Staff Report

Staff report

LITTLE GRASS VALLEY, CA -JUNE 23, 2021: As dusk settles in, Sammy Potter of Maine rubs his feet inside his one-man tent after a day of hiking 25 plus miles with hiking partner Jackson Parell along the Pacific Crest Trail in the Plumas National Forest on June 23, 2021 in Little Grass Valley, California. The Stanford students are attempting to complete the Triple Crown of hiking in one calendar year. This includes hiking all three major trails: the PCT(Pacific Crest Trail), the CDT (Continental Divide Trail) and the AT (Appalachian Trail). (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

How well-written article took reader on a symbolic ‘bucket list’ trip

May 8, 2024 at 6:24 p.m.

Re "The great journey north: Thousands arrive in San Diego County for an ultimate hiking challenge" (May 5): Kudos to the author, Maura Fox, on the well-written article. She symbolically...

The "World of Orchids" showcase at the San Diego Botanic Garden will be on display through May 27.

The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: May 10-12

May 8, 2024 at 11:57 p.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, May 10 to Sunday, May 12.FridayJoe Satriani & Steve Vai: For fans of acrobatic...

FILE - Bret Harte Retirement Inn residents make their way down to the dining room for lunch, May 6, 2020, in Grass Valley, Calif. The federal government will, for the first time, dictate staffing levels at nursing homes, the Biden istration said Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, responding to systemic problems bared by mass COVID deaths. (Elias Funez/The Union via AP, File)

Nursing homes need to face tighter regulation for patient safety

May 7, 2024 at 5:56 p.m.

Re "The pandemic exposed staff shortages at nursing homes. A new White House push aims for a remedy." (April 22): The federal government requiring nursing homes to have minimum staffing...

August 7, 2013_Carlsbad_| Lead installer for Sullivan Solar Power Mike DeCarl, left, and construction wireman Christopher Johnson install solar s on the roof of a home in Carlsbad on Wednesday. | Mandatory Photo Credit: Photo Hayne Palmour IV U-T San Diego

San Diego County residents must act to free themselves of SDG&E

May 7, 2024 at 7:52 p.m.

Regarding SDG&E's opposition to Power San Diego, a nonprofit which might have an initiative on our November ballot: As a citizen of San Diego, I went out of my comfort...

1174667-sd-no-homeless-hotel_NL San Diego, CA August 19, 2022 Laura Harvey stands outside of the C Street Inn where she lives. Guests are not allowed into the hundred single room occupancy rooms. The City Attorney's office has said the building is unsafe and everyone has to leave. The city is providing $4,700 in rental assistance to help people move, but is denying the money to her and two other tenants because they lived in the basement of the hotel (she has since moved to a room, but uses the old space she rented for storage). She said she didn't know it at the time, but it wasn't legal to rent the basement room, and the city attorney says it is not part of the hotel, so she doesn't get the money, but still is being evicted. Laura is afraid without any assistance, she'll become homeless. Nancee E. Lewis / Nancee Lewis Photography. ©Nancee E. Lewis / Nancee Lewis Photography

Operator of single-room housing says city not in his corner

May 6, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.

Re “Single-room housing a smart, inexpensive way to address shelter shortage, homelessness” (April 29): Thanks for printing this letter. We operate a century-old hotel in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter which...

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria calls his new housing proposals “Housing Action Package 2.0.”

Cost of Mayor Gloria’s homelessness plan is exorbitant, unjustifiable

May 6, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

While San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria is cutting programs and services that greatly benefit citizens from the budget, at the same time he‘s proceeding with a contract to pay someone...

Penguins inside the Penguins Exhibit in Mission Bay on Monday, April 1, 2024 in San Diego, California.

The best things to do this week in San Diego: May 6-10

May 6, 2024 at 5:31 p.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, May 6 to Friday, May 10.Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to...

FILE - In this July 10, 2019 file photograph, singer Taylor Swift performs at Amazon Music's Prime Day concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. Powered by big stadium tours from artists like Swift and Beyoncé, ticket sales are booming and it appears likely that live acts will continue to draw massive crowds after the pandemic closed down concert venues globally for close to two years. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Monopolies controlling ticket sales are gouging customers, plain and simple

May 3, 2024 at 8:03 p.m.

Re "Time to end monopoly on sale of tickets" (April 30): I totally agree with Robert Herrell's article about the monopoly held by Live Nation and other major ticket companies....

enger board the free airport shuttle bus at the Old Town Transit Center on Wednesday, April24, 2024 in San Diego.. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker for The SD Union-Tribune)

Success of free airport shuttle illustrates folly of SANDAG’s grand plan

May 3, 2024 at 12:01 p.m.

Re "With an airport transit connection still years away, the popularity of a little-known free shuttle is surging through word of mouth" (April 28): Why does the region’s transit planning...

San Diego, CA - February 25: Team for San Diego County's Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) show off their new fleet of specially adapted vans at the Telecare office in Mission Valley. MCRT dispatches behavioral health teams that can respond to mental health and substance use emergencies instead of police. Friday, Feb. 25, 2022 in San Diego, CA. (Lisa Hornak / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Mental health policy change a case where our elected leaders actually deserve praise

May 2, 2024 at 7:46 p.m.

