New state housing law calls for more homes near certain transit stops
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Good Morning, I’m Lawrence K. Jackson….it’s WEDNESDAY, JULY 1ST>>>> [ MORE HOUSING COULD BE COMING TO A TRANSIT STOP NEAR YOU ]More on SB-79 next. But first... the headlines….#######
SIGNS FOR CESAR E CHAVEZ PARKWAY HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH ONES THAT NOW READ CHICANO PARK BOULEVARD
THIS COMES MONTHS AFTER THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED NUMEROUS ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AGAINST THE DECEASED LABOR LEADER
SEVERAL PARKS, INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC SPACES ACROSS THE COUNTY HAVE PREVIOUSLY REMOVED CHAVEZ'S NAME OR LIKENESS
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SOME HOSPITALITY WORKERS IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO ARE GETTING A RAISE TODAY
EMPLOYEES OF CERTAIN HOTELS AND AMUSEMENT PARKS WILL NOW MAKE NINETEEN DOLLARS AN HOUR AND EVENT CENTER WORKERS WILL MAKE JUST OVER TWENTY DOLLARS AN HOUR
THAT’S HIGHER THAN THE CITY’S CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE OF SEVENTEEN DOLLARS AND SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS AN HOUR
THAT’S BECAUSE THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO’S HOSPITALITY WAGE ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT
IT WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL BACK IN 20-25 AND THEN SIGNED INTO LAW BY MAYOR TODD GLORIA
HOURLY WAGES FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO INCREASE EACH YEAR ON JULY FIRST UNTIL REACHING TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS AN HOUR IN 20-30
THE INCREASES ARE FOR EMPLOYEES WHO WORK AT HOTELS WITH MORE THAN 150 ROOMS,... EVENT CENTERS LIKE PETCO PARK, PECHANGA ARENA, THE CIVIC THEATRE AND THE SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER ...
AS WELL AS AMUSEMENT PARKS WITH MORE THAN 75 ACRES LIKE SEAWORLD AND LEGOLAND
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ROUGHLY 8 HUNDRED THOUSAND PASSENGERS ARE ANTICIPATED TO ARRIVE OR DEPART FROM SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BETWEEN JUNE 28TH AND JULY SIXTH
AIRPORT OFFICIALS SAY THINGS WILL BE VERY BUSY AT THE AIRPORT WITH A PROJECTED 90 TO 95 THOUSAND, DAILY-TRAVELERS
THURSDAY IS ANTICIPATED TO BE THE BUSIEST DAY PRIOR TO THE HOLIDAY AND MONDAY, JULY SIXTH THE BUSIEST POST-HOLIDAY TRAVEL DAY
AIRPORT OFFICIALS ARE ASKING YOU TO CHECK YOUR FLIGHT STATUS BEFORE HEADING TO THE AIRPORT, RESERVE PARKING IN ADVANCE GET A RIDE OR TAKE A RIDE-SHARE
AND OF COURSE, ARRIVE EARLY
From KPBS, you’re listening to San Diego News Now.Stay with me for more of the local news you need.
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A NEW STATE HOUSING LAW TAKES EFFECT IN SAN DIEGO TODAY (WEDNESDAY). PUBLIC MATTERS REPORTER JAKE GOTTA TELLS US WHERE THE LAW WILL… AND WONT MAKE WAY FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT
SB79START 1 (jg/qo) TRT 1:10 SOQ
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More homes could be coming to san diego at a transit stop near you
the state law sb 79 changes zoning around certain transit stops to allow much denser housing
the law applies anywhere within a half mile of a qualifying transit stop. in san diego, that means all the trolley stations, and a handful of rapid bus stops.
but according to san diego’s city planning department only about a quarter of all areas where the law could apply will be immediately affected. here’s senior planner grant ruroede back in may
[0:10]“only areas outside of low resource areas that do not include designated historic resources, are not subject to sea level rise and not in very high fire severity zones would take effect on july 1st.”
the areas expected to see an immediate zoning change include north park, the area around uc san diego and mission valley trolley stops.
the places ruroede outlined will be phased in when the city releases an alternative plan next summer.
zack defazio farrell is an executive board member for yimby democrats of san diego, a group that advocates for more housing. he says the city is likely waiting to study the impact of dense housing in those areas – but they shouldn’t need to
[0:04]
“we have a pretty good sense of what the impact of more housing will be. it will be stabilizing prices.”
jake gotta, kpbs news
ANCHOR TAG: YOU CAN FIND AN INTERACTIVE MAP OF WHERE THE LAW WILL APPLY IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO ON KPBS DOT ORG
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A NEW REPORT SAYS MORE OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY’S HISPANIC AND LATINO STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
EDUCATION REPORTER KATIE ANASTAS TELLS US WHY.
LATINOGRAD1 1:10 SOQ
It was 2020 when Karlo Vazquez Melendez started his freshman year of high school. Trying to focus on school during COVID was difficult, but he found reasons to stick with it.
It was people in my life that knew that I was capable of doing something.
Organizations like the Barrio Logan College Institute kept him on track. It serves students who would be the first in their families to go to college.
It was definitely something that I knew I could rely on every step of the way.
Now, he’s studying political science at San Diego State University.
A new report shows he’s part of a growing number of Hispanic and Latino students graduating from high school in San Diego County.
In 2005, only 7 in 10 graduated from high school. By 2023, that number had grown to 9 in 10.
Dean Gerdeman is with the San Diego Foundation. They helped fund the report. He says high schools are making changes, too.
Schools are doing better at more kind of consistently tracking and supporting students and intervening earlier.
