In what could be the beginning of the end for Flock, Councilmember Stephen Whitburn announced during a press conference on Tuesday morning that he’s turned on the controversial surveillance technology.
“Let’s turn off the cameras and cancel the contract and let’s use the savings to speed up response times when people call for help,” Whitburn said.
Whitburn represents downtown and the surrounding communities – home to the largest concentration of the more than 500 Flock cameras in the city. His new position is a reversal; he supported the use of the cameras as recently as June.
During that month’s budget hearings, he was one of five councilmembers to vote down a proposal to nix the city’s contract with the company. His opposition now creates a board majority that could potentially cancel the contract. Councilmembers may have the opportunity to do so when this year’s surveillance report comes before the full Council in December.
Whitburn wasn’t all negative on the technology. He said they have been an effective crime-fighting tool. Instead, he framed his newfound opposition as a result of rising fear, particularly in immigrant communities, that President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown will somehow utilize data collected from the cameras.
“I want public safety tools that help San Diegans feel safe. If Flock cameras are causing many San Diegans to feel unsafe, then they have lost effectiveness as a public safety tool,” Whitburn said.
Read a longer version of the story here.
Jennifer Campbell Says Short-Term Rentals Are Complicated
In a new Voice of San Diego op-ed, Councilmember Jennifer Campbell took issue with what candidates in her district race had to say about vacation rentals – though she didn’t name them flat out.
At this year’s Politifest, Democrat Nicole Crosby said she wants to significantly overhaul the city’s rules on vacation rentals and decrease the number of rentals allowed in her district.
Former Republican Richard Bailey, on the other hand, wasn’t as quick to dismiss the policy. He said the city should be cautious of any changes and that such changes could lead the city to lose tax revenue.
Campbell led the charge to create the vacation home policy in 2021. City leaders had wanted one for years, but hadn’t been able to agree on a solution. The policy could easily go down as Campbell’s signature achievement. She said there are no easy answers for regulating short-term vacation rentals and there never will be.
“That is why I believe candidates and public leaders should be careful before announcing sweeping positions on complicated issues,” said Campbell.
She said before promising to ban or eliminate something, candidates need to understand the history, law and stakeholders involved in any policy decision.
“It’s easy to make a promise on the campaign trail,” wrote Campbell.
Read the full opinion piece here.
NYT Claims Denver Solved Homelessness — the Faulconer Way
In a new opinion piece, the New York Times declares that Denver has found the way to solve homelessness. The method sounds an awful lot like what former Mayor Kevin Faulconer advocated.
The Faulconer doctrine, as we called it, had two key components: Expand services, housing and temporary shelter options while also forcing homeless people to accept shelter or face consequences.
That recipe has done wonders in Denver, though there are aspects of it that both progressives and conservatives dislike, the Times reports.
But as the Times also reports, there are plenty of places besides Denver that have similar policy positions on expanding options, while also enforcing consequences. San Diego is arguably one of them.
Times writer German Lopez boils the success down to Denver’s Mayor Mike Johnston, as much as the policy.
“Policies that work in one place fail in another because officials can replicate the law or the money, but not the leadership — the force of will — behind the original success,” Lopez writes.
Talking Crap With a Public Restroom Expert
San Diego has a potty problem.
For years, politicians have failed to keep public restrooms clean and open. So, we’re bringing in one of the finest minds in bathroom history to help us crack the code: Bryant Simon, history professor at Temple University and author of the new book, “For Customers Only: Public Bathrooms and the Making of American Inequality.”
Voice of San Diego reporter Bella Ross will lead the conversation with Simon on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. at San Diego State’s Love Library.
The discussion, hosted by SDSU’s Project for Sanitation Justice, will delve into San Diego’s own history with public restrooms, as well as:
- How cities once vied to have the newest and nicest “comfort stations”
- How restroom access continues to play a key role in the fight for civil rights
- San Diego’s ongoing public restroom issues – including a Q&A with attendees
This event is free and open to the public! Tap here to RSVP.
Can’t make it? Tune into this week’s episode of the Voice of San Diego Podcast for a shorter conversation between Simon and the pod crew.
Theme Music
Jordan Krimston, “Halcyon”: Jordan Krimston, San Diego’s busiest musician, is back with a new solo album of mathy, emo-tinged bops. The title track “Halcyon” is breezy and puts Krimston’s knack for hooky refrains and mouthwatering textures on full display.
In just under three minutes, we’re treated to a bouncy bassline, deep-fried guitar solos, a chorus with beautifully layered vocals and even a Radiohead-esque bridge. It’s a mixture that feels genuine.
Between engineering many of the best recent local releases, the improbably large collection of bands he’s a part of and his solo musical output, it’s hard to conjure up many San Diego musicians more important to the current state of the scene.
Like what you hear? Check out Jordan Krimston’s album release show at Soda Bar on Saturday, October 17.
In Other News
- Activists are seeing an uptick in ICE activity in San Diego since the Trump administration announced an enforcement surge in California. (KPBS)
- The San Diego City Council is reducing the number of early budget priority requests it sends to the mayor. Councilmembers say the city’s ongoing budget crisis makes it difficult to know where things stand so early on in the process. (Union-Tribune)
- You won’t be seeing data centers in Poway anytime soon. The Poway City Council unanimously approved a ban on large, third-party data centers. (Union-Tribune)
- Enjoying this crisp weather after all the rain? Don’t get used to it. San Diego County is expecting another heatwave later this week. (Fox 5 San Diego)
The Morning Report was written by Jakob McWhinney, Mariana Martínez Barba and Will Huntsberry. It was edited by Will Huntsberry.