Two years ago, Proposition 36 passed with a big promise that the criminal justice reform measure would move drug offenders into treatment rather than prisons.
Our partner CalMatters did a deep dive in 15 counties that have filed the most cases, including San Diego, and found that counties are struggling to deliver on that big promise.
Refresher: Proposition 36 increased penalties for repeat drug and theft offenders and San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan was among its most vocal supporters statewide. Advocates who opposed the ballot measure argued that it would drive more Californians into jails than treatment programs.
CalMatters’ findings: As of early this year, San Diego County had the second-highest number of suspects charged with drug felonies among the counties the news outlet surveyed – and though Stephan and others point to San Diego as an example of success, there have been hiccups.
Though 71 percent of San Diego County’s Proposition 36 defendants who pleaded guilty to a drug felony through February were routed toward treatment, the county told CalMatters that as of a couple months earlier, fewer than a third of people referred for evaluation and treatment had agreed to it. Only two people had graduated from treatment.
We previously reported that it took the county a few months to set up a process for treatment referrals – and that the proposition has had a serious impact on county jail bookings and the county’s budget.
Read the full CalMatters story here.
Newly Homeless Again Outnumber Newly Housed
The number of people becoming homeless in San Diego County outpaced the number moving into homes in August. The Regional Task Force on Homelessness reported that 1,093 people became homeless for the first time and 884 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.
On the prevention front: Two nonprofits are partnering to aid single mothers at risk of losing their homes. (10 News)
Update: Lincoln Club Hasn’t Endorsed in District 4 Race
A spokesperson with the Lincoln Club Business League previously told Voice of San Diego that the organization had endorsed Martha Abraham in the San Diego City Council District 4 race.
That turned out to be incorrect and a Lincoln Club spokesperson clarified the group has not made an endorsement.
They gave us this official statement: “The Lincoln Club clarified that while an endorsement had previously been communicated and discussions remain ongoing, the organization has not completed its formal endorsement process or issued a formal endorsement in the race.”
Abraham is running against Councilmember Henry Foster.
You can read the updated article here.
South Bay Roundup: Tax Push and Sewage Survey, Round 2
Our intrepid South Bay reporter Jim Hinch is out this week and we know he wouldn’t want you to miss these stories. He’ll be back next week and excited to pump out another South County Report.
-National City mayoral candidate and Councilmember Jose Rodriguez tried and failed this week to get an already rejected business license tax proposal on the March 2028 ballot. (10 News)
-On Thursday, the county and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention kicked off a second survey to assess how the Tijuana sewage crisis is affecting South County residents’ health. (Union-Tribune)
-As South Bay Union superintendent, Jose Espinoza has made tough calls to close schools and lay off staff. Inewsource checked in with Espinoza, who says those moves were designed to avoid a state takeover.
He Just Wanted to Play…with an Intruder
A Sherman Heights golden retriever has gone viral for repeatedly trying to coax an intruder with a toy in tow.
As the New York Post and others report, citing a high-quality NBC 7 San Diego story, 90-pound Nash’s family watched his encounter with a man who broke into their home through their home security app. During his roughly 30 minutes in the home, the unidentified man took his shoes and shirt off, ate food from the refrigerator and even took a nap. Police showed up – and Nash wanted to play with them too. The intruder left Nash’s house in handcuffs.
Spoiler alert: Nash greeted NBC 7 reporter Dave Summers on camera and demanded a belly rub, which Summers graciously delivered.
Politifest Elections Showdown Is Two Weeks Away
Got questions about this year’s ballot? Join us on Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, for debates with candidates running for office and discussions on the top issues in San Diego. You won’t want to miss our sessions with San Diego City Council candidates, mayoral debates for National City, San Marcos, Chula Vista and a discussion on a proposed county half-cent sales tax increase. Plus, music, networking, a live podcast and a sunset reception overlooking Mission Bay.
Get your tickets today.
In Other News
- The county’s public health officer threatened the Otay Mesa Detention Center with potential “licensing actions” after the facility took three weeks to report a suspected tuberculosis case, the latest delayed report. (Union-Tribune)
- County supervisors earlier this week gave the go-ahead to a controversial 588-acre solar and battery storage project in Boulevard. (KPBS)
- The Metropolitan Transit System says it may be forced to make deep service cuts absent a solution to massive annual budget deficits it’s forecasting starting in fiscal year 2030. (Union-Tribune)
- Encinitas is officially studying whether to bring back red light cameras. (NBC 7)
The Morning Report was written by Lisa Halverstadt. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña.