San Diegans and the State of the Union

Good Morning, I’m Annica Colbert….it’s Wednesday March 2nd>>>>

Reacting to the state of the union

More on that next. But first... let’s do the headlines….######

The return of Padres baseball to petco park is on hold. Major league baseball is canceling opening day, and the first two series of the regular season. Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement following a busy few days of negotiations in Florida. Team owners and the players union are still far apart in agreeing to a new collective bargaining agreement. Pay for younger players, arbitration rules, and expanding the playoffs are among the key issues. Spring training is already on hold.

As for the impact here in San Diego, the Padres first homestand against the San Francisco Giants and the Colorado Rockies was canceled. Tuesday's announcement pushes back a potential start to the season to april 7th. The soonest home game in San Diego would be April 14th.

#########

The San Diego county Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 0 on Tuesday to ban county investment in all fossil fuels as part of an effort to combat climate change. According to Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer's office, the action will prohibit investments "in any corporation that engages in the exploration, production, drilling or refining" of fossil fuels.

#########

Here in San Diego, February was the 10th warmest February on record, and – also – the 10th coolest in terms of average high and low temperatures. Some meteorologists call that a “long thermometer” month. It was also the only month on record — since 1874 — that there were temperatures in the 90s and in the 30s in the same month.

#########

From KPBS, you’re listening to San Diego News Now.
Stay with me for more of the local news you need.

What did some Ukrainians and others in San Diego think of the State of the Union? KPBS reporter Kitty Alvarado has some of those reactions.

The President of the United States.. .

Nadia Haywas, who lives in San Diego County with roots and loved ones in Ukraine, listened closely to Tuesday’s State of the Union address. She said she appreciated the bipartisan support, aid and sanctions but says it’s not enough.

Ukraine is fighting this war for all of Europe … it’s not fair … all of Ukraine is grateful for all the military support but I think it’s going to need some more personnel

Corrine Hoare, a professor at the University of San Diego who is an expert in White House communication says the president’s message on Ukraine hit the mark.

President Biden’s plan was to show strength, to show resolve and to send a message around the world that this type of behavior that Putin is exercising will not be tolerated and there is strength among our NATO allies.

Kitty Alvarado KPBS News.

##########

New regulations for street vendors are officially on their way to San Diego.

KPBS Speak City Heights reporter Jacob Aere says street cart operators are worried about what that means for their future.

Angela Herrera started selling jewelry in Balboa Park six months ago, after her other job was impacted by the pandemic.

The newly approved proposal will cut back street vending in the park.

“Sidewalk vending is saving our life… I can't set up anymore, I can't do my business anymore. Where’s my income? My daughter’s right now 15. It’s a very sensitive age and sensitive time. She's going to go to college, I don't want to [affect] her.”

The new ordinance would ban street vending in Balboa Park and at parks in several beach communities during the summer months. There are also limits for vendors downtown.

The ordinance is expected to go into effect in June. Jacob Aere, KPBS News.

##########

San Diego is getting more than eight million dollars to help struggling tenants pay rent. KPBS metro reporter Andrew Bowen says it's a pandemic lifeline that may not last much longer.

AB: The extra money comes directly from the federal government as a reward for San Diego's relatively successful distribution of past rent relief funds. That money is part of the COVID-19 relief bills passed by Congress. So far the city has given out more than 175 million dollars in aid. City Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert says San Diego should be proud of that.

MVW: Over 15,000 tenants and families have received assistance, which goes directly to landlords who are able to then keep their mortgage payments going. They're not foreclosed upon, we do not have an increase in homelessness worse than we've already seen.

AB: The extra 8.3 million dollars is a small fraction of what the city requested. It's unclear how much longer the program will last before the funds run out. Andrew Bowen, KPBS news.

##########

The city and the San Diego foundation are celebrating the positive impact of covid relief grants for small businesses.

kpbs reporter matt hoffman has more on where the money went.

The city of San Diego’s nonprofit and small business relief fund has distributed 12 million dollars.. There was a focus on underserved areas and in total nearly 17-hundred businesses and nonprofits received aid. During the pandemic the Women’s Museum of California moved from Liberty station to SouthEast San Diego.. Executive director Felicia Shaw says the organization operates on a shoestring budget and a 100,000 dollar check went a long way.

100,000 dollars I had to pick myself up off the floor. But receiving the nonprofit relief fund grant has been a true game changer for our museum. And the timing couldn’t have been better

10 million dollars for the program came from federal COVID relief funds, while the San Diego Foundation provided the other 2 million. MH KPBS News

##########

Coming up.... Two years into the pandemic and the wait time for state hearings on wage theft cases has only increased.

“This almost encourages employers to continue exploiting. Ya know. The chances of their being repercussions seems to be very long far down the line.”

We have that story next, just after the break.

Delays for state hearings on wage theft cases are hurting low wage workers hoping to recover the money they're owed. Now, new data obtained by KQED shows how much those wait times have ballooned in recent years. KQED’s FARIDA JHABVALA ROMERO reports workers with claims in Oakland and San Francisco face some of the worst delays in California.

That was FARIDA JHABVALA ROMERO with KQED reporting.

While technology has come a long way since the 1980’s, one San Diegan, says the old-school tech is the new-school style.

KPBS’s Maya Trabulsi introduces us to Boombox Chuck, known for his love of retro culture, especially the boombox.

That’s it for the podcast today. As always you can find more San Diego news online at KPBS dot org. I’m Annica Colbert. Thanks for listening and have a great day.