San Diego, CA

Organized Labor Rallies Around Cindy Chavez as Next San Diego County CAO | San Jose Inside

Published

2 years ago

May 1, 2024

Organized Labor Rallies Around Cindy Chavez as Next San Diego County CAO | San Jose Inside

Sources say Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez has re-applied for the position of Chief Administrative Officer in San Diego County, where organized labor is turning up the heat to pressure the county board of supervisors to include her among finalists for the $400,000-a-year post.

Members of SEIU Local 221 and the local United Domestic Workers union, supported by the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, held a public rally outside the county administration building on Tuesday, pushing for Chavez’ appointment as the supervisors met behind closed doors to discuss the hiring process for CAO, the county’s top staff position.

A flier and poster for the “Rally for Transparent CAO Process” that was posted on Instagram, called on union members to “Tell the board to interview Cindy Chavez, a champion for working families, as a finalist for Chief Administrative Officer.”

Chavez, former director of the South Bay Labor Council in San Jose and a two-time unsuccessful candidate for mayor of San Jose, was considered the top candidate for the San Diego CAO early last year.

Her San Diego appointment was scuttled at the last minute, when a sexual harassment scandal forced the resignation of Supervisor Nathan Fletcher – husband of Chavez friend and political ally, state labor leader Lorena Gonzales Fletcher – and the postponement of the CAO search until after the November election. When another Democrat was elected to fill Fletcher’s seat, supervisors re-advertised the position and told prior applicants they would need to re-apply if they were still interested.

In mid-April, the influential online news outlet, the Voice of San Diego, reported that Chavez “is once again interested in the role.” Chavez has consistently not responded to requests for comment, and county officials have not identified any of the current applicants.

At Tuesday’s rally, the focus was on new board chair Nora Vargas to support “a transparent process that will include candidates supported by the community.”

The union leaders claimed that the supervisors last spring actually voted “to hire a pro-worker, Latina candidate [Chavez] to become the next Chief Administrative Officer, but the board suddenly changed its mind and rescinded the offer.” The board never revealed any details of its private deliberations.

The union leaders called the board’s action to change its mind on the Chavez appointment a “flip-flop [that] is unacceptable and could seriously harm the future of care in the county for years to come.”

In the Instagram post, the union leaders called on the county “to create a public, transparent process where the public can meet the finalists.”

The Voice of San Diego reported that the county apparently responded, and is expected to name semi-finalists this month. Each county supervisor will be able to nominate two constituents to interview them before finalists are put forward by the end of the month.

Also, in mid-April the executive committee of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council approved a resolution in support of Chavez’ application to be the new county CAO.

The proposed resolution will now go to the full group of delegates that represent all the unions within the Labor Council. It follows a similar resolution by the San Diego County Democratic Party.

Crystal Irving, president of SEIU 221, which represents over 10,000 San Diego County employees, told the Voice of San Diego last month: “We are at a crossroads. We can either cling to the conservative ‘financial experience’ that prioritizes old fiscal policies, or we can embrace a bold, progressive future that truly serves all community members. Our coalition of Democrats, union members and progressives feel Cindy Chavez embodies this much needed change and will deliver on the board’s pro-worker vision for the future.”

Three decades of journalism experience, as a writer and editor with Gannett, Knight-Ridder and Lee newspapers, as a business journal editor and publisher and as a weekly newspaper editor in Scotts Valley and Gilroy; with the Weeklys group since 2017. Recipient of several first-place writing and editing awards, California News Publishers Association.

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San Diego, CA

Daily Business Report: July 17, 2026, San Diego Metro Magazine

Published

6 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Press Room

Letter to the Editor: Apartment Vacancy Rates Paint an Incomplete Picture

By David Malcolm | Voice of San Diego

In last Saturday’s “Politics Report,” Will Huntsberry tackled the thorny issue of apartment vacancy rates (apparently the highest in this century) and the impact on affordability. He also correctly wrote that the city of San Diego needs “strategies beyond build, build, build.”

What’s Really Happening

My company owns and operates apartment rental complexes in San Diego County (San Marcos, Encinitas, La Jolla, El Cajon and South Bay) and in Temecula (Riverside County). Here is what we are seeing.

Base rents are stable … but offers of two months’ free rent are common. That is a de facto 16.7 percent reduction on annualized rents. Reducing base rents is not possible in the face of rent control measures and, even more importantly, bank loan covenants. Thus, concessions like two months’ free rent are not hard to find.