Re "Thousands of people seeking help did not get a police response. That’s a good thing." (April 20): This deserves wider coverage. Thousands of times a year, police are freed...

Guests enjoy the evening at Coasterra on Harbor Island.

Boys to Men Mentoring

May 1, 2024 at 10:41 p.m.

Nearly 300 guests of Boys to Men Mentoring gathered last month for an evening of inspiration and empowerment at the second annual Rooted in Resiliency Celebration at Coasterra on Harbor...

One b/w film negative. View of Lilian Rice looking from balcony across valley over Rancho Santa Fe in about 1926.

Rancho Santa Fe designer

May 1, 2024 at 5:02 p.m.

From the Archives travels to Rancho Santa Fe for this picture of famed architect Lilian Rice looking out at Rancho Santa, circa 1926. Rice was born in National City in...

Gas prices are expected to 4 dollars a gallon in San Diego County. Here, regular unleaded is $3.95 a gallon at a 7-Eleven station in Pacific Beach on April 8, 2019. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

When gasoline is far cheaper in New York City than here, something is wrong

May 1, 2024 at 5:01 p.m.

I recently returned from a week trip to New York City, and was convinced that the cost of living in New York was prohibitive due to housing costs, food and...

Los Angeles Unified School District food service workers pre-package hundreds of free school lunches in plastic bags at the Liechty Middle School in Los Angeles on July 15, 2021. Photo by Damian Dovarganes, AP Photo

Parent of student urges state lawmakers not to cut free school lunch program

May 3, 2024 at 9:05 p.m.

Re “Much-needed free school meals program must be preserved by state government” (April 15): As a parent of a Poway High School student, I wholeheartedly the California state government’s...

Oceanside, CA - January 27:

San Diego FC kicked off its Chrome Ball Tour at the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheater on Saturday, January 27, 2024, in Oceanside, CA. Chula Vista Pickup (blue jersey) took on Bridge Barkada (white jersey) in the first round of games. The tournament is made up of 10 teams, in each division of men, women, girls, and boys. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: May 3-5

May 2, 2024 at 4:53 p.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 5.FridayCarlsbad Flower Fields: Get an up-close glimpse of the...

Rancho Santa Fe designer

May 7, 2024 at 2:35 a.m.

From the Archives travels to Rancho Santa Fe for this picture of famed architect Lilian Rice looking out at Rancho Santa Fe, circa 1926. Rice was born in National City...

San Diego, California - April 18: Construction of the Morena Pump Station located at the southwest corner of Sherman Street and Custer Street off Morena Boulevard, just north of Interstate 8 and east of Interstate 5. Once completed in 2026, the station will divert 32 million gallons per day (mgd) of wastewater to the North City facilities for purification. Construction workers in Morena on Thursday, April 18, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

City of San Diego finding out just how costly water purification project will be

April 30, 2024 at 5:16 p.m.

Re “San Diego may scale back its ambitious Pure Water sewage-purification plans — or scrap some entirely” (April 21): In February 2022, I wrote that the city was foolishly committing...

FILE - Sheep graze on a grass land near a cement plant on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Oct. 17, 2015. New global data released in May 2022, shows that emissions of heat-trapping gases coming from making cement have doubled in the last 20 years. It's all being driven by China, which is responsible for more than half of the globe's cement carbon emissions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

Readers welcome warning on climate emissions, tout carbon-pricing legislation

April 30, 2024 at 8:12 p.m.

Re “Progress in responding to climate emergency? Not if emissions are at an all-time high” (April 26): Thank you to The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board for your continued coverage...

San Diego Gas & Electric has asked the California Public Utilities Commission to allow it to institute a $10 a month fixed charge and raising the minimum monthly bill to $38.

On push for municipal utility, do you trust City Hall more than SDG&E? Or vice versa?

April 29, 2024 at 4:01 p.m.

Re "Does local energy and local control translate into lower rates?" (April 19): Carolyn Chase's commentary about a "nonprofit municipal utility" being pushed by Power San Diego is lacking one...

The Plaza Hotel, a SRO (single-room occupancy) hotel that's being converted to a more upscale hotel and hostel, on Thursday, November 15, 2019 in San Diego, California.

Single-room housing a smart, inexpensive way to address shelter shortage, homelessness

April 29, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Re "I went from a Ph.D. program to being homeless — and I’m not an addict or mentally ill" (April 17): Ten thousand San Diego residents lived in single rooms...

City Tacos, seen here as ordered from its downtown San Diego location, is celebrating 10 years in business.

The best things to do this week in San Diego: April 29 to May 3

April 29, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, April 29 to Friday, May 3.Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to...

San Diego, CA - March 23: People pack the room to participate in a public forum regarding SDG&E at the Sherman Heights Community Center on Thursday, March 23, 2023 in San Diego, CA.(Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

California Legislature does yet another favor for investor-owned utilities

April 28, 2024 at 5:01 p.m.

Irony? Just in time for Earth Day, the California Legislature squashed a bill to crack down on lobbying by investor-owned utilities at the cost of ratepayers. Like our rates aren’t...

Talia Bierstein (right), Henry Kettman (center), and Sawyer Price (left), work on math problems while they attend a learning pod at Berry-Woods home in North Park on October 8, 2020.

Poor math education in elementary school leads to students struggling in high school

April 26, 2024 at 7:16 p.m.

Re "State's 'math wars' are hurting Black, Latino students" (April 23): I was an algebra teacher into three decades and found one basic principle: If you don't know basic arithmetic,...

San Diego, CA - February 06:

On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, in San Diego, CA, a man stops to look over the damage to the nearby apartments on National Avenue when Chollas Creek overflowed the banks back on January 22, 2024. Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

We should help distressed San Diegans before sending billions in aid abroad

April 26, 2024 at 4:10 p.m.

Re "Ukrainian and Western leaders laud U.S. aid package while the Kremlin warns of ‘further ruin’" (April 21): How our government's priorities are so wrong! It is OK to help...

Gabriel Trepashko (pointing to his entry) with his mother, Tanya Trepashko, at the April 13 awards ceremony in the Comic-Con Museum.

Pacific Beach teen wins award in financial literacy contest

April 25, 2024 at 7:28 p.m.

Pacific Beach resident Gabriel Trepashko was among award winners during the third annual Financial Literacy Superheroes Competition.Trepashko, 17, received Honorable Mention for his entry “Luna The Super Saver Cat” in...

Parents Anthony and Amber Lebron with Kindall Lebron, Kiwanian Tony Bayona, Arya Johnson with grandmother Kathy Rainbird and teacher Ashley Erickson.

Kiwanians honor Pacific Beach fifth-graders

April 25, 2024 at 6:24 p.m.

The Pacific Beach Kiwanis Club honored two fifth graders in April through its “Student of the Month” recognition program.Arya Johnson from Pacific Beach Elementary and Kindall Lebron from Crown Point...

San Diego, CA - June 22:

The city recently painted new bike lanes along Park Boulevard in University Heights on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 in San Diego, CA. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Want to find money in city’s budget for flood fixes? Here’s where to start

April 25, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

Re "Months after devastating floods, San Diego moves one step closer to voting on a flood prevention tax this fall" (April 18): An easy way to immediately spend more on...

FILE -- A sign is shown on a Google building at their campus in Mountain View, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2019. On Friday, April 12, 2024, Google announced it was testing removing links to California news websites from some people's search results. The search giant said it was preparing in case the Legislature ed a bill requiring it to pay media companies a fee for linking to its content. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Google should follow precedent set by cable TV and pay for content

April 25, 2024 at 5:35 p.m.

Re "Google’s attempt to intimidate newspapers shows need for state legislation it opposes" (April 12): Google’s resistance to Assembly Bill 886 reminds me of the battle between local television stations...

The 32nd Annual Multi-Cultural Earth Day Celebration at the WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park on April 21, 2024. (Ariana Drehsler/For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Earth Day essays praised for being inspirational and insightful

April 24, 2024 at 5:16 p.m.

Re "We can all do more to preserve the environment" (April 19): Thank you to Faith Barton for a thoughtful and thought-provoking opinion piece. It is encouraging to read the...

Families gather and hug outside the Willie de Leon Civic Center where grief counseling will be offered in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. - A teenage gunman killed 18 young children in a shooting at an elementary school in Texas on Tuesday, in the deadliest US school shooting in years. The attack in Uvalde, Texas -- a small community about an hour from the Mexican border -- is the latest in a spree of deadly shootings in America, where horror at the cycle of gun violence has failed to spur action to end it. (Photo by allison dinner / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON DINNER/AFP via Getty Images)

Guns are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. Where’s the outrage?

April 24, 2024 at 12:01 p.m.

Re "Poway district must do more to protect students" (April 10): One issue the author fails to mention is the necessity of reducing gun violence through national legislation that limits...

ArtWalk, hosted by Mission Federal Credit Union, will take over the streets of Little Italy this weekend.

The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: April 26-28

April 24, 2024 at 5:25 p.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28.FridayWetzel’s Pretzels 30th anniversary: The pretzel brand is celebrating...

The Sport of St. Louis flies over Belmont Park in 1927. (ONE TIME USE)

Spirit above Belmont

April 24, 2024 at 12:02 a.m.

U-T staff writer Lori Weisberg wrote in last Sunday's Business section about big plans to update the nearly 100-year-old Belmont Park in Mission Bay. That got From the Archives thinking...

Houston Dash's María Sánchez (7) handles the ball during an NWSL soccer match, Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Cary, N.C. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

Wave acquire Mexican National Team soccer star Maria Sanchez in trade with Dash

April 23, 2024 at 4:51 p.m.

San Diego Wave FC acquired veteran forward and Mexican National Team star María Sánchez from the Houston Dash on Monday.Sánchez will be under contract with the Wave through the 2026...

San Diego, California - February 16: Activities at City Heights Library are made possible by the new library equity program that shifts donation money from branches in high-income areas to branches in low-income areas. in City Heights on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Cutting library funding will haunt the city of San Diego by hurting children

April 23, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

Re "Gloria’s proposed budget avoids painful cuts with borrowing, other short-term fixes" (April 12): The proposed extreme cuts to the city of San Diego’s libraries is a bad move anytime...

A 16-year-old Feby was trafficked in late 2019 for more than four months before she escaped. She aspires of becoming a teacher

Abuse victim’s powerful message must resonate with San Diego community

April 23, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.

Re "I waited to report my abuse. Here’s why I hope other victims don’t suffer in silence." (April 17): Too many childhood sexual abuse perpetrators have escaped punishment. As the...

SAN DIEGO, CA MARCH 3: Newly bloomed Ranunculus Flowers during opening day at The Carlsbad Flower Fields on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in Carlsbad. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker for The SD Union-Tribune)

The best things to do this week in San Diego: April 22-26

April 22, 2024 at 7:27 p.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, April 22 to Friday, April 26.Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to...

SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 20: A view of power lines during a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) public safety power shutoff on November 20, 2019 in Santa Rosa, California. PG&E has cut power to over 450,000 residents throughout Northern California as extremely windy and dry conditions are increasing the risk of catastrophic wildfires. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Fixed electricity fee is not ‘progressive’ – it’s a gift to the state’s utilities

April 22, 2024 at 5:01 p.m.

Re “Ending regressive energy billing practices is a good idea” (April 14): Labeling this new “fixed fee” charge as either progressive or regressive is useless. The real deal is that...

City personnel guide tour of a vacant commercial building in the Middletown neighborhood that may be converted into the City of San Diego’s largest-ever shelter for people experiencing homelessness. The new shelter on Kettner Blvd. would have approximately 1007 beds and office space in the two vacant buildings, on two floors, with a combined 60,000 sq. ft. of space. The plan has to be approved by the San Diego city council.

‘Empty warehouse’ eyed for huge homeless shelter actually a classic Modernist building

April 22, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Re “San Diego’s dubious real estate track record slows down mayor’s proposed new 1,000-bed shelter” (April 14): In addition to the recent real estate debacles of the current mayor and...

San Diego County, CA - April 12:

California SR125 toll road (southbound lanes on right side) near the merge of California SR54 on Friday, April 12, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

SANDAG dupes public, then asks taxpayers to pay more even more? Unbelievable.

April 19, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

Re "SANDAG executives take responsibility for SR-125 toll failures but don’t explain why they waited to act" (April 12): Once again, a public agency has actively and consciously failed and...

SAN DIEGO, CA - JANUARY 13: Mayor Todd Gloria does a rehearsal of his first State of the City address just hours before delivering it at the San Ysidro Branch Library on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 in San Diego, CA. The speech was delivered virtually to comply with COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

Does mayor’s math add up on costly homeless initiative?

April 19, 2024 at 1:16 p.m.

Re "San Diego’s dubious real estate track record slows down mayor’s proposed new 1,000-bed shelter" (April 14): Mayor Todd Gloria's latest initiative to provide 1,000 beds in a potential homeless...

Jacob(last name not given) sits with his Two Pitbulls Buddy and Red along Johnson Avenue on Thursday, January 13, 2022 in El Cajon.(Photo by Sandy Huffaker for The San Diego Union-Tribune)

‘Triage’ approach and common sense needed to make progress on homelessness

April 19, 2024 at 12:01 p.m.

The millions of dollars spent on the homelessness problem are a concern for everyone. As a psychologist, I can’t help but think of an item on a mental status exam...

The University of California San Diego has entered talks to buy the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego's former gallery building at the Santa Fe Train Depot building in downtown San Diego.

CEO of museum challenges claims about its legal obligations

April 18, 2024 at 5:01 p.m.

Re "To thrive, San Diego needs to preserve, create community-based cultural infrastructure" (April 10): The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego must correct this misleading op-ed, which claims a “2004...

A sheep herder guides hi flock at 14th Street and National Avenue circa 1903. (ONE TIME USE)

A different kind of traffic

April 18, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Cars didn't seem to be an issue in National City around the turn of the 20th century. It appears to have been sheep. From the Archives presents this photo a...

San Diego, California - April 22: of Ballet Folklorico Xochipilli perform during Chicano Park Day on Saturday, April 22, 2023 in San Diego, California. This was the first time for an in-person event since 2019. Community and activists occupied the space under the Interstate 5 and the Coronado Bridge to create the park 53 years ago. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: April 19-21

April 18, 2024 at 9:01 p.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, April 19 to Sunday, April 21.FridayLa Jolla Music Society’s jazz piano mini festival: This celebration...

A wildfire burns early Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in the Emerald Bay Area near Laguna Beach, Calif. A wildfire fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds erupted in hills on the Southern California coast early Thursday but firefighters kept flames from damaging homes and after several hours officials were optimistic the blaze could be stopped. (@dustyschuh via AP)

Senior pleads for help after home insurance bill nearly triples

April 17, 2024 at 5:01 p.m.

My homeowner insurance has gone from $600 a year to over $1,700 a year. Farmers and other insurers have taken s for 100 years. While they are losing money on...

The San Diego City Council will vote on aban on polystyrene food and beverage containers on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Here, an employee gathers an order among styrofoam containers at a Mexican food restaurant in Clairemont. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune)

Will city’s Styrofoam ban only be heeded in certain neighborhoods? Maybe

April 17, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

Re “No more Styrofoam takeout containers: After 1-year reprieve, city ban takes effect for small businesses” (April 6): The city choosing to depend primarily on complaints filed by citizens is...

Pacific Beach crime log – March 2024

April 16, 2024 at 7:41 p.m.