He says career training and college courses are helping keep students engaged through graduation. Katie Anastas, KPBS News.
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FILIPINO-AMERICANS IN SAN DIEGO HAVE MAINTAINED CULTURAL AND FAITH TRADITIONS FOR DECADES THROUGH REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS.
REPORTER ELAINE ALFARO TAKES US TO ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NATIONAL CITY FOR A FIESTA.
MANILAFIESTAS EA/KS/DKW (4:41) SOC
**NATS OF PROCESSION
On a warm Saturday morning in May, ringing bells pierced through the quiet in the neighborhood surrounding St. Mary’s Church on E 8th Street in National City.
Men donning traditional barongs and women glittering in Filipiniana dresses, sparkled in the morning light … at times, stopping traffic. A replica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag statue rose above the crowd.
Though she was traversing the streets of San Diego, Salvacion Peralta (Peer-alta) felt a connection to her home.
SALVA SOT
Audio: SALVACION INTERVIEW / 51:29-51:33 BUTT 51:42-51:44
“The church always brings people closer together.” BUTT TO “Going to the church, because that's how we grow up.”
The original Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag statue draws thousands to the municipality of Manaoag, Philippines for the same procession. The statue is an image of Mary that's considered sacred in the Pangasinan region of the Philippines.
SALVA SOT
Audio: SALVACION INTERVIEW / 6:34-6:57
“We're very successful celebrating the biannual fiesta celebration of our blessed mother, our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, or we call it Apo Baket, which means old lady, but that's how sheshe was called there over in the Philippines and we do it here too.”
Catholicism came to the Philippines through Spanish colonization which lasted from the mid 1500s until the turn of the 20th century. It’s now ingrained in much of Filipino culture and identity.
And the many layers of Filipino culture have been represented in San Diego for decades. The Pangasinan, Bicol and Cavite regions all have their own clubs … where traditional dance, stories and food are honored.
Salvador Flor was born and raised in San Diego. His father, a Navy veteran, was involved in the Bicol Club.
SAL SOT
“You had the regional club. You had the church and you had the family..” BUTT TO “To me, the church is a safety net for our Filipino community.”
The Navy was another strong connection.
SAL SOT
“The regional clubs really set the basis of camaraderie for the new Navy guys. Because the Navy guys would come here, be stationed locally they'd have some relatives in San Diego… they would basically try to find the region they're from.”
The mothers, aunties and grandmothers also played pivotal roles in these associations. Charlotte Guarnes (guar-nez) Fajardo (Fah-hardo) says she was 12 years old when her aunt and other women started San Diego’s Bicol Club in 1962.
CHARLOTTE SOT
Audio: STE-023 / 2:59-3:12
“She was quite a leader. She told the men to stay in the kitchen, take care of the children, while the women went into the bedroom to talk about how they could support each other. And that was the birth of the Bicol Club.”
Fajardo says the club was formed by women to support women.. A main focus was ensuring that their children kept a connection to their homeland as they grew up in the United States.
CHARLOTTE SOT
Audio: STE-023 / 5:10-5:21
“Making sure that they understood their culture, making sure that we had events around our faith and making sure we had plenty of parties and times to entertain each other.”
The fiestas are a throughline for each of the regional groups.
**START NATS HERE, BRING NATS DOWN UNDER FOLLOWING TRACK
Back at the fiesta at St. Mary’s Church, the Devotees of Our Lady of Manaoag gathered for mass after the procession…. The smell of incense wafts through the air.
Important leaders in the Catholic Filipino faith even flew into town for the mass and feast.
NATS OF PRIOR RECTOR SPEAKING
After mass, the attendees formed a winding line through the church’s community auditorium, the smell of lechon and pancit setting the table for continued fellowship. Peralta (Peer-alta) plays a big role in planning the festivities.
SALVA SOT
Audio: SALVACION INTERVIEW / 45:35-45:53
“SO when there's a fiesta, there's a mass, there's food right after. And it's also a fellowship. You get to mingle with your fellow devotees, fellow Filipinos.”
The challenge lies with the younger generations who don’t have memories of celebrating these traditions and holidays in the Philippines. Making sure they see the value and importance of the religious and cultural traditions.
Peralta said there is a solid foundation to build upon.
SALVA SOT
Audio: SALVACION INTERVIEW / 42:33-42:52
“We set a good example and so the youth to follow what we do like praying the rosary, bringing the statue house to house, celebrate the fiesta. So when we are gone the next generation will do the same thing.”
That is Peralta’s hope.
Elaine Alfaro KPBS news
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SAN DIEGO IS MOVING TO CRACK DOWN ON LANDLORDS THAT CHARGE FEES IN ADDITION TO MONTHLY RENT.
METRO REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN SAYS THE PROPOSAL WOULD ALSO BAN CHARGING RENT FOR PETS.
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PETRENT 1 (ab) 0:48 soq
AB: According to the ASPCA, the average pet rent in San Diego is $51 per month. It's one example of what critics call "junk fees." Those are charges on top of rent that can be confusing and aren't always disclosed upfront. City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera is proposing to require landlords to itemize and explain all those fees when advertising a unit. He would also cap their sum total at 5% of monthly rent.
SER: This isn't about creating unnecessary burdens. It's about restoring fairness, increasing transparency and helping rebalance the relationship between tenants and landlords so renters have the information they need to make informed decisions.
AB: The City Council discussed the measure Tuesday. A final vote is expected sometime in the fall. Andrew Bowen, KPBS news.
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That’s it for the podcast today. As always you can find more San Diego news online at KPBS dot org. I’m Lawrence K. Jackson. Thanks for listening and have a great day.
