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What a night. San Diego voters weighed in Tuesday on a number of issues, including a $3.5 billion school bond, the future of the Mission Valley stadium and number of local races. On a special podcast, hosts Scott Lewis, Sara Libby and Andrew Keatts go over their picks in last week's Voice of San Diego Election Draft and discuss some of the biggest takeaways from the midterm election. Voice now has a podcast texting club for listeners. To join, text the word “podcast” to 619-202-9051. We’ll send you links to new episodes weekly and solicit questions and ideas for future podcasts.

In case you didn't know, San Diego doesn't have a football team. It's fine. We've moved on.  But sometimes we long for the excitement that comes with the sport, including the draft.  To quench that thirst while previewing the upcoming election, this week's podcast features the inaugural Voice of San Diego Election Draft. Hosts Scott Lewis, Sara Libby and Andrew Keatts select the local races they think are the most exciting ones to watch on Tuesday night. Some of their picks include San Diego City Council races —  — that could dramatically shake up the makeup of the Council. Plus, the crew explains  would go to removing lead from water in San Diego Unified schools, an issue bond backers have made central to the campaign. Voice now has a podcast texting club for listeners. To join, text the word “podcast” to 619-202-9051. We’ll send you links to new episodes weekly and solicit questions and ideas for future podcasts.

During election season, voters often have a hard time identifying clear distinctions between local candidates. A lack of voter knowledge and overlapping issues in small communities can create a haze, leaving folks to depend on candidate's political party affiliation as the only guide. Such is the case in the race to represent District 2 on the San Diego City Council, where incumbent Lorie Zapf, a Republican, is running against Democrat Jen Campbell. On this week's episode, hosts Scott Lewis, Sara Libby and Andrew Keatts explain how both candidates seem to be in lockstep when it comes to some of the most contentious issues. For starters, both Zapf and Campbell are against increasing the height limit along the new Mid-Coast Trolley line. They agree the Midway area could accommodate new housing, but are very concerned about traffic issues there. They've also echoed each other on short-term vacation rentals. This week,  approved in July placing strict limits on when residents can rent out their homes. This week's show is part of a series of episodes dedicated to the most interesting races in the upcoming election. Check out our episodes on the races for City Council  and . Also check out the from some of the debates at this year's . Voice now has a podcast texting club for listeners. To join, text the word “podcast” to 619-202-9051. We’ll send you links to new episodes weekly and solicit questions and ideas for future podcasts.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg come from different political perspectives but they’re both grappling with thousands of people living on the street and the health and safety problems that creates. In Tijuana, Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum is dealing with similar problems – and some very different ones. All three of them joined us at  to talk about the challenges facing each of their cities. As Voice of San Diego’s Maya Srikrishnan noted in a , Gastélum acknowledged the record number of homicides and escalating violence in Tijuana after dodging questions from reporters within the last year. He said police shortages and Mexican firearms laws are to blame. “We don’t have enough policemen,” he said. “And Tijuana is growing so fast that the young man, the young person can find work anywhere else with better pay than working as a policeman.” Meanwhile, Faulconer and Steinberg said their biggest concerns center on homelessness and the lack of affordable housing across the state. “How can the wealthiest state in the country, with all of our resources, why do we allow this to continue and to grow?” said Steinberg. Faulconer said there are several solutions to the problem, but urged county officials to invest more on mental health services —  with County Supervisor Ron Roberts.

Despite incredible economic growth, California is dealing with widespread poverty, struggling schools, concerns about public safety and justice and an extremely high cost of living. What will the state’s leaders do to grapple with these problems? What is the future of politics and what are the short- and long-term debates we’ll see in Sacramento? At this year’s , Voice of San Diego’s Sara Libby and Ry Rivard sat down with Assemblywomen Shirley Weber, Lorena Gonzalez and Assemblyman Chad Mayes to discuss it all and much more. One overlapping theme of the discussion centered on the relationship between the Legislature and the governor. While all three panelists said they enjoyed working with departing Gov. Jerry Brown, they noted moments of frustration when it came to advocating for certain issues, including  and . Weber, a Democrat, and Mayes, a Republican, both lamented the enormous power of special interests in Sacramento. Mayes said there were more Republicans who supported the controversial cap-and-trade deal than the number who ultimately voted for it. “That’s because of the political pressure, not because they didn’t know that it was the right thing,” he said. Weber, meanwhile, said there are few legislators who are willing to follow her lead in reforming police practices or the education system because the police and teachers unions are so powerful. “I’m not sure if most folks are willing to fight as hard because when you take on teachers’ unions and when you take on the police, you are in for a battle, Weber said. “And it is a battle that most people … seldom realize how complicated it is. And everybody s not willing to take on that battle.”

