A throng of VOSD Podcast nerds nestled into the Modern Times Beer + Coffee outpost in Midway this week. Our pod crew was ready to dive headfirst into big city projects, taxes and fees.

But first, we brought up Voice environment reporter MacKenzie Elmer and a resident she recently profiled.

During the Jan. 22 storm, Jesse Preciado dove into rising floodwaters on his Southcrest street. He stripped down and got to work unclogging a vital storm drain to prevent further damage to his neighborhood homes. Elmer and Preciado discuss the storms and the state of southeast San Diego. 

Hosts Scott Lewis, Andrea Lopez-Villafaña and Jakob McWhinney welcomed back Voice alum (and Axios San Diego writer) Andrew Keatts to talk about stormwater infrastructure, taxes, big city projects and big city energy.

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Southeastern San Diego residents have long sought help with stormwater management. Infrastructure inequities have plagued southern neighborhoods that hug the I-5. They've pleaded to local leaders for solutions. Now, after the Jan. 22 deluge hit underserved streets — and after more rain this week — they may finally see momentum.

This week, we discuss San Diego's stormwater system deficit. And San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera proposed a solution: a ballot measure to fund stormwater projects.

Plus: MTS dropped its big report into former County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher and former MTS employee Grecia Figueroa.

See you next Thursday! We'll be at Modern Times for a live show. Get tickets: vosd.org/events

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Late last week, we got new filings in a lawsuit against former County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher — including Instagram messages between Fletcher and the woman who accused him of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

The two exchanged hundreds of messages and planned ways they could be alone. The messages show the woman, Grecia Figueroa, expressed interest on several occasions, including after the encounters she said were abusive.

This week, we review the messages to try to answer a question we've had since the scandal broke: What happened between Figueroa and Fletcher? Further, we try to determine why the Metropolitan Transit System fired Figueroa.

(MTS released its report the day after we recorded this show. We wrote about it here.)

Plus: The rain that rocked San Diego, destroyed homes and will be a new crisis for leaders to manage.

Join us on Feb. 8 for a live show: vosd.org/events

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Next week, volunteers with the Regional Task Force on Homelessness will sweep county streets to try to count all unhoused residents.

It's a critical event that offers a broad view of our foremost crisis for 2024. But where do we stand now?

This week we discuss the city of San Diego's new homelessness fundraising campaign — and what it could do to alleviate the crisis. Plus, we review current County numbers and what the U.S. Supreme Court could decide about camping bans.

Lisa's story: "What Happened After the Ban"

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This week, we pull apart San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria's State of the City address— reviewing his biggest talking points and assessments of the city's crises, including: 

• Reforming Prop 47
• Retail theft
• Homeless shelter solutions
• Expediting permit applications
• Potholes and roads

In his speech, Gloria declared the city is getting stronger every day. Let's discuss. 

Plus: San Diego Unified student school board members want a vote. Lincoln High's data dichotomy.

Our next live show is Feb. 8 at Modern Times Point Loma. Tickets: vosd.org/events

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We're gearing up for the State of the City address. Next week, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria will explain his vision for the city. So this week, we review the last address and make predictions for this year.

We're thinking: Homelessness. SB 43. Sales tax. Road repair love. A big development project reveal.

We'll be watching the address closely and will have takeaways in the next day's Morning Report. Don't miss it: vosd.org/morning

Other talking points: The fin whale murder mystery. U-T en Español is done. Pandemic-era school funding will expire soon.

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Content warning: This episode contains explicit language.

In preparation for the dawn of 2024, we've made a playlist by some of San Diego's finest music nerds. In addition to the songs, this episode is full of CBD kombucha, old friendships and reflection of the region's music scene.

Host Jakob McWhinney brought in some of his favorite local luminaries to discuss the past, present and future of San Diego music — and the meaning of "It's Gonna Blow!"

Guests and their songs:

Bill Perrine
"Everywhere with Sally" by Mark Tucker

Tim Pyles
"Lost in Loneliness" by Power Paws

Makeda "Dread" Cheatom
"Es Lo Que Es" by Boostive

Art Mitchell ("DJ Artistic")
"Back At Cha" by LPSD

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This week, host Andrea Lopez-Villafaña drops her interview with new County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe.

This conversation happened fresh off a big week for Montgomery Steppe. She served on the San Diego City Council until the election for Council President, casting the deciding vote to secure Sean Elo-Rivera's position.

Then she was sworn in as Supervisor, replacing Nathan Fletcher to represent District 4 in the heart of the county. Her first big vote in that role was on SB 43 — a state law that expands definitions and use of conservatorship.

In this episode, Montgomery Steppe talks about her time on the City Council, how she pushed the Council to own its authority and how she wants to govern on the Board of Supervisors.

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Arguably the biggest local politics story of the year was the collapse of former County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher.

He was one of the most powerful elected officials in the region, on the fast track for state Senate. But he resigned from the Board of Supervisors and as Metropolitan Transit System board chair after he was accused of sexual harassment and assault by an MTS employee.

This scandal spawned two big stories that shaped San Diego politics this year: 

• The special election to replace Fletcher on the Board of Supervisors
• The MTS investigation and lawsuit by the accuser

This week, we have an update in the saga and discuss questions still unanswered.

Other talking points: When palm trees fight back. Who's going to replace Monica Mongtomery Steppe on the San Diego City Council? Sunbreak drama.

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We want to make sure your podcast feed is full for all the time off and travel you've got coming up. So this week, we have an extra episode for you — another Happy Hour with a few of our friends.

We're joined by USA Today reporter (and Voice alum) Will Carless and local entrepreneur, brewer and podcaster, Steve Garcia.

Talking points:

• Humane Society pets sold as snake food
• The rising cost of everything
• Failure, softball and you
• Jan. 6 from the front row
• A San Diego murder mystery

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