A year ago, a county board majority decided San Diego needed more time to prepare for a new state law that makes it easier to force people struggling with addiction into treatment.
They decided to postpone implementation of SB 43 until this January, despite pressure from San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and others.
Days before the county is set to move forward, our Lisa Halverstadt found the county has made moves to try to address hospitals’ concerns that the new law would trigger a flood of patients on involuntary holds.
What it hasn’t done yet: Supply new residential treatment beds in a system already unable to meet demand.
But the county’s behavioral health director, who raised flags about proceeding during last year’s board hearing, says he’s not worried going into the new year. His team is projecting what amounts to a 10 percent increase in so-called 5150 holds in 2025 rather than a larger influx that many feared. He argues the additional time the county got to prepare ensured those patients will have more places to go and that law enforcement is trained up on the new law.
Others, including Gloria, wish the county had moved forward this year — and made more progress opening beds.
Border Report: How Tijuana Will Handle Trump’s Promised Deportations
One of our border reporters asks whether Tijuana is ready for president-elect Donald Trump’s promised mass deportations.
The first hurdle for the United States government, if Trump goes through with it: Tracking down 1.3 million people who have existing deportation orders, according to one expert. Baja California was third in terms of states on Mexico’s northern border receiving the largest number of deportees.
Today, U.S. authorities return around 125 people a day to Tijuana. But the city’s 40-some shelters only have capacity for about 5,000 people at a time. If Trump also eliminates an asylum support system created under President Joe Biden, it could leave more migrants fleeing violence stranded at the border and in need of support.
In Other News
- It’s been one of the slowest starts to the rainy season in San Diego County history. And that’s not going to change anytime soon. (Fox 5)
- Three different groups from San Diego will have floats in the Rose Parade, including a Marine band and the San Diego Zoo. (Union-Tribune)
- Big swells over the Christmas holiday wiped out parts of Sunset Cliffs Natural Park due in part, officials say, to a damaged sea wall. The city partially closed the walking path near that spot along the bluffs. (Fox 5)
- A Chula Vista company dedicated to building accessory dwelling units (aka granny flats) is being accused by more than 60 property owners of taking their money and doing little more than placing portable toilets on their lawns. (U-T)
- The re-elected mayor of Oceanside chatted with NBC 7 about her high hopes for a second term with a new council.
- Time to get that guinea pig you’ve been waiting for. The San Diego Humane Society has 51 ready for adoption after the owner of an RV died with that many animals inside. (NBC 7)
The Morning Report was written by Lisa Halverstadt, MacKenzie Elmer and Will Huntsberry.