The City Council unanimously approved a budget on Tuesday to send back to Mayor Todd Gloria. Gloria can now approve it, veto it or use his line-item veto.
Even though the budget passed unanimously — it didn’t happen without some controversy and disagreement.
Flock contract stays in place: Four councilmembers supported the cancellation of the city’s $2 million per year Smart Streetlights contract. The controversial Smart Streetlights, operated by a company called Flock, provide “AI-powered video surveillance,” as well as license plate reader technology. The councilmembers attempted to pass a budget that eliminated the contract, but it didn’t have the fifth vote it needed to pass.
Soundtrack: During the public comment period, one San Diegan expressed their displeasure with the Flock contract — in song. A man brought his guitar to the microphone and jammed to a melodic little tune that mostly repeated the lyrics “get the Flock out” over and over. Attendees erupted into applause.
After the failed attempt to pass a de-Flocked budget, councilmembers then unanimously settled on the following changes.
Arts funding deal moves forward: A deal struck by councilmembers and the Prebys Foundation restores much of the arts and culture budget. The city would restore around $7.3 million in arts funding and Prebys would commit another $3 million, which it would administer.
Restorations to library and rec center hours: Gloria’s initial proposal slashed library and rec center hours. But the Council’s budget keeps them intact in Districts 4, 8 and 9 — which contain some of San Diego’s most low-income neighborhoods. It also restores Monday hours for the North Park library, and half-day Saturday hours at Mira Mesa and Linda Vista libraries.
The following rec centers also had their budgets fully restored: Carmel Valley, Pacific Highlands Ranch, Robb Athletic Field, Canyonside, Doyle, Mira Mesa, Hourglass Field, Nobel Athletic Fields and Standley.
Big slashes to shelter beds avoided: The final budget avoids cutting hundreds of shelter beds at the 16th and Newton shelter, as Gloria originally proposed. Instead, the Council’s approved budget only cuts 50 beds. It also cuts 37 city-funded beds at the Lighthouse Shelter located in National City.
Homeless day center still faces cuts: The Council’s budget still cuts city funding to the Neil Good Day Center, which provides homeless people with basic services they might need during the day. Father Joe’s Villages, the nonprofit that runs the center, plans to downsize and relocate.
Win for traffic safety: The budget includes funding to improve what’s known as the Fatal 15 — the 15 most dangerous intersections in the city. It also maintains funding for the Multi-Modal team, which design safety improvements like crosswalks, stop signs, and bike lanes.
Union Pushing for Big Reforms to Chula Vista Government
Move over San Diego County — Chula Vista voters may also be asked to consider serious reforms to the city’s government this November.
A ballot measure being pushed by a powerful local labor union would allow elected officials to seek an additional term in office, potentially boost city councilmembers’ salaries, beef up the city’s ethics commission and add a binding arbitration provision to contract negotiations with public safety unions.
The reforms echo a ballot measure recently approved by county supervisors that will come before voters in November. Supporters say longer term limits can increase stability in city government. But not everyone’s sold.
As with the county’s reforms, critics likely will label the Chula Vista proposal a power grab.
At least one councilmember, Jose Preciado, has already voiced skepticism about parts of the measure – especially proposals to increase councilmembers’ workloads.
“I don’t think we’re ready for that kind of prime time,” Preciado said.
Secret County Subcommittees Stay Secret
County supervisors on Tuesday again failed to advance a policy that would have shed more sunlight on board subcommittees meeting behind closed doors.
This time, Supervisor Joel Anderson proposed a policy requiring ad-hoc board committees to post meeting agendas, minutes and materials, and allow the public to attend — with the possibility to exempt some subcommittees.
The four supervisors who attended Tuesday’s meeting ultimately split 2-2 over whether to advance Anderson’s policy. Fellow Republican Jim Desmond sided with Anderson and Democrats Monica Montgomery Steppe and Paloma Aguirre suggested another approach.
The two Democrats said they’d like flexibility to allow more privacy for some committees, such as one focused on juvenile justice where some families have shared stories they fear could lead to retaliation.
“I support transparency and accountability, but when it comes to this particular policy, I think it has to be determined on a case-by-case basis,” Aguirre said.
Anderson and Desmond argued transparency was the right approach.
“We’re saying we’re for transparency and then we find all the reasons under the sun not to be transparent,” Anderson said.
What’s next: Because supervisors split at Tuesday’s meeting, the item will now be heard again at supervisors’ June 25 meeting.
Song of the Month
Los Sols – “Cherry Red Nova”: Much of Los Sols’ output takes a page from FIDLAR’s belligerent pop-tinged punk – albeit with a delightful dose of Chicano spanglish. But for my money, the four-piece really shines when they turn down the volume and the tempo, like with the enchanting acoustic jam “horchata.” On 2024 single “Cherry Red Nova,” Los Sols dial up the oldies and end up with an absolute earworm of a pop gem.
Like what you hear? Check out Los Sols with local favorites Los Shadows at Mason Aleworks on Saturday, June 19.
In Other News
- On Monday, a judge sentenced an OnlyFans creator to four years in prison for the death of an Escondido man who’d hired her to perform bondage fetish acts on him. The woman, who pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter, had duct taped the man’s mouth shut and placed a plastic bag over his head. (Union-Tribune)
- Carlsbad’s City Council unanimously approved a five-story, 397-unit housing complex that features 59 affordable apartments. (Union-Tribune)
- The number of immigrants detained by immigration officials at local military bases has spiked since the reelection of President Donald Trump. The danger for delivery and rideshare drivers has become so significant that many are now avoiding military bases altogether. (KPBS)
- Amid deadlock and discord in negotiations over how to parse out water from the Colorado River, the Trump administration has nominated a longtime Central Valley farmer to lead the agency that oversees water in western states. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
- The redevelopment deal for the city of San Diego’s 101 Ash Street property will not close this month as planned. That’s because the development team planning to lease and convert the office tower into affordable housing is short $8 million for the $252 million project. (Union-Tribune)
- San Diego’s infrastructure budget hasn’t kept pace with the growth of the general fund. While the general fund has increased by 28 percent nominally since fiscal year 2022, the infrastructure budget has only increased by about four percent. (inewsource)
- Grossmont Cinemas is dead. Long live the new Grossmont Cinemas. A week after Reading Cinemas announced it was leaving Grossmont Center, AMC has announced it plans to take over the theatre. The new theatre – complete with recliners in every theater – is slated to open in 2027. (ABC 10 News)
The Morning Report was written by Mariana Martínez Barba, Jakob McWhinney and Lisa Halverstadt. It was edited by Will Huntsberry.
So thankful Council agreed to keep the Flock cameras instead of funding the fire department, road repairs, library hours, lifeguard services, neighborhood services, pension payments, youth services, stormwater department, or public safety. Such a wise choice. Excellent governance.