san diego: dialed in: Rosey's Diary & Newsy Bits: SDZWA Opens Elephant Valley (Don't Say His Name) + Zoo Lease Extension To Be Heard In Council on Monday | SDPD Ends Press Pass Program | Traffic Stops Down/Traffic Deaths Up | Voters Will See Controversial City Budget Items On Ballot

Kora, a new SeaWorld Walrus (Taken 3.4.26)

I decided I would get a quickie post up instead of continuing to gather news and links. I have to be real, I can't really even watch news right now. We're bombing the shit out of Iran, ICE is still out here running amok, everyone in the Epstein files is still being protected except for the actual victims, and instead of fearing what TFG is gonna do next, we have to worry about the real ones behind the puppetry who are vying to succeed him when they can't weekend-at-Bernie's him any longer. So instead, I do my days at the Zoo and Seaworld, I bought a new couch, so actually working from home is no longer miserable, Darren and I take every chance we can to drive to the mountains or desert for quick daytrips, and last week when he was sent on a work job in Ocotillo Wells, I joined the group for a night of camping, then a trip out to The Living Desert when they all had to go back to their project. So yeah, things can be good and amazing and then all around terrible at the same time, so I'm just trying to focus on the good and keep my head above water. I hope you can do the same.

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

SAN DIEGO REGIONAL POLITICS:

Speed limits on 20% of San Diego’s roads should be reduced, report says - Times of San Diego (2.19.26)
SDPD Ends Practice Of Issuing Press Passes To Media Members. San Diego Press Club says discontinuation will “hamper legitimate working members of the media” - San Diego Sun (2.19.26)
Raise fares or cut service: MTS budget woes force bad options on riders who rely on transit - Times of San Diego (2.19.26)
Data show San Diego police stop fewer drivers while more people die in traffic. A KPBS analysis shows police traffic stops in the city of San Diego have fallen by about 57% and traffic deaths increased by 47% since 2014. - kpbs (2.23.26)
San Diego City Council advances empty second homes tax to June ballot - Times of San Diego (3.3.26)

ZOO GOSS:

San Diego Zoo and the City of San Diego have come to terms on a lease agreement. It has already been approved by the SDZWA Board and will be heard on Monday at the afternoon session of City Council. You can read the staff report here, or the breakdown in the UT (behind a paywall).
Everyone is talking about the opening of Elephant Valley at Safari Park. There were a couple previews over the past several weeks, and a member preview on Sunday. Based on socials, there have also been media events all week, too, but I got removed from that invite list two or three publicists ago, apparently. I am cautiously optimistic about the habitat for the elephants sake, but I'm still not over the entire removal of Kajamii Point to make way for The Watering Hole Restaurant, which in turn removed an entire access point for animal viewing over the African Plains, unless you're willing to fork over a small fortune to dine there. So yes, I'll go, and I can't wait to see all the happy eles in their full new space, but I'm hanging on to some things for sure.
Thursday is Ekuba's the gorilla's 20th birthday. There's been some switcheroos among the care specialists, so it will be interesting to see if the new sheriff in town is down for publicly celebrating these beautiful souls.

SEA WORLD GOSS:

SeaWorld has acquired two new walruses!! Since Basa passed in August of 2025, Dozer has been alone, so it is very exciting that he'll have two ladies around. One is Kora, who was born July 3, 2019 at SeaWorld Orlando. She is super cute and spunky and I got to "meet" her today...she saw me and dove straight into the water to come inspect me at the glass. The other is Chou Chou!! She left SeaWorld San Diego in January of 2024 to go to Orlando, but now she's back!! I'm so excited for Dozer to reunite with his old friend and make a new buddy, too. I have a strong suspicion there will be several animal transfers among the few marine animal parks in the US as they try to make room and have proper staffing for the acquisition of the 30 abandoned belugas in Canada, since the permit was finally granted for the animals to be transferred among four US aquariums. SeaWorld itself has not yet issued a presser about the new ladies.
SeaWorld is currently having their Seven Seas Food Festival for the next few weekends, and for the first time have added concerts to the whole thing, including my old pals Fitz & The Tantrums on March 14. Concerts are free with admission, though you can buy reserved seats.