Remember four years ago when the San Diego Unified School District asked taxpayers to pony up $3.2 billion in bond financing for urgently needed repairs to city schools?
And four years before that, when the district asked for… the same thing?
Well, we’re back again — and not much has changed.
As our Jakob McWhinney reports, San Diego Unified’s latest $3.5 billion bond proposal slated to appear on the November ballot includes many of the same old projects — including the exact same photos of decrepit facilities used for earlier bonds.
Why the broken record routine?
As McWhinney writes, “If the bond pitch ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Ironic, no?”
Also in McWhinney’s Learning Curve newsletter: A priceless (or is it $500,000?) moment of robotic brown nosing.
Chula Vista PD Killed the Vibe
As you may have seen, the vibe in Chula Vista has been incredible after all of Mexico’s wins in the World Cup. People hit the streets to dance, cut up and have a good time.
On Sunday, Mexico lost to England — down with the crown! — but, even after the loss, the vibes appeared just as high.
People spilled onto Third Avenue, where a general sense of celebration seemed to prevail.
Cops told the crowd to disperse. When people didn’t leave, officers began to fire pepper-spray projectiles. You can see video from ABC 10 here.
Cops, however, say the scene wasn’t all peace and love. They say some in the crowd threw bottles, set off fireworks and blocked police cars. They also say a police car was damaged by the crowd. A picture shared with ABC 10 shows a small dent.
“God forbid some Mexicans try to catch a vibe,” wrote Chula Vistan Nicko Savala on Instagram.
CV Explores Hotel Tax Increase
The city of Chula Vista is eyeing hotel guests as a new source of revenue.
The city recently hired a polling firm to test support for a possible November ballot measure that would raise the city’s hotel tax rate to among the highest in San Diego County.
City Councilmember Jose Preciado, who spearheaded the proposed tax increase, said he hopes the new revenue will pay for additional police officers and a new visitors bureau to market the city as a tourism destination.
But wait: The City Council hasn’t even discussed the plan, much less decided to put it on the ballot. Yet, already there’s a deep-pocketed opponent.
A major labor union that’s sponsoring a separate ballot measure in Chula Vista came out in opposition Wednesday – in part fearing that asking voters to weigh in on two complex government-related ballot measures could cause them to reject both.
“Now is not a time for tax increases,” the union’s leader said.
Meet the Beat Tonight
Today’s the day to meet the journalist behind Voice’s much-loved North County Report: Tigist Layne!
Join us for a discussion about Layne’s latest investigations and bring your questions for an open audience Q&A, moderated by Managing Editor Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña
Join us today, July 9, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at La Colonia Community Center in Solana Beach. This event is free and open to the public.
RSVP here.
In Other News
- The San Diego City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to spend nearly $400,000 to buy a robotic police vehicle that police officials said they will use to de-escalate dangerous situations, rescue people trapped in buildings and safely approach active shooters. (Union-Tribune)
- In other robot news: Waymo, the driverless taxi company, plans to begin testing driverless taxis on San Diego city streets later this month. The company already has been testing driverless taxis with a driver supervising behind the wheel. (KPBS)
- Residents of southeastern San Diego on Tuesday lost a bid to block plans for 123 houses in the Emerald Hill area. The City Council rejected an appeal from community members to stop the housing development on land residents called a community oasis. (KPBS)
- The National City Council recently approved a series of projects intended to beautify and improve safety on city streets. Projects include mini traffic circles, bicycle lanes, sewer improvements and a pedestrian rail crossing. (inewsource)
- Despite a difficult budget year, the city of San Diego spent nearly $30,000 to send an emergency response helicopter to Newport Beach in Orange County to assist in a search for the missing son of a retired Fire-Rescue Department leader. The missing son was later found “chilling at his apartment.” (Union-Tribune)
- It looks like a horror movie. It’s actually folk art. Welcome to Dead Dolly Lane, a long and winding private driveway in Alpine lined with…well, you just have to see the photos for yourself. (Times of San Diego)
The Morning Report was written by Jim Hinch and Will Huntsberry. It was edited by Will Huntsberry.