Reported crimes in the 92109 ZIP code during March 2024 according to crimemapping.com.March 1• Felony grand theft: money/labor/property, 3700 block Promontory St., 12 a.m.• Felony assault with a deadly weapon:...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference at Carl B. Munck Elementary School, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, in Oakland, Calif. Gov. Newsom announced that California will require its 320,000 teachers and school employees to be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. The statewide vaccine mandate for K-12 educators comes as schools return from summer break amid growing concerns of the highly contagious delta variant. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, Pool)

Reports faulting Gov. Newsom not coming from partisan sources

April 16, 2024 at 5:15 p.m.

There are more reasons for Gavin Newsom to curb his braggadocious tendencies as his mediocre governorship of California is revealed weekly in exposés from multiple news sources. A March 24...

CHULA VISTA, CA - FEBRUARY 03: At Otay Lakes Road, cars enter the South Bay Expressway on an onramp of the State Route 125 toll road on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022 in Chula Vista, CA. (Eduardo Contreras / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

SANDAG can’t lose trust if agency has no trust left to lose

April 16, 2024 at 5:01 p.m.

Re "SANDAG executives take responsibility for SR-125 toll failures but don’t explain why they waited to act" (April 12): Maybe it’s time SANDAG fold its tent and all the politicians...

Details of a monthly bill from San Diego Gas & Electric.

Ending regressive energy billing is a step toward fairness for all

April 16, 2024 at 12:01 p.m.

Re "Is a $24 fixed, monthly charge on SDG&E utility bills coming your way?" (March 28): The California Public Utilities Commission's proposal is making an excellent first step in moving...

Students sit outside Student Services on the Miramar College campus.

State lawmakers, CCC officials have betrayed community college math students

April 15, 2024 at 7:15 p.m.

Re "Community colleges neglect those who struggle with math. We are professors who know what’s missing." (April 1): In physics, the rate of change of acceleration is called jerk. When...

Sheriff's Deputies escorts inmates down a secured hallway at downtown Central Jail on Nov. 18, 2015, in San Diego. San Diego County jails have had more inmate deaths than comparable sized counties for the past 14 years and has consistently failed to address the problem, according to an independent review by the California's state auditor that recommended the state legislature intervene. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)

Another story about county jail nightmares, another example of zero ability

April 15, 2024 at 10:57 p.m.

Re "Repeated failures by San Diego County jail health provider prompt sheriff to order it to fix deficiencies" (March 31): Problems attributable to NaphCare, primary contractor for health services, include...

Fans of the late singer Selena Quintanilla wait in line to attend a ceremony to award her a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

The best things to do this week in San Diego: April 15-19

April 17, 2024 at 12:04 a.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, April 15 to Friday, April 19.Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to...

About 50 people attended a workshop on March 21 in San Marcos that was hosted by energy company AES on a proposed battery storage facility the company wants to construct in North County.

North County project responding to climate change deserves fair evaluation

April 12, 2024 at 5:16 p.m.

Re “Why this battery storage plant between Escondido and San Marcos has some residents upset” (March 29): Like all new technologies, there are unknown qualities. Safety concerns must be addressed...

SAN DIEGO, CA-FEB.27: Michele LeFlever plays with "Jack" next to a homeless encampment near the Embarcadero in San Diego on Monday, February 27, 2023 (Photo by Sandy Huffaker for The San Diego Union Tribune)

Is San Diego still claiming the moniker of ‘America’s Finest City’?

April 13, 2024 at 3:36 a.m.

Yes, there are beaches, but south of Cabrillo Point, the waters are a soup of bacteria and pathogens. The city of San Diego's homeless population continues to be out of...

A massive bloom of flowers at a San Diego house in 1921. (ONE TIME USE ONLY)

Flower explosion

April 12, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

With the above-average rainfall this year, followed by the recent sun and higher temperatures, flowers and plants are popping all over the county. From the Archives goes back to 1921...

San Diego, California - April 11: John Hill, instructor teaching wood framing to a group of King-Chavez Community High School students in Lakeside on Thursday, April 11, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Career exploration

April 12, 2024 at 1:56 a.m.

Thirty King-Chavez Community High School students learned about trade careers Thursday at AGC Apprenticeship & Training in Lakeside. The students from the school in downtown San Diego looked at careers...

A helicopter prepares to drop water at a wildfire in Yucaipa, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. Three fast-spreading California wildfires sent people fleeing Saturday, with one trapping campers at a reservoir in the Sierra National Forest, as a brutal heat wave pushed temperatures into triple digits in many parts of state. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

U-T columnist’s piece on the reality of climate change draws praise

April 11, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Re "Global warming is wreaking havoc as researchers seek to cool things down" (April 7): Thank you for Michael Smolens' very important piece on the reality and expense of climate...

Hillcrest, CA - August 19: Park Boulevard, in Hillcrest, CA. {({photographer} / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: April 12-14

April 12, 2024 at 4:20 p.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, April 12 to Sunday, April 14.FridayDisney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party: Disney characters such as Tinker...

FILE - Jacques Elsair shops at a 99 Cents Only Store, on Sept. 8, 200, in Los Angeles. California-based 99 Cents Only Stores announced it will close all 371 of its outlets effective Friday, April 5, 2024, the company said, ending a 42 year retail run of selling nothing but items priced just under a dollar. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)

Closing of 99 Cents Only chain another blow to the region’s needy households

April 10, 2024 at 6:41 p.m.

