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Voice of San Diego
@voiceofsandiego.org
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Investigative journalism for a better San Diego ☀️
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Voice of San Diego @voiceofsandiego.org · 23d
The local political establishment had big visions for Mayor Todd Gloria, maybe even going beyond City Hall.

But five years into his mayorship, allies and adversaries alike say he’s dropped the ball.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/14/t...
Disappointment Follows Gloria Into Sixth Year
The San Diego mayor came into office with high expectations and a Democratic super majority. Even his supporters are baffled by how little he has done.
voiceofsandiego.org
voiceofsandiego.org
Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer is considering big changes to county governance, such as extending term limits and creating a county mayor.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/02/04/s...
Supervisor Floating Big Changes to County Leadership
County Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer is considering potential county policy changes including an extension of board term limits and an elected top county administrator.
voiceofsandiego.org
February 6, 2026 at 5:02 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
The primary to fill an empty seat on the San Diego Unified board is still four months away, but the teachers union may have already sealed the race with their pick.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/02/04/t...
The Learning Curve: A School Board Race Just Started – and Maybe Ended
San Diego Unified’s powerful teachers union has their man. Four months before the primary, that may be enough to call it.
voiceofsandiego.org
February 6, 2026 at 4:00 AM
voiceofsandiego.org
Rady Children’s Hospital faces the prospect of “an organizational death sentence” as state and federal lawsuits send conflicting demands over gender-affirming care for kids.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/02/04/i...
Inside the Battle Over Trans Care at Rady Children’s Hospital
Administrators will likely face the Trump administration’s wrath if they resurrect program under state pressure.
voiceofsandiego.org
February 5, 2026 at 9:17 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
A union for cross-border truckers finally gained a foothold in Baja California this week, securing stronger rights for supply chain workers.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/02/03/c...
Cross-Border Truckers Win Fight to Unionize
A union hoping to represent long-haul truckers who transport goods between Mexico and the United States announced a deal on Tuesday.
voiceofsandiego.org
February 5, 2026 at 5:03 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
San Diego Community Power is padding its reserves instead of using excess funds to lower rates.

Here’s why 👇
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/02/02/e...
Environment Report: Why San Diego Community Power Is Stockpiling Cash
The region’s government-run electricity buyer has over half a billion in its rainy-day fund but hasn’t used any of it to lower rates. Here’s why.
voiceofsandiego.org
February 4, 2026 at 5:01 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
A VOSD podcast listener wanted to know: Why is San Diego’s safe parking lot in Point Loma closed during the day?

Here’s what we found:
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/02/02/w...
Why H Barracks Is Closed During the Day
A permit approved by the California Coastal Commission only allows the city to operate the safe parking lot during specific hours.
voiceofsandiego.org
February 4, 2026 at 4:00 AM
voiceofsandiego.org
San Diego County’s now-retired chief administrative officer says her move to flag an alleged quid pro quo in 2023 should be considered in the lawsuit regarding the search for her successor.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/02/03/e...
Ex-Top County Bureaucrat: I Flagged ‘Inappropriate and Unethical Activity’
In a court filing, now-retired county chief administrative officer Helen Robbins-Meyer confirmed she reported an alleged quid pro quo in a blockbuster 2023 email – and that her email shouldn’t be…
voiceofsandiego.org
February 3, 2026 at 10:37 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
In a rare “no” vote, state Sen. Catherine Blakespear opposed a minor expansion of a controversial law allowing more housing near transit.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/30/s...
Sacramento Report: The Rare Dem 'No'
A proposal to tweak a controversial housing law has resurfaced intra-party tension among Democrats, including San Diego lawmakers.
voiceofsandiego.org
February 3, 2026 at 5:01 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
For this week’s Cup of Chisme, our city hall reporter spills what she’s learned from covering San Diego for half a year, and what’s to come in 2026.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/02/01/c...
Cup of Chisme: About Those Protesters
When City Hall reporter Mariana Martínez Barba made it to Council Chambers this week to cover a proposal to tax empty second homes and vacation rentals, she spotted dozens of […]
voiceofsandiego.org
February 3, 2026 at 4:00 AM
voiceofsandiego.org
Member Exclusive: Here’s how Airbnb managed to come out on top in the city's latest effort to impose a new tax on short-term vacation rentals and empty second homes.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/31/p...
Members Only Access
Thank you for your interest in Voice of San Diego. You’re trying to access information that is available only to our members.  If you would like to receive access to […]
voiceofsandiego.org
February 2, 2026 at 10:21 PM
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What exactly does San Diego Community Power do?

Environment Reporter MacKenzie Elmer explains 👇
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/30/w...
San Diego Community Power: ‘We are Not a Company’
What is San Diego Community Power, anyway? Let us try to explain, again.
voiceofsandiego.org
February 1, 2026 at 5:02 PM
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South Bay Democrats face a tough electoral landscape heading into the 2026 election.

Can they pull it together?
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/29/s...
South County Report: Democrats Seek to Regain Momentum
‘It’s the economy, stupid.’ Party leaders weigh in on how Dems can make progress on the region’s most pressing problems.
voiceofsandiego.org
January 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
San Diego Unified just positioned itself as a national leader in workforce housing.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/29/w...
With Unprecedented Housing Moves, San Diego Unified Enters Its YIMBY Era
Over the past two months, San Diego Unified officials have approved proposals to build nearly 2,500 education workforce housing units on district-owned land. The move could reshape the education…
voiceofsandiego.org
January 30, 2026 at 10:00 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
Immigration arrests surged 1,500 percent in San Diego compared to last year.

