These were the most popular Voice of San Diego stories for the week of June 25-July 1.
1. Parents Want San Diego Unified to Reverse Field on Turf Installations
There isn’t much in the way of conclusive evidence of negative health impacts as a result of exposure to crumb rubber in turf playing fields, though several state and federal studies are under way. Still, parents at various San Diego Unified schools slated for new fields want the district to hit pause on those plans. (Ashly McGlone)
2. With Doomsday in Mind, California Officials Are Ceding Water to Arizona, Nevada
California representatives have offered to forgo up to 8 percent of the state’s Colorado River water, if things get bad enough. The worry is cuts would be worse later if California doesn’t play ball with Arizona now. (Ry Rivard)
3. Why San Diego Isn’t at the Table for Doomsday Colorado River Water Talks
The issue of the San Diego County Water Authority’s “negativity” makes clear the tensions within the California water world. (Ry Rivard)
4. Opinion: Enough Excuses — San Diego’s Homeless Problem Is Solvable
Here’s what San Diego needs to do if it wants to make a difference on homelessness. (Iain De Jong)
5. The Big Questions on Balboa Park’s Big Day
Here’s a look at the questions that still remain about the plans Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced Thursday. (Lisa Halverstadt)
6. Photos: Migrants From Around the World Come to Tijuana — to Wait
A look inside the Tijuana shelters that are seeing an unprecedented surge in people stranded from all over the world as they await answers from the U.S. on whether they’ll be allowed to enter. (Brooke Binkowski)
7. Homelessness Is Surging in Oceanside
Oceanside’s unsheltered population more than doubled in this year’s annual homeless census. (Lisa Halverstadt and Maya Srikrishnan)
8. What San Diego Could Do About Homelessness – Now
Most policy conversations about homelessness in San Diego focus on long-term solutions. Yet, the challenge is pressing right now. Landlord incentives, a new shelter and sanctioned tent cities were among short-term ideas floated Thursday by local leaders and advocates. (Lisa Halverstadt)
9. North County Report: Homelessness on the Rise in Oceanside
Untangling the mess of relationships behind Encinitas’ controversial yoga program, Del Mar mulls how to regulate vacation rentals and more in our weekly roundup of North County news. (Ruarri Serpa)
10. The Keepers of Chicano Park’s History
Episode 3 of Culturecast, VOSD’s podcast covering the intersection of arts and gentrification in Barrio Logan, digs deep into the push to open the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center. (Kinsee Morlan)