San Diego, CA
A pair of reports show utility bills will keep going up in San Diego — and across California
A pair of just-released reports have bad news for utility customers in the San Diego area and across California: Prepare to pay higher bills.
An annual report from the California Public Utilities Commission predicts “electric rates are expected to continue increasing above inflation through 2027” for all three of the big investor-owned utilities in the Golden State — San Diego Gas & Electric, Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison.
Looking at a more immediate horizon, a separate report from the Public Advocates Office predicts average residential electricity rates will increase next year for all three utilities.
Both reports show SDG&E’s cost projections rising at a slower rate than those of PG&E and Edison.
Each year, the utilities commission issues its Senate Bill 695 Report that looks at costs and rate increases and suggests ways to limit them. This year’s edition mentioned California’s “numerous clean energy projects” needed to meet the state’s “ambitious greenhouse gas and zero carbon targets.”
State policymakers want California to derive 100 percent of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2045, if not sooner.
While the report said the state is on track to meet the target, rate increases have outpaced inflation for the past three years and are expected to keep climbing in the near future.
The report anticipates the average electric rate for residential customers in San Diego Gas & Electric’s service territory will grow 5.6 percent through 2027.
Southern California Edison’s rates are expected to rise 6.8 percent and PG&E’s rates are projected to go up 10.8 percent.
“Cost containment is essential,” said the report issued by the utilities commission, known as the CPUC.
On July 22, the Public Advocates Office — the independent arm of the CPUC created to look out for ratepayer interests — released a quarterly report that produced its own set of sobering projections.
Using data submitted to the CPUC from utilities, the report from the Public Advocates Office, or PAO, shows residential electric rates since 2014 have nearly doubled for SDG&E and Edison. Rates in PG&E’s service territory have soared more than 100 percent in that time.
The report anticipates that average SDG&E residential customers will pay about 40.6 cents per kilowatt-hour by the start of 2025, which is a little more than 2 cents higher than the rate paid in March.
PG&E customers are expected to pay 40.4 cents per kilowatt-hour in January, while Edison customers will pay 33.9 cents.
The prediction from the PAO report includes what SDG&E is requesting from the CPUC in its general rate case for 2024 through 2027. The commission is expected to issue a proposed decision soon and then vote on whether to accept, reject or modify SDG&E’s spending request later this year.
Why are costs going up?
The costs of maintaining, upgrading and running the system that supplies power to customers across California are ultimately funded by ratepayers.
The CPUC’s mission is to make sure customers receive safe, reliable (and in recent years) clean utility service at reasonable rates.
The existing system that distributes power to customers “will need significant upgrades to accommodate the anticipated load from electric vehicles, electric heat pumps, and other electric appliances,” the SB 695 report said.
The costs of integrating upgrades and clean energy projects — as well as things like poles and wires and maintaining existing more conventional assets such as natural gas plants — are folded into rates that customers pay.
Another major driver of costs is wildfire prevention, which get rolled into rates customers pay.
SDG&E, for example, has spent about $5 billion after the Witch Creek, Guejito and Rice wildfires in 2007 destroyed more than 1,300 homes, killed two people and injured 40 firefighters. One of the fires was caused by a tree limb that fell onto an SDG&E line during high winds.
Since then, SDG&E efforts have included:
- establishing 222 weather stations that measure wind speed, temperatures and humidity every 10 minutes, and
- placing about 45 percent of utility infrastructure underground
Much of PG&E’s increase in customer rates over the past few years can be attributed to a series of devastating wildfires in Northern California that forced PG&E into bankruptcy proceedings, causing the utility to boost wildfire prevention spending.
“Wildfire mitigation costs have climbed since 2021 and are projected to continue their upward trend due to climate change-induced risks,” the SB 695 report said.
The CPUC and the Public Advocates Office each said another contributor to rising rates is Net Energy Metering — the program that compensates rooftop solar customers when their systems generate more energy than they consume.
In a controversial decision, CPUC commissioners in December 2022 ruled that new rooftop solar customers will no longer receive credits at the retail rate of electricity when their systems generate excess energy. Instead, they will get paid at the “actual avoided cost,” which is much lower.
The rationale behind the ruling? The commission believed the more generous compensation rate led to a “cost-shift” in which ratepayers who don’t have solar ended up paying an unfair share of the fixed costs that come with maintaining the electric system — things like wires, substations and transformers.
That, the SB 695 report says, translates to an average cost burden of roughly $20 to $35 per month for customers without rooftop solar.
The CPUC does not expect the new rules will fully offset the differential because rooftop customers who installed their systems before the decision was passed won’t be immediately affected.
Those customers still get compensated at the retail rate for 20 years from the time their systems were installed. For example, a solar customer who had a system installed in 2018 still gets credited at the retail rate until 2038. After that, the customer would be credited at the lower rate.
“Every time rates go up, that subsidy goes up and that’s really kind of a runaway train,” said Michael Campbell, the PAO’s assistant deputy director of energy.
But advocates for the solar industry bitterly reject that argument.
“This cost-shift thing is manufactured scapegoating,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar & Storage Association. “The utilities do it because they have a profit motive to try to squash consumers generating their own energy. And then, what appears to us is, the regulators (at the CPUC) are repeating it because it’s a very convenient cover for them because they simply have not done a good job of restraining utility spending. Utility spending has been out of control.”
Any hope that rates will go down long-term?
The CPUC’s SB 695 report says integrating a growing demand for more electricity comes with “challenges and costs, but also opportunities.”
While the costs of upgrading the electric distribution system will cost “tens of billions of dollars,” the commission anticipates “significant cost savings” by residential and business customers as they reduce spending on natural gas, gasoline and other fossil fuels via electrification.
The CPUC “is taking action to mitigate costs, put downward pressure on rates, and promote equity during this significant transformation of the energy sector in California,” the 112-page report concludes.
The San Diego-based Utility Consumers’ Action Network, or UCAN, is not as optimistic.
“There is no indication that rates will go down, especially since people will be needing/using more electricity due to electrification goals and more extreme weather,” UCAN executive director Edward Lopez said in an email to the Union-Tribune.
“We will need to see a dramatic change in the way the CPUC regulates SDG&E — and other utilities — if (lower rates) happen in the long-term,” said Lopez, who also alluded to SDG&E reporting profits of $936 million last year.
SDG&E spokesperson Anthony Wagner said “the need to keep energy costs down for customers has become more urgent than ever,” while asserting that nearly 25 percent of customer bills are driven by California legislative mandates.
“At SDG&E we are listening and taking action to stabilize electric bills and address the affordability challenge head-on,” Wagner said in an email. Those actions include reducing operating costs, seeking approval from the CPUC to spread costs over a longer period of time and pursuing money from the federal government to offset expenses related to transmission infrastructure.
As per CPUC rules, utilities such as SDG&E cannot profit on the price of electricity or natural gas. Instead, they make money primarily on more infrastructure projects, where they can earn a rate of return that hovers around 7 percent — provided the CPUC gives the project the green light.
Critics say the system gives power companies an incentive to spend money on capital investments that may not be needed.
Others say California should tap the brakes on its 100 percent decarbonization goals.
“I’m not surprised” by reports of rates outpacing inflation, said Wayne Winegarden, senior fellow at the Pacific Research Institute, a Pasadena think tank that espouses free-market solutions to policy matters. “When you put on costly mandates, you can expect prices will rise and you can expect that people who are lower income, who live farther away from the ocean in inland areas, they’re going to have the highest burdens.”
In the meantime, almost 1 in 5 households in California (18.4 percent) are behind on their energy bills. In SDG&E’s service territory the figure is 23 percent, with the average amount owed being $737, as of May. The average past-due Southern California Edison customer owed $1,013.
“The good news is that all of the policymakers very clearly understand that we are in a rates crisis and there needs to be some action,” said Campbell of the Public Advocates Office. “But without some real changes, it’s hard to think that we’re going to see a period where rates are slowing down below the rate of inflation.”
Rate increases not only affect SDG&E customers but also impact customers enrolled in the county’s two community choice energy programs — San Diego Community Power and the Clean Energy Alliance.
That’s because the rates SDCP and CEA charge deal only with the costs of purchasing electricity generation for the residents and businesses in their respective municipalities.
Above and beyond that, costs associated with the transmission, distribution and delivery of power remain with SDG&E and are passed on to customers enrolled in SDCP and CEA in their overall monthly bills.
Originally Published:
It doesn’t have to cost dozens of dollars to go out for some fun in 2024.
In San Diego County, in addition to seemingly endless hiking trails and some famous beaches that are free to roam, there are museums, comedy shows, movies, farms, green spaces and cultural centers that charge visitors little or nothing at all.
Here are 44 family-friendly activities that are $10 or less, including free things to do.
