The Story of Sagon Penn, 40 Years Later

This week the crew brought their notes and their game to Soda Bar where they recorded the podcast before packed house, as Scott, Andrea, Jakob and Bella welcomed Keene Simonds, the Executive Officer of the Local Agency Formation Commission, to the lively LIVE podcast recording session. Recorded live at Soda Bar, Wednesday May 6, 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we sat down for an in depth interview with San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Dan Denham. He filled us in with some deep water knowledge during this week’s show.   SHOW NOTES: (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) VOSD: San Diego Council Bashes County Water Authority Over CostsCouncilmembers say they want to see steep cuts in spending by the region’s major water buyer. One suggested refusing to pay the city’s water bills.  by MacKenzie ElmerJanuary 17, 2025 The Truth About the Cost of Water: Dismantling the Water Authority Would Harm All San Diegansby Jim MadafferApril 28, 2025 Axios:  Elo-Rivera to San Diego Water Authority: Lower rates, or else Andrew Keatts        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have another guest this week. Hot off her state of the county speech, County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer is joining us.  Our South Bay reporter did a deep dive into what happened after Chula Vista Mayor John McCann helped secure the release of a woman convicted of fraud several years ago. She’s being sentenced today on another charge.  And we had a story this week out of Encinitas where a homeless service provider is being attacked online and blamed for the increasing visibility of homelessness in the beach town.    SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) INTRO 00:00:00   SEGMENT 1 00:00:53 Spring Fundraising Campaign One week left Goal - 100 new members and $150k by April 29 All gifts will be matched up to $10k thanks to a generous anonymous donor. Donate at vosd.org/podpeople and leave a message about why you support Voice.  Here’s what our members said about why they donate: Leticia S. wrote, “Your paper has been the only one we as latinos have been able to count on to tell our story on various issues important to our small community of Fallbrook. You don't ignore us and you tell the truth.” Martha D. said, “No one else is focusing on the areas that you do. Also your reporting is succinct, explanatory, and free from rambling opinion. Thank you for continuing to do what you do!” Marjorie W. wrote, “you are increasingly a sane voice in this chaotic world” Thank you to those who have supported our work! You can become a supporter too by going to vosd.org/podpeople. Leave us a message about why you support and we’ll read a few in the next episode. Again, that’s vosd.org/podpeople  Brews and News Live Podcast Brews and News Live Podcast is back! It's time to embrace your inner news nerd and talk about the latest scoops with our pod crew on Wednesday, May 7 at Soda Bar. Brews and News Live Podcasts are opportunities to meet our journalists, play audience games, enjoy a beer and listen to San Diego’s most popular public affairs podcast live.  If you missed our beer launch party, you can still try our anniversary beer at Brews and News. Plus, every Brews and News attendee will be entered to win one of two baseballs signed by our Padres favorite - Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill. You won’t want to miss out. Buy your tickets now and learn more at vosd.org/livepod. Again that’s v-o-s-d.org back slash l-i-v-e-p-o-d. SEGMENT 2 00:04:54 Banter SEGMENT 3 00:09:14 John McCann Chula Vista Mayor Helped Free a Felon Who’s Going Back to Prison with Her Brother – A Lot Happened in Between SEGMENT 4 00:11:12 County Supervisors: Unvited GOP County Supes: Dem Didn’t Invite Us to State of County Speech SEGMENT 5 00:13:01 DOGE Effects on the County The State of the County Resistance SEGMENT 6 00:25:58 Terra Lawson-Remer on Gloria’s Homeless Critique Politics Report: The ‘Era of Austerity’ Is Here SEGMENT 7 00:28:39 Encinitas Gets Ugly with Homeless Blame Anonymous Account, Neighbors Target Provider as Homelessness Surges in Encinitas  SEGMENT 8 00:38:11 Terra’s Activism Past SEGMENT 9 00:44:00 Hot Take: Leave Fire Pits Alone (From the archives) San Diego Council Seeks to Snub Out Some Beach Bonfires San Diego’s City Council wants to clarify that open fires are only allowed in concrete fire pits. Beachgoers could still cook on propane-powered grills. by MacKenzie Elmer May 23, 2022   TRT 00:51:26   Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego. Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor Bella Ross, social media producer Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer. Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County. Become a Member: Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a guest co-host today, Congressman Mike Levin is here with some reports from D.C. where things are normal and not very interesting at all. He was supposed to bring a hot take.  Jakob did a story about how some classrooms in local colleges are filled with fake people. We’ll break down how that works and how much it’s costing.  And we have more trash talk. The new fee for San Diego homeowners is probably coming but it’s got to go through a big hurdle.  SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) INTRO 00:00:00 SEGMENT 1 00:00:42 VOSD Beer Launch Party Beer Launch Party  To celebrate our 20th anniversary, we’ve collaborated with 3 Punk Ales to create a limited edition Voice of San Diego beer can.  Come enjoy a beer with all our reporters at the official launch party. When: Thursday, April 24 at 5 p.m. Where: 3 Punk Ales – 259 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910 SEGMENT 2 00:01:41 Banter SEGMENT 3 00:02:08 Mike Levin   SEGMENT 4 00:13:22 Smart Trash San Diegans are set to pay a new fee for trash pickup — but officials dialed down the proposed price for trash pickup by 10 percent. (Union-Tribune) SEGMENT 5 00:21:18 County vs City Sprung Structure Tent Homeless temporary housing SEGMENT 6 00:29:57 Student Aid Fraud How Fraudsters Swindle Community College Financial Aid  Community colleges have in recent years been plagued by fraudsters posing as students to swindle financial aid money. Here’s how it works. SEGMENT 7 00:29:57 Mike Levin on DOGE Cuts SEGMENT 7 00:57:37 Hot Takes TRT 01:07:39   Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego. Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor Bella Ross, social media producer Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer. Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County. Become a Member: Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The South Bay County Supervisor runoff is set. Two mayors will race for the future of the county.  An effort to set aside an area for homeless residents near the airport has hit another snag as the developer of Liberty Station takes the city to court.  And the U.S Secretary of Education was in town. Jakob went to see her.  All that and another Dear VOSD.      SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading)   INTRO 00:00:00   SEGMENT 1 00:55:20 VOSD Beer Launch Party Grossmont Union accounts:  https://www.instagram.com/guhsd_parent/ https://www.instagram.com/studentsforstaff.guhsd/  Sdbikelanes: https://www.instagram.com/sdbikelanes/  Mts lovegang: https://www.instagram.com/sdmts.lovegang/  Sdfloodsurvivors: https://www.instagram.com/sdfloodsurvivors/   SEGMENT 2 00:07:17 Dear VOSD: Luis from City Council District 4 What’s the correct number of city council districts?   SEGMENT 3 00:17:57 Southbay Election Update Two Mayors Will Battle for Supe Seat   SEGMENT 4 00:26:23 Trash Fees San Diegans are set to pay a new fee for trash pickup — but officials dialed down the proposed price for trash pickup by 10 percent. (Union-Tribune) SEGMENT 5 00:33:02 Liberty Station Liberty Station Developer Asks Judge to Halt H Barracks Safe Parking A prominent real estate developer is asking a Superior Court judge to stop the city from opening a safe parking lot for people living in vehicles until a legal battle over the project ends.   SEGMENT 6 00:39:39 ASU + GSV Education Summit In San Diego, Education Secretary Insists Cuts Target Bureaucracy, Not Fundingocuments show Renteria donated to Reyes’ school board campaign in 2018.   TRT 00:48:15   Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego. Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor Bella Ross, social media producer Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer. Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County. Become a Member: Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Sunday, March 31st, 1985, a group of young Black men drove back to southeastern San Diego after visiting Balboa Park. It was just after 6:00 PM and the sun was retreating into the horizon. As a truck driven by 23-year-old Sagon Penn pulled into a driveway on a quiet street in Encanto, they were followed by two police cars. What happened next would leave one officer dead, another officer and a civilian ride along severely injured, a young man in a years long legal limbo and a city reeling.  