Some candidates are getting more Instagram followers than there are registered voters in their districts.
But in a few cases where some of those candidates are trying to unseat an incumbent, social media may be their best tool for upsetting the status quo.
That is, as long as it comes naturally, warned one political consultant interviewed by our Bella Ross.
The socialist vying to be mayor of El Cajon and unseat the Republican is one of those kinds of candidates.
San Diego Council Candidates Sound Off on Pesky Infrastructure Backlog
Four of the nine San Diego City Council seats are up for grabs this midterm election.
Whoever wins enough votes will join the rest of the Council in staring down a $7.8 billion backlog in infrastructure needs — 65 percent of that being stormwater, writes our Mariana Martínez Barba.
Coastal District 2 candidates are split on the approach. Former Republican Richard Bailey said he doesn’t want to see any new or increased taxes or fees. His challenger Nicole Crosby, a deputy city attorney, wants to see the city go for more state and federal grants to cover the gap. District 8 Democratic candidates Gerardo Ramirez and Antonio Martinez agree with Crosby. But most want to see city contracts audited to ensure no money is going to waste.
Don’t Walk Into the Polls Naked! AKA Without Our Guide
You guys, we worked really hard on this for you. We had whole meetings where we debated how to strip away the noise and spin from politics.
That came in the form of our inaugural No BS Voter Guide, available for download so you can take it with you to the polls. And it’s also available in hard copy though finding one would take sheer luck as reporters have been distributing them in random places around the city. Next year we should probably do some kind of scavenger hunt and merch giveaway or something. Anyway, read it, we hope it helps demystify California’s very mystifying elections.
Politics Report: Money, Money, Money
Voice contributor Mason Herron has an update on the money flowing into some of the most competitive races this election season.
For some candidates, support has started to dwindle in the days leading up to the election but others are seeing a lot of money come in. If you’re a Voice member, you can read more here.
Plus! It’s time to participate in our elections contest. Test your knowledge or ability to predict the future.
Our Greatest Election Preview Podcast…Ever
Our podcast crew continued to riff on movies – and this time, fair warning, there’s a spoiler alert on the new Elizabeth Holmes doc, “You Can See Everything.”
Later they get into the races they think are spiciest, a Voice tradition.
By the way, the newspaper didn’t break the data center story. We did. That is all.
Listen to the full episode here.
Sacramento Report: San Diego’s Other Swing Seat
Incumbent state Sen. Brian Jones, a Republican, is termed out and Democrats are wagering nearly $1 million to flip the seat.
Former San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott, a Democrat, is facing off Republican challenger Kristie Bruce-Lane.
Our Sacramento reporter Nadia Lathan writes that this race is one of the state’s most expensive statehouse races this cycle, pulling in $2.5 million total from outside groups.
Lathan spoke to Elliott for her latest newsletter. Bruce-Lane did not respond.
Read the Sacramento Report here.
Paid Parking Still on At San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo officials announced they will continue charging for parking beyond 2026, when parking fees at Balboa Park will be eliminated.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that some nearby museums are not happy about the news. Museum staff predict zoo visitors will opt for free parking options at Balboa Park parking lots instead – taking up spots meant for their visitors.
Zoo officials said they are open to finding solutions if issues come up.
“By dedicating parking lots to Zoo visitors, members and guests can count on greater availability when they arrive. That means less time circling around for parking and more time enjoying all that the Zoo has to offer,” said a spokesperson in an email statement.
And there’s also this: Starting on Jan. 1 the zoo can’t charge San Diego residents for parking, because its new lease with the city prevents them from charging city residents.
Out of town visitors will continue to pay a flat rate of $16 per vehicle or $44 for an oversized vehicle, per day.
In Other News
- Have you noticed the signs over the I-805 overpass? KPBS dug into that.
- A man accused of engineering a tunnel through the U.S.-Mexico border was indicted in Otay Mesa. (Union-Tribune)
- The U.S. Coastguard rescued an 86-year-old mariner and dog who were 460 miles out to sea off the coast of San Diego. (U.S. Coast Guard)
- San Diego County will open 180 more vote centers on Saturday for the Nov. 3 election, bringing the total to 221. (NBC 7)
- As more extreme heat events happen more frequently (due to human-caused-climate change) San Diego County announced it will keep cool zones open year round instead of just during the summer. (CBS 8)
- Correction: We updated the story, “Fact Check: Understanding Martha Abraham’s Interactions with Police.” You can read the correction here.
- Correction: We also updated the Sacramento Report to correct that Elliott wants to allocate more funding for rehabilitation and shelter beds under the 2024 voter-approved Proposition 36. We also corrected that Bruce-Lane previously served on the Olivenhain Water Board.
The Morning Report was written by MacKenzie Elmer and Mariana Martínez Barba. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña.