In recent years, South County Democrats have had a tough time taking the reins of power in their respective cities. Democratic voters significantly outnumber registered Republicans in the majority Latino region, but not a single South County city has a Democratic mayor.
For many observers, Councilmember Jose Rodriguez, who’s running for mayor of National City, may be Democrats’ best hope of picking up a mayoralty in November’s election. Young, dynamic and endlessly energetic, Rodriguez has outlined an ambitious platform to revitalize National City through affordable housing development, increased building density, citywide rent control and infrastructure fixes.
But National City’s political scene has for years been roiled by internecine and often inscrutable conflicts, in which Rodriguez has played an active role. In those skirmishes, he’s cultivated some expected foes. Specifically, he’s long sparred with current (and former) mayor, political independent Ron Morrison, whom he alleges has an outdated, “1960s vision of National City.”
But it’s the rivalries Rodriguez has developed with members of his own party that may end up being the most politically costly.
Conservative Influencer’s San Diego Visit Is Not Popular With Local Pols
Late last month, conservative Influencer Nick Shirley made a stop in San Diego. Shirley is best known for a viral video purporting to uncover widespread fraud at Minnesota child cares that helped set the stage for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown on Minneapolis.
In San Diego, like in Minneapolis, Shirley visited a slew of child care operators. Shirley hasn’t dropped his San Diego video yet, but reporters Will Huntsberry and Jakob McWhinney reviewed what Shirley did – and didn’t find in Minneapolis (hint: any irrefutable proof of widespread fraud). They also broke down what to look for in his yet-to-be-released video.
But over the weekend, a slew of local elected officials released a joint statement castigating Shirley’s activities and the harassment they say has been inflicted on the local Somali community. Like in Minneapolis, many of the child care facilities he visited in San Diego were Somali-run.
“The presence of Nick Shirley in San Diego and the targeted harassment of Somali childcare providers is repugnant and a disgrace,” Assemblymember Chris Ward wrote. “He continues to spew lies that were already debunked in Minneapolis, and his actions strike fear in providers, families, and children who are simply trying to do their jobs and care for our communities.”
San Diego County’s Incredible Shrinking Schools
For the latest installment in our “A Parent’s Guide to San Diego Schools,” reporter Jakob McWhinney dished on his recent near all-consuming obsession: enrollment decline.
San Diego County schools are losing kids, and they’re losing them pretty much everywhere. From Alpine – 15 percent decline – to Encinitas – 21 percent decline – to South Bay, whose 37 percent decline in enrollment has led administrators to create plans to shut down three schools.
Despite how difficult it is for some to grasp, the widespread enrollment decline is driven by an exceedingly simple fact – there are just fewer kids in San Diego County. There are a whole lot of reasons for that, from declining birth rates to the region’s high cost of living chasing families away.
What to do about such a broad societal problem isn’t exactly clear. But it’s clear districts need to do something. Read more here.
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Border Report: One Man’s Journey Home
In November, contributor Kate Morrissey told the story of a man who was arrested by immigration officials outside his home.
His wife spoke to Morrissey about their fight to free him. Misael Curiel-Castañeda is now home but his case and story offers a look at the complexity of the immigration system.
Morrissey writes that the experience is not behind them. When Curiel-Castañeda is not with his wife, he barely leaves the house. He is scared that immigration officials might try to take him again, he told Morrissey.
“I’m still locked up because I’m afraid,” Curiel-Castañeda said.
March 26: Women Leading the Conversation
Don’t miss our annual Women Leading the Conversation event on March 26. Mix, mingle and hear from incredible women who are Building the Finest City.
Get your tickets today.
In Other News
- Officials at the Otay Mesa Detention Center denied San Diego Congressman Juan Vargas entry when he showed up for an unannounced visit this past weekend. According to a ruling from a federal judge released just days earlier, such denials may violate federal law. (KPBS)
- SANDAG recently released regional plan is a nearly $40 billion downgrade from a plan released just five years ago. (KPBS)
- El Cajon Tidbits: City leaders in El Cajon are mulling over trying to take an ownership stake in the ailing Parkway Plaza amid redevelopment goals. (Union-Tribune)
- Gary Kendrick was first elected to El Cajon’s City Council in 2002. A registered Republican, he was San Diego County’s longest-serving GOP-elected official. But that’s all in the past. Kendrick announced this week he would run for re-election as a Democrat. “I’m in this fight to protect El Cajon from the far-right radicals who threaten our way of life,” Kendrick said. “Together, we will restore El Cajon as a city where children walk to school without fear, where mothers seek medical care without terror, and where every family can call the police when they need help.”
The Morning Report was written by Jakob McWhinney. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña.