Today’s newsletter is presented by The Port of San Diego Waterfront of Opportunity.
Good morning, San Diego ☀️
Here’s what we have for you today:
- The brush fire that broke out near Camp Pendleton is now at 35% containment.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom has offered mental health services to sailors and Marines aboard the returning USS Abraham Lincoln.
- The Coast Guard continues to search for possible survivors after a boat sank near Ensenada.
Jennifer Vigil
News editor
Top story
Steve Hilton bets California is ready for something different in the governor’s office
It’s an uphill battle for Republicans to win state office in California.
Steve Hilton knows this, but he is the Republican who survived the state’s bruising primary battle to replace two-term Gov. Gavin Newsom, and now is facing the Democrat on the ballot, Xavier Becerra, one-on-one.
Hilton trails Becerra by double digits in all but one recent poll, most based on queries of likely voters; in one case he’s behind by 25%.
Yet, as our Alejandro Maciel writes, Hilton “sees an opening.” Californians, the political commentator argues, are upset by the state’s high cost-of-living, its long fight against homelessness and more.
As Hilton says simply, “they want change.”
On what fronts? As far as voters’ personal finances, he proposes exempting the first $150,000 of income from state income tax. To offset the ding to the tax base, he’s seeking cuts to spending and bureaucracy and an end to California’s long-troubled high-speed rail project. He also plans to target alleged Medi-cal fraud.
He and Becerra agree on a couple of the top issues, affordability and the need for housing growth, but certainly not on the path to achieve those goals.
Let us help you sort them out before Nov. 3. In our coverage of the governor’s race, Alejandro also spoke with Becerra. We have partner content too that might help. CalMatters considers the candidates’ healthcare stances and their approach to water management in our parched state, while EdSource sorts through their thoughts on education.
By the way, if you’re thinking of more than the governor’s race, here’s our Voter Guide breaking down what’s on the ballot for the Nov. 3 election.
And finally, a big reminder. Tomorrow, yes, Monday Oct. 19, is the final day to register to vote for the upcoming election.
Times of San Diego thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.
Stories you should know about
📣 ‘No Kings’ events spread around San Diego to push voter turnout for November: Organizers planned 21 events across the region, combining demonstrations with voter-registration assistance, ballot drop-offs, neighborhood walks and community activities.
🐟 Inside San Diego’s early canneries: How fish transformed the waterfront: In 1909, Alex J. Steele and Edward Hume built a cannery at La Playa, establishing what would become San Diego’s commercial fish-canning industry. Tuna soon changed the business.
🏗️Midway Rising moves to full council for approval, with some changes: City councilmembers on the Land Use and Housing Committee approved moving the project to redevelop the 48.5-acre city-owned Sports Arena property.
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:
🛑 San Carlos residents urge the city to take action to calm Murray Park Drive. Read it here.
🏗️ Here’s the proposed Midway Rising deal, one of San Diego’s largest redevelopment projects ever. Read it here.
🚔 Police make 40 felony arrests, recover guns in College Area joint operation. Read it here.
🌳 San Diego takes ‘big, monumental step’ for future of Balboa Park, launching first new update to master plan in almost 40 years. Read it here.
🏄 For sale: Historic surf competition posters to raise money for OB Pier’s replacement. Read it here.
💼 Mayor names new COO less than a month after billing debacle exposed lapses in city operations. Read it here.
🎶 Claudia Russell’s path – from ‘What the heck, we’ll see’ to first radio DJ to join SD Music Hall of Fame. Read it here.