New momentum behind California’s long-delayed high-speed rail system, including a $3.1 billion federal grant, has prompted state and local officials to dust off tentative routing maps for San Diego created 13 years ago.Routing for the San Diego leg of the system won’t be finalized until construction is complete on the system’s first phase, connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles — currently slated for sometime in the 2030s. This story is for subscribers We offer subscribers exclusive access to our best journalism.Thank you for your support. But tentative maps created back in 2011...…New momentum behind California’s long-delayed high-speed rail system, including a $3.1 billion federal grant, has prompted state and local officials to dust off tentative routing maps for San Diego created 13 years ago.Routing for the San Diego leg of the system won’t be finalized until construction is complete on the system’s first phase, connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles — currently slated for sometime in the 2030s. This story is for subscribers We offer subscribers exclusive access to our best journalism.Thank you for your support. But tentative maps created back in 2011...WW…

Local tribal leaders and charro groups are lobbying San Diego to put the brakes on a proposed citywide rodeo ban, contending city leaders have been duped by activists and need to thoroughly educate themselves.While the ban wouldn’t apply to local tribes because their land is outside the city limits, they’re fighting it because they believe bans proposed recently in San Diego and Los Angeles could spread statewide quickly.They say San Diego’s ban threatens longtime traditions because rodeos are a cultural practice with roots that have been intertwined with Black, Indigenous and Mexican...…Local tribal leaders and charro groups are lobbying San Diego to put the brakes on a proposed citywide rodeo ban, contending city leaders have been duped by activists and need to thoroughly educate themselves.While the ban wouldn’t apply to local tribes because their land is outside the city limits, they’re fighting it because they believe bans proposed recently in San Diego and Los Angeles could spread statewide quickly.They say San Diego’s ban threatens longtime traditions because rodeos are a cultural practice with roots that have been intertwined with Black, Indigenous and Mexican...WW…

San Diego’s year-old crackdown on electric scooters has had the unintended consequence of shrinking usage by 80 percent and prompting three of the four companies with city scooter contracts to cease local operations. The number of annual rides since the new rules were approved in August 2022 plummeted from 3 million to 595,000 and Spin, Lime and Link have all left town, leaving Bird as San Diego’s lone scooter company. Critics say a convenient new technology that had been available in most San Diego neighborhoods has become harder to find and more expensive, jeopardizing city efforts to...…San Diego’s year-old crackdown on electric scooters has had the unintended consequence of shrinking usage by 80 percent and prompting three of the four companies with city scooter contracts to cease local operations. The number of annual rides since the new rules were approved in August 2022 plummeted from 3 million to 595,000 and Spin, Lime and Link have all left town, leaving Bird as San Diego’s lone scooter company. Critics say a convenient new technology that had been available in most San Diego neighborhoods has become harder to find and more expensive, jeopardizing city efforts to...WW…

Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement Local civil rights leaders say San Diego’s plan to potentially switch ambulance providers this year is a key opportunity to show the city’s commitment to racial equity and boosting neighborhoods that have been traditionally underserved.San Diego recently changed some police practices and created an Office on Race and Equity in response to recent protests demanding racial equity. But civil rights leaders say demanding better ambulance service would be a more concrete step.“We are looking for some bold leadership...…Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement Local civil rights leaders say San Diego’s plan to potentially switch ambulance providers this year is a key opportunity to show the city’s commitment to racial equity and boosting neighborhoods that have been traditionally underserved.San Diego recently changed some police practices and created an Office on Race and Equity in response to recent protests demanding racial equity. But civil rights leaders say demanding better ambulance service would be a more concrete step.“We are looking for some bold leadership...WW…

Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement While COVID-19 hits the city’s hotel tax and sales tax revenue streams the hardest, it’s also taking a chunk out of property taxes. San Diego officials are projecting they’ll take in less property tax revenues based on predictions of a rise in tax delinquencies and in foreclosures linked to the pandemic.Property tax, the city’s largest and most consistent revenue stream, typically doesn’t begin to dip significantly until a year or two into an economic downturn, because there is a delay in tax assessors re-assessing...…Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement While COVID-19 hits the city’s hotel tax and sales tax revenue streams the hardest, it’s also taking a chunk out of property taxes. San Diego officials are projecting they’ll take in less property tax revenues based on predictions of a rise in tax delinquencies and in foreclosures linked to the pandemic.Property tax, the city’s largest and most consistent revenue stream, typically doesn’t begin to dip significantly until a year or two into an economic downturn, because there is a delay in tax assessors re-assessing...WW…

