San Diego, CA
Gloria, Jewish groups back away from San Diego Pride over headliner Kehlani’s Gaza stance
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria says he will not attend this year’s Pride Festival, and a coalition of local Jewish groups won’t participate in local Pride events at all, over objections to headlining performer Kehlani’s remarks on Israel.
The mayor notified San Diego Pride — which hosts both the annual festival and the Pride parade — of his decision to not attend the July 19 event in a letter sent this week to the organization’s leadership. The Grammy-nominated singer, who is nonbinary, has been accused of amplifying antisemitism in their criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza.
Gloria’s letter, sent Wednesday, was followed soon after by a statement Friday morning by a group of eight San Diego Jewish organizations and synagogues announcing that they would no longer participate in the Pride celebration in San Diego this July, citing “safety concerns” surrounding Kehlani’s performance.
The festival’s volunteer director of medical operations and assistant director of medical operations, Jennifer Anger and Eliyahu Cohen-Mizrahi, who are both Jewish, said they were stepping down from their roles as well.
The mayor said in his letter to San Diego Pride that his office had received “an overwhelming number of calls and e-mails” about Kehlani, who he wrote had “used regrettable and controversial rhetoric on social media about the Jewish community.”
Kehlani has publicly expressed support for Palestinians amid Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza but has also been accused of promoting antisemitic rhetoric on social media and in their music.
Their music video “Next 2 U” opens with the message “long live the intifada” — an Arabic word meaning “uprising” or “rebellion” that generally refers to armed uprising against Israeli occupation. To many Jews and others, it’s a call for violence against Jews.
Several Kehlani performances have already been canceled in recent weeks, including one in New York City’s Central Park and another at Cornell University. On Thursday, Kehlani reportedly dropped out of a Pride music festival in San Francisco.
The singer could not immediately be reached for comment but said in a video posted to Instagram in April that they are “not antisemitic nor anti-Jew” but are “anti-genocide.”
San Diego Jewish organizations don’t see it that way.
“No one gets to tell Jews what is and is not antisemitic,” said Laura Stratton, a member of Temple Emanu-El of San Diego, one of the organizations that has withdrawn from Pride.
On May 22, the Finest Community Coalition, a group created to combat antisemitism and composed of more than two dozen local Jewish organizations, first issued a call to San Diego Pride to remove Kehlani as the festival’s headliner.
In a subsequent statement Friday, eight of the organizations said the request to San Diego Pride went “unanswered, and as a result, there will be no organized Jewish presence at San Diego Pride this year.”
The groups are “heartbroken” to not attend Pride, said Heidi Gantwerk, the president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County.
But she said many members of the Jewish community don’t feel safe attending an event they say risks elevating rhetoric that violently targets them.
She pointed to recent violence, including last weekend in Boulder, Colo., when a man firebombed a march in support of Israeli hostages, injuring more than a dozen people, as well as a broader rise in antisemitic incidents, including in San Diego County.
“We want to be part of Pride. We want to be allies,” Gantwerk said. “We are allies for the gay community, but what we can’t be is complicit in speech that endangers our population.”
San Diego Pride confirmed Friday that Kehlani was still set to headline the festival and said in an email that it does not adopt or endorse the political positions of any individual performer.
“We made this decision after having engaged with community and religious leaders on both sides,” Pride spokesperson Joslyn Hatfield said in an email. “Ultimately, we came to the conclusion that removing Kehlani from the program would go against our fundamental belief in individual free speech, a cornerstone of our democratic system, especially in a time when the (Trump) administration is aggressively trying to silence our community.”
Mayor Gloria sent a letter to the coalition of Jewish groups Wednesday advising that he would not attend the festival and calling Pride’s selection of headliner “disappointing.”
But he also indicated that San Diego Pride had revised its contract with Kehlani to prevent the artist from “engaging in political speech.”
His office did not respond to questions about whether he had any concerns about restricting LGBTQ+ artists’ political speech, and about what role he believed political advocacy should play in the city’s Pride events.