As agents are hired en masse, immigrants and advocacy groups fear a larger crackdown could be on the horizon.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/30/i...
Immigration Arrests Quietly Surge by 1,500% in San Diego: ‘I Feel the Temperature Rising’
With immigration arrests increasing, San Diego is bracing for an even bigger crackdown.
voiceofsandiego.org
January 30, 2026 at 7:59 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
The California Teachers Assocation’s decision to endorse local Trustee Richard Barrera for state superintendent — despite his lower name reognition — may be the ultimate test of the union’s political might.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/27/c...
CTA Prez Willing to ‘Leave it All Out on the Line’ in Barrera Endorsement
Overnight, San Diego Unified Trustee Richard Barrera’s bid for state superintendent transformed from an upstart campaign to a serious contender thanks entirely to the endorsement of California’s…
voiceofsandiego.org
January 29, 2026 at 5:01 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
In a new op-ed, local housing advocate Ricardo Flores explains how allowing more housing density could prop up the budgets of local governments and schools.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/28/s...
Opinion: Allowing Denser Housing Can Also Fix San Diego’s Budget Crisis – Without Raising Taxes
Dropping minimum lot sizes would create more developable land and increase property tax revenue for local governments.
voiceofsandiego.org
January 29, 2026 at 4:00 AM
voiceofsandiego.org
Second homes make up roughly one percent of San Diego’s housing stock.

These often serve as vacation homes for the very-wealthy, and sit empty most of the time.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/28/h...
How Many Second Homes Are in Your Neighborhood?
There are at least 4,996 vacation homes in San Diego that do not have a full-time resident and aren't being used as a short-term rental.
voiceofsandiego.org
January 28, 2026 at 11:27 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
A new film on HBO Max explores the killing of Anastasio Hernández Rojas by local immigration officials more than 15 years ago — and the cover up that followed.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/26/b...
Border Report: Film Reveals What Happened After Immigration Officials Killed a Man in San Ysidro
The HBO documentary ‘Critical Incident’ detailing the aftermath of the killing of Anastasio Hernández Rojas was released over the holidays.
voiceofsandiego.org
January 28, 2026 at 5:01 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
San Diego Unified’s board just advanced plans to build almost 1,700 units of housing for its workforce — nearly double the total number of units built by school districts across all of California.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/26/s...
San Diego Unified Goes Big on Educator Workforce Housing
San Diego Unified’s board on Monday night voted to advance a proposal to build 1,500 units of affordable educator workforce housing at its University Heights headquarters.
voiceofsandiego.org
January 28, 2026 at 12:42 AM
voiceofsandiego.org
Member Exclusive: Here’s the latest on how Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera hopes to convert more short-term vacation rentals into housing — or more city revenue.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/24/p...
Members Only Access
Thank you for your interest in Voice of San Diego. You’re trying to access information that is available only to our members.  If you would like to receive access to […]
voiceofsandiego.org
January 27, 2026 at 7:01 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
Good news on the homelessness front: An experiment to support people living in a North County creek bed has placed 65 people into long-term housing.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/23/a...
An Experiment to Move Homeless People Into Long-Term Housing Is Still Going Strong
Officials in Oceanside and Carlsbad are working on moving hundreds of unsheltered homeless people into housing. So far, it’s working. 
voiceofsandiego.org
January 27, 2026 at 5:01 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
The state’s largest teacher’s union just endorsed San Diego Unified trustee Richard Barrera for state superintendent — scaling up his years-long effort to solidify the power of organized labor in schools.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/26/c...
CTA’s Barrera Endorsement Shows San Diego Unified Is Model for ‘District with Organized Labor as a Copilot’
The largest teachers union in California has officially endorsed San Diego Unified Trustee Richard Barrera for state superintendent. Barrera may have been a dark horse, but the move shouldn't come as...
voiceofsandiego.org
January 27, 2026 at 2:00 AM
voiceofsandiego.org
This week presents major legislative hurdles for bills moving through Sacramento, including a proposal to free up climate bond money to support the Tijuana River.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/23/s...
Sacramento Report: Happy Suspense Day to All Who Celebrate
Several bills from the San Diego delegation survived key legislative hurdles this week, including the not-very-suspenseful suspense file.
voiceofsandiego.org
January 27, 2026 at 1:00 AM
voiceofsandiego.org
A Chula Vista school district will pay out $360,000 as part of a resignation agreement with a former HR director.
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/26/h...
HR Chief’s Resignation Cost a School District $360,000  
The Chula Vista Elementary School District agreed to pay more than $360,000 as part of a resignation agreement with the district’s former assistant superintendent for human resources, Jason Romero....
voiceofsandiego.org
January 26, 2026 at 10:49 PM
voiceofsandiego.org
In a new op-ed, Michael Zucchet of the San Diego Municipal Employees Association responds to claims by former Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey about the city of San Diego’s budget crisis.

"Coronado and San Diego are obviously very different cities."
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/21/o...
Opinion: San Diego’s Budget Challenges Deserve Less Rhetoric and More Data-Driven Analysis
Former Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey missed the mark with his rhetoric-reliant analysis of San Diego's budget crisis.
voiceofsandiego.org
January 22, 2026 at 5:02 PM