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San Diego Finally Secures Hundreds of Millions for a Convention Center Expansion; But It Isn’t Expanding the Convention Center

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 13h

After years of legal battles, San Diego is finally free to use money from an increased hotel-room tax to expand the convention center.

But that’s not what’s happening.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/09/s...

After 20 years of failed signature gathering efforts, court battles and legally questionable efforts to raise hotel-room taxes, the city of San Diego has finally secured hundreds of millions of […]

Cup of Chisme: Unintended Consequences

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 18h

In this week’s Cup of Chisme: How a group of local farmers got screwed over by an effort to address Imperial Beach’s sewage woes.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/12/c...

It’s always great when one of our reporters starts a sentence with, “I got a tip…” Tips can sometimes lead you down rabbit holes, but most of the time they […]

6 Things San Diego Could Do to Aid Homeless People with Behavioral Health Challenges

Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 20h

How can San Diego better support people with behavioral health conditions who are resistant to help?

We asked the experts:
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/09/6...

Politifest speakers agreed that San Diego County government should take the lead on delivering solutions to aid homeless residents grappling with addiction and mental health conditions.

North County Report: What One Developer Thinks Could Spur More Housing

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 22h

Would a statewide housing emergency declaration open up a better path forward for California?

A North County developer makes the case:
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/08/n...

A developer behind Encinitas’ Fox Point Farms says a statewide housing emergency could be the answer to more housing production.

Mayor Gloria Is Inspired by Chula Vista Police’s Investments in AI, Drones. Is San Diego Next?

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 1d

Mayor Gloria thinks San Diego should double down on new law enforcement technologies, including drones and AI-written police reports.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/08/m...

The police department has struggled to hire and retain officers for many years now, putting pressure on the city’s ailing budget and hiking up emergency response times.

Mayor Gloria’s Admin Ousts Climate and Sustainability Leader

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 1d

Mayor Gloria’s decision to fire the city’s top climate official has local environmentalists doubting his administration’s commitment to sustainability.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/08/m...

The firing of the city’s Chief Sustainability Officer follows a pattern of weakening San Diego’s climate action arm.

South County Report: Tackling Tough Problems – Or Not

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 1d

South County leaders have had a tough few weeks, from development debates to collateral damage in the fight to quell the Tijuana River sewage stench.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/09/s...

Local leaders tackled a series of tough problems in South County this week.

Mayor Gloria Says Absorbing Harbor Police Could Ease San Diego’s Officer Shortage

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 5d

Should the San Diego Police Department merge with Harbor Police?

Mayor Todd Gloria says it’s worth considering.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/07/m...

The San Diego Police Department has a staffing shortfall of about 200 officers.

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 5d

A huge THANK YOU to everybody who joined us at Politifest this weekend 🧡

Didn’t make it? Catch up on what you missed here:
voiceofsandiego.org/politifest-2...

Farmers Say Supervisor’s Sewage Efforts Cost Them Their Livelihood

Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 6d

The future of a beloved community garden in the Tijuana River Valley is in question after the county installed signs warning residents about pollution threats.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/07/f...

For more than two decades, small-scale farmers and community gardeners have grown fresh fruits and vegetables, native plants, flowers and other produce at the Tijuana River Valley Community Garden, a…

Cajon Valley Superintendent Will ‘Play an Active Role’ in School Board Races

Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 6d

The Cajon Valley superintendent said that, against all traditional political wisdom, he plans to get involved in his district’s school board races.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/06/c...

It’s rare for district superintendents to dip their toes into the often-partisan politics of school board elections.

Supporters of Public Power and Opponents Agree They Can’t Trust City of San Diego with Another Utility

Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 6d

Do voters trust the city of San Diego to manage a public electric grid?

Supporters of a plan to “fire SDG&E” are learning this may be their biggest obstacle.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/07/s...

‘Do you actually trust the City Council of this city to take over the electric grid?’ one speaker at Politifest said.

Elo-Rivera Wants Tourists and Wealthy to Pay 'Fair Share'

Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 6d

Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera has a whole host of ideas on how the city can get tourists and wealthy residents to pay their “fair share.”
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/07/e...

