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San Diego eyes fix for challenges to opening child care facilities

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San Diego eyes fix for challenges to opening child care facilities


Why this matters

San Diegans pay more for child care than their peers across the United States. Meanwhile, a shortage of child care providers persists locally.

The city of San Diego is working on ways to make it easier for child care providers to open new facilities. 

The city recently received a $25,000 grant from the National League of Cities Early Learning Network to hire a consultant to facilitate better communication between licensing and permitting officials, local fire marshals and child care providers.

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City partners are leading the search for a consultant who will plan meetings, document outcomes and provide feedback about the current child care system. Leaders want to hire for the position as soon as possible.

From the Documenters

This story came by way of a news tip by Matthew Miuccio, a Documenter in inewsource’s San Diego Documenters program, which trains and pays community members to document what happens at public meetings.

Right now, the offices operate in silos that act as barriers to facilities, according to Tara Ryan, a program coordinator at the city’s Office of Child and Youth Success. Misunderstandings between offices cause confusion for providers and delay their ability to open, she said.

The goal is to create a more straightforward licensing process. The licensing office and fire marshals have to be on the same page about what’s required to clear providers to open, Ryan said.

San Diego County has recommended child care improvements since 2022, after COVID-19 caused many providers to close. Officials say the pandemic “exacerbated an already overwhelming problem.”

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The child care industry has continued to struggle despite government efforts to intervene. And a majority of San Diego parents still say it’s a challenge to find child care, according to data commissioned by San Diego Foundation.

“There still are provider shortages,” Ryan said. “It’s really a huge system and it’s broken.”

City, county and community partners are working on how to address the problems identified within the county’s Child Care Blueprint, a document outlining goals for San Diego’s child care system.

Key highlights include the need for advancements within the child care workforce, specifically, more training, community support and competitive wages. Other goals aim to create better facilities in child care deserts and provide access to child care that meets a wider range of needs.

“The Child Care Blueprint represents the first time the county has had a coordinated, multi-sector plan to align these efforts and move forward with shared priorities,” said Dezerie Martinez, an early education special projects coordinator at the San Diego County Office of Education.

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So far, leaders of the reform efforts have identified funding to develop a City of San Diego guidebook on the child care facility permitting and licensing process. They have also developed plans for a countywide navigation hub that connects child care workers, providers, families, employers and parties interested in the local child care sector on a platform to share facility information.

The city, county and community groups are promoting community interest for child care reform.

To kick off next steps, the city and community partners will host an event next month, “Child Care Blueprint in Motion: Celebrating Progress, Building the Future,” on Thursday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to noon.

More details and updates about the event will be available in the coming weeks on San Diego Office of Education’s social media.

Type of Content

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

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San Diego, CA

Washington Nationals vs San Diego Padres Game Thread

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Washington Nationals vs San Diego Padres Game Thread


The Nats had chances to win last night, but they came up short. Some of the weaknesses at the back end of their roster showed up, and they lost 7-5 in a bullpen battle. Now they will look to bounce back at home against a tough Padres team.

Blake Butera has made some peculiar changes to the lineup. Clearly, he wants to go lefty heavy. The struggling Jorbit Vivas will start over Curtis Mead. Jose Tena will also be starting at DH. That means James Wood will go to right field and Dylan Crews will slide to center. Drew Millas will also be back behind the plate. Foster Griffin will be on the bump.

The Padres have a very similar lineup to last night. Rodolfo Duran will replace Freddy Fermin behind the plate. Otherwise, it is the same personnel. We saw Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis start to wake up, so hopefully that does not continue. Blake Butera’s college teammate, Michael King, will be on the mound.

The Nats will look to avoid going under .500 in this one. Michael King will be a good test, but this lineup has been resilient. Hopefully Foster Griffin can build on his strong outing against the Braves. If they don’t win today, those narratives about the poor home record will re-appear. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

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San Diego, CA

Letters: Stop taxpayer funds for short-term rental trash 

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Letters: Stop taxpayer funds for short-term rental trash 


San Diego taxpayers are subsidizing the short-term rental industry’s trash collection under the People’s Ordinance. The 2017 letter from the city attorney to Councilmember Zapf is crystal clear: transient occupancy (rentals under 30 days) generates “nonresidential refuse.”

The city is prohibited from providing free weekly collection to these units. Yet, thousands of whole-home STRs continue to receive curbside service at taxpayer expense. Measure B (2022) modernized funding but left the core definition intact — transient rentals remain ineligible for city residential service. 

Requiring owners to arrange and pay for private hauling would shift the full cost off the general fund. With roughly 7,954 active licenses, and residential collection costing about $520 per unit annually, the city could save approximately $4.1 million a year. That money could repair streets, fund public safety or lower taxes for actual residents. Enforce the ordinance as written.

— Gary Wonacott, San Diego

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San Diego teen organizes Eid goodie bags for children after Mosque tragedy

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San Diego teen organizes Eid goodie bags for children after Mosque tragedy


SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As the Muslim community prepares to celebrate Eid al-Adha next month, a San Diego teenager is working to bring comfort and joy to children impacted by the recent tragedy at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

Seventeen-year-old Sarah Abdin spent the past week fundraising, shopping and assembling nearly 100 Eid goodie bags for students at the mosque’s elementary school.

While many teenagers are focused on final exams, Abdin said she spent some nights working until 2 a.m. to make sure every bag was ready in time for the school’s upcoming graduation celebration.

The project was inspired by the recent shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where children were present during the incident. Abdin, who attended the mosque as a child, said hearing about what students experienced motivated her to take action.

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Each bag contains a variety of treats, activities and gifts intended to help children celebrate Eid, one of the most important holidays in Islam.

Abdin said community members quickly rallied behind the effort, helping raise funds and support the project. After days of shopping and preparation, she and her sister spent several hours assembling the bags ahead of delivery.

The goodie bags are expected to be distributed during the elementary school’s graduation festivities in early June.

Abdin said she hopes the gesture serves as a reminder that the children are surrounded by a community that cares about them and stands beside them during difficult times.

The fundraising effort received widespread support, helping cover the cost of the goodie bags and allowing organizers to expand their reach to more students.

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