Even before the Chargers left, the future of the Mission Valley stadium was up in the air. But come Election Day, San Diegans will finally have the chance to decide what do with the land. Measure E would direct the city to sell and lease the land to investors who promise to bring in a Major League Soccer team, a park, thousands of homes and an entertainment district. Measure G would direct the city to sell the land to San Diego State University, which itself has outlined a plan for a new stadium, a park, a campus expansion and thousands of homes. Or, San Diegans could reject those options and insist on something different. Voice of San Diego has reported on the issue for months, including ,  a promise featured in both plans, the fact that  — and more. At this year’s Politifest, VOSD’s Scott Lewis moderated a debate between supporters of Measures G and E — and a third side arguing that neither plan is right for the city. Panelist include: Nick Stone, partner, FS Investors Marcela Escobar-Eck, land-use consultant Howard Blackson, urban designer Jack McGrory, trustee, California State University Laura Fink, political consultant

Every once in a while, we’ll joke about local news that makes us say, “that’s so California.” Take for instance, this recent  that highlighted mariachi serenades in the state Capitol, an In-N-Out boycott and a bill that made surfing the official state sport. This week, many "that's so California" moments happened here in San Diego. Supporters of Prop. 6, the effort to repeal the gas tax, and other non-car methods of getting around. Over at a County Board of Supervisors meeting, at a homeless advocate who suggested that the county contribute more to solve the region's homelessness crisis. And a proposed in sucking up criticism from local environmentalists. Cars, homelessness and plastic straws? That's so California. It all reminded us of SNL’s “,” so for this week’s show, hosts Sara Libby and Scott Lewis decided to pay contribute to the skit and break down the latest news that’s totally California, brah. That also includes stories about top San Diego yachtsmen and a ,and the to earn the affection of its new city. Hero of the Week This week’s hero goes to the State Bar of California. on fake lawyers and law firms that prey on immigrants desperate to avoid deportation. Goat of the Week The Sweetwater Union High School District board gets the goat this week. The district is scrambling to cut $19 million from the budget for its current school year. We learned this week that it must cut costs and increase revenue back in 2015, but still OK'd 3.75 percent across-the-board employee raises.

Let's get one thing straight right off the bat: The statewide propositions appearing on this year's November ballot aren't as sexy as the ones Californians voted on in 2016 — when voters weighed in on , as well as blockbuster issues like pot and the death penalty. This time around we've got dialysis clinic profit margins (huh?), daylight savings time (yawn) and bonds — so many bonds. But the confusing and complex nature of these measures is all the more reason to study up. For this podcast episode, Ry Rivard and I run down all of the statewide ballot measures, including why there are 12 propositions but only 11 you'll actually vote on (see, you're learning already). If you'd like a similar study guide of the local measures facing San Diego voters, . Voice now has a podcast texting club for listeners. To join, text the word “podcast” to 619-202-9051. We’ll send you links to new episodes weekly and solicit questions and ideas for future podcasts.

The city of San Diego is still two years away from picking its next mayor, but the names of those who might throw their hat in the ring are already circulating.  In a special live edition of the Voice of San Diego Podcast, three of the folks rumored to be running for mayor in 2020 — Rep. Scott Peters, Assemblyman Todd Gloria and Councilman Chris Cate — sat down with hosts Scott Lewis, Sara Libby and Andrew Keatts to talk about some of the biggest challenges facing the city but certainly, definitely, obviously not to debate because this was not a 2020 mayoral debate.  The podcast was recorded live at political affairs summit.  One of the big topics was the  to get a measure on the November ballot that would raise money to fund an expansion of the Convention Center, homeless services and road repairs. Lewis gave a quick rundown of all the failed efforts to expand the Convention Center over the years.  The crew also discussed affordable housing, wacky transit proposals, NIMBY outrage and more. Plus: A 12-year-old audience member when she nearly mastered a game that relied on intimate knowledge of local politics stretching back decades.

Rent control is one of the most contentious topics on the November ballot.  If passed,  would free up local governments to create new regulations limiting how much landlords can increase rents by repealing the , a law that seriously limits rent control policies.  On this week’s episode, hosts Sara Libby, Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts are joined by former Voice of San Diego reporter Liam Dillon, who now covers housing and state politics and policy for the Los Angeles Times. The crew breaks down the arguments for and against Prop. 10 and discuss its possible impacts on California's’ affordable housing crisis. Some local leaders are , refusing to stay where they stand on the measure. City Councilwoman Barbary Bry, however, in a recent VOSD op-ed, and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez said she supports it. Also on the podcast: San Diego County Regional Airport Authority's and the massive backlash its approach unleashed.  Hero of the Week The Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General is our hero. by the agency unveiled serious health and safety concerns at the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Center near Los Angeles.  Goat of the Week The Sweetwater Union High School District gets goated this week. The district and is scrambling to find millions in cuts.  Voice now has a podcast texting club for listeners. To join, text the word “podcast” to 619-202-9051. We’ll send you links to new episodes weekly and solicit questions and ideas for future podcasts.