We’ll tell you why you might be hearing more about El Niño
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Good Morning, I’m Lawrence K. Jackson, it’s FRIDAY, JUNE 12TH >>>> WETTER AND STORMIER WEATHER COULD BE COMINGMore on WHY next. But first... let’s do the headlines….########
THE OPERATORS OF SIX SHORT-TERM RENTALS AGREED TO SHUT THEM DOWN AS PART OF A SETTLEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.
THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE REPORTS THAT THE UNITS WERE OPERATING WITHOUT PERMITS IN MID-CITY NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDING NORMAL HEIGHTS, NORTH PARK, BARRIO LOGAN AND CITY HEIGHTS
NOW, ALL SIX OF THE PROPERTIES CAN NO LONGER BE RENTED ON A SHORT-TERM BASIS AND MUST BE REMOVED FROM ALL VACATION RENTAL PLATFORMS
THE U-T SAYS THEY ALSO CANNOT APPLY FOR LICENSES UNTIL 20-28
A CITY SPOKESPERSON TOLD THE U-T THAT SINCE ENFORCEMENT FIRST BEGAN, MORE THAN SIXTEEN-THOUSAND SHORT TERM RENTALS HAVE BEEN REMOVED
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FORTY-SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN VOTER-APPROVED FUNDING IS GOING TOWARDS HELPING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TIJUANA RIVER POLLUTION
GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM ANNOUNCED THE FUNDING YESTERDAY
COUNTY SUPERVISOR PALOMA AGUIRRE ISSUED A STATEMENT IN RESPONSE SAYING SHE APPRECIATES THE GOVERNOR'S ATTENTION TO ADDRESSING THE CRISIS AND SAID THE PRIORITY IS GETTING THE FUNDING TO THE TIJUANA RIVER VALLEY QUICKLY
ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISION... SINCE 20-18, MORE THAN 100 BILLION GALLONS OF RAW SEWAGE, CHEMICALS AND TRASH HAVE POURED INTO THE RIVER
A MAIN CAVEAT OF THE NEWS IS THAT FUNDING WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON A GRANT-BY-GRANT BASIS FOR PROJECTS THAT REDUCE BACTERIA OR TRASH AND ADDRESS PUBLIC HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES
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THE NAT IS GIVING THE AGE-OLD SAYING OF, ONE PERSON’S TRASH IS ANOTHER PERSON’S TREASURE, A REAL-LIFE APPLICATION
THE MUSEUM SAYS THAT VISITORS CAN DO JUST THAT AT THEIR WASHED ASHORE : ART TO SAVE THE SEA EXHIBITION
THE EXHIBITION TAKES GARBAGE AND DEBRIS FROM THE OCEAN AND TRANSFORMED IT INTO ARTISTIC SCULPTURES
THE NAT SAYS THAT MORE THAN 25 SCULPTURES OF MARINE CREATURES HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED FROM PLASTIC WASTE COLLECTED ALONG OUR COASTLINES
VISITORS WILL SEE JELLYFISH, A CRAB, A WHALE RIB CAGE, EEL AND MORE MADE FROM UPCYCLED ITEMS LIKE BOTTLE CAPS, FLIP FLOPS, LIGHTERS AND EVEN TOOTHBRUSHES
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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YOU’RE GOING TO BE HEARING A LOT MORE ABOUT EL NIÑO IN THE COMING MONTHS. THAT’S BECAUSE FORECASTERS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK (Thursday) IT’S HERE. ENVIRONMENT REPORTER TAMMY MURGA SAYS METEOROLOGISTS PREDICT VERY STRONG CONDITIONS LATER THIS YEAR.
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ELNINO 1 :55 SOC
In California, that could mean wetter and stormier weather. Ariel Cohen is with the National Weather Service.
ELNINO 1a 00:10
“El Niño conditions already present at this point and expected to strengthen across the Northern Hemisphere into the wintertime.”
He says strong El Niño events typically bring warmer ocean temperatures and higher-than-average rain to Southern California.
Take the one from 1982 to 1983. Colossal waves severely damaged the Scripps Pier.
ELNINO 1b 00:13
“There can be flooding, and, and these large coastal impacts,
That’s Daniel Cayan. He is a climate researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
"It's not only high sea levels, but it's the wind wave field, these big swells that develop.”
He says every El Niño is different. The one in 2015 brought drier-than-normal conditions to California. Tammy Murga, KPBS News
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SAN DIEGO MAYOR TODD GLORIA SAYS HE IS SIGNING THE BUDGET APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. IT FULLY FUNDS THE ARTS. BUT FOR OUR LATEST EDITION OF WHY IT MATTERS, VOICE OF SAN DIEGO’S SCOTT LEWIS REPORTS THE FUNDING SOURCE ISN’T SUSTAINABLE.
