The Registrar of Voters has made a dramatic change to how it evaluates signatures on petitions. A bunch of high-profile signature gathering campaigns have fallen apart in San Diego and it may not have been just because they were incompetent. This is a big change. 

One of those campaigns was to raise a tax to fund an expansion of the Convention Center. It failed spectacularly. But then another initiative made the ballot in 2020 and courts have finally decided that voters actually approved it. But the Convention Center expansion is not happening. 

And finally it continues to deal with enrollment declines, the San Diego Unified School District does not know or won’t say exactly how many students each school can fit. 

SHOW NOTES

SEGMENT 1 - POLITIFEST ROUNDUP

Scott and Co. banter about the October 4, 2025 edition of Politifest, aka the festival of politics at the University of San Diego.

SEGMENT 2 - SDUSD’S UNKNOWN SCHOOL CAPACITY

VOSD -San Diego Unified Doesn’t Know How Many Students Each School Can Fit

As districts across the county grapple with enrollment decline that will likely get worse in coming decades, San Diego Unified officials say they don’t actually know what the capacity is for each of the district’s schools.

SEGMENT 3 - REGISTRAR OF VOTERS MAY HAVE BEEN TOO STRICT

Registrar of Voters Suddenly Made It Easier to Qualify Ballot Measures with Signatures

After decades of imposing a strict, unforgiving interpretation of compliance with petitions, the Registrar of Voters has quietly updated its guidance.

SEGMENT 4 - CONVENTION CENTER

San Diego Finally Secures Hundreds of Millions for a Convention Center Expansion; But It Isn’t Expanding the Convention Center

After 20 years of failed signature gathering efforts, court battles and legally questionable efforts to raise hotel-room taxes, the city of San Diego has finally secured hundreds of millions of dollars for a long-planned expansion of the San Diego Convention Center. 

But city officials are not going to do it. 

 

CREDITS

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.

The Registrar of Voters has made a dramatic change to how it evaluates signatures on petitions. A bunch of high-profile signature gathering campaigns have fallen apart in San Diego and it may not have been just because they were incompetent. This is a big change.&nbsp;
One of those campaigns was to raise a tax to fund an expansion of the Convention Center. It failed spectacularly. But then another initiative made the ballot in 2020 and courts have finally decided that voters actually approved it. But the Convention Center expansion is not happening.&nbsp;
And finally it continues to deal with enrollment declines, the San Diego Unified School District does not know or won&rsquo;t say exactly how many students each school can fit.&nbsp;
SHOW NOTES
SEGMENT 1 -&nbsp;POLITIFEST ROUNDUP
Scott and Co. banter about the October 4, 2025 edition of<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/politifest-2025-news-and-media/?stage=community"> Politifest</a>, aka the festival of politics at the University of San Diego.
SEGMENT 2 -&nbsp;SDUSD&rsquo;S UNKNOWN SCHOOL CAPACITY
VOSD - <a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/14/san-diego-unified-doesnt-know-how-many-students-each-school-can-fit/">San Diego Unified Doesn&rsquo;t Know How Many Students Each School Can Fit</a>
As districts across the county grapple with enrollment decline that will likely get worse in coming decades, San Diego Unified officials say they don&rsquo;t actually know what the capacity is for each of the district&rsquo;s schools.
SEGMENT 3 - REGISTRAR OF VOTERS MAY HAVE BEEN TOO STRICT
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/13/registrar-of-voters-changes-course/">Registrar of Voters Suddenly Made It Easier to Qualify Ballot Measures with Signatures</a>
After decades of imposing a strict, unforgiving interpretation of compliance with petitions, the Registrar of Voters has quietly updated its guidance.
SEGMENT 4 - CONVENTION CENTER
<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/09/san-diego-finally-secures-hundreds-of-millions-for-a-convention-center-expansion-but-it-isnt-expanding-the-convention-center/">San Diego Finally Secures Hundreds of Millions for a Convention Center Expansion; But It Isn&rsquo;t Expanding the Convention Center</a>
After 20 years of failed signature gathering efforts, court battles and legally questionable efforts to raise hotel-room taxes, the city of San Diego has finally secured hundreds of millions of dollars for a long-planned expansion of the San Diego Convention Center.&nbsp;
But city officials are not going to do it.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
CREDITS
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.