The San Diego County Water Authority is hurting for cash and one of its largest customers is coming to the rescue.
Voice of San Diego’s MacKenzie Elmer writes that the city of San Diego has offered to pay a few of its water bills in advance. The Water Authority is not only taking them up on it, but it’s also asking its 22 customer water districts to do the same.
If everyone steps up, Water Authority officials say they could lower the 19 percent rate increase that would go into effect Jan. 1 by 1.5 percent.
Elmer writes that even if the city of San Diego is the only one to pay its bills early, it would still make a dent in the Water Authority’s bill. That bill is to the tune of $95 million and due in April.
“For everyone who has been critical of the city’s influence on the Water Authority, this is us coming to the table with solutions,” said Nick Serrano, Mayor Todd Gloria’s deputy chief of staff and vice chair of the Water Authority board.
Bill Walton’s Long, Strange Trip
San Diego’s most famous resident died last week at the age of 71.
Voice Editor-in-Chief Scott Lewis wrote a civic obituary of Bill Walton in a special Politics Report Saturday. Walton was a diligent Voice reader and cheerleader for many San Diego organizations.
“… he told me he believed San Diego leaders should strive for the city to be known for three things worldwide: solar power, bicycling and cannabis,” Lewis writes.
After the pandemic though, Walton’s tone changed. He became increasingly frustrated over how city leaders were handling the homelessness crisis.
Read the full Politics Report here.
VOSD Podcast: On the latest episode, our hosts also get into Walton’s love for San Diego — and how his tone changed after the pandemic and as he grew increasingly frustrated over the homelessness crisis.
Environment reporter MacKenzie Elmer joined the show to talk about her story on a new audit that looked at San Diego’s efforts to bury power lines.
Listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your pods.
Sacramento Report: What’s Next for the Bills We’re Watching
Last week we learned which bills by San Diego lawmakers would move on or die.
Now, Sacramento Reporter Deborah Brennan explains what’s next. There’s going to be a break starting July 3 and then lawmakers will be back in August for what one legislative staffer described as “finals weeks for adults.”
In the meantime, legislators will focus on the state budget. Brennan writes that it’s not going to be an easy process because the state is facing a protected deficit that will force cuts and mean some programs will get put on ice.
More bills: Pride Month kicks off Saturday. Brennan has all the bills that the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus has identified as top priorities.
Read the Sacramento Report here.
A Train Track’s New Home Could Be Under Yours
If you follow Voice on Instagram, you’ve probably noticed that we’ve stepped up our game thanks to our talented social media expert Bella Ross.
For our latest post, she teamed up with North County reporter Tigist Layne to explain what you need to know about a plan to move a portion of the train tracks that run along the edge of the Del Mar bluffs into an underground tunnel.
“The solution is complicated, expensive and controversial, but it’s not impossible,” Layne explains. Learn more here and follow us here.
Layne keeps her finger on the pulse of all things North County in her bi-weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for free.
In Other News
- Our managing editor has all the stories you need to read to start your week. Grab some cafecito and catch up. Read Cup of Chisme here.
- The Union-Tribune reported Firday that UC San Diego’s academic workers could join a strike on Monday in protest of the school’s response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
- Vice President Kamala Harris was in San Diego Friday for a political fundraiser but was met by pro-Palestinian protesters. (NBC San Diego)
The Morning Report was written by Andrea Lopez-Villafaña and edited by Scott Lewis.