Copyright © 2020, The San Diego Union-Tribune | |AdvertisementA fire official says the blaze appears to have restarted hours after firefighters put out electrical fire at the home on Narwhal StreetOnline shows from Don LeMaster and Gregory Page keep the San Diego musicians alive and giggingOral histories will be stored at the UC San Diego library in 2021BTS Research says weaker primate may have been killed by more dominant cynomolgus macaqueThe count taken in January found the number of homeless people living outdoors has dropped by 11 percentMarines expect numbers to climb as more test...…Copyright © 2020, The San Diego Union-Tribune | |AdvertisementA fire official says the blaze appears to have restarted hours after firefighters put out electrical fire at the home on Narwhal StreetOnline shows from Don LeMaster and Gregory Page keep the San Diego musicians alive and giggingOral histories will be stored at the UC San Diego library in 2021BTS Research says weaker primate may have been killed by more dominant cynomolgus macaqueThe count taken in January found the number of homeless people living outdoors has dropped by 11 percentMarines expect numbers to climb as more test...WW…

Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement A new audit says San Diego could significantly reduce the nearly $25 million a year it spends on lawsuit payouts if it invests in better employee training, deeper analyses of risks and proactive moves like fixing damaged sidewalks in key areas.The audit found that San Diego spent $220 million total over nine fiscal years, from 2010 to 2018, handling about 20,000 claims and lawsuits filed during that time.Most of the money went to payouts, but $45 million was spent on outside legal counsel and subject-matter experts...…Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement A new audit says San Diego could significantly reduce the nearly $25 million a year it spends on lawsuit payouts if it invests in better employee training, deeper analyses of risks and proactive moves like fixing damaged sidewalks in key areas.The audit found that San Diego spent $220 million total over nine fiscal years, from 2010 to 2018, handling about 20,000 claims and lawsuits filed during that time.Most of the money went to payouts, but $45 million was spent on outside legal counsel and subject-matter experts...WW…

Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement A new plan aims to slowly transform car-centric El Cajon Boulevard into a series of pedestrian-friendly neighborhood hubs with mid-rise housing, restaurants, urban plazas, parks, art displays and event spaces.Called BLVD 2020, the plan says there is potential to create a regional destination and a thriving cultural hub on the four-mile roadway, which passes through University Heights, North Park, Normal Heights, Kensington, Talmadge and City Heights.More than a fifth of San Diego residents live within 5 miles of El...…Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement A new plan aims to slowly transform car-centric El Cajon Boulevard into a series of pedestrian-friendly neighborhood hubs with mid-rise housing, restaurants, urban plazas, parks, art displays and event spaces.Called BLVD 2020, the plan says there is potential to create a regional destination and a thriving cultural hub on the four-mile roadway, which passes through University Heights, North Park, Normal Heights, Kensington, Talmadge and City Heights.More than a fifth of San Diego residents live within 5 miles of El...WW…

Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement Developers can move forward with plans for high-rise housing and dense urban villages along the new Morena Boulevard trolley line in San Diego now that a Superior Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by nearby residents.Judge Timothy Taylor ruled last week that city officials properly analyzed how a new growth blueprint for the area would affect parks, traffic, air quality and other potential impacts covered under state environmental law.City Attorney Mara Elliott hailed the ruling Wednesday as a victory for...…Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement Developers can move forward with plans for high-rise housing and dense urban villages along the new Morena Boulevard trolley line in San Diego now that a Superior Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by nearby residents.Judge Timothy Taylor ruled last week that city officials properly analyzed how a new growth blueprint for the area would affect parks, traffic, air quality and other potential impacts covered under state environmental law.City Attorney Mara Elliott hailed the ruling Wednesday as a victory for...WW…

Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement San Diego’s fire chief is urging the City Council to switch ambulance providers in a much-anticipated vote next Tuesday, but two new evaluations clashed on whether the ambulance company’s plan to boost service by 20 percent is financially viable.Fire-Rescue Chief Colin Stowell says switching from current provider American Medical Response to Falck would bring long-needed technology and equipment upgrades, while allowing the city to impose stiff penalties for slow emergency response times.Meanwhile, the city’s...…Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement San Diego’s fire chief is urging the City Council to switch ambulance providers in a much-anticipated vote next Tuesday, but two new evaluations clashed on whether the ambulance company’s plan to boost service by 20 percent is financially viable.Fire-Rescue Chief Colin Stowell says switching from current provider American Medical Response to Falck would bring long-needed technology and equipment upgrades, while allowing the city to impose stiff penalties for slow emergency response times.Meanwhile, the city’s...WW…