At a ribbon cutting ceremony this November, Mayor Todd Gloria and other local officials unveiled the city’s first Ike, short for interactive kiosk experience.
“It’s kinda like the Swiss Army knife of our urban environment,” Gloria said to a crowd of reporters and politicos.
The touch screen directory on the corner of 4th and B Street is the first of 50 that will be rolled out around downtown in the coming months. Some features include: directions to nearby restaurants, activities and shops, homelessness resources, games, a job board and local art displays.
The machines have been installed at no cost to the city and are expected to generate revenue through advertising.
Ike Smart City said San Diego’s kiosks don’t have cameras, audio is only recorded when the 9-1-1 button is activated and no personally identifiable data is collected or retained.
🎥: @bellamayaross
#sandiego #ike #smartcity #downtownsandiego #surveillance #technology
Our coverage and analysis of San Diego happenings is fueled by supporters like you 🧡
You can support local nonprofit news this Giving Tuesday by giving to Voice of San Diego. All donations will be matched up to $15k thanks to Voice member Judith Morgan.
Tap the link in our bio for visit vosd.org/community to donate today.
🎥: @bellamayaross, Will Huntsberry, @jakobmcwhinney and @andrealopezvil
#sandiego #givingtuesday #nonprofit #nonprofitnews #localnews #journalism
The Unarius Academy of Science, just a few steps over from the iconic El Cajon sign, has been a fixture of the community for decades now.
Its students adhere to a belief system built upon a marriage of science and spirit — as well as a deep respect for our “space brothers.” They also regularly practice “past life therapy,” where members attempt to make peace with mistakes made in their past lives, sometimes while wearing elaborate costumes.
The group hosted its annual Interplanetary Conclave of Light Celebration last month, complete with a dove release, covers sung by a choir, a panel discussion about artificial intelligence and an expansive spread of Trader Joe’s snacks.
The Fringe Report is a new Voice series exploring strange and interesting stuff around San Diego County. What should we check out next?
🎥: @bellamayaross & @jakobmcwhinney
#sandiego #elcajon #socal #cults #ufology #newage #reincarnation
We hit the polls this morning to figure out where San Diegans stand on the many sales tax measures on this year’s ballot, and we found no shortage of opinions.
Ten different cities are proposing sales tax hikes across the region, including San Diego’s one-cent general tax, Measure E, and the countywide half-cent transportation tax, Measure G.
How do you feel about these sales tax measures?
Learn more by checking out our ballot guide at the link in our bio.
🎥: @bellamayaross & @jimkhinch
#sandiego #taxes #inflation #california #vote
Our editor in chief Scott Lewis went live to talk about the races to watch tonight in San Diego when the polls close at 8 PM.
If anybody knows a thing or two about coping with election season, is the candidates and journalists who are right in the middle of it.
This thought inspired is to build a set of “election survival” playlists, one by San Diego political candidates and another by the Voice staff. The result can only be described as “chaotic good.”
Tap the link in our bio to check out the playlists, and maybe take a gander at our ballot guide while you’re at it 🤔
🎥: @bellamayaross
#sandiego #sandiegocounty #california #playlist
Voters across San Diego County will weigh in on 11 different sales taxes this election, including one countywide measure and 10 city taxes.
Measure G is a countywide, half-cent sales tax that would raise about $350 million annually to improve transportation infrastructure, including freeways, rail lines, bike lanes, streets and more.
San Diego city residents will also weigh in on Measure E, otherwise known as “Penny for Progress,” which is a one-cent sales tax that would generate about $400 million annually for general uses such as street repairs, public safety, libraries, etc.
Other cities that are proposing new sales taxes or tax extensions include Chula Vista, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Oceanside, San Marcos and Santee.
Tap the link in our bio for more coverage of local races and measures.
🎥: @bellamayaross & @andrealopezvil
#sandiego #oceanside #chulavista #northcountysd #taxes #prop13 #california #publicpolicy #inflation
At the start of this campaign season, independent @lt4sd’s mayoral bid against incumbent @toddgloria seemed like a long shot, but that’s changing.
