This week on the most popular public affairs podcast in San Diego:

Nathan Fletcher reappeared. We’ll review his first public comments since he went from the most prominent politician in San Diego to just gone. 

San Diego Unified School District is changing some kindergarten through 8th grade schools to just kindergarten through fifth grade.They’ve already backtracked on one.  Is this the beginning of many years of these tough conversations?

And joining us today to talk about the city of San Diego is its city council president Joe LaCava. It was a big week of new fees, new minimum wage and a plan to protect people from ICE.

 

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





SEGMENT 2 - LA CAVA - FLETCHER

Politics Report: Good Luck, Council President

The San Diego City Council chose Joe LaCava as its new president Tuesday.

It was a recognition of LaCava’s decency and his efforts to position himself between the poles of this all-Democratic City Council. And it was a win for Mayor Todd Gloria. Gloria told us on the podcast that he didn’t have a preference for who got the Council president role. Maybe, but Gloria’s team sure did and they were pleased with LaCava.
by Jakob McWhinney - December 4, 2024

Morning Report: Fletcher’s Accuser Files Complaint Against His Wife

Nathan Fletcher’s accuser is asking a court to protect her from his wife, Lorena Gonzalez.  Grecia Figueroa filed a civil harassment restraining order request against Gonzalez on Monday, just days after Fletcher made his first public appearance since the abrupt end of his political career in 2023, when Figueroa accused him of sexual harassment

 

SEGMENT 3 - SDUSD CLOSING SCHOOLS - THE CITY’S MINIMUM WAGE DEAL

The Learning Curve: San Diego Unified May Reverse One K-8 Closure

News that the district would axe middle school grades from four of its K-8 schools elicited significant pushback from some families. Now, district leaders may walk back one closure.

Politics Report: Minimum Wage Dealmaking Wraps Up

Recently a poll circulated gauging the public’s interest in an initiative to repeal the new trash fee the city of San Diego implemented. I don’t know yet who did the poll but just that it was out there may have been the point. The message: We can hit back. Big hotels, SeaWorld, the Padres all…

 

SEGMENT 4 - PARKING AT BALBOA - CITY ORDINANCE TO PROTECT SAN DIEGANS FROM “LAWLESS FEDERAL AGENTS”

Morning Report: No More Free Parking at Balboa

Balboa Park visitors can forget about free parking.  The San Diego City Council on Monday OK’d parking fees for Balboa Park. They agreed to delay charging for parking until city staff develop frequent visitor passes, but that move could cost the city millions.  Councilmembers dropped some parking rates for residents and increased rates for tourists…

From NBC San Diego: City, county leaders unveil proposed ordinance aimed at federal enforcement actions

The Due Process and Safety Ordinance seeks to put safeguards and protections in place in the event of "discriminatory and warrantless federal activity" in local neighborhoods.

 


SEGMENT 5 - CITY SEAL AND FLAG

Official City of San Diego Flag

Official City of San Diego FlagThe official flag of the City of San Diego was adopted by the City Council on Oct. 16, 1934, when a sample banner was submitted by Albert V. Mayrhofer, on behalf of the California Historical Association, Native Sons of the Golden West, Native Daughters of the Golden West, and The San Diegans.

The flag is composed of three vertical bars, from left to right, red, white and gold. In the center white field is the official seal of the City and beneath it the date "1542," the year explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo first entered San Diego Bay and claimed the area for Spain. The use of the three vertical bars is reminiscent of the colors of the flag of Spain, which flew over Cabrillo's ship.

Official City of San Diego Seal

The official seal of the City of San Diego consists of a coat of arms within a circle. Above the arms are the names of the City and the state, and below the arms is the City’s official motto. official seal of the City of San Diego

In 1913, the City Council authorized the City Clerk to invite design submissions for an official seal. The previous seal depicted an outdated cityscape. The winning design was the work of architect Carleton Monroe Winslow (1876-1946). Winslow would go onto design multiple buildings for the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, and the Bishop's School in La Jolla. The new seal was adopted by Resolution 17024 on April 15, 1914.

Segment 6 - LA JOLLA SUCCESSION & HOT TAKE

La Jollans Are Trying to Divorce San Diego (Again)

Since the 1950s San Diegans living in the La Jolla neighborhood have been uncomfortable with their semi-separate status. What they’ve really wanted is to be independent. Every effort thus far has failed – will the latest one be any different?

School District Closes PB Park Because of Dog Poop and Holes

During the Thursday recording of the Voice of San Diego Podcast, San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava dropped some news: “The joint use field at Crown Point Junior Music Academy is going to be closed to the public because of the dogs and the dog owners that have beaten up the field so badly that it is now unplayable and dangerous for the students.”

LaCava predicted more of San Diego Unified’s joint-use fields would close in the future.

“I think the school district is finally going to say ‘Enough is enough. We cant risk the health of our students,’” LaCava said.

 

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.

