Courtesy of Baja California Travel; Photomexico/Francisco Estrada
It’s time to see for yourself. America’s southern border. See if all the media and political hysteria is accurate.
Flying into San Diego provides the easiest way for most people around the U.S. to do so. Downtown sits 20 miles from Mexico and that country’s second largest city: Tijuana.
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The pair want you to come–San Diego and Tijuana–to see how they work with, and around, the border. How they work together literally and figuratively.
How, in many ways, they are one city, not two.
“Our cities are inextricably linked, both economically and culturally,” Jonathon Glus, Executive Director of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, told Forbes.com. “We acknowledge that we are one region; we’re embracing that more and more as both cities are evolving and maturing.”
One way both cities are striving to mature is through more thoughtful design. Toward that end, San Diego and Tijuana sought out recognition as the World Design Capital for 2024. Collaboratively. Successfully.
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Every two years, the World Design Organization, a global nongovernmental organization with a mission to “design a better world,” designates a World Design Capital. The winning bidder is chosen for effective use of design in driving economic, social, cultural, and environmental progress. San Diego and Tijuana represent the first cross-border region to be designated World Design Capital and the first time a U.S. city has been selected for the prestigious distinction.
“This World Design Capital designation will allow us to show that there is more that unites us than divides us as we work together to tell the story of the seven million people who live and work here and as we partner on addressing the most pressing issues facing our region,” Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero said when the selection was announced.
World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 will provide a yearlong platform to showcase design, while further enhancing cross-border collaboration and raising the profile of this binational region on the global stage.
“On a daily basis, once one comes here and spends time here, you start to learn about the subtleties of the shared cultures, but also, that in spite of that (border) wall, we dine in each other’s city every evening, we educate our children in each other cities, we share workforce–40,000 people cross the border on foot every day,” Glus, also a World Design Capital 2024 board member, added. “As a region, we’re embracing that there’s built in challenges to being the largest border region on the planet and we have this wall that goes right through the center of us. That’s a daily challenge for us, but we also believe that we’re the place that can find solutions to share with the rest of the world.”
Solutions, not separation.
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Solutions, despite separation.
“I don’t want to say it’s informal, but there is a less formal, seamless way that the region has figured out how to function economically in spite of the border, and we committed through WDC to raise the curtain on what that means, that dynamism,” Glus continued. “We have all the barriers of being in two countries, but that’s alright because we have access to resources that are unique to our region, and that’s what we’re building on.”
Brotherhood, not otherhood.
As for the big question many Americans will have before venturing from San Diego to Tijuana: is it safe?
“I personally travel across the border multiple times a week,” Glus said. “Of course, like traveling anyplace in the world, you need to be aware, but on a daily basis, the two cities function together flawlessly, so taking routine precautions that you would if you were going to more or less any other place in the world, you’re fine.”
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See for yourself.
A Hub of Innovation
Geisel Library at the UC San Diego campus.
Courtesy of University of California San Diego
San Diego–“America’s Finest City” (go at least once before contesting that moniker)–has been welcoming visitors since the 19th century. The climate. The sun. The sand.
Hotel Del Coronado. La Jolla. The world’s greatest zoo. The Holiday Bowl.
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Outside of the notice of tourists, residents have been at work creating an innovation hub over the past 40 years, an economy highlighted by the World Design Capital distinction.
“That has really transformed our region and that is built out of both Tijuana and San Diego,” Glus explained. “We often think of innovation or tech economies as being hubs for engineers (but it) takes designers to be part of the team to get the software done. So, at the same time the San Diego Tijuana region has been building out this tech space, it has transformed our design community as well. That is, in part, what the attraction was for us in this bid for World Design Capital, to tell our story as this new global center that has been built on a rich tradition of designing, coming from being a border region, the colonial sensibilities of Mexico, and now this tech economy that has been built.”
Take Motorola’s regional operations as an example.
“A lot of (Motorola’s) manufacturing happens on the Tijuana side; the (research and development) happens on the San Diego side, but it’s only because of the proximity of Tijuana that we can actually do the research, have test markets in both countries, do the fabrication, and launch to Southeast Asia as well as the rest of the Americas,” Glus explains.
From smart phones and electronics, to clothing, housing, and automobiles–three automotive design hubs call San Diego home: Nissan, Mercedes and start-up Aptera–design influences nearly every aspect of human life. The cities we live in. The utensils we eat from.
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Design has an outsized influence on quality of life, a fact not lost on San Diego, world renowned for its quality of life.
“We’re working very intentionally with designers to start with the needs of the community to make sure that they have control of their destiny. We’re designing communities front and center for the people who reside (there) first, who have stakes in those communities first,” Glus said. Like most other places in America, that hasn’t always been the case. “Historically, we are willing to say, on the San Diego side, we have built much of the city for others. We’re now building this city for the residents of yesterday and the residents of today and their children of tomorrow. We’re doing that by ensuring we’re designing hand in hand with those folks.”