Barona Cultural Center and Museum: Located on the Barona Indian Reservation, this museum holds artifacts spanning thousands of years that tell the story of the Kumeyaay-Diegueño people who first lived on this land. Exhibits also help relate the past to the present. 1095 Barona Road. Free. baronamuseum.com
— Maura Fox
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Bikeways: For cyclists and recreational bike riders, there are over 1,340 miles of bikeways in the region. The San Diego Association of Governments promotes these bikeways, located throughout the county, with dedicated lanes, signs and street dividers. One is a bike trail that runs parallel to the San Diego River and leads riders to and from Santee and Ocean Beach. The newest bike path in the county is the Pershing Bikeway, which was completed in July for $27.5 million. sandag.org/projects-and-programs/bikeways-and-walkways/bikeway-and-walkway-projects
— Carlos Rico
Bonfires at beaches and bays: Grab some wood, graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate bars and make some smores with a bonfire at a beach or bay park in the city of San Diego. Bonfires are allowed in fire rings at Crown Point, Dana Landing, Fiesta Island, East Mission Bay, La Jolla Shores, Ocean Beach, South Mission Beach, Sunset Park, Vacation Isle and West Mission Bay. No RSVP is needed for fire rings. 5:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/parksrecfirerulesringlocations.pdf
— Carlos Rico
Anza-Borrego Desert: For those who love hiking, climbing, sand, mountains, dunes and open land, Anza-Borrego Desert is a place to explore. During the spring, this area has around 90 different types of wildflowers that blossom after the winter rainy season. Plus, there are large art sculptures by Ricardo Breceda in Borrego Springs, such as a Columbian mammoth and a sabertooth cat. abdnha.org
— Carlos Rico
California Surf Museum: This museum tells the history of surfing through photos, videos, exhibits, artwork, surfboards and historic archives. The California Surf Museum also host events and a store where the public can buy souvenirs. This museum was named as the second best for “attraction for sports fans” by USA Today in 2023. 312 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Free for children. Adults $5-$7. (760) 721-6876, surfmuseum.org
— Carlos Rico
Carlsbad Strawberry Company: Bring a bucket and pick fresh strawberries to take home at the Carlsbad Strawberry Company. The 25-acre farm has been around since the 1950s and allows guests to walk its fields and pick strawberries. There are also other family-friendly activities such as farm animals to pet, tractor riding, bounce houses and a lavender field. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. February through July. 1050 Cannon Road, Carlsbad. $10. (760) 603-9608, carlsbadstrawberrycompany.com/strawberry
— Carlos Rico
Cedar Creek Falls: Surrounded by tree landscapes and running creeks, visitors can challenge themselves to a 5.4 mile out-and-back trail to reach a breathtaking 80-foot waterfall in Ramona. At Cedar Creek Falls, hikers can take a moment to reconnect with nature and cool off in the plunge pool at the end of the trail. Visitors must carry a valid government issued ID and purchase a permit before entering the hiking trail. Cleveland National Forest. $10 for groups up to 5 people. fs.usda.gov/detailfull/cleveland/home
— Serena Neumeyer
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Chula Vista Elite Athletic Training Center: Discover one of the South County’s hidden gems: the Chula Vista Elite Athletic Training Center. Current and potential Olympic athletes train here in various sports such as track and field, water polo, speedskating, archery and field hockey. Guests can take a free, self-guided tour around the Olympic path that takes visitors around the 155-acre facility. 2800 Olympic Parkway, Chula Vista. Free. (619) 656-1500, trainatchulavista.com
— Carlos Rico
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Coronado: There are many free and inexpensive options for the entire family to enjoy in Coronado. There are public beaches with areas to surf, swim, lounge, have a picnic and play volleyball and there’s also a dog beach. Coronado has several bike trails for exploring the city, and there is a ferry that goes to and from Coronado and makes stops at the Broadway Pier and behind the San Diego Convention Center for $9 one way. Also in the late fall and winter months, the Hotel del Coronado puts on a free holiday light show. coronado.ca.us
— Carlos Rico
Coast to Crest Trail Challenge: The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy hosts a challenge that requires completing a series of five hikes to earn a patch. Bernardo Mountain Lake View Trail, Piedras Pintadas Trail, Del Dios Gorge Trail, Upper Santa Ysabel Truck Trail and North Clevenger Canyon make up the list of hikes, which can be completed in any order. Participants must take selfies on each trail. sdrvc.org
— Abby Hamblin
Dance classes: Dance company and studio Majesty in Motion offers free one-hour introductory bachata and salsa classes. At each weekly class, guests will learn the basics of salsa and bachata dancing. There is one class for adults and one for children that coincide. The classes are taught by professional dance instructors Anna Galvan and David Stein. Registration is required ahead of class. 11 a.m. Saturdays. 6380 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. Free. (619) 917-1721. majestyinmotion.com
— Carlos Rico
Digital Gym Cinema: At this media center and movie theater, the first screening of each day and all screenings on Mondays cost $8. Members can also get tickets for $9 for all showings. Here visitors can find international movies, documentaries, independent feature films and other screenings. It also has some of the cheaper movie concessions you’ll find among movie theaters. Check online for upcoming show times. 1100 Market Street, San Diego. $8. digitalgym.org
— Abby Hamblin
Dog beaches: The county has at least six beaches where dogs are allowed to walk and play in the water: Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Fiesta Island, Del Mar, Coronado and Cardiff State Beach. Plus, there are areas like Pacific Beach and La Jolla Shores where dogs are permitted to walk on the beach, but with numerous restrictions. Each beach has different times and rules for dogs. Find more of these areas here: Treat your dog to a day at the bay or beach at these 8 San Diego County locations
— Carlos Rico
