Mexico and the United States are working together toward a common goal: Reduce the amount of water Mexico takes from the Colorado River.
Environment reporter MacKenzie Elmer has written at length about the dwindling river, fights over who holds more rights to it and efforts to get states to cut back their use.
Last week, she teamed up with Tijuana journalist and Voice of San Diego contributor Vicente Calderón to explain how the United States and Mexico are working together to build a desalination plant and water distribution system in Rosarito.
The proposal to build a desal plant in Rosarito isn’t new, and many others have tried and failed. The Mexican government claims it expects to break ground by August. But as Elmer and Calderón report, they haven’t even picked a builder.
On big thing: We know desalinated water is very expensive. It takes a lot of energy to take the ocean water and turn it into something you can pour into a glass. So, what does this mean for the Mexican people? Should they expect higher water rates?
Baja California’s governor says no, it won’t have an impact on rates.
You can read the full story here.
Charter Reform on Ice
What a roller coaster!
Jim Hinch reported two weeks ago that the Chula Vista City Council was considering putting a measure on the November ballot that would change how city leaders govern.
Several of the city councilmembers expressed interest.
The proposal was written by a prominent union representing construction workers and it would have given councilmembers hug pay raises and longer term limits. It also included other things — you can read more here.
But by this week, the effort fell apart amid public backlash and allegations from Mayor John McCann that a leader with the union had offered him a quid pro quo. The City Council voted to have a city commission look at the charter reform proposal.
Jim Hinch details how we got here in a new story.
An Enrollment Trend
Education reporter Jakob McWhinney frequently obsesses over enrollment trends. (We love that about him.)
That obsession drove him to a new finding: While special education enrollment is exploding at almost every school district in the state, one district in Del Mar is experiencing a massive drop.
Advocates and families spokes to him about their experience trying to get their kids into special education programs. Some said the district makes it difficult.
Leaders at the district said the drop was just a result of an overall enrollment decline.
What do you think? Read the story here and send me your thoughts.
See You at Politifest!
We are in the middle of pulling together our panels for Politifest. We’re inviting elected officials to join us for a day full of debates and conversation.
We’re offering early-bird pricing, so get your tickets now!
