The resignation of San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas has for the second time in two years, thrown the board into a state of uncertainty. What’s more is at least one policy she championed may be axed regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican replaces her.
Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, widely viewed as the most progressive candidate in the running to replace Vargas, and Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, the lone Republican to declare their intention to run, both have qualms with a high profile policy change made by the board following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory.
The policy, which the board adopted in December, prohibits San Diego County sheriff’s deputies from helping immigration officers arrest people for potential deportation regardless of their criminal history.
The policy encountered sharp pushback both from Sheriff Kelly Martinez and from officials in the incoming Trump administration, who called it “disastrous.” Now, two of Vargas’ potential replacements – Aguirre and McCann – both say the policy’s adoption was a “mistake.”
That’s not all: Even Vice Chair Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer said she has no interest in fighting to keep the policy around, meaning its days are likely numbered.
South County Report: Supe Race Takes Shape
Our Jim Hinch sat down with Paloma Aguirre about her bid for the supervisor seat. He’ll be speaking at length with each candidate. The first interview will drop tomorrow.
For the latest South County Report, Hinch has updates on what two new councilmembers in Chula Vista are doing to act on their campaign promises.
He also writes that during his conversation with Aguirre, he learned that the mayor and Imperial Beach Councilmember Jack Fisher worked on a tenant protection ordinance and they plan to present it next week.
Read the South County Report here.
More county news: Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer will continue in the role of acting chair after the supervisors failed to pick a new leader on Tuesday. Both supervisors Lawson Remer and Jim Desmond went for the position, but with a split board, it’s no surprise they couldn’t agree. (ABC 10)
The supes will meet next week to decide whether to appoint or hold a special election to fill the seat vacated by Vargas. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that a special election could cost the county between $4 million to $6.6 million.
San Diego Hit with Highest Ever Pension Payment
Thanks in part to significant employee pay raises, the city of San Diego’s pension payment is set to increase to their highest-ever level. City officials will be on the hook to pay $533 million, which will be paid in July as part of its new budget. That sum is $35 million higher than the system’s actuary projected last year, the Union-Tribune reports.
Overall, the city’s pension debt now stands at an unprecedented $3.49 billion.
That surprise increase will be a wrench in the city’s already tricky budget situation. The $329 million budget deficit projected for the upcoming fiscal year did not include the additional $35 million pension cost, meaning the deficit will widen. Because not all city employees are paid with general funds, however, the deficit will likely increase by around $25 million.
Song of the Week
Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects, “Brothers in a Bind”: The band’s 2006 debut, “Listen Up!” is hard to classify. It’s a veritable cornucopia of squealing horns, jumpy bass and sharp, distorted bites of guitar, but some tracks like “Long Night Review,” dial up the melancholic indie rock, while tunes like “The Sell,” inject some Devo-esque new wave into the bloodstream.
For my money, though, “Brothers in a Bind,” seems to get closest to the band’s musical thesis. It’s a smooth, lowrider funk infused track whose loose ends only add to the appeal. It’s a real trunk rattler in all the best ways.
Listen to the Song of the Week here.
Like what you hear? Check out Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects at Casbah on Thursday, Jan. 16.
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
- In the latest in a long string of troubling fraternity stories at San Diego State University, four Phi Kappa Psi members have been charged with felonies following an incident in which one of the students was set on fire and received third-degree burns that left him hospitalized. (LA Times)
- The San Diego Wave has hired former Arsenal women’s manager Jonas Eidevall as the club’s new head coach. (ESPN)
- A 250-home development in housing-starved Encinitas still has thousands on a waitlist for its final 40 homes. (Union-Tribune)
- As industrialists gear up to build a massive lithium extraction facility in Imperial Valley, a lawsuit by a community organization has stalled the development. (inewsource)
The Morning Report was written by Jakob McWhinney and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña. It was edited by Andrea Lopez-Villafaña.