Edwin and Frances Hunter Arboretum at Palomar College: Stretching across 5 acres, the Edwin and Frances Hunter arboretum at Palomar College is a trove of trees and plants from around the world. Placards are placed next to each plant containing identifying information about each species. Several plants in the arboretum were donated from botanical gardens around California, such as the L.A. Arboretum and the San Diego Zoological Society. Free. 1140 West Mission Road, San Marcos. palomar.edu/arboretum/
— Maura Fox
Enjoy a scenic drive to Palomar Mountain: Palomar Mountain is a beautiful destination, but getting there can be half the fun. Start this scenic drive on Highway 76 in Pauma Valley before taking County Road S6 up to Palomar Mountain State Park. At higher elevation, the route offers views of trees with their changing leaves and, if it’s a clear day, even views of the ocean. On the return, visitors can take County Road S7 and drive by Lake Henshaw. 19952 State Park Drive, Palomar Mountain. parks.ca.gov
— Maura Fox
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Embarcadero: The Embarcadero offers a stretch of opportunities for sightseeing along the San Diego Bay. This area has various boat and ship museums, such as the Star of India and the USS Midway Museum, art installations like the Unconditional Surrender statue, open spaces for picnics, docked cruise ships and numerous vendors selling souvenirs, food and drinks. Plus, the Embarcadero has a few public piers to get provide picturesque photo opportunities overlooking Coronado, Point Loma and the sunset. portofsandiego.org/experiences/where-go/embarcadero
— Carlos Rico
Fishing at Santee Lakes: With a pole from home, this outing remains accessible for under $10. Rainbow trout, catfish and other fish are regularly stocked in the seven lakes here. A general store sells bait, fishing poles and other supplies, including snacks. 9310 Fanita Parkway, Santee. Permits start at $6. santeelakes.com/fishing-rates
— Abby Hamblin
Food halls: San Diego has several food halls, including Market on 8th (41 E. 8th St., National City), Windmill Food Hall (890 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad), Liberty Public Market (2820 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego) and the Sky Deck (12841 El Camino Real, San Diego). It may require sampling smaller dishes or sharing with a friend to keep it cheap, but the wide range of options at each place will make the hunt for good deals and good food more fun.
— Maura Fox and Abby Hamblin
Free classes from San Diego College of Continuing Education: Free career training is available at the San Diego College of Continuing Education in a variety of industries and career fields, including hospitality, digital media, entrepreneurship and child development. For example, in 2024, the course list featured classes in drawing and painting, project management and web design. Free. sdcce.edu/free
— Abby Hamblin
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Gallagher Square: When there are no events at Petco Park, locals can access this public park. Gallagher Square was renovated this year and several new amenities were added. These include a children’s playground, a dog park, a viewing deck, artificial turf picnic space and mobile pickleball courts. 840 K St., San Diego. Free. mlb.com/padres/ballpark/gallagher-square
— Carlos Rico
Half-off at UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley: On Thursdays, movie lovers can get popcorn and tickets for half the normal price at UltraStar Cinemas. That means $6.50 tickets before 4 p.m. and $7.50 after. 7510 Hazard Center Dr #100, San Diego. ultrastarmovies.com/specials
Improv comedy: Some of the most affordable tickets in town come from the local comedy scene. Finest City Improv offers free admission to some of its shows. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, a comedy pub serves beer and wine. 3746 6th Ave., San Diego. finestcityimprov.com
— Abby Hamblin
Kate Sessions Memorial Park: This popular picnic spot in Mission Bay is filled with 79 acres of greenery and offers a scenic view of the city below. The park also has several hiking trails to choose from, including a 0.7 mile loop trail surrounded by some of the exotic trees planted by “the mother of Balboa Park,” Kate Sessions, herself. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 5115 Soledad Road, San Diego. Free. sandiego.gov/insidesd/kate-sessions-neighborhood-park
— Serena Neumeyer
Lake Poway: Free for Poway residents and $10 for anyone else, Lake Poway is a recreational area with seasonal camping, fishing, hiking, picnic tables, a concession stand, archery and other activities. Most boat rentals will cost more than the $10 threshold for this guide, but a pedal boat rental for 30 minutes costs $10. Fishing permits are for sale for less than $10. Keep an eye out for season activities, too, such as fishing competitions, concerts and live music. 14644 Lake Poway Road, Poway. poway.org/401/Lake-Poway
— Abby Hamblin
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Linda Vista Skate Park: When it opened in 2018, it was touted as the biggest skate park in San Diego County and one of the biggest in California. Linda Vista Skate Park is 34,000 square feet and provides various skating elements such as a full pipe, several bowls, a street course, rails, banks, ramps, stairs, jumps, ledges and benches. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday. 7064 Levant St., San Diego. Free. sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers/skateparks/lindavista
— Carlos Rico
Live music at Panama 66: The restaurant, located just outside the Museum of Art in Balboa Park, has a schedule of musical artists playing genres like jazz, blues and swing throughout each month. A calendar of upcoming performers can be found online. 1450 El Prado, San Diego. panama66.com
— Maura Fox
Torrey Pines Gliderport: Hang gliding and paragliding aren’t cheap, but watching for free as people brave the skies can be just as fun, and the Cliffhanger Cafe offers food and drinks to go with the entertainment. On Saturdays in the summer, visitors can listen to local DJs, bands and artists next to a scenic view of the ocean. 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla. Free to visit. flytorrey.com/catering-and-events/
— Serena Neumeyer
Mission Bay Boardwalk: Take a two-mile stroll alongside Mission Beach, surrounded by a variety of fun activities, including surf shops, mini golf, bars, restaurants and an amusement park. At a low cost, families and friends can also visit different vendors and watch street performances from the sidewalk. West Mission Bay Drive, San Diego. Free.
