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These were the most popular Voice of San Diego stories for the week of Oct. 17-Oct. 23.
1. The Case of the Worst-Ranked Transit Station in California
The Gillespie Field trolley station was recently called out in a big transit study as the single most underdeveloped transit area in the state. (Maya Srikrishnan)
2. Principal Churn Highlights a Big Tension in Marten’s Tenure as Superintendent
Since Cindy Marten took over, about half of all principals in the district have retired, transferred or moved to loosely defined “special assignments.” (Mario Koran)
3. Parents Pony Up to Get Bird Rock Elementary Air Conditioning
Amid extreme heat, parents across San Diego schools were frustrated by plans — or lack thereof — for air conditioning. One group had the resources to act. (Mario Koran)
4. San Diego Environmental Groups Rake in Millions from Imperial Valley Solar Developers
Two environmental nonprofits used the state’s environmental law to extract settlements from solar developers whose projects still went forward. (Lisa Halverstadt)
5. Poway Unified Offers Friendly Reminder to Staffers That Their Political Email Blasts Are Illegal
Poway Unified employees are being reminded to not use district resources for political purposes following a flurry of emails regarding a recall effort. (Ashly McGlone)
6. County’s Top Environmentalist Says He’s No Sellout, Just a Pragmatist
Michael Beck, who runs the Endangered Habitats Conservancy, has amassed complaints that he’s too willing to compromise with developers. (Ry Rivard)
7. Magnet Schools Throw a Wrench in the District’s ‘Vision’
District leaders are realizing how complicated it is trying to make magnet schools fit with Vision 2020, its big plan for neighborhood schools. (Mario Koran)
8. New Ruling Throws Poway Unified Consultants’ Lucrative Deal Into Question
Dolinka Group has a lucrative contract with Poway Unified — the only problem is a new court ruling might have made the deal a lot harder to justify. (Ashly McGlone)
9. Union Used CEQA Against Solar Projects, Too
A labor union used the state’s environmental law to sue Imperial County solar developers who didn’t sign labor agreements with them. (Lisa Halverstadt)
10. Opinion: Lilac Hills Vote Will Test Supervisors’ Commitment to the General Plan — Here’s Hoping They Pass
Any amendments to the county’s general plan should be consistent with the plan’s underlying principles, not ways to navigate around them. (Roger Lewis)