Voice of San Diego Podcast
375 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 174 ratingsThis is Voice of San Diego’s weekly spitfire roundup of news. We cover local and regional politics, the environment, education, the border and more. This show features our investigative reporting and interviews with lawmakers and other special guests.
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Episodes
Spice Up Your Life... And City Hall
July 29, 2022 17:41 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBThe San Diego City Council this week decided — with the mayor's urging and the city attorney's opposition — to settle its lawsuit against Cisterra and CGA Capital. This $132-million-dollar decision paves the way for the city to buy its two most problematic buildings that were caught up in the suit and kick off what could be its most ambitious development project ever. This week, we discuss what went down in the council meeting ahead of the decision and all of the lofty ideas that are getti...
How Much Poo is Too Much Poo?
July 22, 2022 19:02 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBSan Diego is the first in the nation to deploy a new technology to test the safety of our ocean water. And Imperial Beach and Coronado are grappling with the results. The tests use a new method to count the amount of bacteria found in the gut of warm-blooded mammals, including humans (e.g., feces). The word poop is funny, obviously, but this is deadly serious for local beach cities — which may not only face economic hardship from having their beaches closed, but the test results suggest b...
Unanswered Calls
July 15, 2022 18:43 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MBThis week, NBC San Diego’s Alexis Rivas shares her story on a local woman's murder. The real story was the phone calls from across the street As Rivas reported, the victim’s neighbors called 911 for nearly two hours — begging for help and relaying what they saw. Rivas discusses the details of that June night, the San Diego Police Department's response to the scrutiny, and what seems a systemic lack of police capacity and slow response times to critical calls. Plus: New trends in old milit...
Summertime Blues, Summertime News
July 08, 2022 18:32 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBThe doldrums of summer are upon us. To combat the summertime blues, we’re hitting you with summertime news! This week, our hosts share a few stories they're watching in the summer months. Talking points: how to colonize Mars, the great resignation of the San Diego Police Department, who's going to fill those new downtown office buildings. Get the newsletter for this show at vosd.org/pod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What if We Paid Teachers With Money?
July 01, 2022 18:40 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBSan Diego Unified leaders announced they would offer $10,000 dollar signing bonuses for new special education teachers and nurses. This is a new effort by the district to combat a massive labor shortage happening right now. It may seem totally logical: The district has a lot of COVID relief money and needs more staff. But the move also signals a significant shift in policy from unions and union-backed leaders. Pay incentives of any kind, for years, have been totally taboo. This week, we di...
One Family's Story Says it all about Homelessness
June 24, 2022 18:42 - 50 minutes - 46 MBFour months ago, Voice of San Diego reporter Lisa Halverstadt got an email. A local woman, Natalie Raschke, asked Halverstadt to tell her family's story. “My kids matter, they have faces, they deserve to be heard and seen. I’m hoping you can help me achieve that,” she wrote. This week, we share that story. Plus: San Diego's next strategy for 101 Ash St. New street vendor rules. And OMG the Assembly Select Committee on Gasoline Supply and Pricing is here. Keep up with all of Lisa's stori...
How SANDAG's Transit Tax Died
June 17, 2022 19:54 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBOver the next eight years, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) needed to pass three different tax increases. These increases would fund the grandest of their plans to improve transportation for the whole region and update the ways we get around, large and small. But this week, the first of those three initiatives failed. And it failed fast. We review what happened and why. Plus: Graduations. Big hopes for big buildings on the coast. And the latest election results. Join our ...
Live! From Chula Vista
June 10, 2022 14:42 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBWe're coming at you live from Novo Brazil Brewing in Chula Vista with special guests and an awesome audience. Talking points: primary election results, "South County" vs. "South Bay," Chula Vista politics, special interests, miniature schnauzers. Guests: Chula Vista City Councilmember Andrea Cardenas Steve Garcia, host of the Emo Brown podcast Support the show and our summer fundraising campaign: vosd.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Races We're Watching
June 03, 2022 18:47 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBThe Primary is nigh! Though it’s not the blockbuster 2020 election that melted our faces and dominated every inch of social media, our next major democratic exercise is nearly here. (Get those ballots in by June 7 with the help of our Election Guide: vosd.org/ballot.) This week, we check in on the main races we've been watching in the region and the stories behind them. County Sheriff, Chula Vista Mayor, Assembly District 80 and San Diego City Council District 2 are the four horsemen of t...