— Serena Neumeyer
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Organ concerts: Visitors to Balboa Park can enjoy free organ concerts once a week, all year. Various musicians with different styles grace the Spreckles Organ Pavilion from current to classical music. There are benches where the public can sit and enjoy the one-hour show. 2 p.m. Sundays. 2125 Pan American E Road, San Diego. spreckelsorgan.org
— Carlos Rico
Outdoor fitness court: This unique fitness park can be attempted with friends or on a solo mission. It was constructed in 2022 and pairs with a free “Fitness Court” app that shows exercisers what to do. With options for a full body workout, some of the guided exercises include standing row, broad jump, box jumps and tricep presses. 790 Seacoast Drive, Imperial Beach. imperialbeachca.gov/546/Imperial-Beach-Parks
— Abby Hamblin
Outdoor movies: From late spring to fall, parks throughout the county provide viewing experiences for a variety of family-friendly movies and animated classics. Movies range from G to PG-13 ratings, with recent titles such as “Barbie,” “Coco” and “The Sandlot.” Movies begin 15 minutes after sunset. Through November 1. Free. sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/participate/summer-movies-in-the-park
— Carlos Rico
Pelly’s Mini Golf: Grab a friend or family member and head over to the Del Mar Golf Center for some inexpensive miniature action. Pelly’s Mini Golf has two, 18-hole themed courses titled, “Surfin’ Safari” and “Ocean Adventure.” There is also a cafe offering a variety of drinks and food, such a hamburger, chicken quesadillas, hot dogs, pizza, beer, soft drinks, churros and shaved ice. 15555 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. $9-$11. (858) 509-5130, delmargolfcenter.greensidegolfer.com/pages/pellys-mini-golf
— Carlos Rico
Pickleball courts: With the growth of pickleball, there are now several courts in San Diego County where locals can play for free, including at Gallagher Square when there are no events at Petco Park. The city of San Diego also has recreation centers where the public can play pickleball for free: Standley Recreation Center, Pacific Highlands Ranch Recreation Center, Pacific Beach Recreation Center, Nobel Recreation Center, Colina Del Sol Recreation Center, Golden Hill Recreation Center and the joint-use Ellen Browning Park and Scripps Ranch Recreation Center. Plus, the Big Rock Park in Santee offers free pickleball lessons. Learn more here: How to play pickleball or learn how to play for free in San Diego County
— Carlos Rico
Poway-Midland Railroad: Take a trip back in time aboard an 1870 passenger train car, 1883 mining car, 1906 cable car, 1907 locomotive or 1950 Fairmont Speeder at the Poway-Midland Railroad. Since 1991, the Old Poway Park has been the place to go to ride full-size, antique and vintage trains that are preserved by community volunteers. There are also various events scheduled throughout the year. Train schedules vary based on the day and train type. Saturdays and Sundays. 14134 Midland Road, Poway. $1-$3.50. (858) 486-4063, powaymidlandrr.org
— Carlos Rico
San Diego Chinese Historical Museum: The San Diego Chinese History Museum preserves and celebrates Chinese art, history and culture. It features exhibits on the Chinese American immigration story focusing on the community in San Diego, as well as Chinese history. The museum also offers a walking tour of the Asian Pacific Historic District and other educational opportunities. 404 Third Ave., San Diego. $8 general admission. sdchm.org
— Abby Hamblin
San Diego Zoo: For 31 days in October, children 11 years and under can enter for free with a paid adult to the San Diego Zoo. Each adult can bring up to five children for free. Also in October, the San Diego Zoo hosts its HalGLOWeen, an event with Halloween-themed activities such as such as a Dia de los Muertos-themed mariachi, a glow in the dark show, acrobatic spider performances, reptile education classes and a dance party. zoo.sandiegozoo.org/kids-free
— Carlos Rico
San Diego pools: There are 15 public pools in the city of San Diego where the public can take a dip, play, cool off and exercise. Several pools offer lap swimming and recreational pool times. Plus, 10 city pools offer water fitness classes. Various locations. $2-$4. sandiego.gov/pools
— Carlos Rico
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South Bay Drive-In: One of the last drive-in movie theaters in San Diego can be found in South County. The South Bay Drive-In has three movie screens and on most nights, customers can see two movies in one night. Each screen shows two different movies back to back with an intermission in between. Guests can bring food and non-alcoholic beverages. 2170 Coronado Ave., San Diego. $10 for adults and $1 for children ages five to nine years. southbaydrivein.com/nowplaying
— Carlos Rico
Stand-up comedy: San Diego’s thriving stand-up comedy scene can be found at comedy clubs, breweries, wineries, dive bars, coffee shops, basements, theaters, casinos and in parking lots. Many of these shows are free to see, though the drinks and food will cost something. The Privateer (Oceanside), Duckfoot Brewing Co. (Miramar) and Bolt Brewery (La Mesa) are among the many bars and restaurants across the county hosting weekly or monthly comedy shows.
