By Megan Burks
[Editor’s Note: Field Guide is a weekly email bringing you the news, explainers and action items needed to navigate your changing community. Click here to subscribe.]
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Since August, we’ve brought you weekly explainers on everything from redistricting to the effect new state laws will have on City Heights residents. Our aim is to give you what you need to know to understand and act on the things happening in your community.
Today, we revisit and update some of these evolving issues.
The Campaign Trail
Speak City Heights broke the news yesterday that Katherine Eaton and Araceli Martinez dropped out of the race for City Council District 9.
Eaton told supporters and media she is withdrawing her candidacy to support Georgette Gomez, an environmental activist entrenched in community nonprofit work. Martinez confirmed in a phone call she will not continue in the race, but would not comment on why.
Eaton said by pulling out of the race she hopes “a role is carved for candidates reflective of … our community’s priorities,” referring to the new Latino empowerment district aimed at helping mid-city residents elect a minority representative.
Gomez, a Latina, is now the only candidate running against current District 7 Councilwoman Marti Emerald, a white woman.
At least one reader thinks Emerald’s candidacy is a slap in the face to residents who worked to carve out the Latino district.
| “I am sorry Marti decided to run in District 9 that was created not to re-elect a sitting councilwoman but to give other often disenfranchised communities a voice on the city council.” – iantrowbridge |
Another looks forward to hearing what both have to offer, especially to a newly formed district needing to unite.
| “I live in the Rolando area. I look forward to activities where both candidates for District 9 will give all of the residents of the new District 9 opportunities to hear them, to ask them about our questions and concerns. One question I have for both candidates is how will you concretely unite the communities of District 9 in ways that will enhance our new District’s growth and improvement and foster respect among the diverse subgroups and communities that were formerly in other Districts and are now united in one?” – PatWashingtonPhD |
School Budget Woes
In September, we took a look at San Diego Unified School District’s realignment process. A district committee is developing a plan to close or consolidate schools to help fill a budget shortfall.
The committee has since met with Crawford cluster educators, parents and students and is expected to update the school board today on plans to return the Crawford Educational Complex to a comprehensive high school.
The committee is scheduled to meet with the Hoover cluster 5 p.m. Nov. 7. The board is expected to make its final decisions Dec. 13.
Budget talks at the district have taken a dire turn in recent weeks, with Superintendent Bill Kowba warning the district’s budget mess could result in a state takeover. Our partner voiceofsandiego.org has been looking into how the district got here and what’s happening now.
City Heights Insurance Gap
Earlier this year the San Diego Union-Tribune reported City Heights children are about twice as likely to go without health insurance than children statewide.
The low rate helps to explain a significant increase in demand for services at City Heights community clinics.
It also has some looking to federal health care reform to bridge the gap. By 2016, the federal government expects 1.7 million who were previously ineligible to be enrolled in Medi-Cal.
Undocumented children will still be ineligible, however. Some consider illegal status the biggest deterrent in getting health coverage in City Heights.
But there is a silver lining: reform measures require outreach that could inform undocumented parents of legal children going without the insurance they’re entitled to.
A group in City Heights is currently mobilizing to explain reform benefits to refugees and immigrants.