New data from the Regional Task Force on Homelessness reveals seniors across San Diego are staying homeless longer than other younger, homeless people.
The latest data indicates ongoing challenges for San Diego’s senior population, our Mariana Martínez Barba writes. As she reported earlier this year, some seniors have been stuck living in homeless shelters for years.
“Now we’re really seeing it play out in the data across the state of California, across the country, but especially in high-cost-of-living areas,” said Sofia Cardenas, data and compliance manager for Alpha Project, a nonprofit that provides homeless services.
The staggering cost of making ends meet in San Diego is a major culprit behind the trend, but seniors also deal with physical disabilities and eligibility requirements that can make it difficult to find housing.
California May Be Turning Against Jailhouse Stings
For years, law enforcement agencies have relied on a controversial tactic to squeeze information from suspects – the jailhouse sting. That’s been especially true in San Diego and the rest of southern California, according our partners at CalMatters.
The stings usually happen after a suspect has been arrested, but before officials have charged them with a crime. Undercover officers or civilians (who are sometimes paid thousands of dollars a day) attempt to glean incriminating information. In some cases, police officers posing as gang members hurled racial slurs at detainees or threatened them with violence.
A recent ruling granted a new trial to a man convicted of murder using evidence from one of these so-called Perkins investigations — which has led to a spate of challenges to convictions that used similar strategies. One of those challenges comes from a San Diego man. His challenge includes an analysis that shows that Hispanic men are far more likely to be targeted with a Perkins investigation than White defendants.
SD High Schoolers Take Anti-Solitary Confinement Push to Sheriff
A group of local teenagers is leading an effort to eliminate the use of solitary confinement both at local jails and statewide. Today, they face their most significant test yet – a meeting during which they’ll pitch a policy proposal to Sheriff Kelly Martinez.
The campaign is spearheaded by San Diego Unified high schoolers Nikhil Plettner Booker and former student trustee Ashley Ordaz, who are the founder and legislative director, respectively, of Youth to End Solitary SD.
Solitary confinement is “emblematic of a larger criminal justice system that exacerbates the root causes of crime,” Plettner Booker said.
The tactic is not uncommon in jails statewide or locally.
While the goal is to eventually pressure state lawmakers to outlaw solitary confinement, Plettner Booker said he knows that won’t come easy. The organization’s first goal, which he also acknowledges is a long shot, is a two-week pause on the use of solitary confinement in local jails.
Congress Voted to Make Daylight Saving Permanent. What Now?
Daylight lovers rejoice: the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent. The bill, which Pres. Donald Trump has lobbied for in recent weeks, even garnered support from some Democratic representatives.
Daylight lovers lament: The bill will now head to the Senate, where its odds of passing are slim. While the effort is supported by folks like California Senator Alex Padilla, some Republican heavyweights don’t think the change is so bright. That discord will likely mean it’s lights out for the proposal. Again.
The Magical Tides
Video from Monday night showed cars driving through flooded streets in parts of San Diego. But unlike the yearly shots of a waterlogged Fashion Valley after rains, this flooding was in Pacific Beach.
The flooding was thanks to a king tide, a phenomenon which can occur a handful of times a year. King tides happen when an already elevated spring tide comes at the same time as a full or new moon reaches its perigee. That’s the point in its orbit when the moon is closest to Earth.
In response to my questions about whether a king tide in July was normal, Environment reporter MacKenzie Elmer answered only in what felt like riddles: “Can be. Sun earth moon alignment.”
Found in the Scroll: Bomb Local Salsa
This Reddit post about La Salsa Chilena has me reflecting on one of San Diego’s great bounties: absolutely incredible salsa. While so many hole-in-the-wall taco shops have bangin’ homemade concoctions, La Salsa Chilena truly does feel like a one-of-a-kind, homegrown, store-bought brand.
If you haven’t yet slathered it on something, do that immediately.
What are your favorite local salsa recommendations?
In Other News
- The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office has fallen short of state standards to answer 911 calls for four years straight. One in four callers waited more than 15 seconds before a dispatcher picked up. (inewsource)
- No fresh vegetables for us this week. A San Diego infectious disease doctor says it’s best to stay away from the salad bar for the next week or so because a fecal parasite illness has now reached California. (NBC 7)
- A dash cam company reveals San Diego drivers’ riskiest behaviors and most dangerous roads. The data also reveals the most dangerous time to be behind the wheel – morning rush hour and late at night. (Union-Tribune)
- It’s heating up. Heat advisories across the County go into effect this week and hot temperatures will be well above average, according to the National Weather Service. (Fox 5 & KUSI)
- The World Cup is bringing “a fleeting sense of joy” to detainees at Otay Mesa. Detainees shared with KPBS their favorite teams and how they gather around the facilities’ televisions to watch games. (KPBS)
- Despite pushback from residents, the San Diego County Planning Commission approved one of the largest solar and battery storage projects in the county. At nearly 600 acres, it would transform large swaths of natural space in South County. (KPBS)
- Residents and representatives for the San Diego Padres were not able to reach an agreement during mediation, as part of a yearslong lawsuit stemming from loud concerts at Petco Park’s Gallagher Square. The Padres organization and the residents, who have aptly called themselves “Residents Concerned About Noise From Gallagher Square,” must now wait for a decision from a judge, expected in October. (San Diego Sun)
- A Board of Supervisors subcommittee focused on county contracting will publicly review the report we wrote about earlier this week urging ramped up contracting oversight. Its public meeting will be held Aug. 11.
The Morning Report was written by Jakob McWhinney, Mariana Martínez Barba and Lisa Halverstadt. It was edited by Will Huntsberry.