New study shows promising step forward in improving Parkinson’s treatment

by Nicole Abrams | Times of San Diego

A small molecule was found to increase the benefits and reduce the side effects of the standard drug for Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study from UC San Diego startup called Sinopia Biosciences.

L-dopa or levodopa is the main treatment for Parkinson’s disease, but its benefits wane over time and can cause involuntary movements called dyskinesia. About 90% of patients with Parkinson’s disease develop dyskinesia in 9 or more years of using L-dopa, and 70% develop motor fluctuations in 9 or more years of using the drug, according to the study.

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San Diego, CA

EXCLUSIVE: Ignition Press Welcomes eBay Live & Revenge Of to San Diego Comic-Con Ignition Pavilion

Published

18 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Press Room

The Ignition Press – Ignition Pavilion is leveling up in a big way for San Diego Comic-Con this year.

Following last year’s successful debut, Ignition Press is expanding its offsite with several major new partners, transforming the Ignition Pavilion into a hub for comics, collectibles, livestream shopping, food, and drinks. The free experience at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center (200 Harbor Dr.) will now feature activations from eBay Live and Revenge Of, alongside the return of Seven Seas Roasting Company and several new fan experiences.

One of the biggest additions this year is a dedicated eBay Live selling lounge, where livestreams will broadcast throughout the convention, bringing Comic-Con to fans around the world.

Stop by throughout the week to find live sketches and signings with comic legends Bill Sienkiewicz (hosted by Big Clutch) and Jim Lee (hosted by ANZ Collects), while Storage Wars star Rene Nezhoda will showcase a rare PSA-pedigreed collection of vintage, Silver Age, and Bronze Age comics.

Fans can also tune in for the debut of an exclusive DC x eBay Live Absolute Batman & Absolute Catwoman connecting cover, shop signed Ignition Press SDCC exclusives, rare comics, and other collectibles, and catch appearances from fan-favorite creators and influencers throughout the weekend.

The Pavilion also welcomes Los Angeles lifestyle brand Revenge Of, making its San Diego Comic-Con debut with a curated comics and pop culture experience, while its sister company, FTB.Design, is handling the Pavilion’s production design.

“Both eBay Live and Revenge Of TV are going to give both fans onsite and at home the opportunity to get in on special programming and chances to get SDCC exclusive merchandise,” said Creative Director Jeremy Haun. “We’re doing something new, big, and different here at the Ignition Pavilion. You’re not going to want to miss it.”

Coffee lovers can once again grab a free drink from Seven Seas Roasting Company between 12pm-4pm, Thursday through Sunday, by signing up for the Ignition Insiders newsletter. The first 200 fans each day can redeem a voucher for coffee, espresso drinks, chai, or tea.

Later each afternoon (Thursday-Saturday, 5pm-7pm), the coffee bar transforms into the Ignition Pavilion Happy Hour, serving themed cocktails, beer, wine, mocktails, and complimentary drink tickets with qualifying purchases. Fans can also preorder a limited-edition bottle of Ignition Proof Rum, created in partnership with Los Angeles distillery The Obscure.

The Ignition Pavilion is free and open to the public at the following times:

Wednesday, July 22: 5:00pm-9:00pm
Thursday, July 23: 12:00pm-8:00pm
Friday, July 24: 12:00pm-8:00pm
Saturday, July 25: 12:00pm-8:00pm
Sunday, July 26: 12:00pm-6:00pm

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San Diego, CA

Karepango San Diego Comic-Con 2026 Debuts, Merchandise

Published

1 day ago

July 16, 2026

Press Room

Karepango San Diego Comic-Con 2026 Debuts, Merchandise

Karepango, the colorful and unapologetic brand that aims to bring a smile in the most unexpected time, is coming to Comic-Con to spread joy, and give attendees the chance to show the world they are imperfect, yet still proud.

Find them at booth #5034, located in the Hall G area of the convention center, and will have dozens of their classic bestsellers, recent products and even a brand new exclusive (and very limited) shirt.

All purchases will receive free gifts, with an extra special gift for purchases over $100.

All clothing is available in sizes XS through 2XL, but in limited quantities per size.

Let’s get shopping:

Have A Good Day Shirts – $48
Limited to 75 pieces
Purple or brown with front and back printing

100% Cotton Knit Sweaters – $88
Oversized and pre-shrunk