The councilmember wants to charge fees for tourists accessing Mission Bay and Torrey Pines Golf Course, as well as tax second homes.

Appeals Court Just Gave San Diego a Major Boost by Upholding Measure C

Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 7d

After five years, the courts have finally decided that San Diego’s 2020 hotel tax did, in fact, pass.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/06/a...

The city of San Diego began collecting the hotel tax in May but could not spend those dollars.

Now up for Re-Election, Councilmember Faces Past Firing from City He Now Helps Lead

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 7d

With Councilmember Henry Foster’s re-election bid looming, questions are arising about the city’s decision to fire him from a program manager role in 2016.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/03/n...

Henry Foster just launched his campaign for re-election and now one of his former bosses and former colleagues are speaking out about his previous job at the city, and why the city fired him.

Morning Report: County Relying on Budget for $25 Million Staff Bonuses

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Reposted by Voice of San Diego

Lisa Halverstadt @lisahalverstadt.bsky.social · 7d

🧵Tuesday's @voiceofsandiego.org news blast is packed with interesting stuff.

First up: my story revealing that San Diego County will dig into department budgets - rather than reserves - to pay nearly $25M in staff bonuses this month.

Weeks ago, our Lisa Halverstadt revealed that Democratic county supervisors’ affirmative vote to change the county’s reserve policy would trigger bonuses for county employees. County officials initial...

Politifest | Oct. 4, 2025

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 10d

Politifest 2025 is finally here!

Don't have tickets? Come buy some at the door or sign up to stream the event for free ☀️
voiceofsandiego.org/event/politi...

Politifest 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the University of San Diego's Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies. This annual public affairs summit, organized by Voice of San Diego,…

Politifest | Oct. 4, 2025

Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 11d

It’s not too late to grab your ticket to tomorrow's Solutions Showdown at USD!

Hope to see you there 👀 🎟️
voiceofsandiego.org/event/politi...

Politifest 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the University of San Diego's Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies. This annual public affairs summit, organized by Voice of San Diego,…

County’s Pharmacy Chief Also Works at a Law Firm

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 11d

San Diego County’s chief pharmacy officer also advises pharmaceutical companies for a New York-based law firm.

Officials refuse to release documents meant to disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/02/c...

San Diego County’s full-time chief pharmacy officer also works as a partner at a New York-based law firm that advises pharmaceutical companies.

The Learning Curve: San Diego Unified Kicks 4x4 Can Down the Road

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 11d

San Diego Unified’s plan to transition the district to a new class schedule was put on ice following rocky meetings with staff and parents.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/01/t...

After weeks of rocky meetings with school staff and parents, district officials' plan to transition its high schools to a controversial new class schedule is on hold – for now.

Sweetwater Authority Joins Stampede Away from County Water Authority

Reposted by Voice of San Diego

MacKenzie Elmer, journalist. @journomack.bsky.social · 12d

Sweetwater Authority, which already buys very little water from @sdcwa, is looking to get completely off the teat with a groundwater desalination project reports @voiceofsandiego.org @jimhinch voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/01/s...

The agency supplying drinking water to a large swath of South San Diego County is exploring a groundwater desalination project that could reduce or even eliminate the agency’s dependence on expensive…

Joel Anderson for Treasurer-Tax Collector?

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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 12d

East County Supervisor Joel Anderson is considering a bid for county treasurer-tax collector — paving the way for a potential opening on the Board of Supervisors.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/09/30/j...

East County Supervisor Joel Anderson is mulling a run for county treasurer-tax collector.

Sweetwater Authority Joins Stampede Away from County Water Authority

Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 12d

The Sweetwater Authority is the latest agency to express interest in distancing itself from the region's main water supplier.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/01/s...

The agency supplying drinking water to a large swath of South San Diego County is exploring a groundwater desalination project that could reduce or even eliminate the agency’s dependence on expensive…

Everything You Need to Know About Prop. 50

Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 13d

Voters will soon receive ballots to vote on Proposition 50, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s partisan redistricting scheme.

Here’s what you need to know.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/09/30/e...

Our friends at CalMatters have created a helpful voter guide with everything you need to know about Proposition 50, California’s redistricting measure. Check it out below. Bonus! On Saturday, Oct. […]