Steven Ritcher, a Point Loma lawyer, funneled $1.5 million into Turner’s campaign in the last few weeks, giving the outsider a fairer shot at winning through increased named recognition.
Limited polling still shows Gloria holding a solid lead over Turner, but it’s clear San Diegans are hungry for change — especially on homelessness. Whether that change comes through Gloria or Turner will be decided in the coming days as the final ballots are cast.
Tap the link in our bio for more local and state ballot explainers.
#sandiego #homelessness #housingcrisis #independent #democrat
If there’s one local race to watch this year, it’s the District 3 Board of Supervisors face off between former San Diego Mayor @kevinfaulconer and incumbent @lawsonremer.
Their policy stances aren’t extremely different, but their politics are, and the board’s partisan majority is on the line.
Lawson-Remer’s campaign has heavily circulated a picture of Faulconer with former President Donald Trump, accusing him of being a “MAGA Republican.”
On the other side, Faulconer’s campaign has clung to the fact that Lawson-Remer sent staffers to regional homelessness meetings rather than attending them herself.
But in order to break through the gridlock and bring their policy visions to life, whoever wins the seat will have to be an effective leader and coalition builder. Is either of them up to the task?
Tap the link in our bio to read our full coverage of the D3 supes race.
🎥: @bellamayaross
📝: @lisahalverstadt & @journomack
#sandiego #sandiegocounty #california #homelessness #mentalhealth
Proposition 36 is perhaps the most contentious ballot measure Californians will vote on this year.
If passed, Prop 36 would allow felony charges for theft and some drug possession if the defendant has two prior convictions. This is essentially a reversal of Proposition 47, a criminal justice reform measure passed in 2014 that reclassified thefts under $950 from felonies to misdemeanors, but has since been blamed by critics for rising crime.
Supporters: Retail chains including Walmart and Target, the California Republican Party, the California District Attorneys Association and others.
Opponents: Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Democratic Party, ACLU of Northern California and others.
Tap the link in our bio to learn more about Prop 36 and everything else on your ballot.
*Clarification: Brown v. Plata was decided in 2011 which led to the implementation of Prop 47 in 2014.
🎥: @bellamayaross
#prop36 #prop47 #california #sandiego #retailtheft #crime #addiction #homelessness
Propositions 33 and 34 are related, but you wouldn’t be able to tell just from reading your ballot. Social media producer @bellamayaross breaks down the lore 👩🏻🏫
Here are the basics (sans lore) 👇🏼
Prop 33 allows local governments to impose rent controls.
It is supported by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the California Democratic Party, Veterans’ Voices, Consumer Watchdog and others.
It’s opposed by the California Small Business Association, California Rental Housing Association, California YIMBY, the California Republican Party and others.
Prop 34 would require certain health care providers to use prescription drug revenue on patients. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation appears to be the only organization that meets the requirements for this law.
It is supported by the California Apartment Association, California Chamber of Commerce, ALS Association, California Republican Party and others.
It’s opposed by The AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Consumer Watchdog.
Tap the link in our bio to learn more about these propositions and others that will appear on your ballot.
📹: @bellamayaross & @andrealopezvil
#prop33 #prop34 #rentcontrol #housingcrisis #sandiego #california #yimby #nimby #aidshealthcarefoundation
An influx of viral TikToks and news reports captured panic in the South Bay this month after new air quality readings revealed an increasingly dangerous situation for those living near the Tijuana River.
The stench that comes from the cross-border sewage that flows through the river goes back years, but it’s been difficult to directly tie that smell to negative health outcomes in Imperial Beach and surrounding areas.
This new air quality data provides some clarity, but the long-term effects of this kind of exposure are still poorly understood — leading to disagreement between lawmakers and researchers on how best to respond.
Tap the link in our bio to read Environment Reporter @journomack’s latest coverage of the crisis.
🎥: @bellamayaross & @journomack
#sandiego #imperialbeach #tijuana #tijuanariver #environment #airpollution #waterpollution
