SHOW NOTES

SEGMENT 1 - POLITIFEST

Buy Your Tickets for Politifest 2025

Politifest is back on Oct. 4, and this won’t be our usual public affairs summit.  This year, we’re bringing together community leaders to go head-to-head in our first ever Solutions Showdown. Hear their ideas and cast your vote on which proposals you think could solve the biggest issues facing San Diego.

Save on tickets with early bird pricing at vosd.org/politifest

Politics Report: Politifest Brain

My politics mind has been focused on Politifest this week.

When we started Politifest in 2011, I envisioned an idyllic outdoor party – beer garden, tug of wars (tugs of war?), dunk tank, exhibits — where politics could be the central feature. Over time, it evolved into a day-long collection of debates and panel discussions.

The tugs of war didn’t draw the crowd but the debates did.

This year, we have taken another step in its evolution. You’ll have to help us decide if this mutation survives.

Solutions Showdown: We made each session a problem and asked participants to present their solution. They will present their solutions and then the moderator will manage a good discussion between them and then the audience will vote on a winner.

 

SEGMENT 2 - EDDIE VEDDERGATE

Vedder Cup

Eddie Vedder leads "Wrigley Field in Take Me Out To The Ballgame"

 

SEGMENT 3 - COUNTY PHARMACY CHIEF’S MOONLIGHTING POSES QUESTIONS

VOSD  - County’s Pharmacy Chief Also Works at a Law Firm

The county of San Diego’s chief pharmacy officer, who collects a $232,419 yearly salary, moonlights as a partner at a New York-based law firm that advises pharmaceutical companies.

 

SEGMENT 4 - KENT LEE

San Diego’s Water Department Is Not Alright

If the San Diego City Council doesn’t pass water rate increases, the city will probably have to lay off Public Utilities Staff, analysts say. 


SEGMENT 5 - UNCHARTED WATERS

Mayor’s Water Rate Increase ‘Dead on Arrival’

San Diego city councilmembers join forces to stall a proposed rate increase even though city staff warn too much delay could risk staff layoffs or falling behind on debt repayments. 





Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego.

Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor

Bella Ross, social media producer

Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer.

Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer

Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County.

Become a Member: Voice Member Benefits
Join today and receive insider access.

SHOW NOTES
SEGMENT 1 - POLITIFEST
Buy Your Tickets for Politifest 2025
Politifest is back on Oct. 4, and this won&rsquo;t be our usual public affairs summit.&nbsp; This year, we&rsquo;re bringing together community leaders to go head-to-head in our first ever Solutions Showdown. Hear their ideas and cast your vote on which proposals you think could solve the biggest issues facing San Diego.
Save on tickets with early bird pricing at <a href="http://vosd.org/politifest">vosd.org/politifest</a>
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/09/27/politics-report-politifest-brain/">Politics Report: Politifest Brain</a>
My politics mind has been focused on Politifest this week.
When we started Politifest in 2011, I envisioned an idyllic outdoor party &ndash; beer garden, tug of wars (tugs of war?), dunk tank, exhibits &mdash; where politics could be the central feature. Over time, it evolved into a day-long collection of debates and panel discussions.
The tugs of war didn&rsquo;t draw the crowd but the debates did.
This year, we have taken another step in its evolution. You&rsquo;ll have to help us decide if this mutation survives.
Solutions Showdown: We made each session a problem and asked participants to present their solution. They will present their solutions and then the moderator will manage a good discussion between them and then the audience will vote on a <a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/09/27/politics-report-politifest-brain/">winner.</a>
&nbsp;
SEGMENT 2 - EDDIE VEDDERGATE
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/mariners/tickets/vedder-cup">Vedder Cup</a>
<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1nupah4/eddie_vedder_leads_wrigley_field_in_take_me_out/">Eddie Vedder leads "Wrigley Field in Take Me Out To The Ballgame"</a>
&nbsp;
SEGMENT 3 - COUNTY PHARMACY CHIEF&rsquo;S MOONLIGHTING POSES QUESTIONS
VOSD&nbsp; - <a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/02/countys-pharmacy-chief-also-works-at-a-law-firm/">County&rsquo;s Pharmacy Chief Also Works at a Law Firm</a>
The county of San Diego&rsquo;s chief pharmacy officer, who collects a $232,419 yearly salary, moonlights as a partner at a New York-based law firm that advises pharmaceutical companies.
&nbsp;
SEGMENT 4 - KENT LEE
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/09/26/san-diegos-water-department-is-not-alright/">San Diego&rsquo;s Water Department Is Not Alright</a>
If the San Diego City Council doesn&rsquo;t pass water rate increases, the city will probably have to lay off Public Utilities Staff, analysts say.&nbsp;
 SEGMENT 5 - UNCHARTED WATERS
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/09/30/mayors-water-rate-increase-dead-on-arrival/">Mayor&rsquo;s Water Rate Increase &lsquo;Dead on Arrival&rsquo;</a>
San Diego city councilmembers join forces to stall a proposed rate increase even though city staff warn too much delay could risk staff layoffs or falling behind on debt repayments.&nbsp;
 
Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego.
Andrea Lopez-Villafa&ntilde;a, managing editor
Bella Ross, social media producer
Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer.
Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer
Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy:<a href="https://vosd.fundjournalism.org/?amount=15&amp;campaign=701f3000001Dna8&amp;frequency=monthly"> Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County.</a>
Become a Member:<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/member-benefits/"> Voice Member Benefits Join today and receive insider access.</a>

This is Voice of San Diego’s weekly spitfire roundup of news. We cover local and regional politics, the environment, education, the border and more. This show features our investigative reporting and interviews with lawmakers and other special guests.

This is Voice of San Diego&rsquo;s weekly spitfire roundup of news. We cover local and regional politics, the environment, education, the border and more. This show features our investigative reporting and interviews with lawmakers and other special guests.

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