Welcome to the 2024 Politifest recap! Click any section title to read the transcript, watch the video, or listen to the MP3. Use “Back to Top” to explore more sessions.
Politifest 2024 Sessions
Prop 47: Are Felonies The Answer?
State Ballot Measures Primer: Your Questions Answered
Introduction to Digital Democracy CalMatters
Can Government Fix The Tijuana River?
Prop 5: How Easy Should it be to Raise Taxes?
Prop 47: Are Felonies The Answer?
This year voters will decide whether or not to overturn Prop 47 — a controversial law that raised the threshold for felony theft to $950. People who want stricter punishments say overturning the law will lead to a decrease in retail theft. People who support the current law say it has led to a decrease in California’s massively overcrowded prisons and fears about a rise in retail theft have been overblown. This panel will give attendees perspectives from both sides of the debate.
Speakers:
Patrick Espinoza,
Genevieve Jones-Wright
Moderator:
Will Huntsberry
State Ballot Measures Primer: Your Questions Answered
Join reporters from Voice of San Diego and CalMatters to learn the key issues for November’s ballot measures.
Speakers:
Deborah Brennan,
Wendy Fry
Moderator:
Deborah Sullivan Brennan,
Wendy Fry
Sponsored by:
Calmatters
Introduction to Digital Democracy CalMatters
Digital Democracy is an unprecedented, custom-built AI tool that tracks every word spoken in California’s legislative hearings, every dollar donated to politicians, every bill introduced, every vote cast and more.
Speakers:
Ryan Sabalow
Sponsored by:
CalMatters
Can Government Fix The Tijuana River?
Governments on both sides of the border have been working to stop sewage flows for decades. Can we expect them to ever fully solve the problem?
Speakers:
Paloma Aguirre,
Rep Scott Peters,
Sally Spener (IBWC),
Doug Liden (EPA),
Nora Vargas
Moderator:
MacKenzie Elmer
Prop 5: How Easy Should it be to Raise Taxes?
Republican State Sen. Brian Jones and Democratic Assemblyman Chris Ward will debate Proposition 5, the measure that would allow local governments to borrow money to build infrastructure — everything from roads and bridges to affordable housing — and then pay off the bonds with property tax increases with approval from 55 percent of voters. Right now, that’s what school districts can do but local cities and counties have had to get support from two-thirds of voters to raise special taxes.
Speakers:
Chris Ward,
Brian Jones
Moderator:
Joey Safchik, NBC
Debate: Is it a Penny for Progress or a Penny for Pensions?
The city of San Diego faces a major budget deficit and has vast needs for infrastructure investment. It has never had its own sales tax on top of the state’s but now the mayor and City Council are putting forward a 1 percent tax on the November ballot. Michael Zucchet, the general manager of the largest union of city employees, the Municipal Employees Association will debate former City Councilman Scott Sherman, who opposes the tax.
Speakers:
Scott Sherman,
Michael Zucchet
Moderator:
Scott Lewis
San Diego City Council Debate: Cusack vs Whitburn
Speakers:
Coleen Cusack,
Stephen Whitburn
Moderator:
Tigist Layne
The Rise of Incivility in Public Meetings
Name-calling, mockery, outbursts, and expletive-filled tirades are now standard fare at the San Diego County Board of Supervisors’ meetings. This panel will explore how and why commenters’ speech has veered into threats and racist remarks, and ways to quell hostility without violating First Amendment protections.
Speakers:
Carl Luna,
Terra-Lawson Remer,
David Loy,
LaWana Richmond
Moderator:
David Washburn
Sponsored by:
KPBS
How the Affordability Crisis is Changing San Diego
What can we do today to ensure that the next generation can build a future in San Diego.
Speakers:
Ray Major,
Saad Asad,
Brisa Johnson,
Mounah Abdel-Samad
Moderator:
Bella Ross
Sponsored by:
AARP
Rent Control on the Ballot. Too Little Too Late?
Currently, rent control is banned in California by the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act enacted in 1995. California Proposition 33 would reverse that law, allowing cities and counties to limit rent. Advocates say it’s a needed fix to ballooning housing costs in the state, but opponents say it will make the housing crisis worse. Some say it also includes a “Trojan Horse” provision that would undermine pro-housing laws.
Speakers:
Ricardo Flores,
Lucinda Lilley,
Jose Lopez
Moderator:
Katie Hyson
Sponsored by:
KPBS
San Diego City Council Debate: Elo-Rivera vs Hoskins
Speakers:
Sean Elo-Rivera,
Terry Hoskins
Moderator:
Andrea Lopez-Villafaña
Our Housing Emergency
This session will explore how to balance immediate and long-term needs when addressing the housing and homelessness crises.
Speakers:
Ryan Clumpner,
Levi Giafaglione,
Hanan Scrapper,
Drew Moser
Moderator:
Lisa Halverstadt
Are San Diego Governments Ready for a Decade of Climate Emergencies?
Are San Diego governments ready for a decade of climate emergencies?
Speakers:
Sean Elo-Rivera,
Justin Lipford,
Ramsey Green
Moderator:
MacKenzie Elmer
San Diego City Attorney Debate: Ferbert vs Maienschein
The candidates for San Diego city attorney will debate the issues facing our city.
Speakers:
Heather Ferbert,
Brian Maienschein
Moderator:
Lisa Halverstadt
Interview with Terra Lawson-Remer
Interview with Terra Lawson-Remer: Can county government meet the moment?
Speakers:
Terra Lawson-Remer
Moderator:
Scott Lewis
San Diego Unified School Board Debate: Bazzo vs Trull
The candidates for a seat on San Diego Unified’s board will debate.
Speakers:
Crystal Trull and
Sabrina Bazzo
Moderator:
Andrea Lopez-Villafaña and
Naomi Shim