With the spotlight and events made available through World Design Capital recognition, San Diego and Tijuana aspire to elevate the power of good design across the region, leveraging the area’s status as an innovation hub to make sure local resources and expertise are available and put to use for residents.
“Every one of us knows bad civic design, bad art design, bad street design,” Glus said. “We don’t necessarily think about the excellence in design that makes our lives easier, more functional, more efficient, and ultimately, for much of it, more beautiful.”
Visiting World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024
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Balboa Park in San Diego.
Courtesy of San Diego Tourism Authority
World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024, in partnership with hundreds of arts and cultural organizations and schools and universities across the binational region, offers a daily schedule of workshops, exhibitions, projects, speakers, and events.
More than any person could ever see.
On July 29, WDC 2024 opens its Exchange Pavilion in Balboa Park’s Plaza de Panama. It will serve as the event’s home through the end of the year with daily programming. The Park houses many of San Diego’s leading museums and attractions, including the San Diego Zoo, putting thousands of visitors and locals on its doorstep seven days a week.
Anyone looking to do more than browse is welcome at the World Design Experience September 18 through 25. Also centralized in Balboa Park, but spanning San Diego, this eight-day event will see all manner of activities and activations related to design taking place within the park. The highlight of the Experience comes the 20th through 22nd when leading designers from all sectors across the world will be in residence at the Pavilion sharing their expertise.
Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Chaldean Catholic bishop of San Diego, California, a decision announced Tuesday by the Vatican after the bishop was arrested on embezzlement charges. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said last week it had arrested Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta on Thursday at San Diego International Airport as he tried to leave the country, reports the AP. The office said it acted after someone from Shaleta’s church provided a statement and documentation “showing potential embezzlement from the church.” Shaleta was being held on $125,000 bail on eight counts of embezzlement, money laundering, and aggravated white collar crime, the statement said. Shaleta pleaded not guilty on Monday, reports NBC San Diego.
“He was on his way to Germany,” prosecutor Joel Madero said. “Given his access to funds, the fact that he had over $9,000 in the bag when he was stopped, and the fact that he has these international ties … I do believe that some bail to ensure he shows up is appropriate.” There was no immediate reply to an email sent to Shaleta’s parish, St. Peter Chaldean Church, seeking comment and contact information for his attorney. The Vatican said in its daily bulletin Tuesday that Leo had accepted Shaleta’s resignation under the code of canon law for eastern rite churches that allows for the pope to agree if a bishop asks to step down.
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Leo actually accepted the resignation when Shaleta presented it in February, but an announcement was not made until Tuesday, according to the Vatican embassy in Washington. The Holy See appears to have waited to announce the decision to avoid interfering with the police investigation. Leo named Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop as a temporary administrator. Shaleta, 69, was ordained a priest of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Detroit in 1984. He was named to the San Diego branch of the eastern rite Catholic Church in the US in 2017.
36.9 — The percentage of groundballs that Márquez yielded in 2025, a career low and significantly below his career average (48%). Márquez’s groundball rate was regularly above 50% before requiring Tommy John surgery in early 2023. He made one start in 2024 and struggled mightily while making 26 starts last year.
TRENDING
Down — Márquez had a 4.40 ERA through his first seven years in the majors, not bad considering he pitched roughly half his games at one of the best hitting environments in the majors. In fact, Márquez has a 5.17 ERA in his career at Coors Field and a 4.22 ERA in road environments. But Márquez underwent Tommy John surgery early in 2023, made one start in the majors in mid-July in 2024 (4 IP, 3 ER) and struggled throughout his first full year back in the Rockies rotation. The season was so difficult for Márquez that he was actually worse on the road (7.32 ERA) than he was in 11 starts at Coors Field (5.98 ERA). His strikeout rate (5.9 per nine innings) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.73) were the worst of his careers, as was his walk rate (3.4 per nine innings), while his hit rate (12.0 per nine innings) was the second worst of his career. On top of that, Márquez’s groundball rate was also the lowest of his career (see stat to note) and ranked in the bottom 22nd percentile of the league and his hard-hit rate (48.5%) and average exit velocity (91.7 mph) both ranked in the bottom 2 percentile of the league. One reason: a 94.8 mph four-seamer is down a few ticks than the height of his effectiveness. Márquez reached free agency after the season and signed with the Padres in February.
2026 OUTLOOK
Márquez has a big-league deal with the Padres, but he’ll have to rediscover his pre-elbow-reconstruction form to hold onto a roster spot, as RHP Griffin Canning (Achilles) is expected to push for a spot at some point this season and the likes of LHP JP Sears, RHP Matt Waldron and minor league signees like Marco Gonzales could warrant looks if Márquez’s struggles continue into 2026.