— Abby Hamblin
Summers Past Farms: Established in 1992, Summers Past is on a 5-acre property that has a handmade soap shop, chicken coop and rustic barn where visitors can buy kitchenware, cookbooks, body care products and home decor. Go in October for the pumpkin patch, early in November for the farm’s annual antiques and craft fair or visit any weekend to enjoy a picturesque picnic on the lawn or for a coffee and pastry from the beverage kiosk. 15602 Olde Highway 80, El Cajon. summerspastfarms.com
— Maura Fox
Tony Gwynn Museum: The Tony Gwynn Museum, located at AleSmith Brewery in Miramar, lets visitors reflect on the life and career of San Diego Padres legend Tony Gwynn — all while enjoying a cold beer from the San Diego-founded brewery. There are hundreds of pieces of memorabilia in the museum, including from Gywnn’s early life as a baseball player at San Diego State University to his Padres career as a player and later a coach. AleSmith also has a .394 Pale Ale, which was crafted for (and taste-tested by) Gwynn and named after his career-high batting average. Free. tonygwynnmuseum.com/museum/
— Maura Fox
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Waterfront Park: It’s one of the best open spaces and public parks with views of the San Diego Bay and various options of family activities. Waterfront Park has children’s playground equipment, water fountains to play and cool off, large grass areas for picnics and lounging and public parking. There are also various public events throughout the year such as Blanket Sounds, a music series featuring local musicians. 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego. Free. sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/Waterfront
— Carlos Rico
Water Conservation Garden: On the second Friday of each month, the public can enter the Water Conservation Garden for free and learn about water sustainability and maintenance. There are almost six acres at this venue with over 10 gardens and exhibits that demonstrate drought-tolerant plants and smart water usage. 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon. (619) 660-0614, thegarden.org
— Carlos Rico
Women’s Museum of California Education Center: This museum invites visitors to learn about women’s role in history through interactive activities and workshops on subjects like the California Suffrage Movement and the gender spectrum. Visitors can view changing exhibits or learn from an archive and many historic collections of artifacts. Free. $10 donation suggested. 1649 El Prado, San Diego. womensmuseumca.org
— Maura Fox
See something missing from this list? Send your idea to abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com.
Zara Irshad contributed to this report.
Originally Published:
City leaders have yet to come to terms on a 30-year lease agreement to convert the empty warehouse at Kettner Boulevard and Vine Street into a large homeless shelter, as proposed by Mayor Todd Gloria.
With the deal, the city would lease the 65,000-square-foot facility for a 1,000-bed shelter, called The Hope @ Vine Campus. The mayor has framed the proposal as a bold move to tackle homelessness, with the facility designed to help people reintegrate into society.
As proposed, rent would start at $1.95 per square foot a month — or $1.5 million for the first year — and increase 3.5 percent each year. Rent does not include building operating expenses, which the city estimates at $32,469 a month.
The city is also budgeting more than $18 million to get the space ready for occupancy, with renovation and repair work extending to major building systems.
The San Diego City Council recently put off a decision on the real estate deal, flagging concerns about deal terms, potential liability, ongoing funding of shelter services and proper due diligence.
The City Attorney’s Office said in a report that the lease, as is, “does not adequately protect the city’s legal or financial interests.”
Q: Should San Diego lease the Kettner and Vine warehouse for a homeless shelter?
Economists
Lynn Reaser, economist
NO: There are shades of 101 Ash St. The 1963 building may well have lead and asbestos problems. Before starting, the site needs to certified for fire safety standards as to whether 1,000 people can be housed there. Building systems are old, tired and neglected. Food preparation, dining areas and sanitation systems are needed. In all — there’s not much quality of life for the mass of people crammed into 65,000 square feet with minimal privacy.
This will be Lynn Reaser’s final Econometer. She died Tuesday. She was a nationally revered economist but still took time to comment on the San Diego affairs of the day. We will miss her deeply. Read our story about her life here.
