san diego: dialed in: Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: San Diego City Council Hates You and The Mayor Doesn't Care If You're Poor

Wednesday, August 06, 2025

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: San Diego City Council Hates You and The Mayor Doesn't Care If You're Poor | August Is Clear The Shelters Month |

Lulua, Before The Escape (7.16.25)

I'm not even trying to hide my disappointment and anger about the establishment of paid parking at Balboa Park. I care less about the increase around Petco Park, but the extension of metered parking until 8pm and 10pm in some cases is completely outrageous and it's super clear that none of the Council people ever actually goes to the museums or the Park or the Zoo, unless they've got sweet free VIP parking anyway. So fuck em all. They've also resigned that they can't stop homelessness in this City because of the exorbitant cost of living, so they just shuffle everyone from place to place, towing and ticketing cars, and hoping to charge daily parking so auto-dwellers don't dare park at Balboa Park or anywhere near our beaches and bay...hopefully Coastal Commission shuts them down on that proposal when it comes down. But yes, I'm irritated and yes, I've now spoken twice at Council and Committee about it, and I'll keep fighting the good fight. In the meantime, fuck em all.

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum (except San Diego City Council and Mayor Todd.)

SAN DIEGO LOCALS:

County Offering Free Pet Adoptions All August for Clear the Shelters - County News Center (8.1.25)
Oceanographers create 5-day forecast for beach pollution - kpbs (7.22.25)
Why It Matters: New plan to charge for Balboa Park parking could pack the zoo lots - kpbs/Voice of San Diego (7.23.25)
County Closes Three Parks in August to Protect Hikers from Heat (El Capitan Preserve near Lakeside| Hellhole Canyon Preserve in Valley Center | Mt. Gower Preserve in Ramona) - County News Center (8.1.25)
New Malk Sunset Overlook at UC San Diego Offers Sweeping Pacific Views - UC San Diego Today (7.29.25)

SAN DIEGO REGIONAL POLITICS:

Taxes, fees and more: How much San Diego’s new city budget will cost you - Times of San Diego (7.24.25)

San Diego set to quadruple parking rates near Petco Park - City News Service/kpbs (8.4.25)

San Diego ends seasonal ban on beach-area construction to speed up projects - Times of San Diego (7.14.25)
New County Supervisor Sworn In, Board Chair Named - County News Center (7.22.25)

Lawson-Remer elected chair of San Diego County Board of Supervisors - kpbs/City News Service (7.22.25)
Now how do we get MAGA Jim Desmond outta there? Motherfucker racist is off his rocker.

San Diego mayor to allow crews, law enforcement to clear encampments along freeways - Times of San Diego/City News Service (7.22.25)
EPA head and Mexican government sign agreement to end Tijuana sewage flows - kpbs/City News Service (7.24.25)

ZOO GOSS:

Gorilla couple Paul Donn & Jessica have officially left the San Diego Zoo. Paul Donn is expected to take over as the San Diego Zoo Safari Park's troop leader after the passing of Winston the silverback, earlier this year, and has an eventual breeding recommendation with Joann down the line.
Monkey escape! Little baby Debrazza's monkey, Lulua, squeezed out of her habitat, to the surprise of guests who saw her. She didn't make it beyond the fenceline before Mama Lillie demanded she get her little butt back in there. Big brother Kasai has been blamed for putting her up to it. The family has been moved off view until the fence can be mended or her little head grows enough that squeezing out is no longer possible. In the meantime, a pair of red-ruffed lemurs have now taken residence in the habitat along Monkey Trails. I love this little family so much and hope they are able to return soon.
As you've probably heard, the City is in "negotiations" with the San Diego Zoo to begin paid parking for their lots. This is separate from the Balboa Park meters that are supposed to be installed and running by October 1st (even though they haven't had the '2nd reading' in City Council as yet. This is already assumed to be a done deal and foregone conclusion.) I urge EVERY member of SDZWA to fill out the surveys they email after a day at the Zoo to tell them NO PAID PARKING FOR MEMBERS. PERIOD. Seaworld, Legoland, and Safari Park, all offer memberships that INCLUDE parking, some even cheaper than current Zoo memberships. In Scott Lewis' "Why It Matters" column linked in first section of this post, he says that people will "pack" the Zoo lots. I say SO FUCKING WHAT. We are past the busy season at the Zoo. This isn't Disneyland, where people park at opening and leave at closing. There is constant turnover of Zoo parking and there is NO REASON that spots should be left unused in the afternoons as the morning people leave. The parking study -- that I think cost $300,000, by the way, fails in so many ways, specifically by measuring the busiest time of year (July) in the busiest "revenge travel" year after COVID. At least LaCava finally admitted to my face at City Council that this is 100% about generating revenue and they know that 75% of the parkers are San Diegans. This is a tax on the very people who live here and it is fucked up.
San Diego Zoo summer hours are ending early this year. August 10th is the final night the Zoo is open until 8pm before resuming 6pm closure (except for Labor Day weekend). Yet another reason why charging for parking until 8pm parkwide makes NO FUCKING SENSE.

SEA WORLD GOSS:

Seaworld is reopening the Bayside Aquarium on Friday, with a special preview for members on Friday, August 8th.

TRANS RIGHTS & GUN FIGHTS:

Critics claim gender clinics are seeing an excess of trans boys. But new data suggest otherwise - The Conversation (7.27.25)
Appeals court: Requiring background checks for ammo purchases is unconstitutional - Times of San Diego/City News Service (7.24.25)
California sues to block Trump order targeting gender-affirming care for youth - CalMatters/Times of San Diego (8.3.25)

CALIFORNIA NEWS:

Reservation Enhancements Coming to California State Parks. Online campground availability, more drawings among new features - California State Park (7.24.25)
Sacramento Report: How CEQA Reforms Will Impact Homebuilding in San Diego. Will changes to the California Environmental Quality Act spur home-building? - Voice of San Diego (7.25.25)