German Marquez #33 of the San Diego Padres participates in drills during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.(Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
In today’s Daily Dirt, I mentioned that the search at San Diego was done. Here’s the official announcement from USD on the hiring of JR Blount as their next head men’s basketball coach:
University of San Diego Athletics has named JR Blount the 15th head coach in San Diego men’s basketball program history, USD Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Kimya Massey announced on Monday.
Blount arrives in San Diego with a reputation as one of college basketball’s rising coaching talents after helping lead Iowa State to four NCAA Tournament appearances in four seasons.
He joins the Toreros after five seasons on T.J. Otzelberger’s staff at Iowa State, where the Cyclones compiled a 95-45 record during his tenure, won the 2024 Big 12 Tournament Championship and reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2024 — one of the most successful stretches in program history. Iowa State finished in the AP Top 15 in each of those four seasons and climbed as high as No. 2 nationally in each of the last two years. During the 2025-26 season, the Cyclones opened with a 16-0 start, highlighted by victories over No. 1 Purdue, No. 2 Houston, No. 9 Kansas and No. 14 St. John’s.
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“After a thorough and highly competitive national search, we are proud to welcome JR Blount as the next head coach of USD men’s basketball,” said Massey. “JR is an outstanding leader, a relentless competitor and one of the brightest rising coaches in college basketball. Even more importantly, throughout this process I came to know him as a humble leader with strong integrity and deep family values. JR has been a part of winning at every level of his career and understands what it takes to build a program that competes with toughness, discipline and consistency. Just as importantly, he believes in developing young men holistically and leading in a way that reflects the values of this university.
“This is a pivotal moment for our program and JR’s vision aligns with our belief that San Diego men’s basketball should compete in the upper tier of the WCC and position itself to be a regular NCAA Tournament participant. We are excited about what lies ahead under his leadership.”
“As a product of Catholic education and deeply committed to USD’s mission and values, Coach Blount is an outstanding role model for the young men in our Torero basketball program,” said USD President James T. Harris III. “He brings an impressive resume with deep experience, a winning track record and — above all — a commitment to the overall wellbeing of our student-athletes.”
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead USD men’s basketball,” Blount said. “We are so thankful to Athletic Director Kimya Massey and President Harris for this opportunity. This is more than just a coaching position for me — it’s a chance to become part of a community and build something meaningful. My wife and our three daughters are excited to make this move together and we can’t wait to invest in this university and the relationships that make it special.
I come to USD with a deep desire to win — to compete relentlessly, to develop our young men to their fullest potential and to build a program our fans can be proud of. Winning championships is important, but so is building a culture of toughness, accountability and love. We’re going to work every day to represent USD the right way, on and off the court. I’m ready to get started.”
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Blount played a key role in Iowa State’s rise under Otzelberger, helping orchestrate one of the most significant program turnarounds in recent Division I history. In his first season with the Cyclones in 2021-22, Iowa State rebounded from a two-win campaign the year before to finish 22-13 and advance to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The Cyclones quickly established a national reputation for defensive toughness, ranking among the nation’s best in scoring defense, defensive efficiency, steals and turnovers forced.
Over the next three seasons, Blount helped Iowa State sustain that momentum. In 2022-23, the Cyclones advanced to the NCAA Tournament and recorded nine wins over AP Top 25 opponents, tied for the most in school history. In 2023-24, Iowa State won the Big 12 Championship, finished 29-8, posted an undefeated 18-0 record at Hilton Coliseum and advanced to the Sweet 16. Most recently, the 2024-25 Cyclones finished 25-10, climbed as high as No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, earned another NCAA Tournament appearance and closed the season ranked No. 17 nationally.
Known for his work in player development, recruiting and culture-building, Blount has mentored multiple all-conference and All-America caliber players throughout his coaching career. At Iowa State, he developed some of the Big 12’s top performers while contributing to a program identity rooted in toughness, connectivity and competitive excellence.
Prior to Iowa State, Blount spent three seasons at Colorado State, where he helped elevate the Rams into one of the Mountain West’s top programs. During his tenure in Fort Collins, Colorado State signed the highest-rated recruiting class in program history and posted consecutive 20-win seasons, including a 20-8 finish and a run to the NIT semifinals in 2020-21. He also played a leadership role in Colorado State’s Together Initiative, which promoted social justice and racial equality on campus.
Blount also previously served in coaching roles at Drake and Saint Leo and began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where the program won the 2010 NCAA Division III National Championship.
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A former three-year team captain and two-time team MVP at Loyola University Chicago, Blount later played professionally for the Leicester Riders of the British Basketball League during the 2010-11 season. He earned degrees in psychology and sociology from Loyola in 2009 and later received his master’s degree in education from UW-Stevens Point in 2012.
A native of Milwaukee, Blount and his wife, Ashley, have three daughters: Maya, Zuri and Gema.
