San Diego lawmakers are demanding answers after a Fay Elementary School student was taken into ICE custody last week.
The 8-year-old Haitian boy was taken into federal custody following a routine immigration check-in, according to NBC News. Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to end temporary protected status for Haitians.
Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who represents the district where the boy lived, quickly condemned the actions. “Our children are sacred. They’re not a threat,” he said in a statement on social media.
Elo-Rivera, along with other San Diego Unified leadership, sent a letter to federal authorities last week demanding direct coordination with local school districts before any relocation decisions are made.
County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre has also spoken out. “Detaining children does not make our community safer. It simply demonstrates a complete lack of human dignity,” she said in a statement on social media.
On Tuesday, San Diego lawmakers sent a letter to top Trump administration officials raising concerns about increased ICE activity around schools. They also requested details about the child’s whereabouts and how he’ll be reunited with his family.
Elected officials including Elo-Rivera, County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe and more will gather outside the federal courthouse on Thursday to demand reunification of the boy with his family.
Gloria Says City Can’t Afford a Recall Effort
A recall effort to oust Mayor Todd Gloria is underway.
The group, led by attorney Geneviéve Jones-Wright, launched its effort last week, saying Gloria is unfit to lead.
CBS 8 recently sat down with Gloria and asked him about the recall effort.
Gloria’s first response wasn’t to defend his administration. Instead, he said a recall would be unnecessarily costly for the city.
According to the City Clerk, a special recall election could cost the city about $12 million.
“That is an expense that is not in our 5-year financial outlook,” said Gloria in the interview.
He also said if a recall election was scheduled, the city would have a regularly scheduled mayoral election less than a year later.
“This is seemingly intended to be very costly to the city – create tremendous chaos right out of Donald Trump’s playbook at a time when we least need it. So let’s stay focused. Let’s keep our eye on the ball, let’s maintain the fiscal discipline,” he said.
Incoming State Supe Richard Barrera Battles Google
Last week, tech giant Google announced that schools that opt out of using AI tools in the company’s Google Classrooms suite would also be disabled from using its search functions. Company officials said the change was necessary because AI is now integrated into its search tools, meaning one function can’t be disabled without disabling the other.
The announcement has ignited a firestorm of pushback.
In a social media post, newly elected State Superintendent Richard Barrera chimed in. He said that Google had long partnered with California schools to provide educational tools and that search was an important part of that toolkit. The company’s AI features, though, were a different beast and local school boards should be able to decide whether to use them.
“Google’s AI feature can inadvertently hurt students because it takes away their opportunity to build basic academic skills,” Barrera wrote. “I’m asking Google to sit down with me and education leaders so we can resolve this together.”
Tight Local Races Still Tight
Since the San Diego County Registrar of Voters just dropped more ballots Tuesday night, we had to run it back once more to see how some of the tightest races across the region are shaping up.
The squeeze for Encinitas mayor: Democrat Rimga Viskanta has just a 19-vote lead in the race for Encinitas Mayor against incumbent Bruce Ehlers. The count has been virtually dead even with each successive update to the vote total.
Escondido mayor behind: Elias Vasquez, who is an information director for homeless nonprofit Brother Benno’s Foundation, led by 733 votes over current Mayor Dane White.
Socialist stays ahead in Vista: Democratic Socialist Kenneth Zuniga remains in the lead for the Vista Mayor race by 674 votes over former Councilmember Joe Green.
New Padres Ownership Sound Off on Kalshi Deal
New Padres’ owners Jose Feliciano and Kwanza Jones were recently asked to weigh in on the Padres’ partnership with Kalshi. The Padres announced the partnership a few weeks before Feliciano and Jones took over ownership of the team.
In a recent interview with Sportico, they were asked if they were responsible for the deal.
Jones laughed in response, saying “There are lots of things we inherited.”
Feliciano expanded, saying that it was “one of many things that we’ll look at over the next several years.”
“They’re a good partner right now, but it’s an industry that right now is coming under a lot of scrutiny and I think we should look at it,” he added.
Now That’s What I Call a Radio DJ
Being a radio host really used to mean something, you know? Especially a drive-time DJ. You needed some moxie, some personality and maybe — from the looks of the clips — even a little bit of cocaine?
Look no further than this fantastic supercut of former San Diego-based Q106 DJ JoJo Kincaid. He’s got filthy 1980s jams, ear-splitting sound effects and nonsensical yells. The mixture is head-spinning and, if you can avoid an anxiety attack, intoxicating.
In Other News
- A deputy with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of engaging in a sexual relationship with an inmate. (NBC 7)
- Since late last year, organizers and attendees have gathered every Sunday outside the Otay Mesa Detention Center to denounce ICE. (inewsource)
- SDG&E customers flooded Santee Council Chambers Tuesday protesting a proposed rate hike from the utility company. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
The Morning Report was written by Mariana Martínez Barba amd Jakob McWhinney. It was edited by Will Huntsberry.