Re "California-based 99 Cents Only stores closing down" (April 5): The recent news that California’s 99 Cents Only chain is liquidating its business will hit low and moderate income neighborhoods...

San Diego, CA - January 16:

In the residential community on Quito Court in Tierrasanta, evidence of crumbling asphalt and cracks appears throughout the neighborhood streets. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Engineer’s advice on tarring city roads should be heeded

April 10, 2024 at 7:15 p.m.

Re "I’m an engineer. Here’s an inexpensive way to reduce the potholes on city streets." (April 1): Many of us here in the La Jolla Shores totally agree with the...

FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2012 file photo, undocumented people fill out application forms for the Obama istration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program at Navy Pier in Chicago. A government lawyer says all new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals applications are being put in a pending bucket while officials decide whether to end the program. That means no new applicants have been accepted into the program for young immigrants even though the Supreme Court ruled it was improperly ended last month. (AP Photo/Sitthixay Ditthavong, File)

To get to stay in the U.S., I had to serve in the military. I had skin in the game.

April 9, 2024 at 10:56 p.m.

Re "Broad immigration deal may be unlikely, but can’t all agree to protect DACA youth?" (March 29): I graduated from college in 1968 during the Vietnam conflict. As a U.S....

Pleasant senior older lady resting on couch, using applications on smartphone. Happy old mature woman chatting in messenger or social network with friends or children, shopping in internet store.

How one local senior combats loneliness and keeps safe

April 9, 2024 at 5:04 p.m.

Two recent letters were about combating loneliness. One mentioned the city's R.S.V.P. program. I used it years ago to check my property when on vacation. This gave me peace of...

Camp Pendleton barracks in 1951. (ONE TIME USE)

Quonset development

April 8, 2024 at 9:40 p.m.

From the Archives travels today up to North County for this shot of the Camp Pendleton barracks in 1951 against the backdrop of Southern California coastal hills. The base was...

The proposed Seguro battery energy storage project in Escondido would use a storage container like this one at the AES facility on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.

Battery project is a threat to Eden Valley community

April 8, 2024 at 5:31 p.m.

Re “Why this battery storage plant between Escondido and San Marcos has some residents upset” (March 29): The elephant in the room with the Seguro battery storage facility proposed for...

Mickey's Search Party features performances by characters from various Disney movies, including "Coco."

The best things to do this week in San Diego: April 8-12

April 9, 2024 at 10:55 p.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, April 8 to Friday, April 12.Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to...

LA MESA, CA-JUNE 20: View of the 101 Ash Street building in Downtown San Diego on Monday, June 20, 2022. The City of San Diego has reached a settlement over the lawsuit for the building. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker for The SD Union-Tribune)

San Diego voters should rue the day they scrapped city manager form of government

April 8, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Twenty years ago, San Diego voters transferred the city manager responsibilities to the mayor. Since then, every budget and spending decision has been political rather than logical. The mayor appoints...

Carlsbad Blvd. traffic es under the Carlsbad Sign. In the distance is the old Twin Inns building that now houses a restaurant and a surf/sportswear shop.

An Oceanside resident’s perspective on what’s bad about Carlsbad

April 12, 2024 at 8:29 p.m.

On a recent Friday night, while entertaining a friend on his birthday in a popular restaurant in Carlsbad, a vehicle with an illegal or no muffler roared away from a...

FILE -Candidates, from left, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., and former baseball player Steve Garvey, stand on stage during a televised debate for candidates in the senate race to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

What Rep. Adam Schiff must do to win over progressives, voters of color in Senate race

April 6, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Now that the dust has settled in the contentious primary election to fill Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat, we need to discuss what Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, must do to win...

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 11: Some Del Cerro residents are opposing a proposed 950-seat church from All Peoples Church in San Diego, CA. (Jarrod Valliere / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Planning group identified basic flaws in All Peoples Church project early on

April 5, 2024 at 5:05 p.m.

Re "All Peoples Church sues San Diego over blocked church project" (March 27): The Navajo Community Planning Group is formally recognized by the city under Council Policy 600-24 to represent...

Sam Hodgson??U-T Hasan Ikhrata, the executive director of the San Diego Association of Governments, has laid off three of the agency’s managers.

Federal probe amounts to confirmation of SANDAG’s shoddy management

April 5, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Re "SANDAG facing probe by federal agents" (March 29): Wow! SANDAG, which has a $1.3 billion budget, is under investigation by the feds. Management's indifference to auditors and their reports...

Traditional Irish dancers perform at the Gaslamp event.

St. Paddy’s Day fest

April 4, 2024 at 8:09 p.m.

The 28th Annual ShamROCK St. Paddy’s Day Music + Beer Festival was held March 16 in the Gaslamp Quarter. The celebration featured Irish, Celtic, cover, and tribute bands, traditional Irish...

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California - March 07: People enjoy Desert Sand Verbena, sunflowers, Dune Primrose and other wildflowers off of Henderson County Road on Thursday, March 7, 2024 in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

A local reminder of wisdom of state push to protect lands and coast

April 4, 2024 at 5:16 p.m.

