A growing population of San Diegans over the age of 55 are staying at shelters longer than their younger counterparts. Our city hall reporter, Mariana Martínez Barba, wanted to know why.
A spokesperson from the San Diego Housing Commission said cost of living, occupancy rates, and stagnant wages are factors in people staying longer at shelters.
But for seniors who have disabilities and can’t work, it’s getting harder. While some of them can qualify for affordable housing options, they generally have to pay a portion of their income which some don’t have. The turnover of these units is also really low.
“Getting one’s like a golden ticket,” said Jonathan Herrera from the commission.
Sacramento Report: A Troubled Rail Corridor Needs More Dollars
For years, transit enthusiasts have begged the state to do more to fix a 351-mile-long rail corridor that stretches from San Luis Obispo to San Diego.
Our Nadia Lathan reports despite crumbling infrastructure and declining ridership little progress has been made.
Encinitas lawmaker Catherine Blakespear authored a “study bill” on the route, but rail advocates said they hoped the bill would do more. Instead, a longtime lobbyist said it’s slowed the process to fix transit lines.
Read the Sacramento Report here.
Judge Extends Trans Care at Rady
A superior court judge has order Rady Children’s Hospital to continue providing care to trans youth until at least late April.
The judge, Matthew Braner, must decide whether to permanently “force Rady and its sister hospital in Orange County to continue providing gender-transition therapies,” reports Voice contributor Randy Dotinga.
“Braner has described the hospital system as being between a ‘rock and a hard place’ as it navigate threats from both the state and the federal government,” Dotinga writes.
VOSD Podcast: ‘Stop Being Poor’
San Diego’s parking meters and tickets are riddled with mysteries.
Turns out if a meter is broken – but not all the payment methods are totally bust – you can still get a ticket. Our podcast crew chats about the city’s parking snafus, and why our CEO and Editor-in-Chief Scott Lewis wants you to eat more arugula.
Also on the pod our senior investigative reporter, Lisa Halverstadt, joins the crew to talk about the embezzlement scandal that continues to unravel at the county.
In Other News
- Federal officials cited volunteers last week who have observed ICE check-ins for months. Officials said they were “loitering,” in the federal building downtown, while one volunteer said he plans to fight his fine in federal court. (inewsource)
- SDG&E earned $536 million last year, more than one-third down from the year before after they failed to recover costs. Despite the revenue losses, the company continues to charge among the highest rates in the country. (KPBS)
- And more money news: San Diego city officials signed off on a $112 million contract to retrofit city facilities and streetlights to make them more climate-friendly. But the deal comes with some financial risks. (Union-Tribune)
The Morning Report was written by Mariana Martínez Barba and Will Huntsberry. It was edited by Will Huntsberry.