On the 40th anniversary of the incident, I have author Peter Houlahan in the studio with me. His book, “Reap the Whirlwind: Violence, Race, Justice and the story of Sagon Penn,” is a fascinating deep dive into the case, the compelling figures who drove the story and the impact it all had on San Diego and beyond.    SHOW NOTES 10News Story: New book revisits the impact the story of Sagon Penn has had on communities of color in San Diego You can find book from Counterpoint Press here: Reap the Whirlwind Reap the Whirlwind - Violence, Race, Justice, and the Story of Sagon Pennby Peter Houlahan Book DescriptionThe bestselling author of Norco ’80 returns with a riveting story of mid-1980s San Diego that placed one young Black man at the center of a whirlwind of crime and punishment that profoundly altered Southern California CREDITS Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego. Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor Bella Ross, social media producer Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer. Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer   Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County. Become a Member: Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming up on the show, we are in the final stretch of the District 1 County Supervisor race.  The mailers are getting SPICY, and one especially pissed off a lot of people.  Last month, Mayor Todd Gloria announced he was eliminating the position of chief operating officer and taking over the gig himself. Now, former COO Eric Dargan is suing Gloria and the city for discrimination and for breaking promises in his contract. We’ll break it down.  Finally, why are officials at Chula Vista Elementary school trading corruption allegations? Investigative reporter Will Huntsberry joins us this week to explain. SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) INTRO 00:00:00 SEGMENT 1 00:04:13Hyperlocal IG Accounts Grossmont Union accounts: https://www.instagram.com/guhsd_parent/https://www.instagram.com/studentsforstaff.guhsd/  Sdbikelanes: https://www.instagram.com/sdbikelanes/  Mts lovegang: https://www.instagram.com/sdmts.lovegang/  Sdfloodsurvivors: https://www.instagram.com/sdfloodsurvivors/ SEGMENT 2 00:19:28SD COO Sues SD VOSD Mayor’s Office: Ex-COO Alleging Discrimination Was Fired Mayor Todd Gloria’s chief of staff claims former city COO Eric Dargan, whose position was eliminated in February, was ‘terminated for cause’ in response to his lawsuit alleging discrimination and a breached contract. SEGMENT 3 00:25:11UCSD to Lose Funding VOSD The Learning Curve: UCSD Could Lose Hundreds of Millions from Trump Cuts While many in higher education are sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump’s research slashing, it has been tough to suss out exactly what the impacts will be. An email from UCSD’s Chancellor gives us a ballpark figure. SEGMENT 4 00:32:32Chula Vista COO Conflict of Interest VOSDChula Vista Superintendent Allegedly Pushed for Work for Builder Who Donated to His Campaign Superintendent Eduardo Reyes previously said he has no personal relationship with Al Renteria. Campaign documents show Renteria donated to Reyes’ school board campaign in 2018. TRT 00:48:58 Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego. Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor Bella Ross, social media producer Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer. Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County. Become a Member: Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Padres are playing their opening game as we record. We’ll explain a new minimum wage increase they are fighting. We’ve got a few updates on what the city is doing to get you to pay for parking. Why San Diego is on the hook for monthly rent payment on an empty homeless shelter. And the historic San Diego Taxpayers Association has no leadership.  Also, the hospitals are fighting. Palomar Health is borrowing money from friends and that never goes well.   SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) INTRO 00:00:00 SEGMENT 1 00:01:10 Axios Opening Day at Petco: Padres face Braves, Profar returns Bella's Tarot Cards SEGMENT 2 00:10:34 Tax Association VOSD Politics Report: Taxpayers ‘Cash Flow Problem’ SEGMENT 3 00:15:13 Homeless Senior Center VOSD San Diego Is on the Hook for Monthly $77,000 Payments of Shuttered Senior Shelter SEGMENT 4 00:19:15 SD CPR Parking Update from Bella KPBS Charging on Sundays? Surge pricing? San Diego eyes reforms to manage parking demand SEGMENT 5 00:27:17 Palomar Health  VOSD Palomar Health’s Borrowing Has Ruffled Feathers at Sharp HealthCare Michael Scott I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY!!! - The Office US TRT 00:41:52 Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego. Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor Bella Ross, social media producer Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer. Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County. Become a Member: Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve got a Dear VOSD response finally on the city’s history of charging for parking.  Grossmont Union School District has had some very tense meetings. We’ll talk about a hot mic moment that went viral.  And as part of our 20th anniversary talk, we have reflections from several of the journalists and former writers at Voice of San Diego who made a difference here. SHOW NOTES:  (Links to VOSD articles mentioned during the show and links for further reading) INTRO 00:00:00 SEGMENT 1 00:02:16 SD County - Registrar’s Office  First Supervisorial District Special Primary Election  Luke Bergmann Resigns - VOSD County’s Top Behavioral Health Official Resigns Dept of Education - NPR Trump signs order aiming to close the Education Department Trash Fees - NBC San Diego City of San Diego announces how much trash pickup will actually cost SEGMENT 2 00:19:23 Dear VOSD: Parking Instagram  New fiscal year, same structural budget deficit SEGMENT 3 00:34:55 GUHSD Budget Cuts VOSD Amid Layoff Talks, School Board Member Says Librarians Are Overpaid SEGMENT 4 00:51:34 20th Anniversary Talk with Voices VOSD  20 Years of Impact - At 20 Years Old, We Check In with 20 Former Voicers TRT 01:10:49   Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego. Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor Bella Ross, social media producer Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer. Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer   Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County. Become a Member: Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was a surprisingly tense conversation about water rates at the city. The reality that they’re going to soar is starting to set in and we’ll discuss.  Finally, we’ve got a guest, I have been on his show many times but he’s never been on ours. Darren Smith, the best unemployed radio guy in town is here to explain us some sports and more.  We’ll go through some headlines with him and get into it.     SHOW NOTES INTRO 00:00:00 Intro SEGMENT 1 00:01:48 San Diego Football Club opening day drama KPBS San Diego FC announces security, messaging measures after homophobic chants AXIOS SDFC confronts fans' homophobic chant that's plagued soccer for years   NBC San Diego Homophobic chant at San Diego FC's inaugural home match condemned by coach, sporting director SEGMENT 2 00:13:41 COVID-19 Five Years Later Guardian Article: ‘We have ignored lessons’: how Covid continues to affect lives five years later Reuters:COVID-19 shut us down five years ago. Here's how its economic impact continues Axios: Remembering the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in San Diego, five years later SEGMENT 3 00:23:46 Troubled Waters VOSD Why It Matters: Why Are San Diego Water Rates About to Soar? City Council Meeting Item 331: Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Water Rate Increase not to Exceed 5.5% to pass through increases from San Diego County Water Authority. 9:04:52 - 9:05:05 “Because we are going to be using ...it's ghost water, it's water noone is going to drink.” 9:09:38 - 9:10:04 “I'm not comfortable ...I'll put that on the table.” SEGMENT 4 00:39:01 SD FC & San Diego Padres VOSD Tom Penn, New SD MLS Chief, Sees a Soccer Campus on the Horizon In a Q&A, the former LAFC president talks about the youth academy the new team will build and all the other major projects he has two years to complete. SEGMENT 5 00:53:19 NIL in College Sports Cal Matters:California’s college athletes can now make millions off sponsorship deals. Here's a first look at the numbers TRT 01:10:49   Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego. Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor Bella Ross, social media producer Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer. Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County. Become a Member: Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.