Re "Wildflowers bursting in parts of Anza-Borrego" (March 8): We are lucky to live in such a special area of our state and to experience the beauty of wildflower blooms....

San Diego, CA - January 12: Sidney Jesperon and Samantha Prado, both of San Diego, protest the San Diego Rodeo at Petco Park on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Author not alone in rejecting cultural traditions that involve cruelty to animals

April 4, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Re "As a child, I saw animal abuse after being told rodeos were ‘my culture.’ I disagree." (March 27): Thank you for sharing concerns with the cultural aspect of rodeos...

Guinean acrobat Idrissa Bangoura flies through the air at a Fern Street Circus performance.

The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: April 5-7

April 5, 2024 at 12:23 a.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 7.FridayFern Street Circus: The annual San Diego communities tour...

The San Diego County istration Center.<br/>

If San Diego needs the equivalent of a new City Hall, here’s an intriguing option

April 3, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

Re "San Diego continues to chase the mirage of a new City Hall" (March 29): Here's an off-the-wall, back-to-the-future solution: The city buys back the half of the County istration...

San Diego CA - March 25: The average price for regular-grade gasoline is back over the $5 per gallon mark, shown here at a 7-11 station in Kearny Mesa on Monday, March 25, 2024. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Surging gasoline prices one more reason to switch to EVs

April 3, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Re "Here’s why San Diego gas prices are going up again" (March 25): Gas prices are front-page news again. Another side of this story is that the cost of fueling...

A visitor sits on a post near the memorial for the of the Army that fought in the Battle of San Pasqual in 1846, before an Annual Memorial Service and Day of Remembrance at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. (Howard Lipin)

Veteran asks why California, unlike New York, takes cut of military retirement pay

April 2, 2024 at 5:16 p.m.

As retired military with a fixed income, living in a senior facility, I am really disappointed that California taxes military retirement pay. We moved here from New York, which is...

SAN DIEGO, CA - JANUARY 16:
SaturdayÕs warm weather was enough for many to spend the day at Ocean Beach on Jan. 16, 2021 in San Diego, CA. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Ocean Beach public restrooms a disgraceful reflection on the city

April 2, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

On Friday, I was at Ocean Beach. Sunny day, gentle breeze, new grass on the lawn, crowds of happy visitors spending money during spring vacation.Then I had to use the...

Jose Antonio Morales in the San Pasqual Valley 1920. (ONE TIME USE)

Early days in the San Pasqual Valley

April 1, 2024 at 10:43 p.m.

From the Archives heads up today to North County for this shot of the San Pasqual Valley and one of its residents, Jose Antonio Morales, in 1920 with his buggy...

San Diego’s Animal Cracker Conspiracy presents “Spectrum: Society of Wonder” at La Jolla Playhouse's 2024 Without Walls Festival April 4-7 at UCSD.

The best things to do this week in San Diego: April 1-5

April 2, 2024 at 8:41 p.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, April 1 to Friday, April 5.Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to...

San Diego CA - March 20: A cyclist rides northbound on the east side of South Coast Highway in across from the Cardiff State Beach parking lot in Encinitas on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Early Sunday, a man died after a crash here where there is a pylon and raised curb separating the bike lane and vehicle lanes. Bicyclists are also allowed to ride in the vehicle lanes. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Cyclist deaths show need for all to be gracious and willing to share the road

April 1, 2024 at 5:01 p.m.

Re “Controversy over Encinitas bike lanes renews after father of four dies in crash” (March 24): To whom do our roads belong? To the elementary student walking to school? The...

Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter, right, pulls in a rebound as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 11, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Given acceptance of sports betting, athletes enmeshed in gambling scandals no surprise

April 1, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Sports betting is now presented as a panacea for all of society's ills. Most professional leagues have integrated it into their daily business.Media conglomerates present shows ranging from fantasy leagues...

Very different views of editorial raising doubts about San Diego tax hike proposal

March 29, 2024 at 5:16 p.m.

Re "Why advocates of city tax hike lack credibility" (March 22): I wouldn’t consider voting to approve the 1 percent sales tax increase until seeing a full ing of the...

Still more evidence that Encinitas is failing to meet its housing obligations

March 29, 2024 at 9:10 p.m.

Re “State-mandated study finds it’s tough to be a renter in Encinitas” (March 18): Encinitas leaders cannot ignore the harsh displacement realities revealed in the state’s mandated analysis. The data...

Teacher Jennifer Cromar, students Soma Arai and Livvy Rattanapote, teacher Cheryl Shipley and PB Kiwanian Tony Bayona.

Pacific Beach Kiwanians honor students

March 28, 2024 at 10:27 p.m.

The Pacific Beach Kiwanis Club honored two students in March through its “Student of the Month” recognition program.Soma Arai, a fourth grader at Pacific Beach Elementary, and Livvy Rattanapote, a...

SAN DIEGO, CA.-May 2, 2016: |A MTS bus headed northbound on 54th street crossing El Cajon Blvd. Clean transit is one of the cornerstones of Mayor Kevin Faulconers Climate Action Plan. |
JOHN GIBBINS / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Heavy new spending by MTS hard to square with light public use of transit

March 28, 2024 at 5:11 p.m.

