One lesser-discussed victim of the budget cuts is the Neil Good Day Center, a resource hub that will shutter later this year after serving homeless San Diegans for 35 years.
But that’s not the end of the story: Social Media Producer Bella Ross reports that Father Joe’s Villages, the center’s operator, has vowed to retrofit part of a cafeteria in its Imperial Avenue campus into a new day center.
It will be about a third of the size of the current center and its service capacity will take at least a 25 percent hit. It also won’t receive any city funding. But they say it’s better than nothing.
“We can’t not have a day center in San Diego,” said Josh Bohannan, chief strategy officer at Father Joe’s Villages.
That’s not the only thing changing for homeless residents. While the city anticipates a net increase of 205 shelter beds next fiscal year, the budget also cut two safe parking lots and more than 30 public restrooms, including a batch of portable restrooms intended specifically for unhoused people.
New Podcast Studio!
The crew recorded the most recent Voice of San Diego Podcast in our new studio. It’s the Alice and Doug Diamond Studio at our new offices. It’s still a soft launch but we’ll get some new things on the wall soon. You can watch all our podcast recordings on our YouTube channel. Here’s the full show.
We had Jim Hinch on to discuss his story on the messy exit of Chula Vista’s highly esteemed police chief and more.
Related: Newly Homeless Narrowly Outnumber Newly Housed in May
The number of people becoming homeless in San Diego County narrowly outpaced the number moving into homes in May. The Regional Task Force on Homelessness reports that 985 people became homeless for the first time and 982 exited homelessness.
Your monthly reminder: For most of the last few years, local efforts to house homeless residents haven’t kept up with the flood of people losing their homes. That equation must change to dramatically reduce homelessness.
Sacramento Report: Legislators Eye HOA Fees
Lawmakers continue to look for ways to make housing more affordable.
Sacramento reporter Nadia Lathan writes that a few are eyeing caps and changes to HOA fees and rules. But one proposal is drawing the most controversy.
Sen. Caroline Menjivar wants to reduce how much associations can increase monthly dues on homeowners. The bill she introduced, sparked a rare moment of public opposition from Democrats last month, Lathan writes.
Among those who opposed the bill was Sen. Catherine Blakespear. She told Lathan that capping fees would leave homeowners with less money to fix routine problems.
“I don’t see this as the right way to attack affordability,” she said.
Read more in the Sacramento Report here.
South County Report: New State Funds Buoy Chula Vista Schools
Spirits are up at Chula Vista Elementary School District amid an expected influx of new state money.
In this week’s South County Report, our Jim Hinch reports that South Bay’s largest elementary school district had faced a bleak budget outlook before news last month that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s updated budget proposal included billions more for schools. The district has responded by nixing planned cuts – and cheering a $16 million reduction in its projected budget deficit.
Yet Hinch notes that the district still faces a budget gap – and will be dealing with declining reserves and enrollment.
Read the full South County Report here.
In Other News
- ICYMI: Our podcast hosts invited South County reporter Jim Hinch to unpack his latest story on the messy exit of Chula Vista’s police chief. Watch or listen to the episode here.
- The Metropolitan Transit System board last week approved a nearly $483 million budget that counts on cost-saving and new revenue sources. (KPBS)
- A large church is officially coming to Del Cerro after years of pushback – at least for now. (Times of San Diego)
- San Diego police say a University of San Diego student struck and killed by a police vehicle last week died by suicide. (10 News)
The Morning Report was written by Lisa Halverstadt and Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña. It was edited by Scott Lewis.