BUDGETC (vosd) TRT (1:02) SOQ “why it matters”
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The City Council found $6 million for arts from an unexpected source: The 2020 ballot measure to expand the Convention Center downtown.
It was called Measure C. And it raised taxes on hotel room stays for three purposes: to improve homeless services, fix roads and … expand the Convention Center. Voters approved it in 2020 but for years it was held up in court.
Now, the city is not using the money for a new convention center expansion. But it will use some of it to pay for the last time it was expanded – in 2001.
The city still pays about $12 million a year on the debt it took out for that building.
The ballot measure to expand the convention center again does say the money can be used for existing debt.
City attorneys decided it was legal to use it just to pay off the old debt while not funding a new expansion.
The debt from the 2001 expansion will be paid off in 2028. So the city could only do this for one more year if they don’t find a solution to arts funding soon.
For Voice of San Diego, I’m Scott Lewis and that’s why it matters.
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WORLD CUP SOCCER IS FINALLY HERE! THE FIRST GAME BETWEEN MEXICO AND SOUTH AFRICA … KICKED OFF YESTERDAY IN MEXICO CITY. THE UNITED STATES PLAYS THEIR FIRST GAME TODAY!
REPORTER JACOB AERE SAYS WATCH PARTY CELEBRATIONS WERE HELD IN SAN DIEGO TO COMMEMORATE THE TRINATIONAL TOURNAMENT.
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MEXWATCH 1 (:50)
*nat pop of music fade to ambi*
Mexican soccer fans from across the region wearing green, white and red … packed the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego to cheer on their men’s national soccer team in the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Magali Castaneda (MAH-gah-lee) helped to open celebrations … dancing baile folklorico.
She said the World Cup provides a moment of relief from the ramped up immigration enforcement tactics in the U.S.
“It means a lot to me, especially in tough times for the Mexicans, for the race and everyone. It is very nice and heartwarming to be able to celebrate, express myself and culture here and start the World Cup.”
Mexico beat South Africa 2-0! Their next game is June 18th against South Korea. JA, KPBS News.
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SOME PADRES FANS CLOCKED IN FROM PETCO PARK ON WEDNESDAY, ATTEMPTING TO WORK REMOTELY DURING THE BASEBALL GAME. ARTS REPORTER JULIA DIXON EVANS CHECKED IN WITH FANS AS THEY WORKED.
PADRESREMOTE (1:22) SOQ
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Wednesday's Padres game against the Cincinnati Reds was a "Remote Work Wednesday," a themed game inviting fans to take their laptops and workday to the ballpark.
"I mean, just like work from home people typically, it seems like they're pretty lonely, you know"
Scotty Muirhead, known online as "the remote worker guy," said he wants to build community and challenge traditional ideas about where work happens.
"so it's like we're in the, you know, best city in America. I think as long as you're doing your job and you're getting the work done, then it shouldn't matter where you're doing it from. I mean that, that's my philosophy."
As the Padres players labored on the field to a 5-4 win, fans in the stands sent emails, closed deals — and even worked on cancer research.
"we are designing a couple of new, um, phase two trials. So these are early, um, early drug development trials in, in cancer, uh, so for prostate cancer in particular."
For some, it was a fresh approach to productivity.
"I strongly support working remote. I think it gives you a peace of mind, and you're not in the office feeling pressure"
"I'm surprised. I'm looking at some other people. They're pretty heads down and focused, so- I know ... headphones on."
The Padres are considering more "Remote Work Wednesdays" in the future — but if you think your boss won't mind, bring your laptop to a game anytime.
Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS News
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AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY IS BEING COMMEMORATED IN A MULTITUDE OF WAYS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING HERE IN SAN DIEGO. FOR JUNE’S MUSEUM A MONTH, REPORTER JOHN CARROLL VISITED THE SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER WHERE A VERY SPECIAL EXHIBIT COMMEMORATING THE ANNIVERSARY IS COMING TOGETHER.
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MAMHISTORY FEATURE 4:06 SOQ
For a moment as momentously historic as the 250th birthday of the United States - you would expect a place focused on history to do something special. For the San Diego History Center in the heart of Balboa Park, that means a unique look at how the last 250-years have unfolded here.
“So this is quite an ambitious project for us and actually for any museum because the concept is San Diego history, 1776 to 2026, in 100 objects.”
