These were the most popular Voice of San Diego stories for the week of March 2-9.
1. Tormented by a Student’s Sexual Assault, a Teacher Falls
A special education student was sexually assaulted by a classmate at Lincoln High. The victim’s mother says she wasn’t given the full story right away. The school’s response tormented a teacher at the school. (Mario Koran)
2. Civic San Diego, SANDAG and Now, the Airport Authority: Gonzalez Fletcher Has a New Bill
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher is proposing legislation to put the agency that oversees the airport back under the port’s umbrella. She says it was separated to pursue a new location and its independence now cripples transit planning. The agency’s chairwoman says it has gotten a lot done and there’s more planned. (Andrew Keatts)
3. Civic San Diego Faces Forced Overhaul — Absent Its Leader
The president of the embattled agency, Reese Jarrett, abruptly announced his retirement. The news came after a lawsuit gathered momentum and enough accusations to force the mayor to the table. Now, settlement negotiations, along with leadership changes, could mean the end of the agency, or major reform, is imminent. (Lisa Halverstadt and Andrew Keatts)
4. Politics Report: Trump in San Diego
San Diego GOP politicians aren’t trampling over each other to greet POTUS. Dems in disarray in 49th congressional race. A state senator sets his sights on Board of Equalization. (Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts)
5. Border Patrol May Stop Handing Over Criminal Suspects to Local Law Enforcement
In a little-noticed statement, the San Diego leader of the Border Patrol tried to explain what was wrong with California’s new laws restricting what local law enforcement could do to cooperate with federal immigration agents. He also said long-standing task forces and joint operations have fallen apart. (Maya Srikrishnan)
6. San Dieguito Teacher Resigns Amidst Complaints of Inappropriate Behavior
Fourteen students accused a long-time San Dieguito High School Academy math teacher of inappropriate touching, remarks and other behavior. The school district and teacher negotiated his resignation after Voice of San Diego requested documents related to the accusations. (Ashly McGlone)
7. To Prevent Layoffs, San Diego Unified Turns to Once-Verboten Budget Move
San Diego Unified has said it’s improper to use one-time money to deal with ongoing expenses. But that’s exactly what the district’s doing, to close a budget gap without laying off additional staff. (Ashly McGlone)
8. Don’t Call Comic-Con’s New Balboa Park Digs a Museum — At Least Not Yet
A Comic-Con center is starting to take shape in Balboa Park. In a Q-and-A, the organization’s new director and a longtime Comic-Con staffer talk about what we can expect from the new home of popular arts. (Kinsee Morlan)
9. San Diego Schools’ Land Swap Plan for New Headquarters Draws Fire from Attorney
San Diego Unified is trying to swap its run-down headquarters and other properties totaling 22 acres for land elsewhere in the city, where it can build a new central office. But not so fast: A lawyer says the plan runs afoul of state contracting law. (Ashly McGlone)
10. If Trump Wants to Drill for Oil in San Diego Waters, He’ll Have to Get Through His Navy
The Trump administration has proposed opening California’s coast to oil drilling. An oil basin near Oceanside could be particularly valuable, but the military says drilling there would disrupt its operations. (Ry Rivard)