Voice of San Diego Podcast Voice of San Diego

This week, Jason Hughes — former real estate advisor to the city of San Diego  — pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge after agreeing to pay $9.4 million back to the city, which he received for his work on two city lease deals.

In this episode, hosts Scott Lewis, Andrew Keatts and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña tell the tale (for the last time?!) of the downtown high-rise that plagued the city for the better part of a decade.

After years of dogged reporting by Voice's Lisa Halverstadt, one of the most topsy-turvy, confusing and expensive recent city controversies appears complete. See the full investigation at vosd.org/101ash

Support this impactful investigation (and the VOSD Podcast!) at vosd.org/podpeople

Also this week: Balboa Park groups push back against a safe camping idea at Inspiration Point.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilman Stephen Whitburn unveiled new tactics to curb homelessness: More safe camping options, more supportive services and new bans on vehicle habitation and camping on public property.

These big moves wrap into an ordinance Whitburn plans to bring to the Council, with Gloria's blessing, which puts the camping ban in effect when shelter beds are available.

In this episode, we review the new plans and how they'd work as San Diego Police face a major staffing shortage.

Plus: La Jolla wants to see other people. A startling cluster of chronic absenteeism in schools.

Keep up with Andy's stories at vosd.org/andy

Get the Schools Guide at vosd.org/schools

Support the podcast: vosd.org/podpeople
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

San Diego's downtown civic core is back to it's pre-pandemic activity, at least that's according to a new study and sales tax revenue levels in the area. 

But our hosts make the case that declaring that downtown has totally recuperated is, well, complicated. They give downtown their own grades in this episode. 

Plus: We have updates on smart streetlights and why activists aren't happy. A billionaire is back in San Diego philanthropy circles but not everyone is excited about that. And the mayor has done a reorg to address homelessness better. 

Support the show at vosd.org/podpeople

Keep up with everything VOSD with The Morning Report: vosd.org/morning 

Read more about the monthly count of homelessness in downtown here. 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many San Diegans who are addicted to drugs are begging for help.

One intake specialist at a local detox program said that at least once a week, someone stops her on her way to work, begging for a detox bed so they can get clean. She often has to turn them away.

For the entire San Diego region, there are about 70 beds where Medi-Cal patients can get the help needed to detox. None are in the city of San Diego, where most fentanyl overdose deaths occurred in recent years.

This week, senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt joins us to talk about her latest story on the detox bed deficit.

See Lisa's latest at vosd.org/lisa

Plus: 2023 Schools Guide is out! Get your free copy at vosd.org/schools

Support the show at vosd.org/podpeople
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mira Mesa is one of the fastest-growing suburban job centers in San Diego. But climate advocates say climate goals for the neighborhood aren't up to snuff.

This week, we break down the city's Climate Action Plan and how to balance growth with lofty environmental goals.

Plus: A local teacher who was fired for touching a student is back in the classroom. A new candidate for the Board of Supervisors. Hepatitis A lurks in the region.

Submit an anonymous tip: vosd.org/contact

Keep up with everything VOSD with The Morning Report: vosd.org/morning

Support the show: vosd.org/podpeople
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we're Andy-less. But our temp co-hosts — associate editor Jesse Marx and senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt — have us covered with some hard-hitting cop talk.

Halverstadt had the story this week about slow San Diego Police response times. Robberies, active domestic violence incidents and assaults are among the calls that saw marked increases last year compared to 2018. But the police budget keeps going up. So what gives?

In this episode, we review the types of incidents in question, experiences of San Diego residents distressed by slow law enforcement and what police leadership say are hampering SDPD's speed.

Plus: New proposals to curb street camping and focus solutions at Balboa Park's Inspiration Point. Scott's bear bias.

Support the show at vosd.org/podpeople

 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.