Dr. Tina Zarpour is the History Center’s Vice President of Community Engagement, Collections and Education. So, how do you choose 100 objects to tell a 250-year old story? Zarpour says that’s where community engagement and education came together… engaging with students from U-C San Diego and San Diego State - to choose those 100 objects.
“We brought them in and took them through a whole training regimen, basically a course on how to understand objects, how to work with the public, how to write labels for the, for objects, how to do object-based learning and interpretation.”
The displays run the gamut… everything from the deadly serious old cannon that used to be at the Serra Museum - to a Jack in the Box head… remember those? When you used the drive through, you’d give your order by speaking to the clown head.
You may know Jack in the Box was founded in San Diego, and it’s still headquartered here.
Just steps away from Jack’s head - you find a voluminous book - a priceless artifact from a pivotal moment in San Diego history.
“This is the guest register from the 1915 Expo, and every single person that came signed their name in the book.”
Moments in San Diego’s architectural history are here… intricate architectural models of the late San Diego, Jack Murphy, Qualcomm stadium - and Horton Plaza…
Dr. Zarpour then moved on to a display from just a few years ago.
“This flag is one of our newer objects. It dates from 2019 and this flag has the distinction of being the first flag of the Kumeyaay Nation that was flown over the Presidio in Balboa Park.”
Zarpour says it was important to the History Center to present as fulsome a picture as possible of our history. That includes dark moments. One display shows a couple of small pieces that tell of the KKK’s presence here… an honorary ribbon and a taillight cover with those infamous three letters. It was donated by the son of a Klan member.
“He felt it was important to preserve this history in San Diego and we feel it’s important to interpret this history and, you know, show the good and the bad.”
There are uniforms worn by members of the United States Navy - a nod to our military history - and an unassuming little Smith Corona typewriter that was used to draft the founding documents of the Women’s Studies Department at San Diego State… the first of its kind in the nation.
“What do you hope visitors take away when it's all done? They come, they see it, they walk out those doors. What do you hope they think or talk about?” “First, that there is always a San Diego connection, right? Second, multiple narratives, multiple stories, not the single narrative. //CUT TO 15:20:20// Sometimes it's memory, sometimes it's nostalgia, sometimes it's something completely new that they've never encountered before. And that's what we wanted to embrace, is really people's relationship with the past through objects and artifacts. We're used to telling histories through timelines, through events, through people, through the written word, but this is telling history through objects.”
Objects that… with apologies to Ken Kramer - tell you a lot about San Diego. JC, KPBS News.
ANCHOR TAG
“AMERICA AT 250 - SAN DIEGO 1776 THROUGH 2026” OPENS JUNE 18TH AND RUNS THROUGH JULY 31ST AT THE SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER IN BALBOA PARK.
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AS WE DO FOR YOU EACH AND EVERY FRIDAY, HERE ARE SOME WEEKEND EVENT
IDEAS THAT YOU AND YOURS COULD CHECK OUT!
FOR SAN DIEGANS LOOKING TO CELEBRATE UPCOMING WORLD CUP MATCHES … SDFC IN COLLABORATION WITH FIT-SOCIAL IS HOSTING A 39-DAY SOCCER PARTY, STEPS AWAY FROM MISSION BEACH
SD-FC SAYS THAT VIEWINGS FOR ALL OF THE WORLD CUP MATCHES ARE AVAILABLE; A MAJORITY OF THEM ARE FREE… BUT ALL REQUIRE ONLINE REGISTRATION FIRST
ON SATURDAY, ART LOVERS CAN CHECK OUT THE 20-26 SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL. IT’S CELEBRATING LIBERTY STATION'S ART DISTRICT BEING NAMED A CALIFORNIA CULTURAL DISTRICT
THERE YOU CAN CHECK OUT ART INSTALLATIONS, LIVE MUSIC, A CURATED ART MARKET, WORKSHOPS AND LIVE PAINTING DEMONSTRATIONS
AND SUNDAY IS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY AT THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR
FROM 11 A-M UNTIL 8 AT THE DEL MAR ARENA YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THE RICHNESS THAT IS INDIGENOUS CULTURE
ATTENDEES CAN ENJOY THE TRADITION OF BIRD DANCING AND BIRD SINGING AND MORE!
WHATEVER YOU DO THIS WEEKEND, ENJOY!
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That’s it for the podcast today. This podcast is edited by Brooke Ruth AND hosted and produced by me, Lawrence K. Jackson. As always you can find more San Diego news online at KPBS dot org. Thanks for listening and have a great day/weekend.
