Today’s newsletter is presented by Wild Fork.
Good morning, San Diego ☀️
Here’s what we have for you today:
- San Diego State’s theatre program is 100 years old.
- We shared yesterday, but it’s an oddity that bears repeating: A Little Italy light pole fell over, because of too much dog pee.
Andrew Keatts
General manager and editor
Top story
More strife for Grossmont school board – conservative bloc fractures over misconduct allegations
Good luck finding a local government that erupts into fireworks as often as the Grossmont Union High School board.
For years, board members have feuded over national social issues, recall attempts, layoffs and allegations of improper political coordination between district staff and elected officials.
Thursday’s board meeting again displayed the district’s dysfunction. The board voted against censuring Jim Kelly, one of the trustees, after public records obtained by the Union-Tribune revealed he had leaked confidential information and attempted to influence the district’s superintendent through proxies.
When the 3-2 vote not to punish Kelly came down, audience members erupted, shouting “coward” at the board.
Kelly denied the allegations and relied on board bylaws to prevent discussion. Rob Shield, the board president, read excerpts from the emails aloud, and Kelly did not attempt to counter them.
“This gives me no pleasure. We have a long history, and honestly, I had what I thought was a cooperative relationship with Mr. Kelly for 18 of the last 20 years,” said Shield, who wrote the motion to censure Kelly. “However, I have no choice because I’ve done everything I could do to encourage, challenge, press him into compliance.”
Check it all out in Drew Sitton’s coverage of yet another tumultuous board meeting at the county’s most tumultuous body.
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Stories you should know about
⛈️ A Tropical storm watch has been issued for San Diego County from Friday through Tuesday: High winds are expected to begin Saturday evening and the storm could bring down trees or trigger flash flooding as it moves through the region.
🇮🇷 President Trump keeps bringing up the risk of Iran striking San Diego or Los Angeles: After his comments generated bipartisan condemnation this week, he’s emphasized that he was warning of the potential for an attack without U.S. intervention.
🏗️ College Area residents fear a developer is steering the future of the community’s library: They say it’s time for the city, or the mayor, to step up and dictate what’s happening now that a private, mixed-use project is going up on land next to the library, a place that residents have long used for parking.
What else we’re reading
🤖 The San Diego Police Department is considering using artificial intelligence to write police reports. (Voice of San Diego)
⚖️ A lawsuit from a former top county bureaucrat against the Board of Supervisors, alleging officials conspired to deny him a promotion, is going to trial. (Union-Tribune)
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What to do this weekend
Need weekend plans? We’ve got you. ⭐ = free
🪗 OB Oktoberfest, Ocean Beach (Today, 12–11:30 p.m.)
🍷 La Jolla Art & Wine Fest, Girard Avenue (Today–Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.) ⭐️
🇹🇭 Thai to the World, Liberty Station (Sunday, 1–6 p.m.)