San Diego’s Students Sacrificed in the Charter Lawsuit
By Jeff Rice | California Globe
In 2015, San Diego Unified and Grossmont Union High School District decided the best use of their time and taxpayer dollars was not more books, more student resources, or higher teacher pay — but a lawsuit. Their target was charter schools serving San Diego’s most vulnerable kids: dropouts, teen parents, refugee youth, and students already written off by the traditional system. Schools like Diego Hills and Julian Charter had become lifelines for young people who had nowhere else to turn.
The districts’ argument was never about whether these schools were helping students. It was about territory and money. They claimed the schools were “illegally” located because they were authorized by smaller rural districts instead of Grossmont or San Diego Unified. A judge initially sided with the districts, forcing closures which impacted already disadvantaged students. Overnight, more than 200 teachers lost their jobs and 1,600 students were left scrambling.
For nearly six years, the case dragged on until an appellate court finally ruled in 2021 that the schools had complied with the law and were fully legal. But by then, nearly $1 million in taxpayer dollars had been wasted on legal fees — money that should have benefited students, and gone to classrooms. Even today, districts are still fighting to avoid paying the attorney’s fees they owe. The only clear losers were the students.
Israeli Dance Researcher/Sociologist Denied Rehire Because She is Jewish, Suing UC Berkeley
By Evan Gahr | California Globe
This July, University of California at Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons told a congressional committee that he is committed to fighting anti-Semitism at the school, which is fighting multiple lawsuits and federal discrimination complaints for mistreatment of its Jewish students.
Now, comes word that Berkeley refused to hire Israeli dance researcher and sociologist Yael Nativ because she is Israeli, and even after the school’s own investigation determined she was the victim of discrimination they continued to deny her a job.
Nativ late last month filed a lawsuit against the University of California Board of Regents for violating state civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination based on nationality. She is being represented by the Brandeis Center.
Why Election Mailers Are Suddenly Filling San Diego Mailboxes
By Scott Lewis | Voice of San Diego
If you’ve noticed a sudden influx of election mailers in your mailbox, you’re not alone. A fall that was supposed to be free of elections has turned into a big and expensive political fight centered on redistricting.
What’s at Stake
Congressman Darrell Issa represents a district that went for President Donald Trump by more than 15 percentage points. Normally, that wouldn’t make him a top Democratic target. But now, two well-known challengers are lining up endorsements to run against him: Ammar Campa-Najjar, who previously ran against Issa, and San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert.
Both see an opening because the district lines may soon change. In about five weeks, voters will decide whether to adopt a new map advanced by Gov. Gavin Newsom.