In the early 2010s, people were dying of gunshot wounds and overdoses in one southeastern San Diego neighborhood because emergency responders came too late.
The mayor back then, Kevin Faulconer, declared the city would build a fire station in Skyline to help address emergency response times. More than a decade later, a fire truck is instead sitting under a large tent and firefighters are sleeping in an adjacent mobile trailer.
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department blames city funding woes for the unfinished promise, reports our Mariana Martínez Barba. But firefighters assure residents that, although their resources are being stored under a vinyl structure, the temporary fire station provides the same level of service as other fire stations.
Not everyone is ok with the tent though. The president of the firefighters union and Skyline’s city councilmember both think the structure is problematic.
Emergency response times improved after the makeshift station opened in 2015. Yet, today response times and incident calls are worsening, according to data shared with Voice of San Diego.
Trump Endorses Jim Desmond for 48th Congressional Seat
President Donald Trump threw his support behind San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond who is vying to take over the 48th Congressional District seat being vacated by Darrell Issa.
Desmond “WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN,” Trump wrote in a social media post on Tuesday.
“A Brave U.S. Navy Veteran, Jim knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Defend our Country, Support our incredible Military/Veterans and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH,” Trump wrote on social media, according to reporting from the Union-Tribune.
Shortly afterward, House Republican leadership including House Speaker Mike Johnson also endorsed Desmond. He’s running against a crowded field of Democrats vying for a seat made newly competitive under redrawn congressional maps by the State Legislature.
Ammar Campa-Najjar, who’s running on the crowded Democrat ticket, wrote on social media that Trump’s endorsement is a “kiss of death” for Desmond.
County Hires $10K-a-Month PR Firm Amid Contractor Scandal
The county last month hired a public relations firm as it grappled with the fallout of a criminal misappropriations case involving a former county contractor.
A three-month, $30,000 contract with Chula Vista-based PRM Consulting signed March 16 calls for the firm to deliver as needed “full-service comprehensive public affairs services” including consulting, media training for county staff and project management.
A county spokesperson said PRM Consulting will help the county with multiple projects – and did not single out the Harm Reduction Coalition fallout.
“The county has an as-needed contract with a public affairs consultant to support public information and outreach across county communications activities,” a county spokesperson wrote. “It is not limited to a specific topic or issue.”
In Other News
- The Trump administration has turned San Diego into a deportation hub. Human Rights First documented nearly 120 deportation flights out of San Diego International Airport and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar last year. That’s a massive increase from 2024, when there was not a single deportation flight out of San Diego. (KPBS)
- The board of directors of the Del Mar Fairgrounds abruptly fired the fairgrounds CEO Carlene Moore in a closed session meeting Tuesday. Moore’s tenure was dogged by controversy. The board appointed board member Sam Nejabat as interim CEO. (CBS 8)
- Sweetwater Union High School officials project the school district’s financial reserves will run dry in about three years. The county’s second-largest district is relying on reserves to balance its budget amidst enrollment decline and rising costs. (inewsource)
- San Diego’s Prebys Foundation and the Downtown San Diego Partnership are pressing the city to adopt an action plan for a revamped Civic Center. They recommend the city form a joint powers authority with partner agencies to advance the redevelopment of the decaying city buildings. (Union-Tribune)
- State and city leaders announced a new bill to revive California’s dying downtowns with housing. The bill would streamline the approval process for building affordable housing and mix-used developments near downtown transit hubs. The bill would also create a $500 million revolving fund offering low-interest loans to developers. (KPBS)
- A San Diego couple pleaded guilty to stealing mail from the post office and mailboxes from Bonita to Pacific Beach and using it to impersonate victims at banks and cash stolen checks. (Fox 5)
The Morning Report was written by MacKenzie Elmer and Mariana Martínez Barba. It was edited by Will Huntsberry.
“The president of the firefighters union and Skyline’s city councilmember both think the structure is problematic.”
allow me to teach you all about this word. the structure may be a problem but not every problem is problemATIC. just as a ‘system’ must be widely used before it becomes ‘systemATIC’ so a problem must be widely felt before it should be termed ‘problemATIC’.
“Trump’s endorsement is a “kiss of death” for Desmond.”
YES. thanks “mister president”!