Alan Gin, University of San Diego
NO: At least not at the proposed terms. Summing up the projected rent shows that it is much higher than the most recent purchase price, meaning simply buying the property might be a better option. On top of that, whether a large facility is desirable or not is uncertain. While there would be economies of scale in running a large facility, there may be negative consequences in concentrating many homeless people in one place, including causing some homeless people not to want to use the facility.
James Hamilton, UC San Diego
NO: The core problem is substance abuse and mental illness, not a shortage of beds. We need to clearly delineate that camping on a public sidewalk is prohibited and that offenders will be forced to receive treatment for their underlying problems. I’m very much in favor of a big commitment of funds to make sure we have a place to help the people who need it. But building shelters without providing support and enforcement is not going to solve the problem.
Norm Miller, University of San Diego
NO: We desperately need a large-scale homeless shelter, but the comps used to justify the rent are excessive for an old warehouse. While there are some nice features in the lease like landlord tenant improvements of $5 million, 14 percent rebate flip fees and 19 months free, this deal has a present value of $23 million to $28 million or as much as $430 per square foot while a similar property sold for $358 per square foot. Go back to the negotiating table one more time please.
David Ely, San Diego State University
NO: The city’s Independent Budget Analyst report notes several areas of concern, including lease terms that appear to be above market rates, the funding of annual operating costs over the lease’s 30-year life and the building’s condition. It would be imprudent to approve the current version of the proposal. Establishing a large permanent homeless shelter represents a significant financial commitment for the city. Additional analysis is needed before a decision is made to move forward.
Ray Major, economist
NO: Too many unanswered questions remain regarding the project that could lead to serious real estate and financial liabilities for the city, especially given the 30-year commitment to the site. Homelessness is a crisis in our region that must be quickly addressed, but more work and analysis are needed before this proposal is approved.
Executives
Phil Blair, Manpower
YES: Of course assuming the negotiations go well and the city does not overpay. Echoes of 101 Ash St. The location seems prime, away from residential and tourist areas. The city needs to be bold in relocating up to a thousand homeless people in one spot, which seems more cost-effective then spreading the facilities all over town.
Gary London, London Moeder Advisors
NO: This is a purely real estate analysis response. I am not weighing in on whether this is the right approach or the right location. I recommend, based on my analysis, that the city can do significantly better. In fact, compared to these terms, the better approach would be for the city to purchase the building. I recommend that the city slow walk this deal and bring in experts who can rightsize the terms.
Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates
NO: A better answer to the homeless crisis is the Sunbreak Ranch concept. It would serve as a central navigation center designed to house people, identify their needs, and move them with care and proper treatment to more permanent housing or treatment centers. It is not site-specific; it would be an emergency “triage center” where everyone in need would have a clean, healthy, safe, secure place and bed. It would be a solution, not a Band-Aid.
Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth
YES: “The Hope” proposal for a homeless shelter must be reworked. The city should determine if it has adequate funds, is paying a reasonable lease, is protected from liability and can identify a capable operator. Otherwise, there will always be objections to proposed shelters. This location is less likely to impact residents near the industrial corridor between Interstate 5 and the airport. I appreciate attempted action toward the crisis. These issues are solvable and the project is needed.
Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere
NO: There are too many unknowns and more due diligence needs to be conducted. The proposed lease has several red flags. Currently there are no identified funding sources. Committing to a 30-year lease is a lengthy financial and legal commitment. And no current city homeless providers have managed a facility of this magnitude. With upfront costs in the millions and at an estimated cost of $30 million a year to operate, the proposed lease as it stands is a significant risk to taxpayers.
Haney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers Association
NO: This lease deal is about as sound as a screen door on a submarine. It’s yet another attempt by the city to add to its long list of real estate blunders, eroding taxpayers’ confidence in its ability to make sound decisions. The rent is above market rate, the shelter identification process raises eyebrows, the lease favors the landlord at the expense of taxpayers, contradicts the Community Action Plan on Homelessness, and the list goes on and on.
Not participating this week:
Chris Van Gorder, Scripps HealthKelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic ResearchCaroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy
Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com. Follow me on Threads: @phillip020
Originally Published:
Modern medicine can cure a hepatitis C infection with three doctor’s appointments and two prescription refills. For most, it is not a big ask to rid oneself of a deadly disease.
But for those without homes, keeping up with the required 12-week treatment regimen can be an overwhelming commitment.
Sitting on a metal folding chair at the edge of an empty parking lot in Balboa Park on a recent morning, Holly, a resident of San Diego’s nearby O Lot safe sleeping site, explained that visiting a doctor’s office miles away comes with significant risk.
A tent can never be fully secured, so leaving one’s possessions inside to go to the doctor’s office all but guarantees returning to find possessions missing.
“There is nobody that holds themselves accountable for your stuff, so it’s just hard for me to leave, knowing that,” she said. “Everything I have left in the world is in that campsite, and it’s easy for people to just walk right in.”
