After two years of debate and big questions, the National City Council narrowly endorsed a Port of San Diego plan to build a 4.8-acre electric truck charging station.
In his latest South Bay news roundup, our Jim Hinch traces the history of the proposal and last year’s City Council debate over the controversial charging station pitch.
He also chronicled the warnings from public speakers for National City’s new top manager – about the City Council.
“I’ve covered many government agencies during my time as a reporter,” Hinch writes. “I have never seen residents warn bureaucrats against their own elected bosses.”
Read the full South County Report here.
Where Big State Budget Questions for the County Landed
It’s been a tumultuous budget season for San Diego County. Despite the unanimous approval last month of its own nearly $9.2 billion budget, county officials were left hanging for a final state budget that will significantly impact how its own budget meets reality.
Here’s a rundown of where some line items landed:
- Criminal justice reform measure Proposition 36 hit the county’s budget hard, as our Lisa Halverstadt reported last year. Counties including San Diego urged Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state legislature to step up with more funding. This year’s final budget includes $20 million statewide for county behavioral health needs tied to the reforms, cancels proposed cuts to pretrial services and allocates $10 million statewide to support increased demands on courts across the state. County spokesperson Tammy Glenn said it’s unclear how much the county will receive.
- Mobile Crisis Response Team funding that had been set to end under Newsom’s budget proposal will remain for another year, saving the county from a significant cut to the non-law enforcement teams responding to behavioral health crisis calls.
- The final budget included $34 million for counties to speed up vote-counting this November and invest more in outreach and education. Glenn said the county is “awaiting guidance from the state” on how it will tap its potential share of those funds.
- The county and the California Association of Counties lauded the $420 million the final budget provides in onetime cash to support increased eligibility requirements for Medi-Cal and CalFresh following Trump administration-backed reforms and the move to cancel Newsom’s proposed cost shift for In-Home Supportive Services to counties. But Glenn noted that the county is disappointed that the budget doesn’t include dedicated money for counties to provide care for people who fall off Medi-Cal rolls, a group the county is trying to step up to serve. The county’s budget now includes almost $24 million to respond to federal changes and Glenn said the county has “additional one-time funding set aside and available specifically for needs that may emerge, while the county continues to assess ongoing impacts and strategies.”
VOSD Podcast: Feds to the Rescue?
On the latest episode, our hosts break down how special education enrollment in schools is impacting school districts and what one North County city is doing to stop its beaches from disappearing.
Op-Ed: South Bay Sewage Victims Deserve Accountability
Attorney and South Bay resident Kristin Westphal is representing her neighbors in a lawsuit against a contractor charged with operating and maintaining the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.
In an op-ed, Westphal decries a recent no-bid federal contract handed to Veolia Water West Operating Services, Inc. and argues that lawsuits like hers can ensure accountability for residents dealing with health issues, economic disruptions and more.
Sunshine, Good Company and Independent Journalism
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Shop beach towels, picnic blankets, sipper glasses and more—all designed to bring a little extra local pride to your summer adventures. Support local journalism and shop the collection here.
In Other News
- The city of San Diego told the owners of Horton Plaza they must reopen the property’s park by 2027, after a larger redevelopment project faced delays that have kept the park closed to the community since 2020. (Union-Tribune)
- A judge dismissed an assault charge against Encinitas City Council Member Luke Shaffer after determining he successfully completed anger management classes and volunteer work through a misdemeanor diversion program. Shaffer was charged last August with assaulting a resident after he became upset when the councilmember moved the resident’s trash bins to park his truck, North County Reporter Tigist Layne reported at the time. (NBC 7)
- Oceanside’s Tri-City Medical Center is merging with Sharp HealthCare, a move that community members hope will bring some much needed independence and financial stability to health care in North County whose residents have long had to commute downtown to receive specialized care. (Union-Tribune)
- More development could make its way to areas like Bay Park and the UTC/UC-San Diego areas, all connected to the city’s newish trolley system, after a new California housing law aimed at increasing development near transit stops takes effect Wednesday. (KPBS)
- San Diego County’s first Bass Pro Shops is set to open in a 148,000-square-foot space at La Mesa’s Grossmont Center Mall in 2028. The sporting goods store, specializing in hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation equipment and whose trucker hats became a national fashion trend in 2021, could employ more than 150 people, the company said. (Union-Tribune)
The Morning Report was written by Lisa Halverstadt and Fiona Bork. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña.
