San Diego County’s two Democratic supervisors plan to force a vote on Tuesday on their proposal to give county officials greater leeway to tap fiscal reserves during a time of unprecedented budget uncertainty.
Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Monica Montgomery Steppe, the Board’s two Democrats, know their proposal will fail. Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond, their GOP colleagues, already signaled they’re not fans of the idea (which our Lisa Halverstadt detailed here).
The Dems plan to ask anyway. They likely hope to emphasize the stakes of a July 1 special election to fill a vacant South County seat on the Board.
That election pits Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, a Democrat, against Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, a Republican. As our Jim Hinch recently reported, Aguirre and McCann have opposing views on the budget proposal.
Anderson’s other beef: He said on Friday the reserve proposal wasn’t added to the Board’s agenda until Friday, giving residents in his East County district less time to understand the idea and make plans to attend Tuesday’s meeting.
“I couldn’t support anything that leaves my constituents out of the decision-making process,” Anderson said.
Lawson-Remer and Montgomery Steppe’s take: They argued on Friday the reserve changes are urgently needed as the county anticipates possible federal cuts.
“We can’t control what’s happening in Washington, but we can ensure San Diego County is equipped to act with urgency, compassion, and responsibility when we are faced with the impact of those decisions,” Montgomery Steppe wrote.
“This updated reserve policy ensures we can respond to real emergencies, protect core services, and stand up for the San Diegans who count on us most,” Lawson-Remer wrote.
Possible New Camping Rules in Fire-Prone Areas
Also on Tuesday, Supervisors will consider whether to modify the county’s existing camping ban to address the risk of fire in county-managed open spaces and public works facilities.
The plan calls for sheriff’s deputies to issue citations only when people refuse an offer of available shelter (though there’s an exception when there is “imminent risk of harm to public health or safety”). County staff already nixed shortening the notice requirement before clearing camps.
Politics Report and Podcast: The Water Interview
The latest Voice of San Diego podcast episode was a special interview with Daniel Denham, the general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority. Host Scott Lewis went deep in the water with Denham but hopefully in a way that anyone could follow.
In the Politics Report: Lewis pulled out some of the most notable things Denham said and also has a farewell message for Walt Ekard, the former chief administrative officer of the county of San Diego who died recently.
The Politics Report is for Voice donors. You can see it here.
Come see the podcast hosts Wednesday: On Wednesday, May 7, we’re recording a live podcast episode at Soda Bar with special guest Keene Simonds, executive officer of the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO. You can find more details here.
Simonds just sent a strong letter back to the mayor of San Diego after the mayor blasted LAFCO for determining that La Jolla separatists had secured enough signatures to begin the process of secession.
LAFCO is in the middle of water stuff as well and Simonds is prone to saying interesting things. If you’re reading this sentence right now, you are 100 percent the target market for this kind of party. See you there.
Sacramento Report: University Funding on the Chopping Block
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget would slash hundreds of millions from the UC and CSU systems, prompting concerns over hiring freezes, larger class sizes and reduced support services.
While tuition hikes at both systems aim to offset some cuts, San Diego universities are bracing for leaner times. UC San Diego could lose up to $500 million. San Diego State University faces a $44 million shortfall and has frozen hiring and cut management positions.
The budget cuts threaten a goal both university systems were on their way toward meeting: Admitting more in-state students. SDSU president Adela de la Torre said the school doesn’t have adequate funds to bring in more in-state students next year.
Meanwhile…a bill to tighten California’s sanctuary state protections failed in committee. The bill, authored by State. Sen. Brian Jones, would have required local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE in cases involving serious or violent felonies.
Read the Sacramento Report here.
Johnny (Oak)seed Wants You to Plant an Acorn
Jim Crouch is a 73-year-old retired middle school science teacher who walks with a cane and maintains an unusual feature in his Escondido backyard: 2,500 tube-shaped pots with tiny baby oak trees growing out of them.
The pots are part of Crouch’s one-man mission to repopulate San Diego County with native oak trees.
The majestic trees once ruled the Southern California landscape but urbanization, invasive pests and a changing climate plague them.
Crouch’s solution: Raise oak seedlings and enlist a volunteer army to plant the trees around the county.
Writer Robert Krier recently spent time with Crouch and reports on growing interest in his project as well as fascinating details about the many oak species that grace San Diego’s landscape.
“Jim’s a good dude,” one volunteer said of Crouch. Said another: “This is a passion for him. And it shows.”
In Other News
- Last week, hundreds of San Diegans joined nationwide May Day protests to call out the Trump administration’s impact on workers. (FOX 5/KUSI) Also last week, UC San Diego health workers staged a one-day strike at Hillcrest Medical Center and marched from the hospital to Balboa Park to draw attention to stalled contract negotiations. (KPBS)
- The city of San Diego has issued 4,200 tickets after San Diego’s daylighting law went into effect in January. (NBC 7)
- The former Village Grill in Balboa Park is getting a second chance at life as Panama 66 partners seek to revive it. (Union-Tribune)
- For 20 years, people have been talking about a giant resort and convention center arising in South Bay and it’s here. The Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center is set to open. The Union-Tribune offers a peek.