This Land is Your Land
May 27, 2022 18:48 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBThe redevelopment project of 50-ish acres of land in the Midway area — which comprises Sports Arena, derelict streets and serves as a major junction in San Diego — is only getting more complex. Recently dubbed ‘the new San Diego Special’ by podcast host Scott Lewis, the San Diego City Council this week made a move to get the Midway redevelopment rolling again. This week, we review that meeting. Plus: New COVID quandaries at San Diego Unified schools. Join us on June 9 for our live podcast...
Awaken Church and the New Homelessness Numbers
May 20, 2022 17:54 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBWe’re coming at you with two interviews this week. First up: Voice's Jakob McWhinney published an authoritative piece on Awaken Church. On the show, McWhinney reviewed some of the historical highlights of the Evangelical Christian movement and its political proclivities. Throughout the pandemic, this church has become highly activated as an anti-vaccine, anti-lockdown, right-wing political engine. And second: The head of the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, Tamera Kohler, called us up ...
Mailer Season is Here
May 13, 2022 18:35 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MBJune Primary ballots went out this week. And you know what that means: It’s mailer season! This week, we talk about some of the mailers hitting voters for the Chula Vista mayoral race and what the voters really want. Plus: The race for County Sheriff and confusion at the San Diego Housing Commission. See all our election coverage at vosd.org/2022 Get tickets for our live podcast at vosd.org/events See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Previewing a 'Bananas Ballot'
May 06, 2022 19:59 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBThis week, we break down an effort by SANDAG to get a transit tax on the November 2022 ballot and a few other measures that are starting to take shape. Plus: A 101 Ash St. thing we can't let go. And new numbers — and a new idea — on homelessness. Get the newsletter for this podcast at vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus: Emo Brown Podcast with Scott Lewis
May 03, 2022 23:33 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBThis week, we're bringing you an episode of the Emo Brown podcast — a Chula Vista-based show recorded at 3 Punk Ales brewery, hosted by Steve Garcia. Garcia recently called up VOSD host and CEO Scott Lewis to join the show. We liked it so much we wanted to share it with you. Lewis and Garcia talked about Lewis' personal history, journalism, VOSD's purpose in San Diego and some of the biggest issues facing the region, such as education inequality, housing and homelessness. Plus, how to keep ...
Sports Arena is the New San Diego Special
April 29, 2022 21:33 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBScott Lewis has called it: The Sports Arena and its surrounding land is officially a San Diego Special. (That is an intractable, San Diego-specific problem brought on by maladministration and/or crummy leadership.) This week, we discussed the state of the current bidding process to remake the area and prioritize a new arena — while the housing crisis looms over us all. Plus: Palm trees are a menace. The "political genius" of 101 Ash St. Charity leaders flip a house. Join us on May 4 for o...
Carnival News
April 22, 2022 19:53 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBFor weeks now, we’ve been waiting to see if the San Diego County fair will actually happen. Headlines and rumors suggested San Diego's most prized carnival spectacle was in jeopardy because of a lawsuit that seized the state district that oversees the fair. Voice North County reporter Tigist Layne has been following the fair-y tale and joins us week to explain how this unique slice of San Diego land is governed, the details of the suit and where the Fairgrounds and its CEO stand now. Plus...
The Tents Changed Everything
April 15, 2022 18:56 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBNowadays, more resources are being thrown at the homelessness crisis than ever and there are still more unhoused San Diegans than ever — many of whom use camping-style tents as a lifeline, refusing shelter beds. So, what now? This week, we discuss how personal tents changed the homelessness crisis and what it means for leaders fighting for solutions to our region's biggest problem. Plus: Big transit hub news. Midway and Sports Arena updates. And did you hear Gold Coast Drive?! Check out ...
