With the November election just over two weeks away, you may be eagerly looking for a break from campaign mailers and advertisements, and election stories.
I got you! (Don’t get me wrong, I love elections coverage and I will shamelessly plug our No BS Voter Guide every chance I get, but sometimes you just need a palate cleanse.)
Our reporters had some juicy scoops this week. So, here’s what you need to know.
Cops Eyeing AI
Reporter Jakob McWhinney broke the news that the San Diego Police Department is interested in whether officers could use AI to write police reports.
The department put out a request for information for such programs, but officials emphasized that they are simply in the “exploration phase.” Any decision to pursue AI-assisted police report programs, would include feedback from elected officials and community members, they said.
Still, their decision to explore such a tool is interesting because just last year, the department made headlines for prohibiting officers from using AI to write reports.
After our story published, cop union boss Jared Wilson told our reporter he wasn’t opposed to the tech but that the city needs to stop spending money on new stuff when they can’t pay for the basics.
You can read the full story here.
What do you think? Should police officers use AI to write reports? Send me a note.
Del Mar’s Mysterious Pen Pal
In August, we were shocked (and mostly confused) to learn the Del Mar City Council was calling for an investigation into California’s attorney general and a member of the Del Mar Fairgrounds board.
North County reporter Tigist Layne wrote that the city had received a letter from a resident Debrah Barnes who had concerns about the two state officials and potential conflicts of interest related to a controversial proposed housing project in Del Mar. After a 10-minute emergency meeting, councilmembers voted to refer the concerns to outside agencies for review.
The city’s spokesperson told us that in no way were they accusing anyone of wrongdoing. Still, it was an odd move.
Then things got weirder: District Attorney Summer Stephan told the city that she would not be prosecuting the case. She also wanted them to know that the referral was “very irregular.”
And then again: Stephan said her office could not confirm the identity of the resident. Tigist also dug around and couldn’t verify if the resident who made the complaint exists.
If you’re Barnes, we want to talk to you.
Midway Rising?
This story is for my wonky chismosos.
I’m writing this while a City Council committee is still meeting to discuss the Midway Rising project, so if things have changed since then, we’ll follow up in the Morning Report.
Our editor Scott Lewis broke the news that the massive project proposed for the Midway neighborhood may not create the 2,000 “net-new” affordable homes city staff wanted.
On Friday, the final deal for the project was heard by the committee I mentioned above. But here’s what our editor found: “As the proposal stands, developers of projects within a three-mile radius could pay the Midway Rising team to build the affordable housing the city requires them to build.” Read more here.
Side note: I realized on Thursday I spend a lot of time in the area. I go there to get my dogs groomed and my dentist’s office is there, not to mention my favorites: Target, TJ Maxx and Old Navy.
Are you someone who also spends a lot of time there? What are your thoughts on the project?
Data Center Pitch
Reporter MacKenzie Elmer revealed that the company in negotiations with the Navy to develop a new command center for the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command near Old Town has been talking to local energy utilities about building a data center on the site.
A representative with the company told us a data center is just one idea of many. Others include housing, retail, a medical center and a university campus, among others.
The reaction to our story was swift.
San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera told our reporter he was bothered by what she told him. Elo-Rivera sits on the board of San Diego Community Power. He demanded transparency at a meeting the day after our story published. Two elected officials also held a press conference on Friday.
New COO
Mayor Todd Gloria announced he is appointing Bethany Bezak as the city’s new chief operating officer. She will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations.
Bezak currently serves as chief performance and logistics officer. The City Council is set to consider the appointment tomorrow.
City Hall reporter Mariana Martínez Barba explained in a new story how the mayor’s decision follows consistent pressure from councilmembers for him to rehire a COO after he fired Eric Dargan and took on the role himself.
She asked the mayor about his decision and more. You can read the story here.