Our Voice of San Diego reporters were busy this week reporting on stories that impact our communities. Here’s what you need to know to start your week.
Grab some cafecito chismosos!
Budget, Budget, Budget!
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria released his proposed budget last week.
Rather than jumping on the daily train, our reporters took their time with the proposal to uncover some interesting stories about what’s at stake.
Big picture: We know city leaders need to close a $146 million budget deficit. To do that, they’ll have to make some tough choices. This was our first glimpse into how those choices would manifest.
Cuts to the arts! Our Bella Ross attended a protest against Gloria’s proposed cuts to funding for arts grants and library and recreation center hours. A lot of people are pissed, no surprise, and want to see the City Council propose an alternative option.
You can watch Bella’s video here. Former Voice reporter Deborah Brennan did a great job breaking down the arts funding issue for CalMatters.
Climate dollars! MacKenzie Elmer identified an interesting proposal. She reported that the city’s Climate Equity Fund is going to take a hit too. Instead of making a $7 million contribution to this fund, which pays for climate projects in poor communities, the city is going to keep the money in the General Fund.
Is there something you’d like us to dig into? Send me a note at andrea.sanchez@voiceofsandiego.org.
Former CEO’s Rocky Past
The agency that oversees the Del Mar Fairgrounds fired its CEO last week and our North County reporter wanted to know what happened.
Tigist Layne reported that the 22nd District Agricultural Association Board of Directors voted to fire CEO Carlene Moore and named the board’s chairman interim CEO for 10 days.
No one would tell Tigist why Moore was fired, but she did dig up information about Moore’s trouble at a previous job at the Napa County Fairgrounds. You can read the full story here.
New: The board of directors appointed Rebecca “Becky” Bartling as CEO through at least September 2027, according to a press release sent on Friday.
The fair opens on June 10. Chairman Sam Nejabat said he is confident staff will execute a successful event.
An Anxious Flyer’s Worst Nightmare
You could not pay me enough to live in this Coronado mansion.
South County reporter Jim Hinch caught wind of a development that has a yacht community in Coronado in an uproar. No, it’s not a massive apartment complex, it’s a house with a rooftop jet.
(As a certified anxious flyer, living in a home with a plane on top of the roof sounds like a nightmare. It would be a constant reminder of flying; my hands are getting clammy just thinking about it.)
Jim spoke to residents and reached out to the developer to understand the beef. It’s worth a read and has great photos of the project. Read it here.
In Other News
I missed my newsletter last week — blame it on the reporters who kept me busy, just kidding. Here are other Voice of San Diego stories you should read.
- Mariana Martínez Barba wrote about the fire station in southeastern San Diego that is still temporary despite officials’ promises to build a permanent station 11 years ago. Read the story here.
- Martínez Barba also wrote about the homeless encampment near a freeway that officials have cleared more than 70 times because people keep returning.
- The county hired a PR firm to deal with a contractor scandal. More deets here.
- Do you want to spice up your lunch break? Donate $120 or more and get a fabulous VOSD lunch bag. Support our journalism here.