A Truckload of Troubles
April 08, 2022 20:15 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MBWhen one discusses the future of San Diego, there’s typically a shared, unspoken assumption: We’ll keep growing. Everything we need to power a prospering region hinges on that assumption, too. Infrastructure, housing, the airport, drive-thru Starbucks. But we’re not growing. We're shrinking (dying if you wanna get dramatic about it). This week, we discuss the data that tells the story of our population change — and the questions we must answer about the troubling future of our region. Plu...
'We Take Housing Seriously'
April 01, 2022 18:42 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBThe City of Oceanside has North County's second largest homeless population (after Escondido). And as of this week, it's gearing up for its first homeless shelter. This week on the pod, Andy and Andrea are joined by Voice's North County reporter, Tigist Layne, to discuss the news from Oceanside and the latest housing issue in Encinitas. Plus: Highlights from this week's State of the County address. Join the campaign! vosd.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alvarez Versus Gómez
March 25, 2022 19:13 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBThis week, Andy's got the story of David Alvarez and his potential violation of city ethics law. The former San Diego city councilman, and now candidate for the state Assembly, worked for SDG&E before the mandated “cool off” period was over. Whether he was lobbying is the big question. This has led to a fiery campaign for Assembly District 80. Alvarez and the other Democrat seeking the seat, Georgette Gómez, have been dragged in political ads for their violations of public trust. We're go...
All About the Benjamins
March 18, 2022 19:00 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBWe planned this for months but it couldn’t have been more timely. Voice of San Diego reporters have been digging into the biggest drivers of San Diego’s high costs: housing, transportation, water, energy and more. This week on the podcast, hosts Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts discuss the biggest findings from our new reporting series, "San Diego's Cost-of-Living Crisis." Check it out at vosd.org/cost Support this type of work at vosd.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
'Mask Raids' and Mystery
March 11, 2022 19:50 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBAlmost a year ago, Luis Alberto Antonio Armenta disappeared. His family was worried, of course. And they were confused why Antonio Armenta didn't respond to calls or texts. The next day, he was found in his car, in the passenger seat, head on the floorboard, missing some personal items. He was dead. And the family was left with a lot of questions about the odd circumstances of this case. This week, editor Andrea Lopez-Villafaña tells the story of this mysterious death and what questions re...
It Ain't Easy Being Green
March 04, 2022 22:24 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBCounty leaders are pushing San Diego to eliminate carbon emissions in less than two decades. But a new study shows the region isn’t close to that — even if all the cities in the region do everything on their climate to-do list perfectly. This week, we break down what "net zero" really means and what the region is facing as politicians trumpet climate "successes" that are effectively a wishlist for some other elected official to deal with later. Plus: A note from Russia. New rules for stree...
Conor Dougherty on California’s Housing History, Politics and Solutions
February 25, 2022 21:16 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBHousing nerds unite! This week, our resident housing nerd Andrew Keatts interviews New York Times economics reporter Conor Dougherty, who covers housing and wages in California. Talking points: YIMBYS vs. NIMBYS. Housing and zoning legislation. Accessory dwelling units. Dougherty's book, "Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America," and coverage of Clairemont, "Where The Suburbs End." Support the podcast: vosd.org/give Follow all our work: vosd.org/newsletter See omnystudio.com/liste...
SD101: Parents Changing Schools
February 22, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBEpisode 9 When parents get involved at school, that generally means their kids will do better. But getting involved isn’t easy — at least not for all parents. School districts can be baffling bureaucracies, filled with tons of committees and confusing acronyms that all impact the quality of a kid’s education. In this final episode of the season, we break down how schools work — and how parents have made it work for them. (Plus, hosts Maya and Adriana call up their own parents.) Resources...
Housing Conquers All
February 18, 2022 20:35 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBSan Diego's cost of living is officially bananas. Multiple reports published this week show San Diego's sunshine and dank waves are not enough to keep up with soaring housing and energy prices. We explain the findings of these reports and what's going on in the housing market as one analysis looked at the number of "investors" who own homes in the area. Plus: Former San Diego City Councilmember Barbra Bry is caught up in a web as she seeks another office this election. Keep up with all ...
