In August, our Lisa Halverstadt revealed that a county Behavioral Health Services analyst got promoted last year after a county probe concluded she made a racist comment during an online diversity training. Now it appears that staffer – who had been promoted to a program coordinator role – has been demoted.
County investigators concluded in May 2025 that an administrative analyst was unmuted during a county-sponsored cultural responsiveness training attended by about 75 people when she allegedly exclaimed, “I thought this wasn’t going to be political, but what do you expect when it’s taught by a bunch of Black people.”
In August, after releasing misconduct records that Voice sued to obtain, the county confirmed the administrative analyst got promoted.
There’s since been a change.
“The employee currently holds the position of administrative analyst III,” county spokesperson Sarah Sweeney confirmed Wednesday.
Sweeney declined to elaborate, noting that the county was “not able to provide confidential personnel information.”
What she would say: “The county is committed to supporting a safe environment that fosters equity, belonging, inclusion and integrity. We continue to take immediate and ongoing actions to strengthen workplace culture, accountability, employee support as well as opportunities for employees and the community to provide input. This includes personnel adjustments, listening sessions, site visits, training and more.”
San Diego Asks For Help, Power to Police Humans and Sea Lions at Cove
After a La Jolla man kicked a sea lion in the face on camera at La Jolla Cove, San Diego city officials asked the federal government for more power to crack down on bad actors there.
An Oct. 22 letter from San Diego lawmakers to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, also requested the agency place more personnel at the iconic sea lion-occupied cove. Right now, city park rangers don’t have jurisdiction to enforce a 1972 federal law protecting marine mammals. Park rangers can only refer cases of humans harassing sea lions to NOAA, the letter states.
“We feel strongly that visible enforcement and accountability are essential to protecting both our wildlife and balancing the public’s access to this coastal resource,” according to the letter from Congressmember Scott Peters, Mayor Todd Gloria, City Council President Joe LaCava and the executive director of the California Coastal Commission, Kate Huckelbridge.
The sea lions occupy the rock outcroppings at the popular swimming, diving, snorkeling and kayaking spot which is also a marine protected area under California law. Tourists and residents flock there to recreate and observe the animals but have caused a number of problems by getting too close to the animals there.
Politics Report: Padres Put Money in Politics
Our editor reports that the Padres team has given nearly $50,000 to the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Political Action Committee.
The Chamber is doing lots of things, including supporting City Council candidate Richard Bailey, and a committee run by the California Apartment Association that is opposing Councilmember Henry Foster.
The Padres gave us a statement:
“The Padres have a longstanding relationship with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. This contribution reflects our continued support for local candidates and policies that promote job creation and economic growth in San Diego.”
Editor Scott Lewis explains why we saw this coming. Read the newsletter here. The Politics Report is only available to Voice of San Diego members.
Sacramento Report: Big Bonds on the Ballot
Our Nadia Lathan breaks down three big state bond measures on the ballot for biomedical research, housing construction and home loans.
If voters approve them, it would add a collective $45 billion before interest to the state’s debt. But the idea, at least for Prop. 38, is to try and restore funds slashed under the Trump Administration to subsidize cancer, immunotherapy, heart disease and Alzheimer’s research.
Prop. 1 would allow California to borrow $11.25 billion for affordable housing programs like rentals and student dormitories, backed by the governor as a homelessness crisis solution.
Prop. 37 would create a loan program allowing private lenders to give up to 17 percent of the cost of a newly-built home to would-be buyers. Real estate and labor groups back this one.
Read the Sacramento Report here.
VOSD Podcast: What the Flock, NAVWAR?
Our podcast cadre, after a hefty amount of banter over various new films, discuss some of the week’s top stories, like a potential massive data center on a site owned by the U.S. Navy.
Also, a San Diego City Council candidate’s position on AI-powered license plate reading surveillance cameras is hard to pin down. But the Council on the whole is moving toward banning them despite support from San Diego’s mayor.
Listen to the full episode here.
In Other News
- Potentially record-breaking high tides hit San Diego’s coastline beginning Sunday, influenced by the full moon and the brewing El Nino that’s warming up the eastern Pacific Ocean. (Times of San Diego)
- The high tides will cause a suspension in service on the Metrolink between Oceanside and San Clemente between Monday and Friday. (NBC 7)
- A federal judge in California ordered the Department of Homeland Security to stop operations targeting voter fraud in nine states on Wednesday. (inewsource)
- A ship captain spotted more than 30 orcas feasting on a fin whale off the coast of San Diego on Friday. Orcas “spyhopped” or approached the boat to inspect its passengers. (USA Today)
- The Brewers won Game 1 of their second World Series battle since 1982 against the Tampa Bay Rays and I don’t care that this is not entirely relevant to San Diegans.
The Morning Report was written by Lisa Halverstadt, MacKenzie Elmer and Naomi Granata. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafana.