The general election will be here before we know it.
Our reporters will be following a handful of races and measures with the most at stake. But before that, we’ve going to host our annual public affairs summit, Politifest. That’s happening on Sept. 28 at the University of San Diego. Get your tickets here.
The event is packed with debates between candidates running for office and discussions about ballot measures. I’ll be moderating the San Diego City Council District 9 race. Council President Sean Elo-Rivera is running against retired police officer Terry Hoskins.
Elo-Rivera was first elected to the City Council in 2020. A year later he became council president. He has held on to the position every year despite some discontent among some councilmembers. As the incumbent, Elo-Rivera has the upper hand. He won nearly 52 percent of the vote in the Primary Election.
Hoskins is a retired San Diego police officer. He worked with many residents in District 9 as a community relations officer. The district includes the neighborhoods of City Heights, Rolando, Southcrest, Talmadge, College Area, El Cerrito, Mountain View and Kensington. Unlike his former colleague who is also running for office, Hoskins secured the endorsement from the police union.
I’m meeting with the candidates ahead of Politifest, so if you have any questions you’d like me to ask or topics you want us to explore during the debate, send me an email.
Now, grab some cafecito and let’s get into it.
A Foster Care Charity Investigation
Last week, our Will Huntsberry dropped a months-long investigation into one of San Diego County’s largest foster care services provider.
After reviewing dozens of financial documents, Huntsberry found that the charity, New Alternatives, was sending million of dollars to another charity it founded in Montana. The money was mostly going to pay New Alternatives’ CEO.
You can read it here, if you missed it.
Now, Huntsberry found that state investigators have cited the charity dozens of times for issues that range from posing an “immediate risk” to the health and safety of children to potential risks.
Read the second story in the investigation here.
Rollin’ in the Cannabis Dough
A cannabis tax measure in North County has proven to be very lucrative for one city.
Our Tigist Layne reports that Vista’s cannabis business tax has generated millions of dollars each year — $7 million to be exact. The money has mostly gone to the general fund, but since 2021, city officials put a cap on the revenue at $4 million and the rest goes to fund special projects.
Layne gets into the programs the city has funded thanks to the tax and why some call it a game changer for the city.
More Chisme to Start Your Week
- Voice of San Diego intern Emily Ito published her first story. Yay! (We love our internship program, and if you’re a college student you can learn more about it here.) Given the potentially dangerous fire season ahead of San Diego, Ito dug into how San Diego is doing on brush management inspections. Turns out, not great. Read the story here.
- Tigist Layne reports that Oceanside is moving forward with a plan to clear an encampment where hundreds of people are staying along state Route 78. Read more here.
- Related: Lisa Halverstadt reports that a homeless shelter in San Diego is moving to National City. This will increase South Bay’s shelter offerings, but it’s not great news for the city of San Diego.
I read with genuine interest your story about your recent absence. You are a great example of why we need Dreamers and other immigrants (frankly), to feel safe in our country. Never give up, you are needed here!
Ask Elo Rivera why he doesn’t meet with the people in the neighborhoods adjacent to SDSU to see what the bonus ADU program has wrought and discuss what needs to be done regarding noise complaints, trash in the streets, trash cans left out on the street or in the front yard, cars parked in front yards or blocking the sidewalk…
It is one thing to advocate for policies, but if your not willing to work to improve the negative byproduct of those policies and hide from your constituents is unconscionable. And please no lectures about people not wanting to accept change or they are NIMBYs or racists…which are Elo Rivera’s go to answer.