San Diego, CA
San Diego City Council passes resolution supporting striking hotel workers
In a largely symbolic move, the San Diego City Council on Tuesday threw their overwhelming support behind the more than 700 hotel workers on strike at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
In a 7-0 vote, they approved a resolution that calls for a “fair and just” conclusion of the dispute that has embroiled the workers and the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel since Aug. 31, when the last contract expired.
The resolution accords no funds or resources to support the workers or their cause. But it sends a message of solidarity with workers as the strike pushes into its third week.
One by one, every council member present spoke about fairness and the courage it takes to strike. They lamented the long distances some workers have to commute to their jobs at San Diego hotels and they said it’s tough to need work two jobs to make ends meet.
Roughly 700 unionized hotel workers are striking at the 1,190-room Gaslamp Quarter hotel in a bid for higher wages, staffing increases, improved protections from harassment and reduced workloads. The union has said that efforts to reach an agreement with the hotel started in July and didn’t succeed in time for the contract expiration.
“We will continue to strike until we get a FAIR contract,” a Facebook page of the union states.
Hilton did not provide a statement on Tuesday. Before the strikes began, Hilton had said it was “committed to negotiating in good faith to reach fair and reasonable agreements.”
At Tuesday’s council meeting, hotel worker Rosa Carillo said in Spanish that San Diego is in an “economic crisis” because of high rents. “We are not living. We are surviving,” she continued. She said workers should only require one job to get by. If hotel workers are stretched thin working multiple jobs, they can’t spend time with their children or properly tend to them. “We are very worried,” she said.
In two public notices, the union has said it wants raises that would bring “wages in line with our cost of living in San Diego.”
The union has juxtaposed “record high” hotel profits against lagging worker wages. Data from CoStar, a real estate data and analytics company, shows that both profit and labor costs were up in 2023 compared to 2022 nationwide.
Beyond voicing support in council chambers, the resolution ratifies what city council members have been saying throughout the strike. Lee joined strikers last week. On Monday, the strike’s 16th day, Joe La Cava posted a selfie with workers, with the hashtag #onejobshouldbeenough. Council President Sean Elo-Rivera and council members Stephen Whitburn, Raul Campillo, Henry Foster III, Marni von Wilpert and Vivian Moreno have each marched with workers, sent staff or sent messages of support in the strike’s first days.
In public comment at the meeting, Bridget Browning, the union’s local president, said she and the striking workers were moved and inspired by the council’s support.
“When I started in 1997, literally the only city council person who cared about us was Juan Vargas from District 8,” she said. “The rest only cared about TOT,” or the Transient Occupancy Tax, a city tax collected by tourism lodging properties.
Tuesday’s vote, with seven of nine council members in favor and two absent, reflects the current council’s stance on labor.
“I’m certainly proud to not only be joining this resolution, but to simply recognize that we are living in a pro-labor city and that we are here to stand with our workers,” said Councilmember Kent Lee, who represents District 6.
Von Wilpert she hopes the hotel will deliver a “win-win.”
“We support our hotels,” she said. “We think they’re wonderful, and we think the workers who work there are wonderful and there can be a win-win situation here if hotel management can come back to the negotiating table and do what’s right for our workers.”
No talks were scheduled as of late Tuesday.
San Diego City Council’s resolution is not unique. In July, Minneapolis’s City Council support striking workers with a resolution. Los Angeles City Council did the same last year, compelling Hollywood studios to negotiate with striking writers.
Staff writer Lori Weisberg contributed to this report.
Originally Published:
San Diego, CA
Man fatally struck by hit-and-run vehicle in San Diego
A man in the Mission Bay Park community of San Diego was fatally struck Sunday morning by a hit-and run vehicle, authorities said.
The victim was also struck by a second vehicle and that motorist stayed at the scene to cooperate with officers, the San Diego Police Department reported.
The initial crash occurred at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday in the area of West Mission Bay and Sea World drives.
The pedestrian was in the southbound lanes of the 2000 block of West Mission Bay Drive when he was struck by a silver vehicle also in the southbound lanes. That vehicle fled the scene, continuing southbound, police said.
A 28-year-old man driving his vehicle southbound ran over the downed pedestrian.
“That driver remained at the scene and is not DUI,” according to a police statement. “The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Anyone with information regarding the initial crash was urged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
San Diego, CA
Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records
San Diego County is known for having wet, cold weather in February. But it had numerous hot spells this year. And when the month ended on Saturday a high pressure system produced heat that broke or tied temperature records in nine communities from the desert to the sea, the National Weather Service said.
The most notable temperature occurred in Borrego Springs, which reached 99, five degrees higher than the previous record for Feb. 28, set in 1986. The 99 reading is also the highest temperature ever recorded in Borrego in February.
Escondido reached 95, tying a record set in 1901.
El Cajon reached 92, three degrees higher than the record set in 2009.
Ramona topped out at 88, five degrees higher than the record set in 2009.
Alpine hit 88, four degrees higher the record set in 1986.
Campo reached 87, four degrees higher than the record set in 1999.
Vista hit 86, four degrees higher than the record set in 2020.
Chula Vista reached 84, one degree higher than the record set in 2020.
Lake Cuyamaca rose to 76, four degrees higher than the record set in 1986.
Forecasters say the weather is not likely to broadly produce new highs on Sunday. Cooler air is moving to the coast, and on Monday, San Diego’s high will only reach 67, a degree above normal.
San Diego, CA
Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title
OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.
“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.
So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.
With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.
The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.
Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”
One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.
“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”
Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run. Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.
Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.
“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.
As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.
Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”
That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.
The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.
“She’s a great player,” said Brown.
“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”
Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.
“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”
Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.
Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.
About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”
Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.
Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.
“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.
Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.
“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”
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