Today’s newsletter is presented by San Diego International Film Festival.
Good morning, San Diego ☀️
Here’s what we have for you today:
- Gasoline prices are just 6 cents away from matching the all-time high average for the county.
- Teachers at Cal State San Marcos are integrating the arts into other subjects to make up for a staffing gap.
Jennifer Vigil
News editor
Top story
September in Barrio Logan: Flags, churros family memories and celebrations, even in uncertain times
Festivals are a treat, from the colorful art and delighted children to the abundance of good food and even better cheer.
We don’t need much of an excuse in San Diego to hold a fest. The weather is too fine and the atmosphere so welcoming that streets throughout the region are packed with festival-goers from early spring through the holidays.
But there’s something about cultural fests focused on Latinos, during Hispanic Heritage Month, and especially when they are held in a neighborhood like Barrio Logan in a border city. The community is home to many transplants from Mexico, yes, but some have come from farther-flung countries than our cross-border neighbor.
The month-long celebration (it’s unconventional, beginning in mid-September and continuing through mid-October) includes Mexico’s Independence Day. But in communities that share a cultural heritage, the festivities often aren’t confined to a simple four-week period, as our Alejandro Maciel points out.
Alejandro aimed to capture a portrait of the spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month, Barrio-Logan style, in 2026 and he paints it with both light and dark strokes. But he also explores the sense of reflection and longing that many residents feel for the old country, wherever it may be, and the bittersweet feeling of older generations as they watch their children and grandchildren leave some of their heritage behind.
Whether he’s musing about the differences between Hispanic/Latino/Latinx, Mexico’s love affair with fútbol or Dolly Parton’s depth and insight, his reflections are special – and this essay on Hispanic Heritage Month is no different. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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Stories you should know about
🏡 How do you get a housing permit in California? He can hook you up, for a fee: Tanner “The Planner” Blackman’s job is mostly under the radar, but indispensable in today’s housing market.
☔️ Here’s where you can pick up sandbags to prepare for El Niño storm flooding: The city says high tides throughout the weekend could cause “temporary flooding in low-lying coastal areas like Midway and Mission Beach.”
🩺Officials issue warning after E. coli outbreak from raw milk cheese reaches San Diego: Two people were affected in the outbreak, which has been linked to some Sierra Nevada Graziers products.
Times of San Diego thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.
In case you missed it…
Weekdays get busy—we know. And with so much from Times of San Diego, good stories can slip by. Here are a few worth your time:
📸 She died at the San Diego border. A surveillance camera was in plain sight. Read it here.
🎨 Times of San Diego’s Fall Arts Guide. Find it here.
🌊 San Diego County’s iconic coastal locations face triple threat from ‘Super El Niño.’ Read it here.
💻 SDPD now discloses why officers search Flock license plate readers. Nearly 4,000 times, the reason was ‘other.’ Read it here.
⚾️ Padres clinch playoff spot, now final weekend of season will determine if Wild Card round is at Petco. Read it here.
🎹 Ocean Beach’s Grateful Dead Mondays aren’t going anywhere, but they won’t be at Winston’s anymore. Read it here.
🪭 After summer of ‘Giants,’ MCASD seeks to thrive by opening its galleries – and its walls – to new communities. Read it here.