Hatfield did not say whether San Diego Pride had changed Kehlani’s contract as Gloria described. But she did say it “has asked all performers, vendors, and guests to abide by a code of conduct, which includes a zero tolerance policy for conduct, language, or attire that is offensive, whether explicit, suggestive, or discriminatory.”
She also nodded to Pride’s origins in protest against police harassment of LGBTQ+ people.
“Stonewall is an important touchstone for our community — a reminder that we are capable of resistance in the face of oppression,” Hatfield wrote. “The work of Pride is resistance, advocacy and joy itself.”
Mayor Gloria will still attend and walk in the Pride parade, his office confirmed on Friday.
Rabbi Devorah Marcus, who leads Temple Emanu-El of San Diego, said the mayor’s support of the groups’ concerns is “beautiful” but hopes he will ultimately decide not to participate in the event at all, not even the parade.
She added that she’s “sorrowful” that the mayor is in the “difficult situation.”
“The Pride board has drawn a line in the sand and told people to pick teams and to pick sides, when Pride is supposed to be about bringing people together,” she said.
In his letter to San Diego Pride, the mayor expressed “deep concerns for the safety of all attendees” at this year’s parade and festival and said he anticipates the organization’s decision to keep Kehlani as headliner will prompt protests.
He encouraged Pride to keep working with San Diego police to ensure “robust safety” and a “reassuring presence.”
Originally Published:
San Diego County will be the center of NASCAR nation this weekend, with fans flocking to Naval Base Coronado for three days of events.
This is the first-ever Cup race held in San Diego County and the NASCAR community is also presenting it as its way of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy.
Tickets are completely sold out, but locals can still get in on the fun at various event and activities taking place across the region.
Here’s what to know about this one-of-a-kind weekend in San Diego. Full coverage of NASCAR San Diego Weekend can be found at sandiegouniontribune.com/tag/nascar.
What is NASCAR San Diego Weekend?
The three-day event begins with Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series race, continues with an O’Reilly Auto Parts series race on Saturday and wraps Sunday with the Anduril 250.
Grandstands with a capacity for 40,000 fans have been erected, with another 10,000 spectators expected to occupy standing areas around the grounds.
Here’s a turn-by-turn look at Naval Base Coronado’s race circuit
When is it taking place?
Parking lots, which are on base, open each day at 7 a.m. and gates open at 9 a.m.
The Craftsman Truck Series takes place Friday at 4 p.m. The O’Reilly Auto Parts series race blasts off at 2 p.m. Saturday. The main event, NASCAR Cup Series Race, happens Sunday at 1 p.m.
A race-by-race look at NASCAR’s San Diego Weekend
Each day will also feature entertainment, driver Q&As and other activities.
Where is it?
Naval Base Coronado will host the weekend’s activities. All fans in attendance must carry a valid government-issued photo ID at all times.
Going to this weekend’s NASCAR races in Coronado? Here’s what you need to know
All event parking will be located on Naval Base Coronado. There is no event parking available within the city of Coronado.
Who is racing?
Shane Van Gisbergen, Tyler Reddick, Mike McDowell, Chase Elliott and Ty Gibbs are just a few of the names to expect this weekend. A full lineup can be found at nascarsandiego.com/nascar-san-diego-mission-lineup.
These 13 Cup racers could all win Sunday’s Anduril 250 in Coronado
How to watch on TV:
Craftsman Trucks Series race: 4 p.m. Friday on Fox Sports 1
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race: 2 p.m. Saturday on The CW
NASCAR Cup race: Sunday at 1 p.m. on Prime Video
Local events:
San Diegans have a range of options for getting in on the fun of NASCAR weekend in Coronado, including meet and greets with drivers, watch parties and fan zones.
Your guide to fan events during NASCAR San Diego Weekend
More coverage:
CORONADO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Final preparations are underway for NASCAR’s historic race weekend at Naval Base Coronado, where stock cars will compete on an active military installation for the first time in the sport’s history.
