Our education reporter, Jakob McWhinney, unveils the surprisingly legal practice of school districts hiring private investigators to tail families in the name of residency fraud.
That’s when families lie about where they live to enroll their child. It’s a crime more common in wealthier, higher-performing districts families are eager to get their kids into.
Districts can save money by identifying which students’ families are feigning addresses and removing them. And some districts accomplished this by hiring outside private investigative firms to follow families between the school and home.
That happened at Del Mar Hills Academy in 2024, McWhinney writes. But in this case, a parent became so concerned they were being followed, they called police who later revealed the private investigator the district hired was carrying a weapon.
Politics Report: Trash Deal Prediction
The San Diego City Council turned down a deal to settle a lawsuit over the city’s trash fee. The settlement would have stopped the repeal efforts and lowered the fee.
Editor Scott Lewis writes in the Politics Report that he predicts another deal could be on the horizon.
If you’re a Voice of San Diego member, you can read the Politics Report here.
County Reform Measures Include Under-the-Radar Residency Change
Tomorrow, county supervisors are set to consider two competing proposals to reform county government that could land on the November ballot.
Our Lisa Halverstadt learned last week about a previously under-the-radar proposed edit included in both proposals that could end the mandate that supervisors live in the district they serve – if state law changes.
County Supervisor Joel Anderson, who is pushing one of those proposals, is pledging to try to reverse that change during next Tuesday’s vote. The office of Chair Terra Lawson-Remer, who is championing the initial reform proposal, said the edit was simply meant to ensure the county charter matches state law.
Refresher: Lawson-Remer’s proposal, which could make the ballot with a second affirmative board vote, gives supervisors more sway over county government with reforms including an additional term for supervisors and the power to approve the hiring and firing of top county officials plus new auditing and budget analyst positions.
Anderson’s competing pitch is similar but axes some controversial elements including extended term limits for sitting supervisors and appointment votes for top county positions.
Sacramento Report: How Newsom Promises to Balance the Budget
Our Sacramento Reporter, Nadia Lathan, took a look at how Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed to balance the state budget.
Newsom proposed deeper cuts to the state’s version of Medicaid as well as raised premiums for adults who are undocumented. He also proposed capping tax credits for businesses.
Meanwhile Democratic lawmakers are divided on the best way to make corporations pay to help solve the state’s budget woes. They’re grappling over proposals that they’ll need moderate Democrats’ help in passing.
Read the Sacramento Report here.
VOSD Podcast: Terra’s Pledge
San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson Remer talks on the podcast about county charter reform, the Tijuana River sewage crisis and navigating dating apps as a public official.
In Other News
- San Diego’s budget problems can’t be explained away by just one thing. There are many reasons the city is struggling financially. The U-T has more here.
- Speaking of the budget, one council member is questioning why the city pays for certain expenses associated with Petco Park events.
- A man who stood up for another man’s right to blow bubbles in Balboa Park is getting $450,000 from the city of San Diego to drop a lawsuit. (Courthouse News Service)
The Morning Report was written by MacKenzie Elmer and Lisa Halverstadt. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafana.