Morning Report: Outcomes of mental health programs continue

Two years ago, California voters narrowly approved a behavioral health reform and infrastructure measure. Now San Diego County is making tough decisions about many of its contracting programs as it implements Proposition 1 reforms.

In the process, our Lisa Hallorstadt reveals that the country canceled 29 contracts. There is also uncertainty surrounding clubhouses that serve people with serious mental illnesses and contracts that are set to expire in June as the country tries to implement several behavioral health reforms.

Regarding proposition 1: The 2024 state ballot measure seeks to strengthen behavioral health projects across the state and calls for counties to rely on state taxes on revenues over $1 million to better serve people with the most urgent mental health and addiction crises.

bottom line: The county has been awarded tens of millions of dollars in state Proposition 1 funding for major infrastructure projects including the planned Midway campus and the National City Addiction Treatment Center. But the government’s move also forces tough decisions as the country implements reforms that take effect this July.

Read the full story here.

Local crank gets the HBO treatment

Daniel Smichowski is an outrage to the San Diego political system and his neighbors. This last featured him as the central character in the season finale of HBO’s “Neighbors.”

Smichowski has run for several local offices and just weeks ago dressed as a mime to a City Council candidate forum, as we reported in Politics Report. But politics isn’t his only thing: much to his neighbors’ dismay, Smychowski also likes to work in the bright yellow tank in his driveway.

His skill at bullying is beyond question. But the last episode of “Neighbors” was interesting, because it dug several layers deeper.

He’s a litmus test for his neighbors’ sobriety — and few pass Smychowski’s web check. Some think he deserves to be beaten or jailed. Others say what he is doing is not illegal and people should relax.

Ultimately, he comes across as a man who loves expectations – both the foolish ones that come from society and the hard-hitting ones that come from parents.

It’s hard to see, but it’s a must for all San Diegans.

The teachers union rebel caucus is still alive

The top two positions at the San Diego Unified Teachers Union are headed for a runoff.

Results, released Tuesday, show incumbent Kyle Weinberg with 39 percent of the vote. Challenger Monique Barrett received 34 percent of the vote, meaning the pair will move on to a second round of voting in the coming weeks. The election for vice president also goes to a runoff between Ustad Kiki Ocho and Matthew Schneck.

Barrett and Schnick are part of a slate of challengers called the Good Challenges Caucus who, along with leaders of the district’s classified unions, have been critical of Weinberg’s leadership. Their counterclaims that Weinberg not only fired other district union members, but also misled his own members about the job.

While some slate candidates won their positions outright, others were less so. On the losing side were two professors who raised concerns about the transparency of the election process.

In other news

• Despite protests from District Attorney Summer Stephens, county supervisors voted Tuesday to move forward with a new consumer fairness and public protection unit. (NBC 7)
• Today, the County Board is now set to consider Supervisor Joel Anderson’s transparency proposal for county subcommittees that have largely been held behind closed doors.
• Former San Diego City Councilman Scott Sherman has filed a legal challenge against language in the ballot measure that would tax vacant second homes. The challenge could be thrown out of court — but it could end with amendments to the language of the ballot measure or the measure being cut from the ballot entirely. (Union Tribune)
• As of January 2026, the candidates running for California Superintendent of Public Instruction have raised a total of $2.6 million, EdSource reports. Richard Barrera of the United Trust of San Diego raised nearly $130,000. That amount was dwarfed by fundraising leader and former California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, who raised $1 million.
• Money from the statewide climate fund created by Proposition 4 will help the Southeast San Diego community of Nestor build a park that has been in the planning for decades. (KPBS)
• More than 100 unfilled positions in the city of San Diego due to budget cuts mean dirty toilets at city beaches, less maintenance at city pools and fewer trees amid cuts to public services. (Union Tribune)
• The San Diego Humane Society’s Wildlife Center in Ramona is protecting two black bear cubs from Monrovia after state wildlife officials deemed their mother a “public threat.” The bear’s mother, nicknamed ‘Blondie’, allegedly bit a woman, who was walking her dog, on the back of her knee. The bear deaths have prompted petitions for policy changes at the state level. (KPBS and ABC 7)
• Warm, hot temperatures will remain in San Diego County through Friday. (MSN)

The Morning Report was written by Lisa Halverstedt, Will Huntsberry, Jacob McWhinney and Mackenzie Elmer. It was edited by Will Huntsberry.

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