These were the most popular Voice of San Diego stories for the week of July 7-14.
1. San Diego Unified Has an Overwhelming List of Problems, and the District Should Lean Into Them
San Diego Unified, under Superintendent Cindy Marten, has been obsessed not with fixing its problems but with denying they exist. (Scott Lewis)
2. SANDAG Misled Voters on 2004 Tax Measure, Showing Pattern of Deception Goes Back at Least 13 Years
SANDAG knew a year before the 2004 election that TransNet wouldn’t collect $14 billion, but it didn’t tell voters. This is now the third instance in which SANDAG either knowingly overstated how much money it could collect to pay for transportation projects, or understated how much projects would cost to complete. (Andrew Keatts)
3. Meet the Public Defender Who Wants to Be San Diego’s Top Prosecutor
Public defender Geneviéve Jones-Wright, in her career history and perspective, would change direction from the law-and-order, tough-on-crime mindset that has dominated district attorney races not just in San Diego, but around the country. (Andrew Keatts)
4. City Says Plaza de Panama Overhaul Is Moving Forward, But Opponents Are Digging in
The plan to transform Balboa Park’s core was supposed to begin this fall, but is now set for March 2018. The city insists it will happen, yet opponents are just as confident in their efforts to thwart the plan. (Lisa Halverstadt)
5. San Diego Could Provide Cheaper, Greener Energy Than SDG&E, Study Shows
Anger builds over Chinese Historical Museum director’s ouster, neighbors aren’t fans of the Observatory North Park, Suzie’s Farm calls it quits and more in our weekly roundup of the region’s arts and culture news. (Ry Rivard
6. Friend of Murdered Mexican Journalist Sees Lessons in His Death
Everard Meade, director of the Trans-Border Institute at the University of San Diego, was a friend and colleague of slain Mexican journalist Javier Valdez Cárdenas. In a wide-ranging interview, Meade sketched a picture of the violence that’s consuming Mexico and discussed Valdez’s work and what lessons it offers. (Mario Koran)
7. Even With Fewer Layoffs, Poor Schools Face More Disruption
San Diego Unified has said the high number of teacher retirements could mean schools in wealthier neighborhoods may be impacted by the turnover just as much as low-income schools. But even once layoff notices are rescinded, the process has a bigger impact on low-income schools, which tend to have more junior employees. (Maya Srikrishnan)
8. When the Civil War Came to San Diego
Armed Union troops and Confederate wannabes faced off here in 1861. (Randy Dotinga)
9. Border Report: ‘There’s No Expectation of Justice’
There’s good news and bad news for children seeking refuge in the United States, California politicians on both sides of the aisle wade into border issues and more in our weekly roundup of news from the border. (Brooke Binkowski)
10. SDG&E’s Power Moves Have Fended Off Energy Choice Efforts Across San Diego
Three times in the past 30 years, SDG&E has outmaneuvered local politicians looking to disrupt the company’s power monopoly. Now, SDG&E faces another round of competition from local governments across the county. (Ry Rivard)