These were the most popular Voice of San Diego stories for the week of July 14-21.
1. In the Most San Diego Dispute Ever, County Workers Are Fighting for the Right to Wear Flip-Flops
The newest front in the labor negotiations between the San Diego County government and union workers is Casual Tuesday. (Ry Rivard)
2. For Women, Hillcrest Isn’t the Only Gayborhood
When the census data is mapped, you can see a divide that may surprise those who assume Hillcrest is the local gay mecca: Lesbian couples are much more widely distributed around the county than their gay male counterparts, who tend to cluster in and around the progressive haven of Hillcrest. (Randy Dotinga)
3. Everything We Know About Summer Stephan’s Role in the Stephanie Crowe Murder Case
Interim DA Summer Stephan has defended her role in prosecuting three teen boys for the murder of 12-year-old Stephanie Crowe, and suggested major decisions were made before she joined the prosecution. But interviews with key players, media reports and court records shed light on how important she was to the case and what went wrong. (Ashly McGlone)
4. 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)
5. Once Again, Major Homeless Policy Might Be Driven by Lawyers, Not Lawmakers
The city’s been hit with another class action lawsuit over its interactions with homeless San Diegans. The lawyers behind the suit say they hope to force policy solutions they believe the city has dragged its feet on. (Lisa Halverstadt )
6. North County Report: Housing Struggles Continue in Encinitas
The Del Mar Races are struggling with revenue and attendance, Carlsbad’s new Council districts could pit incumbents against each other, one of Rep. Darrell Issa’schallengers brings in a big fundraising haul and more in our weekly roundup of news from North County. (Ruarri Serpa)
7. Yes, SANDAG and Other Agencies Are Allowed to Lie on the Ballot
The San Diego Association of Governments has twice misled voters about how much money the agency could raise through tax increases, which raises a simple question: Is it legal? Pretty much. (Andrew Keatts)
8. Chaos and Confusion Pervade Homeless Camps Downtown
As homelessness rises in San Diego, so does police enforcement and questions about where the homeless are allowed to go – before and after they’re hit with citations and orders to stay away. (Lisa Halverstadt)
9. Time for Elected Leaders to Step Up to Streamline Development Rules
California legislators and our governor have the ability to reform the building permit process to create more housing much faster. (Ginger Hitzke)
10. Opinion: AB 805 Opens Up New Opportunities for San Diego’s Other Transit Agencies
AB 805 would create new opportunities for taxpayer protection and the relatively poorly funded North County Transit District. (Cori Schumacher)