Re "Here’s what’s in MTS’ new $243M capital improvement budget" (March 15): You recently had a front-page article about big, big spending by MTS for new trolleys, buses and so...

Condos protected by rock revetments line the beach north of bungalows to replaced by a 3-story vacation rental structure.

Corporations ‘buying up’ coastal properties in Oceanside are a profound problem

March 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.

Re "More work is needed on Oceanside’s short-term rental rules. ‘Corporations are buying up the coast.'" (March 26): The city of Oceanside is debating "mini-hotels" and the destruction of neighborhoods...

The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: March 29-31

March 28, 2024 at 8:14 p.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, March 29 to Sunday, March 31.San Diego County is hoppin' with Easter egg hunts...

San Diego CA - March 20: A cyclist stops to remove a sign on the east side of South Coast Highway across from the Cardiff State Beach parking lot in Encinitas on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. The sign said remove these killer posts. Early Sunday, a man died after a crash here where there is a pylon and raised curb separating the bike lane and vehicle lanes. Bicyclists are also allowed to ride in the vehicle lanes. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

A cyclist’s perspective on recent death in Encinitas

March 27, 2024 at 5:15 p.m.

Re "Controversy over Encinitas bike lanes renews after father of four dies in crash" (March 24): The most telling and troubling sentence in the article was “Critics said the barriers...

Attorney General Merrick Garland accompanied by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, Thursday, March 21, 2024. The Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors and stifles innovation. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Prosecution or persecution? Antitrust case targeting Apple is weak

March 27, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Re "Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market" (March 21): I am disgusted by the recently announced U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Apple. It...

San Diego, California - March 26: In honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day on Friday, March 29th, Miramar National Cemetery hosted a ceremony to honor Vietnam War Veterans. Keynote speaker is Colonel Brendan P. Sullivan, Commanding Officer, 1st Marine Regiment - his father served in the Vietnam War. Sullivan takes a photo with veterans in Miramar on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Vietnam Veterans Day

March 27, 2024 at 12:20 a.m.

In honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29, Miramar National Cemetery hosted a ceremony Tuesday to honor Vietnam War veterans. Keynote speaker was Col. Brendan P. Sullivan,...

Peter Rabbit reaches out to get a "high five" from Wyatt Vallon, 2, held by Christina Vallon.

Egg-cellent festive fun at the Pacific Beach Recreation Center

March 26, 2024 at 9:48 p.m.

The Pacific Beach Recreation Center hosted its Spring Egg Hunt on March 23. In addition to the hunt, free activities included jump houses, face painting, music and games. Peter Rabbit...

Don’t buy spin on Hillcrest power play

March 26, 2024 at 6:42 p.m.

Re “Young renters get leg up over homeowners in power struggle to become neighborhood voice for Hillcrest” (March 25): It’s time for a refresher course on core principles of democracy. When...

The U.S. Naval recruit basketball team, circa 1925. (ONE TIME USE)

Hoop dreams

March 29, 2024 at 1:43 p.m.

Thanks to the San Diego State Aztecs again bringing excitement to the county with its March Madness success, From the Archives takes a look back to some other young basketball...

San Diego City Hall blasted over tax hike, Ash Street, trash study

March 28, 2024 at 7:45 p.m.

Blunders of local leaders are abundant and gallingRe “Why advocates of city tax hike lack credibility” (March 24): Sunday’s Union-Tribune was filled with recounting the blunders of our city leadership...

San Diego, CA - April 14:

Jonathan Marquez from Scripps Ranch and his son Jonathan Marquez, Jr. wait near the Padres dugout at Petco Park hoping for the chance to get a player autograph on the Padres home opening day on Thursday, April 14, 2022 in San Diego, CA. against the Atlanta Braves. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The best things to do this week in San Diego: March 25-29

March 25, 2024 at 8:18 p.m.

Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, March 18 to Friday, March 22.Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to...

Mark Arabo, seen here in 2015, has been appointed to the board of directors at the 22nd District Agricultural Association.

Why does Newsom keep appointing key figure in a local scandal to state boards?

March 25, 2024 at 1:01 p.m.

Re: “Mark Arabo named to Del Mar track operator” (March 18): California taxpayers should be furious that Gov. Newsom appointed Mark Arabo to another state commission. As your reporter notes,...

San Diego, CA - February 24: UC San Diego forward Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (12) celebrates on the court during their game against UC Irvine at LionTree Arena on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

UCSD upset in first round of CBI, finishes final season of Division I transition with 21-12 record

March 24, 2024 at 12:37 a.m.

UCSD's first-ever trip to a Division I postseason tournament featured the heartbreak that is all too often a hallmark of March.Wesley Cardet Jr. scored 30 points to lead 15th-seeded Chicago...

SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 13: The outside condition of the Epicentre, a former teen center and concert venue on Mira Mesa Boulevard, Wednesday March 13, 2024, which includes graffiti on the building, and is across the parking lot of the Verne Goodwin Mira Mesa Senior Center. (Howard Lipin / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Problems caused by neglect of city-owned Epicentre growing steadily worse

March 22, 2024 at 5:15 p.m.

Re "Abandoned Epicentre in Mira Mesa plagued by frequent vandalism" (March 15): I am glad to read that Councilmember Kent Lee is pushing the city to maintain the long-abandoned Epicentre...

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