This week, we’ve got landfills on the mind. You know, real sexy stuff.
First up, Liam Dillon has the tale of how a landfill in the city of Carson, well known for its political dysfunction, came to be the targeted site for a new Chargers-Raiders stadium. The teams want to build a $1.7 billion facility on a former landfill in an industrial part of town, which would mean a hard stop for professional football in Oakland and San Diego.
But Carson’s stadium story starts long before the spring of 2014, when the Chargers say they began to seriously consider building their new home there. Top billing in the cast of characters goes to a Beverly Hills developer, who’s got a bone to pick with a San Diego orthodontist-cum-sports mogul.
The developer, Richard Rand, has long been working to bring the NFL to Carson. He thinks his 13-year effort was thwarted by said orthodontist-mogul, Leonard Bloom. Last summer, Rand’s in with the NFL quickly turned out – the wheels had been turning without him, and Carson city officials already had a much weightier stadium project on the table.
• Later this week, we’ll be looking at the need for landfills in San Diego. As we push toward a more sustainable future, we can assume (optimistically) that we’ll put less stuff in landfills. With less waste and more recyclables, does San Diego need to keep building landfills?
Also on that sustainability thread, we’ll be taking a look at schools’ efforts to go solar, and the ups and downs therein.
Quick News Hits
• Here’s something to keep an eye on this week: San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman is appearing before the City Council’s public safety committee on Wednesday to update them on her department’s progress implementing recommendations from the Police Executive Research Forum. This is the police misconduct review that was funded by the Department of Justice. And remember, it’s a review, not a federal investigation.
• Next up in San Diego’s stadium saga: Mayor Kevin Faulconer and other city folks are sitting down with NFL staff on Tuesday. (Union-Tribune)
• If you live in Mission Valley, you might be wondering what redeveloping the Qualcomm Stadium site means for your monthly rent or property value. The Union-Tribune talks with analysts about what might happen. And while you’re thinking about it, check out Scott Lewis’ piece rounding up the major projects in the works for the area.
• In another part of town, Southeastern San Diego residents are tired of their neighborhoods getting a bad rep. The Reader interviews a member of a group called Reclaiming the Community, which is trying to makeover that notion.
• Several economic indicators would lead you to believe San Diego’s poppin’ in the recovery department. But a public aversion to housing construction is holding us back, writes Dan McSwain in his latest column. (Union-Tribune)
• Not ready to face Monday tasks yet? San Diego Magazine dropped its annual Best of San Diego list. Browse that instead.
• I’ll be honest: I didn’t know the CrossFit Games were a thing or that they were happening this weekend – that is, until I watched about an hour’s worth while on the elliptical Saturday morning and was overcome by a strong testosterone high (wildly inappropriate given the relative ease of my chosen gym activity). All that said, I missed San Diego’s own CrossFit Invictus team’s performance, which apparently didn’t go well. (Union-Tribune)
• Heard about that guy with the wannabe Uber enterprise in North County? 10News tracked him down, and it sounds like life’s about to come at Prince Reza Shah fast: “10News talked with Uber’s trademark attorney, Sally Abel, Friday. Abel says she’ll be taking this to the higher-ups at Uber. Oceanside’s city attorney tells 10News he’s having Oceanside Police launch an investigation.”
• The New York Times is somewhat known for botching characterizations of west coast culture. But a simple Google search probably could’ve pointed out that La Jolla, actually, is within San Diego city limits. (h/t Beau Lynott)
And Finally …
I wish I liked anything as much as Bill Walton likes jam bands.
Catherine Green is deputy editor at Voice of San Diego. She handles daily operations while helping to plan new long-term projects. You can contact her directly at catherine.green@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.550.5668. Follow her on Twitter: @c_s_green.