And yet Holly just completed her full hepatitis C treatment, not missing a dose over three straight months after a screening test detected her infection. Her friend, Chris, just started his second week. Like his companion, he said that because his infection had not yet progressed far enough in damaging his liver to start causing symptoms, there is pretty much no way he would have traveled to the clinic for treatment.
“You know, you just sort of put it on the back burner if it’s not causing any signs,” he said.
Finding and keeping housing trumps following up on test results. And that is the particular problem with hepatitis C, which may take decades to cause its first symptom. Often, by the time signs and signals such as easy bruising, fatigue, yellowing of the skin and weight loss appear, a person’s liver is significantly damaged, making life-altering consequences such as liver cancer much more likely.
In recognition of the disease’s slow and deadly burn, the county health department, several local medical providers and the Liver Coalition of San Diego County launched a hepatitis C elimination plan in 2021 with the goal of preventing new cases while simultaneously working to discover and treat so-called “chronic” cases that have gone undetected.
Though recent results are skewed slightly due to a change in how hepatitis C cases are counted, the overall case trend has been downward since 2019 when 4,249 chronic cases were confirmed or suspected compared with 2,298 in 2023.
A big part of driving that number down, said Dr. Christian Ramers, medical director for research and special populations at Family Health Centers of San Diego, has been more aggressive outreach to those at increased risk of hepatitis C infection. Because the virus transmits in human blood, injection drug users are at an increased risk as are those with HIV.
The crusade to eliminate hepatitis C started with increasing screening to detect chronic cases and with the region’s first needle exchange programs, helping drug users avoid re-using and sharing needles. Many have recently begun to realize that those techniques, while effective, are not enough.
Chris and Holly’s recent experience in a Balboa Park parking lot involved a physician assistant with Family Health Centers whose job is to take many services, including the checkups and medication delivery necessary to cure the disease, out of doctor’s offices and into the places where people with reduced mobility live.
“Really, the only way is to bring the care to this population,” Ramers said. “They’re not going to come in and meet us at the clinic, so we have to find a way to go to them.”
And, simply showing up in tent encampments for checkups and to fill prescriptions is not enough. Family Health Centers workers have learned that the usual practice of delivering one month’s worth of medication at a time does not work. Such a large supply is likely to be stolen before it can be consumed.
Instead, workers deliver seven pills at a time, making weekly visits and using those encounters to discuss other health matters that a person might also be experiencing.
But eliminating the disease will not be accomplished only by embracing street medicine for those experiencing homelessness. Scott Suckow, executive director of the Liver Coalition of San Diego County, said recent modeling by researchers at UC San Diego found that reaching intravenous drug users in many different types of venues will be key to winning this fight.
More work could be done, he said, in organizations that treat substance use disorder, often combined with mental health care, to screen for hepatitis C and to make sure that those who test positive are referred to medical providers for treatment.
The state, through the ongoing reform of its Medi-Cal health insurance system for needy residents, has recently approved paying substance use treatment and behavioral health providers for “enhanced care management” when treating patients with substance use disorder. This additional benefit allows for a more holistic set of services that can go beyond drug and alcohol treatment.
Driving hepatitis C infections lower, getting more people screened and treated, Suckow said, is likely to see a significant benefit from the enhanced care management benefit if the disease is included in the host of additional health problems that doctors look for when care management is engaged.
“The position we’re taking is that it’s the behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment community’s responsibility if they’re providing whole-person care, to make these linkages, especially if they know that a client has hepatitis C or they’re at risk for it,” Suckow said.
Why couldn’t this simply be a mandate of the county health department, which spends millions per year contracting with substance use treatment programs serving patients whose care is covered by Medi-Cal? Why couldn’t a mandate to test all substance use treatment patients for hepatitis C infection just be written into county contracts?
Dr. Nicole Esposito, chief population health officer for the county’s behavioral health department, said that contracting is not seen as the right solution for promoting better coordination between different types of medical providers serving Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
Better coordination of care is not, she noted, about only one disease.
“The goal of care coordination is to really assess all of the needs of the whole person, rather than programmatically calling out specific diseases in contracts,” Esposito said. “Then it becomes like a patchwork where we have the hepatitis C expectations and the HIV expectations and we have some that get missed.
“I think the goal is to put the person at the center and work across all of the various factors, whether it’s all of the illnesses they might have or housing needs or social needs or school needs, rather than trying to do it with line item contract language.”
Medi-Cal changes, she added, will make it easier for different types of providers to securely share patient information electronically, making it easier for referrals to be made across organizations that are engaged in different missions.
“I think the big hope for significant progress lies in the fact that, in the future, we’re going to have a lot more data sharing so that there will be more visibility of whether tests were done, what were the results, was treatment started, was treatment completed,” Esposito said.
Originally Published:
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