This week on the most popular public affairs podcast in San Diego:
Nathan Fletcher reappeared. We&rsquo;ll review his first public comments since he went from the most prominent politician in San Diego to just gone.&nbsp;
San Diego Unified School District is changing some kindergarten through 8th grade schools to just kindergarten through fifth grade.They&rsquo;ve already backtracked on one.&nbsp; Is this the beginning of many years of these tough conversations?
And joining us today to talk about the city of San Diego is its city council president Joe LaCava. It was a big week of new fees, new minimum wage and a plan to protect people from ICE.
&nbsp;
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>
 
SEGMENT 2 - LA CAVA - FLETCHER
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2024/12/04/la-jollans-are-trying-to-divorce-san-diego-again/">Politics Report: Good Luck, Council President</a>
The San Diego City Council chose Joe LaCava as its new president Tuesday.
It was a recognition of LaCava&rsquo;s decency and his efforts to position himself between the poles of this all-Democratic City Council. And it was a win for Mayor Todd Gloria. Gloria told us on the podcast that he didn&rsquo;t have a preference for who got the Council president role. Maybe, but Gloria&rsquo;s team sure did and they were pleased with LaCava. by Jakob McWhinney -&nbsp;December 4, 2024
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/09/17/morning-report-fletchers-accuser-files-complaint-against-his-wife/">Morning Report: Fletcher&rsquo;s Accuser Files Complaint Against His Wife</a>
Nathan Fletcher&rsquo;s accuser is asking a court to protect her from his wife, Lorena Gonzalez.&nbsp; Grecia Figueroa filed a civil harassment restraining order request against Gonzalez on Monday, just days after Fletcher made his first public appearance since the abrupt end of his political career in 2023, when Figueroa accused him of sexual harassment
&nbsp;
SEGMENT 3 - SDUSD CLOSING SCHOOLS - THE CITY&rsquo;S MINIMUM WAGE DEAL
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/09/17/the-learning-curve-san-diego-unified-may-reverse-one-k-8-closure/">The Learning Curve: San Diego Unified May Reverse One K-8 Closure</a>
News that the district would axe middle school grades from four of its K-8 schools elicited significant pushback from some families. Now, district leaders may walk back one closure.
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/all-stories/">Politics Report: Minimum Wage Dealmaking Wraps Up</a>
Recently a poll circulated gauging the public&rsquo;s interest in an initiative to repeal the new trash fee the city of San Diego implemented. I don&rsquo;t know yet who did the poll but just that it was out there may have been the point. The message: We can hit back. Big hotels, SeaWorld, the Padres all&hellip;
&nbsp;
SEGMENT 4 - PARKING AT BALBOA - CITY ORDINANCE TO PROTECT SAN DIEGANS FROM &ldquo;LAWLESS FEDERAL AGENTS&rdquo;
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/09/16/morning-report-no-more-free-parking-at-balboa/">Morning Report: No More Free Parking at Balboa</a>
Balboa Park visitors can forget about free parking.&nbsp; The San Diego City Council on Monday OK&rsquo;d parking fees for Balboa Park. They agreed to delay charging for parking until city staff develop frequent visitor passes, but that move could cost the city millions.&nbsp; Councilmembers dropped some parking rates for residents and increased rates for tourists&hellip;
<a href="https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/proposed-ordinance-federal-enforcement-actions/3900249/">From NBC San Diego: City, county leaders unveil proposed ordinance aimed at federal enforcement actions</a>
The Due Process and Safety Ordinance seeks to put safeguards and protections in place in the event of "discriminatory and warrantless federal activity" in local neighborhoods.
&nbsp;
 SEGMENT 5 - CITY SEAL AND FLAG
<a href="https://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/aboutus/factshistory/flag">Official City of San Diego Flag</a>
Official City of San Diego FlagThe official flag of the City of San Diego was adopted by the City Council on Oct. 16, 1934, when a sample banner was submitted by Albert V. Mayrhofer, on behalf of the California Historical Association, Native Sons of the Golden West, Native Daughters of the Golden West, and The San Diegans.
The flag is composed of three vertical bars, from left to right, red, white and gold. In the center white field is the official seal of the City and beneath it the date "1542," the year explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo first entered San Diego Bay and claimed the area for Spain. The use of the three vertical bars is reminiscent of the colors of the flag of Spain, which flew over Cabrillo's ship.
<a href="https://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/aboutus/factshistory/seal">Official City of San Diego Seal</a>
The official seal of the City of San Diego consists of a coat of arms within a circle. Above the arms are the names of the City and the state, and below the arms is the City&rsquo;s official motto. official seal of the City of San Diego
In 1913, the City Council authorized the City Clerk to invite design submissions for an official seal. The previous seal depicted an outdated cityscape. The winning design was the work of architect Carleton Monroe Winslow (1876-1946). Winslow would go onto design multiple buildings for the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, and the Bishop's School in La Jolla. The new seal was adopted by Resolution 17024 on April 15, 1914.
Segment 6 -&nbsp;LA JOLLA SUCCESSION &amp; HOT TAKE
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2024/12/04/la-jollans-are-trying-to-divorce-san-diego-again/">La Jollans Are Trying to Divorce San Diego (Again)</a>
Since the 1950s San Diegans living in the La Jolla neighborhood have been uncomfortable with their semi-separate status. What they&rsquo;ve really wanted is to be independent. Every effort thus far has failed &ndash; will the latest one be any different?
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/09/18/school-district-closes-pb-park-because-of-dog-poop-and-holes/">School District Closes PB Park Because of Dog Poop and Holes</a>
During the Thursday recording of the Voice of San Diego Podcast, San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava dropped some news: &ldquo;The joint use field at Crown Point Junior Music Academy is going to be closed to the public because of the dogs and the dog owners that have beaten up the field so badly that it is now unplayable and dangerous for the students.&rdquo;
LaCava predicted more of San Diego Unified&rsquo;s joint-use fields would close in the future.
&ldquo;I think the school district is finally going to say &lsquo;Enough is enough. We cant risk the health of our students,&rsquo;&rdquo; LaCava said.
&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.