San Diego, CA
Essay: The Weight of Poverty | San Diego Magazine
Recently, I met someone and shared with them that I grew up in a single-wide trailer. He acted surprised. He said I didn’t look like I had.
I was immediately defensive. What exactly does a person raised in a trailer park look like? I wanted to ask. But I already knew the idea he had in his head: Chain-smoking in clothes that haven’t fit right in five years, dollar-store eyeshadow, and a sweat-slick messy bun in a yard littered with trash. This low-income white persona is one I often fear emulating.
And while this image is nothing like my quiet trailer park back home in Big Bear, people have ideas, and I’m painfully aware of them.
We live in a society that hates poor people. We also live in a society that hates fat people, and since I grew up checking both of these boxes, I have often felt the need to overcompensate to avoid being stereotyped.
I wish I had the privilege thinner women have of showing up to work with no makeup on, in jeans and a t-shirt. But I’m terrified of being seen as lazy or unkept. I overwork to the point of burnout out of a fear of being perceived as careless. My love for makeup doesn’t stem from some artistic appreciation, but from the dread of being read as messy.
It all adds up. It’s expensive to look good when you’re overweight.
Because let me tell you, clothes for fat women aren’t cheap—even if the material they’re made from is. The most size-accessible stores are usually a few trend cycles behind. Some of the options are actually horrific. Shops like Torrid, the plus-size clothing store that holds the monopoly in this market, are still trying to sell us cold-shoulder tops. The trend died over 10 years ago in straight-sized fashion, but I have yet to escape it.
Since I can’t afford the overpriced choices, I add them to the wish list, wait, then hope a major sale comes along before the few items I want are sold out.
It’s worth it for the consistent compliments I receive on my cute dresses and flawless makeup, but I wish all this overthinking and overspending wasn’t necessary.
I have spent an egregious amount of money to avoid looking like I didn’t have money, and that comment—that I don’t match someone’s idea of what a trailer park kid looks like—had me feeling proud… while simultaneously being embarrassed for feeling that pride.
I wish I could just live like everyone else. Some days looking good, and some days just getting out the door. But that’s not an option for someone like me.
Housing developer National CORE, the San Diego Housing Commission, the county and city of San Diego celebrated the grand opening Tuesday of a 100-unit affordable housing community in San Ysidro.
The Iris, 1663 Dairy Mart Road, is across the street from a trolley stop and the newly renovated Howard Lane Park. It features 42 one-bedroom, 32 two-bedroom, and 25 three-bedroom apartments for low-income families and individuals, along with a manager’s unit.
“I am proud to support The Iris at San Ysidro because it reflects the kind of thoughtful development our region needs,” said San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre. “It is housing that is affordable, sustainable and connected to parks, transit and community services.”
Residents at The Iris have “extremely low,” to low income making anywhere from 25% to 60% of the Area Median Income. AMI is $130,800 for a family of two, $165,500 for a family of four, according to the county’s figures.
The Iris includes 15 permanent supportive housing units for people who have experienced homelessness and 50 apartments designed to support residents with mobility challenges and five homes for people with hearing loss.
All units at The Iris will be required to remain affordable for 55 years for households with income up to 60% of San Diego’s Area Median Income.
SDHC awarded 25 housing vouchers to The Iris to help pay rent for residents with extremely low income. These vouchers are tied directly to this development, so that when a household moves on, the voucher stays to help another household with extremely low income.
The project was developed by National CORE and featured public/private partnerships, such as a county investment of $5 million from the Innovative Housing Trust Fund and $6.5 million in No Place Like Home funds. County Behavioral Health Services will also provide supportive services to residents for the next 20 years.
The Iris includes a community room with office space, a laundry room and a courtyard play area with outdoor seating.
City News Service contributed to this article.
TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Trade
- SD receive: Lewis Morgan, $525k GAM
- RBNY receive: Up to $1.1m GAM, SuperDraft pick
San Diego FC have acquired midfielder Lewis Morgan from Red Bull New York, the clubs announced Tuesday.
In exchange for the 29-year-old Scottish international, New York will receive up to $1.1 million in General Allocation Money (GAM). The funds include $450k guaranteed GAM in 2026 and up to $650k in conditional GAM.
The Red Bulls retain a portion of Morgan’s 2026 salary budget charge and receive San Diego’s natural third-round pick in the 2027 MLS SuperDraft. Additionally, San Diego will get $525k GAM in 2027 from New York.
Morgan is under contract with San Diego through 2026 with club options for 2027 and 2028.
“Lewis is an attacker who can play across the front three and brings qualities that will add to our group in 2026,” said SDFC sporting director Tyler Heaps.
“He’s proven he can contribute goals and assists in this league, and we look forward to welcoming him to San Diego when we start preseason in the new year.”
Morgan has spent the past six seasons in MLS, starting with Inter Miami CF (2020-21) before getting traded to New York (2022-25).
The former Celtic attacker was named the 2024 MLS Comeback Player of the Year and helped the Red Bulls make MLS Cup presented by Audi that season. He missed most of the 2023 and 2025 campaigns due to injury.
For his MLS career, Morgan has 38g/17a in 140 combined games (all competitions) with Miami and New York.
He’s earned seven caps with Scotland, including at UEFA Euro 2024.
“Lewis has always handled himself with the utmost professionalism, through many tough moments in his career and many fantastic ones,” said RBNY head of sport Julian de Guzman.
“We wish Lewis the best of luck in San Diego.”
San Diego are coming off a historic debut season, where they set expansion club records for points (63) and wins (19). They made the Western Conference Final in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The Red Bulls are in reset mode after seeing their 15-year playoff streak end. They finished 10th in the Eastern Conference table (43 points).
Jack Alioto
OBITUARY
Jack Alioto, 90, passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
Vigil: Dec. 17, 9:30 AM-12 PM, East County Mortuary, 374 Magnolia Ave., El Cajon. Funeral Mass: 9 AM, Our Lady of the Rosary, 1668 State St., Little Italy. Burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorial lunch afterward at Glenwood Springs Clubhouse, Scripps Ranch.
See Eastcountymortuary.com for additional information.
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