San Diego News Fix

Voting in the 2022 general election is underway. In San Diego County, voters will choose leaders in national, state and local races. Michael Smolens, political columnist at the Union-Tribune, tells us what he's watching.

To help you make your decisions in the 2022 election, the U-T opinion section has been publishing candidate Q&As, video interviews and endorsements. We're also hosting in-person and virtual forums in some of San Diego's key races. Tuesday, Oct. 18, we're hosting a forum with San Diego City Council District 6 candidates, Tommy Hough and Kent Lee. We'll also host forums with candidates for Chula Vista Mayor and San Diego County Sheriff next week.

Today we're talking about the San Diego Unified school board race in Sub-District B, which covers Tierrasanta, Kearny Mesa and San Carlos. We have two candidates, early education commissioner Shana Hazan and retired principal/teacher Godwin Higa. Both met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board this month to discuss the pandemic, gun violence, standardized testing and more.

Today we're talking about the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education race in Sub-District C, which represents coastal San Diego. We have two candidates, educator/parent Cody Petterson and charter school businesswoman Becca Williams. Both met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board this month to discuss the pandemic, gun violence, standardized testing and more.

This Saturday, Oct. 15, is the first-ever Festival of Journalism, hosted by the Union-Tribune, Voice of San Diego, KPBS and the SDSU School of Journalism and Media Studies. The free, one-day event will feature panel sessions with editors and reporters, a documentary screening and keynote speakers. It's also chance to get to know the people reporting San Diego's biggest stories.

There are two candidates running for treasurer-tax collector in San Diego County. One is incumbent Daniel McAllister, first elected in 2002, and he's challenged by chief financial officer Greg Hodosevich. Both candidates met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board to discuss the job and how they would do it.

There are two candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot running to be the next San Diego County assessor/recorder/county clerk: Chief deputy assessor Jordan Marks and chief financial officer and former San Diego City Councilmember Barbara Bry.

Union-Tribune public safety editor Dana Littlefield; public safety reporter David Hernandez; managing editor Lora Cicalo; and editor and publisher Jeff Light discuss the latest Union-Tribune’s analysis of homicide rates in our region and why it’s important to tell these types of stories.

There are two candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot running for San Diego County supervisors District 5, which covers North County. Republican incumbent supervisor Jim Desmond is being challenged by Democratic scientist/water director Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson. Both candidates met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board ahead of the election.

There are two candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot running for San Diego County supervisors District 4, which includes Clairemont, Linda Vista, Hillcrest, North Park, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and many communities in between. Democratic incumbent supervisor/educator Nathan Fletcher is challenged this election by Republican small business owner Amy Reichert. Both candidates met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board ahead of the election.

Today you're going to hear from candidates for California attorney general. First you'll hear from incumbent Rob Bonta, a Democrat, then Nathan Hochman, a Republican. Both candidates met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Boards to discuss crime, cannabis, immigration and more. This is the first 20 or so minutes of each conversation. To hear the interviews in their entirety, go to sandiegouniontribune.com/2022electionguide.

Today you're going to hear from gubernatorial candidates Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, and his Republican challenger, State Sen. Brian Dahle. Both candidates met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board in September to discuss inflation, housing, climate change and more. This is the first 20 or so minutes of each conversation. To hear the interviews in their entirety, go to sandiegouniontribune.com/2022electionguide.

Proposition 31 would ban the sale of flavored tobacco in California, including flavored vaping products and menthol cigarettes. People would still be able to have these items, but they couldn't buy them in the state. Yes on 31 is supported by the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society and others. It's opposed by the various tax associations and chambers of commerce. Supporters say flavored tobacco targets children and people of color, primarily Black Americans. The no side says prohibition doesn't work, it could encourage black market products, and we should trust adults to make their own decisions.

Proposition 30 would increase personal income tax on Californians who earn more than $2 million per year. The money would be used to fund programs to reduce air pollution and prevent wildfires. Supporters say it would improve air quality and help Californians afford electric vehicles. Opponents say the proposition is not business friendly and could cause job creators to move away. They also say it's a money grab for Lyft and Uber, who funded the measure, to get subsidies to electrify their fleets. Today you're going to hear from both sides of this measure, first the yes side, then the no side.

Welcome to the San Diego News Fix, the Backstory, where we take you behind the scenes in our newsroom to show you how we got the story and how decisions are made. Today we are joined by Jeff Light, Lauryn Schroeder, Kristina Davis and Sam Schulz to talk about the surge in investors purchasing homes in San Diego County.

Voting in the 2022 election begins on Oct. 10, and this week the San Diego News Fix podcast is focusing on state ballot measures. Proposition 29 is back on the ballot, and it has to do with kidney dialysis. If it sounds familiar, it's the third time this issue has appeared on the ballot in the past five years. Prop. 29 would require a licensed doctor to be on site at dialysis clinics at all times. Supporters say adding a doctor would improve patient care. Opponents say that it's not necessary and would create an undue burden on clinics, possibly causing them to close. In this episode, you'll hear from both sides. First you'll hear from an SEIU union member who represents the Yes on 29 campaign. Then you'll hear from a public affairs strategist, a doctor and a patient on the No on 29 side.

California Proposition 28 would take require the state to set aside money for arts and music education, and it's expected to generate up to $1 billion per year, with an emphasis on lower-income schools. Austin Beutner is behind the initiative. He's the former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent, and was also a former publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune. In this episode, you'll hear from the Yes on 28 campaign. The campaign has no opponents.

This week the News Fix is focusing on California ballot measures. Today you're going to hear about Prop. 27, which would allow online and mobile sports betting throughout the state. Under Prop. 27, gaming companies would be required to partner with a California tribe, and some of its revenue would go towards homeless services. The measure is funded by online betting companies FanDuel and DraftKings. It is supported by some advocates for the homeless and the mayors of Fresno, Oakland, Sacramento and Long Beach. It is opposed by a long list of tribes and tribal casinos, the California Teachers Association and many others. Both campaigns have websites you can visit for more information. Both campaigns met with The San Diego Union-Tribune's editorial board recently to share their perspectives and answer questions. In this episode, you'll first hear from Yes on 27, followed by No on 27.

This week the News Fix is focusing on statewide ballot measures. Today you'll hear more about Prop. 26, which would allow in-person roulette, dice games and sports wagering on tribal lands, as well as sports betting at horse racetracks. You'll also hear about Prop. 27, which would allow online sports betting across the state. Prop. 26 is supported by tribal casinos such as Sycuan and Pechanga. It is opposed by non-tribal card rooms, animal rights activists and some municipalities. First you'll hear from Yes on 26 campaign, followed by the No on 26 campaign.