Today’s newsletter is presented by Port of San Diego Waterfront of Opportunity.
Good morning, San Diego ☀️
Here’s what we have for you today:
- You have until 8 p.m. to turn in your ballot or vote at one of the many San Diego County voting centers.
- Check us out: We won big at the 53rd Annual San Diego Press Club Journalism Awards (more on that below).
- And shoutout to reader Mat Wahlstrom, who correctly guessed yesterday’s “Step back in time” question. Don’t forget to scroll to see if you got it right too.
Tessa Balc
Audience engagement producer
Top story
Pro-housing group says San Diego is breaking state law by delaying Pacific Beach tower
The controversial Turquoise Tower development in Pacific Beach has another legal challenge surrounding it, this time from the folks who want to see the 23-story towers through.
If you haven’t kept up with this development, it’s a project that relies on the state’s Density Bonus Law to propose a mixed-use tower on Turquoise Street in Pacific Beach. The cruz of the issue (besides height), is the developer’s gambit to maximize units in the project by including “hotel rooms” that they intend to rent out through traditional, long-term leases rather than nightly or weekly stays. Kinda like… apartments.
Some residents have organized against the project, garnering the support of Rep. Scott Peters. City planners themselves have raised concerns with the project.
But now, the YIMBY Democrats of San Diego County aren’t happy with this opposition. They’ve elevated their concerns to the mayor’s office, saying the city is breaking state housing laws by requiring special approval of the project.
They haven’t taken legal action, but are instead pointing out that they believe the city is caving to public pressure rather than abiding by laws aimed at expediting housing production.
When it comes to where the project actually stands, a city spokesperson told us that the developer is expected to resubmit its plans soon.
FYI: You have until 8 p.m. today to drop off your ballot or vote at one of the many vote center across San Diego County.
Need a refresh on what bubbles you’ll have to decide to fill in? Here’s our original voter guide, and our last minute procrastinators guide with an extra look at county ballot measures. Filling out your ballot in East County? Don’t fret, we have a guide from the La Mesa Courier too.
We aren’t going to leave you hanging on the edge of your seat tonight, we’ll have results as soon as they roll out — coming to you from San Diego’s rebooted election central. You can check our homepage after the polls close with results from the governors race and billionaires tax all the way to hotly contested city council showdowns.
Regardless, you’ll wake up tomorrow with a rundown of the preliminary results in your inbox. Permission to doze off at 8 p.m. granted.
Times of San Diego thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.
Stories you should know about
🏳️⚧️ Long-time bar SRO Lounge closes after 44 years of serving as ‘safe haven’ for trans community: The LGBTQ+ establishment is now closed after an abrupt announcement before their last night of service. SRO Lounge’s closure comes nearly a year after the bar was the target of an attack where an unknown assailant drove by and shot pellets at bar patrons, injuring two.
⚽️ SD Internacional one win away from qualifying for 2027 US Open Cup: The team could qualify for U.S. Soccer’s national club championship —the only U.S. team sport competition where amateurs have the chance to play professionals — if they win the qualifying round Nov. 21-22.
🏆 Times of San Diego takes 18 awards, including top honor for News Site, at San Diego Press Club Journalism Awards: Lillian Perlmutter’s story “What happens when ICE arrests US citizens” took home first place for criminal justice reporting. Times of San Diego had the second and third place prize in the category.
What else we’re reading
🗳️ The San Diego County Registrar said their office is preparing for at least eight teams of federal election monitors to show up at San Diego voting centers today, which is part of a larger national trend of federal poll watchers this midterm election cycle. (KPBS)
🌳 City officials are asking a judge to end litigation that could force San Diego to sell parts of Liberty Station to private developers, which comes amid a back-and-forth tussle between the city and Liberty Station’s largest leaseholder, Seligman Properties, who is arguing the city has to sell if they don’t have imminent plans to redevelop the area. (Union-Tribune)
Times of San Diego thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.
Step back in time…
The building on the right side of this photo is the Carlsbad Hotel. Did you guess correct? Want to read more, check out this article.
