Last week, I got ahold of a letter that the city of San Diego sent the state. It read: “This letter is to inform you that the city of San Diego is returning $882,839.85 in Go-Biz grant funding because it is infeasible that the city would be able to spend the funds on eligible expenses in the time remaining in the grant term.”
Let’s rewind: The city of San Diego got this money to help launch its cannabis social equity program, which aimed to help people charged with crimes related to cannabis enter the legal market. The city had an October deadline to spend the money.
Advocates and people who were formerly incarcerated for doing something that is now legal, were excited about the program. I spoke to several who shared stories about losing loved ones to the war on drugs.
“The social equity program is their way of saying sorry,” Dory Laramore told me. “The failure of the war on drugs. That’s what we were a victim of.”
But equity advocates and individuals in the cannabis industry disagreed over the number of licenses the city would offer to equity applicants. Eventually, movement on the program slowed to a crawl. Then in April, Mayor Todd Gloria announced he was cutting the program as the city faced a huge budget deficit.
Now, the city is in the process of returning the money it from the state, a city spokesperson told me.
Is it dead for real? Councilmember Henry Foster III told the Union-Tribune that he and the mayor would propose a cannabis equity policy. But now there’s no money from the state, so the city would have to dig into its own pockets. Seems like that would be a difficult thing given ongoing financial challenges.
Speaking of state grants: There’s one bit of good news. The city’s renovation project of the old Logan Heights Library is on track — the state granted them an extension to use the $2.4 million they got three years ago.
Grab some cafecito, here are some stories you should read today.
From Dirty Beaches to Dirty Air
The cross-border sewage crisis has for the longest time been a water quality issue.
We’ve covered this topic for years, but something new is unfolding. As MacKenzie Elmer, our environment reporter, wrote last week, it has become an air pollution crisis.
Scientists are working hard to understand if the sewage in the Tijuana River is having an effect on the air people in the South Bay breathe. But the scientific process hasn’t been smooth. A recent dust up between what a group of researchers recorded in the air and what county health experts measured, left residents confused about who to believe.
The researchers who are warning the air is toxic? Or the public health officials who say there is nothing to worry about for now?
Elmer explains why the stakes are much higher now.
Read Elmer’s latest story here.
You Too, Can Be a Politics Nerd
It’s happening.
Our annual politics summit is only six days away. We’ve spent months envisioning and planning debates and discussions between candidates in local races and experts on some of the most pressing issues in the region. You can view the schedule here.
Voice of San Diego’s Politifest is on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the University of San Diego. Whether you’re super plugged-in or just curious about a state proposition, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the issues on the November ballot.
You can get your tickets here. See you there.
More Chisme to Start Your Week
- South County reporter Jim Hinch wrote that the close ties between a National City councilmember’s staff and his campaign are drawing criticism from residents and his opponent in the race. Councilmember Jose Rodriguez hired four employees to help him do community outreach. Three of the four have some connection to his current re-election campaign and his previous bid for mayor. His opponent is arguing that he’s using city staff for his campaign. Rodriguez denied the allegations. Read the full story here.
- South County Report: Hinch’s newsletter is launching in October! You can sign up for the weekly newsletter here.
- On the latest episode of the VOSD Podcast, we explained why the Republican Party of San Diego is done with Carl DeMaio. Listen here.