Morning Report: The Return of the Poway Bond

Poway’s billion-dollar bond debacle is the gift that keeps on taking.

Poway Unified is working with a San Francisco financial adviser who believes he could save the district tens of millions on its borrowing scheme that saddles residents with $1 billion in debt 40 years down the line. One problem with his plan: It would immediately hike property taxes for some Poway residents – an option the district rejected back in 2011.

Why San Diego Is Worse Off Than Other Costly Cities

San Diego has steep rental and home prices, like a lot of other big cities.

What sets San Diego apart from places like New York, D.C. and San Francisco, though, is that transportation costs here are also high, and that combo is bad news, writes Andrew Keatts: In San Diego, “more than 90 percent of homes own a vehicle, and less than 5 percent of people use transit. Together, this puts San Diego near the bottom of the CDC’s affordability index.”

DeMaio’s Partner Gets Pension Reform Work

Until a judge squashed it, taxpayer advocates in Ventura County were leading an effort to reform pensions there. Carl DeMaio, who’s running for Congress, served as an unpaid adviser for the effort and promoted it. He also recommended his partner, Johnathan Hale, to the group running the effort, and Hale was tapped for $20,000 worth of work, including organizing a signature-gathering effort and designing the campaign’s website.

The leader of the campaign said he was satisfied with Hale’s work, and Hale told Liam Dillon he took on the project because he’s committed to pension reform.

Quick News Hits

• Finally, San Diego is ahead of the curve on something. Los Angeles is looking to hike its minimum wage. (Los Angeles Times)

• Glitches in San Diego Unified’s system might’ve contributed to students missing scholarship deadlines. (San Diego 6)

The Award for the Most San Diego Story Ever Goes to …

This Reader piece that manages to tie together the La Jolla seals, the Che Café and birther Judge Gary Kreep.