least eight San Diego County surfers are gearing up to compete in the World Surf League’s World Tour, which kicks off this week in Australia. “I love being terrified and I love being taught by the ocean,” said Oceanside’s Caitlin Simmers of competing among the world’s elite. (Union-Tribune)
- What’s next for a multi-story AT&T telecommunications hub in the heart of San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood? Times of San Diego sent a reporter inside to find out. Neighbors mostly think it’s an eyesore. But did you know it has a bomb shelter?
The Morning Report was written by Jim Hinch and Will Huntsberry. It was edited by Will Huntsberry.
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