This week, the Voice of San Diego hosts have the latest on a couple big stories we've been following.

But first we'll circle back to a topic we covered a while back — the regulation of street vendors — which is now creating problems for some yoga instructors and luxury picnic businesses that have been operating on public land. 

Plus: Education reporter Jakob McWhinney on why all schools aren't using research-backed methods for teaching kids how to read. The hunt for a new county CAO sparks threats of a lawsuit. San Diego City Council appears unimpressed by revised lease terms for a proposed homeless shelter.

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This week, the Voice of San Diego hosts dive into three burgeoning beefs between local politicos.

The hunt for a new county CAO has become highly political, and more recently devolved into a debate over what white people are allowed to say in Spanish. 

Editor Scott Lewis pulls back the curtain on the backlash from some local leaders over statements candidate Bridgette Browning directed at Chair Nora Vargas during a labor rally.

Plus: South Bay leaders battle over proposed landfill. A bidding war between the supes and a local nonprofit over a Vista ranch. An update on Mayor Todd Gloria's proposed mega-shelter.

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Senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt has been watching the city of San Diego's real estate deals for years.

101 Ash St. was a notorious real estate endeavor in which the the city entered a lease-to-own deal for a downtown high rise. The deal was quickly engulfed in scandal and asbestos. After years of lawsuits and a criminal investigation, taxpayers paid more than $200 million dollars and the building remains vacant.

So, when Mayor Todd Gloria unveiled a big new deal for a big new building to be a new homeless mega shelter, Halverstadt dug in.

This week, Halverstadt discussed how this building came to the attention of city staff and the motivations of the man trying to sell it.

Plus: A new softball scandal. What "fire SDG&E" really means. Goodbye to Nate.

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It wouldn’t be a presidential election year without a massive list of ballot measures. But a big one that would have stuck it to San Diego Gas & Electric's power supremacy was stalled — in large part because of a labor union.

This week, we discuss a feud between SDG&E and public power proponents that played out in front of a San Diego City Council committee.

Plus: The forgotten history of Midway. Students walk out of Logan Memorial. Our fight for public records.

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There was always a theory that if we were going to legalize cannabis, the people who used to get in trouble for selling it should get a chance to sell it again.

The city of San Diego secured a grant to give people like that a leg up. But now it looks like they'll have to send the grant money back.

This week, host Andrea Lopez-Villafaña shares an update to the city's Cannabis Social Equity program.

Plus: The uncanny valley of education. Big questions and budget woes decelerate Mayor Todd Gloria's homeless shelter deal.

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It was a big week for things that used to be things.

The Republican Party of San Diego County, once a local political juggernaut, lost its chairwoman after an internal battle over Carl DeMaio, who is running for state Assembly against Andrew Hayes.

Despite DeMaio’s efforts to drag a Democrat to the runoff, he will face Hayes, a fellow Republican.

This week, we discuss the endorsement battle that threatened to splinter an already weak political faction — and ultimately led to the emergence of a new party leader.

Plus: Students learning online are performing way worse than their in-person peers. SDSU isn't interested in a Mission Valley arena.

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Tiara Gray was bright. She was artsy, well-written — an old soul in a young body, people said.

She was from the Appalachian region of Maryland, a small place with few prospects for what many consider "good careers."

Gray scored high on an aptitude test that caught the attention of the U.S. Navy. For Gray, like many people across the country, the military offered rare opportunities. So, she joined.

Through her recruitment process, Gray reportedly withheld information about her mental health. Lying is apparently common, and encouraged, during military recruitments.

This week, senior investigative reporter Will Huntsberry tells Gray's story — and explains what happened after Gray was recruited, as she managed her fragile mental health while stuck in the machine of the U.S. Navy.

Listener warning: This discussion happens in the final segment of the show (after the ad break) and contains discussion of self harm and suicide.

If you or someone you know might be considering suicide, there is help. Call or text 988, the Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline.

Plus: Mayor Todd Gloria announces plans for a 1,000-bed shelter. And the most affordable housing projects in San Diego.

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For a long time, Voice has followed the tale of school in Logan Heights.

The school has changed names and faces in recent years. It’s got an impressive new building. It used to be called Logan Memorial Prep, now it’s Logan Memorial Educational Campus.

Logan Memorial has served generations of residents. And through that time it has modified its educational offerings and appearance. But as host Jakob McWhinney explains this week, throughout all these changes one thing remained the same: its bad reputation. It’s still one of the most avoided schools in the district.

This week, we talk about what the school can do to turn things around.

Plus: New theme music. Baseball and Petco Park. An update to the Fletcher saga.

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Three propositions on the November ballot could change everything across the state of California.

This week, we discuss three props that are having direct conversations with each other. They're all about taxes — and how hard it should be for voters to pass them. The outcome of these props also impacts local measures that are moving forward to boost city revenue, fund stormwater systems and roads.

Plus: Baseball gloves. A new police chief. The broken border sewage plant.

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This week, the San Diego City Council voted to explore the creation of a special tax district. Some called it "a major subsidy" to a large-scale project that would redevelop Sports Arena and the surrounding area.

This special tax district could generate extra funds to make the big project possible, especially for all the extra infrastructure needed to serve the housing units that developers promised. The specific name for this kind of setup is called an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District. Or EIFD for short.

But, c'mon. What even is that? Scott Lewis will explain it.

Plus: When January flood victims suffered, local governments got caught in red tape. And even more election results.

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The March Primary seemed like a boring lemon but we’re going to squeeze some juice out of it.

The VOSD Podcast is not the place for your Biden-Trump angst or opinions of how "feisty" the State of the Union was. This is the place for commentary on the city attorney "vibes vote," and to drill down Council districts and mayoral candidates.

This week, we discuss the Primary results.

Note: This podcast was recorded on Thursday afternoon. See vosd.org for the latest election info.

Plus: A city auditor's report shows how much the city overpaid for a hotel during the pandemic — and why.

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