Let’s be honest, there’s probably not a lot of work getting done for the rest of the week. As we gear up for the 4th of July, a lot of young people don’t seem to remember what it used to be like in San Diego.
San Diego used to be one of the few California cities that allowed drinking on its beaches. But that wasn’t for lack of trying on some folks’ part.
Over nearly two decades, San Diegans were repeatedly asked to weigh in on whether the city should allow booze should on the beach. Proponents of bans argued it created an unsafe environment and worsened crime. But for nearly two decades San Diegans stood firm: we wanted to be able to crack a cold one open with our feet in the sand.
Then, with the events of one fateful Labor Day, that balance shifted, leading former City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer to spearhead a ban on beach drinking. For the first time, San Diegans bought in.
Few things have changed San Diego as swiftly as that did.
Still, even after the ban, there are some public areas where San Diegans can drink without fear of reprisal. So, with the Fourth of July around the corner, we compiled a quick history of the ban and a map of parks where you can do a little bit of day drinking – no paper bag required.
Read the post and see the maps here.
San Diego County Settles Jail Death Lawsuit for $15 Million
San Diego County has settled a lawsuit from the family of a 24-year-old pregnant woman, Elisa Serna, who died in a local jail five years ago after collapsing in front of staff.
“Elisa Serna died in an isolation cell in the Medical Observation Unit, where she received neither observation nor medical treatment,” said Serna family attorney Eugene Iredale according to the Union-Tribune. “She died on the floor after a nurse and a deputy witnessed her fall and seizure.”
The $15 million payout approved by the Board of Supervisors is purportedly the largest approved by the board in a wrongful death suit. Taxpayers will be on the hook for $14 million, while the medical group in charge of caring for inmates will pay $1 million. The settlement came shortly before the case was set to go before a federal jury.
Since Serna’s death, 75 inmates have died in San Diego’s notoriously deadly jails and the county has paid out $75 million to the families of victims of misconduct over the same period. A 2022 report from the California State Auditor deemed the situation so dire that the “Legislature must take action to ensure that the Sheriff’s Department implements meaningful changes.”
Despite running for Sheriff, in part, on a pledge to fix the situation, people have continued to die in county jails since Kelly Martinez took office in 2022. The most recent death in county jails occurred just last week.
In a presser following the settlement’s announcement, Elisa’s mother Paloma Serna said despite promises, “I don’t see change … There have been six deaths this year alone.”
Lakeside Union Board Prez Wants Community Input on Cell Phone Bans
Last week, we broke news that San Diego Unified is taking steps to consider a ban on cell phones on district campuses. Now, Lakeside Union District’s Board President Andrew Hayes has signaled he’s also interested in exploring the possibility – but not without hearing from stakeholders first.
Momentum is building across the state but Hayes, who is in a big race for an Assembly seat against Carl. DeMaio, isn’t quite ready to push for the ban.
Song of the Week
Summer is here. The days are hot and long. The beaches are packed. The grills are lit. And I’m in need of a cool, cool drink of music. So, I give to you, Drew Pelisek.
Just this year, Pelisek’s released two EP’s filled with blissfully restrained tunes that mix folky songwriter fare, indie rock and shoegaze instrumentation. It’s a low-key, blurred-out cocktail that’s sonically pleasing and cool to the touch.
Last month’s “Reheater,” EP dials up the fuzz and dials down the fidelity on wistful tracks like “Ode to Red.” But it’s on “Rapid Stag,” released in March, where Pelisek’s ability to expertly strike a serene equilibrium shines most fully. The EP’s four stellar tracks find him embracing a more spaced-out, acoustic guitar-tinged vibe that’s absolutely divine.
Drew Pelisek, “Portal”: Listening to “Portal,” feels a bit like hearing a song from underwater. Delicately strummed acoustic guitar, wispy flourishes of washed-out electric guitar and Pelisek’s hushed, sugary croon build into revelatory swells before receding once again. The track’s lyrics also reflect that transitory, hazy feeling, with Pelisek singing “There’s a portal state, somewhere far away. Where the weeds won’t grow and the thinking’s slow.” It’s a song that elicits a distinctly dreamlike state, and goodness, is it some dream.
Like what you hear? Check out Drew Pelisek at Comet Theatre on Friday, July 5.
Do you have a “Song of the Week” suggestion? Shoot us an email and a sentence or two about why you’ve been bumping this song lately. Friendly reminder: all songs should be by local artists!
In Other News
- The number of dogs adopted, particularly large dog breeds, has flatlined in recent years, leaving local animal shelters struggling to cope with overpopulation. Some in the industry point to restrictions on what sizes of dogs renters can have and housing instability as the cause. (San Diego Magazine)
- Supervisor Jim Desmond faced a fired up crowd of Vista residents skeptical of San Diego County’s attempt to acquire a ranch and convert it into a mental health and substance abuse treatment center. (KPBS)
- A new state law that limits most security deposits to the equivalent of one month’s went into effect this week. (Union-Tribune)
The Morning Report was written by Jakob McWhinney. It was edited by Scott Lewis.