Crews, race teams, military personnel, first responders and event staff spent Thursday putting the finishing touches on the temporary road course as thousands of fans prepare to descend on the base for the inaugural event.
“The countdown is on,” as organizers work to transform portions of the installation into a race venue unlike any NASCAR has hosted before.
“It’s a very proud moment for NASCAR and myself and my company for being part of it,” said Jordan Litchko, a NASCAR production partner with ignition production. “It’s the America 250, so what a year to celebrate and be here on the naval base.”
Officials say the event marks the first time a NASCAR national series race has been held on a military base, bringing one of America’s most recognizable motorsports directly onto a working military installation.
Unlike traditional oval tracks, competitors will tackle a temporary road course built specifically for the event.
“It’s a road course race, which adds way more excitement, so it’s going to be ultra challenging,” Litchko said.
Thursday’s preparations included long lines of team members, vendors, staff and emergency personnel picking up credentials and completing security and base access requirements ahead of race weekend.
Meanwhile, drivers and crews got their first close look at the unique layout, which winds through portions of the base and presents a challenge far different from a conventional speedway.
With large crowds expected throughout the weekend, organizers are encouraging fans to plan ahead and allow extra travel time. Traffic delays are anticipated around Naval Base Coronado and nearby access points as spectators arrive for the event.
After months of planning and construction, the wait is nearly over.
On Friday, engines will roar to life aboard Naval Base Coronado, marking a milestone moment for NASCAR and creating a new chapter in the sport’s history. By the weekend’s end, fans will witness a race unlike any ever held before — stock cars competing on a military base in the heart of San Diego.
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The City of San Diego is beginning to install 286 metered parking spaces this week in downtown San Ysidro in an effort to increase parking turnover, it was announced Thursday.
To develop the plan, city leaders worked with the San Ysidro business community. Revenue collected from the meters is reserved for transportation, parking and safety improvements in San Ysidro.
“Feeding parking meters feeds neighborhood repairs, and we can’t wait to get to work for the San Ysidro community,” said Naomi Chavez, interim director of the city’s Transportation Department. “This new parking zone will bring long overdue change that will help support local business activity and generate revenue that will be reinvested directly into improving neighborhood quality of life in San Ysidro.”
Crews began preparing the bases for the meters last week and installation work is expected to last through June. According to the city, these will be multi-space meter kiosks and drivers should be aware that they will need to go to the nearest kiosk to pay for parking since there won’t be a meter at each space.
Metered parking goes into effect on July 1 and will be enforced 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays. The parking rate is $2.50 an hour, with a maximum time limit of four hours.
City-led parking studies determined vehicles were parking on the streets of the neighborhood for hours or days at a time, making street parking for the area’s businesses scarce.
Drivers who customarily use free street parking when traveling across the border to Mexico are encouraged to use “one of the many paid off-street parking lots in the area,” a city statement read.
“The findings [of the parking study] clearly demonstrate the need for action. High parking occupancy on unregulated segments, along with data showing that 37% of vehicles exceed the existing two-hour limit and an average parking duration of over five hours, indicate that current conditions reduce turnover and limit access for local businesses and visitors,” wrote Alfredo Ripa, president of the San Ysidro Community Economic Development Corporation. “The proposed introduction of approximately 286 metered spaces, along with better signage, clearer designations and continued enforcement, represents a thoughtful and data-driven approach to improving parking availability and supporting economic activity in the community.”
Areas where the meter kiosks will be installed include:
— East San Ysidro Boulevard between Border Village Road to Camino De La Plaza (both sides);
— Border Village Road between East San Ysidro Boulevard (north) to East San Ysidro Boulevard (south), (both sides);
— Front Street between Border Village Road to end of cul-de-sac (south side);
— Bolton Hall Road between East San Ysidro Boulevard to Border Village Road (south side);
— Louisiana Avenue between East San Ysidro Boulevard to end of cul-de- sac (south side);
— Virginia Avenue between East San Ysidro Boulevard to Border Village Road (both sides); and
— East San Ysidro Boulevard between Willow Road and East Park Avenue (south side).
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