These were the most popular Voice of San Diego stories for the week.
1. Sweetwater Found a Principal to Be ‘Abusive’ But Kept Him on for Years
A district investigation into employee complaints against principal Ernesto Zamudio in 2014 and 2015 determined there was “ample evidence” his conduct was “abusive,” but not illegal, records show. He was transferred twice and agreed to resign this year, following six months of paid leave. (Ashly McGlone)
2. Politics Report: Another Mission Valley Ballot Measure
An environmental lawyer has an idea for an initiative of his own. A progressive gun control group is angry a liberal sheriff’s candidate got the support of a gun-rights group. A bipartisan housing movement loses some of its left flank. (Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts)
3. Legal Bills Pile Up at San Diego Unified
The amount the San Diego Unified School District spends on outside lawyers rose by $1 million in the last two years alone, despite expansions to the district’s in-house legal services intended to keep costs down. From 2012 through 2017, San Diego Unified School District paid law firms more than $12.7 million. (Ashly McGlone)
4. Opinion: It’s Time for the San Diego Democratic Party’s Ideals to Match Its Actions
Women are the backbone of the Democratic Party, and the party should recognize as much by taking investigations about improper behavior seriously and being more judicious about supporting candidates who’ve been accused of bad behavior. (Opinion)
5. There’s Virtually No Such Thing as Voluntary Sex Work, Says DA
San Diego DA Summer Stephan, who’s touted her experience combating sex trafficking as part of her re-election campaign, has said that women involved in sex work rarely choose it on their own volition. Other California prosecutors have begun to take the same approach. But Stephan’s opponent says that view is elitist. (Mario Koran)
6. Tunnel Vision: What the Big Water Vote Means
Southern California’s biggest water agency voted to spend $11 billion on two tunnels to keep water flowing south from Northern California — even though the state’s two biggest cities, Los Angeles and San Diego, oppose the deal. Here’s how it happened and what it means for California’s water supply and San Diego ratepayers. (Ry Rivard)
7. Restraining Inmates in Labor Is Supposed to Be the Exception — in San Diego, It’s the Norm
State law prohibits restraints “by the wrists, ankles, or both” during labor, delivery and recovery unless an inmate’s deemed a threat to herself or others. Yet the Sheriff’s Department says it restrains all inmates as a default. (Kelly Davis)
8. New Contract in Hand, Teachers Question District Spending Priorities
San Diego teachers had billed a series of town halls as a chance to mobilize members in their quest for a new contract. A contract was signed hours before the first town hall kicked off, but teachers nonetheless sounded off on what they said was central office bloat and bureaucratic redundancies. (Mario Koran)
9. About 5 Percent of San Diego Homes Are Off Limits as Housing
A recent analysis found 57,000 of the region’s homes are vacation or second homes that often sit vacant, exacerbating the housing crisis because they’re unavailable to people who live and work here or would like to. (Lisa Halverstadt)
10. Environment Report: Pure Water Project’s Financial Future Is Cloudy
The Metropolitan Water District could build a second Delta tunnel, a reporter reflects on a trip to a dry wasteland and more in our biweekly roundup of environmental news. (Ry Rivard)