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me (if I Have COVID)
February 11, 2022 19:47 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBRemember a few weeks back? Holidays were happening, Omicron was everywhere and at-home tests seemingly vanished. It sucked. At that time, free COVID-19 testing sites were popping up at trolley stations. They were a relief to many who needed quick, accessible results so they could live their life. But some results didn't come for weeks — or ever. This week on the pod, we're going to break down that story, the companies behind it, and how it all went wrong. Plus: The race for sheriff. Chula...
Journalism and Democracy in Mexico
February 04, 2022 23:11 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBFour Mexican journalists have been murdered in less than a month. It's one of the most dangerous countries to be a journalist. Reporter Sandra Dibble has been covering Tijuana — the country's northernmost city — for more than two decades. She joins us to talk about what's going on in the country and how Mexico's programs made to protect the press are failing. Plus: The latest on homelessness and some political intrigue in affordable housing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
SD101: Three Myths About Homelessness
February 01, 2022 12:00 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBEpisode 8 Homelessness, and what causes it, is complex. Our own assumptions about people who experience homelessness can often keep us from fully understanding the big, complicated issue that it is. In this episode, we’re going to hear from experts and people who have experienced homelessness to explain what’s right — and what’s wrong — about our most common assumptions. Learn more at sd101.org Support San Diego 101 at vosd.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Labor Flexes On SDSU West
January 28, 2022 20:37 - 42 minutes - 39 MBA feud between San Diego State University and labor unions has officially boiled over in to the public scene. This week, we review the key players and the stakes, what's been said and what it all means for the mega redevelopment of Mission Valley. Plus: Former San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre is suing the NFL. What?! Also: Scott "discovers" a band. Text with us: vosd.org/text Peruse our newsletters: vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Labor Flexes On SDSU Mission Valley
January 28, 2022 20:37 - 42 minutes - 39 MBA feud between San Diego State University and labor unions has officially boiled over in to the public scene. This week, we review the key players and the stakes, what's been said and what it all means for the mega redevelopment of Mission Valley. Plus: Former San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre is suing the NFL. What?! Also: Scott "discovers" a band. Text with us: vosd.org/text Peruse our newsletters: vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
About That Trash Strike
January 21, 2022 19:29 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBSan Diego can breathe easier. Because there's less garbage wafting in our face. The trash strike that seized the city of Chula Vista and parts of San Diego is over. But how did it all go down? VOSD editor Jesse Marx joins us this week to talk about the negotiations, the workers demands and how Republic Services broke the strike. Plus: Big news from Sheriff Bill Gore and updates on conservatorship for homeless residents. See Jesse's story and his new newsletter at vosd.org/finecity Text ...
Another State of the City with No Live Audience
January 14, 2022 19:07 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBIt feels like we’re in the middle of a very awkward transition between treating COVID-19 as a disease we’re collectively trying to contain and one that is part of the spectrum of respiratory diseases humans face without much fear every year. If you get the virus now, you have to manage rules for going back to school and work that are related to collective action to stem the pandemic and yet the virus is being allowed to spread uncontained as though we were already moving on. This week on th...
SD101: What We Know — And Don’t — About Who Lives in San Diego
January 11, 2022 12:00 - 26 minutes - 24 MBEpisode 7 The 2020 Census data shows that San Diego is more diverse than ever, with especially large growth in its Asian and Latino populations. But there are also big, thriving communities that we have very little information about. They're effectively hidden by the Census, a standard bearer of data for the country. So, who are these hidden communities? And how can they be revealed? Learn more at sd101.org Support San Diego 101 at vosd.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...
The Wrath of Omicron
January 07, 2022 20:27 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBAs the new year dawns on us, omicron is letting loose. The latest, super contagious coronavirus variant was fueled from the holidays and is now hampering daily life — and San Diego is no exception. Local public services and government agencies are getting hit hard. Universities are pushing classes back online. Hospitals and firehouses are seeing unprecedented absences due to staff catching "the 'vid." This week, we review the state of the region and how omicron is affecting the region's mo...
Scott Lewis' Short History of San Diego Politics
December 31, 2021 12:00 - 34 minutes - 32 MBBefore we poke our heads in to 2022, let's look back — about 18 years. This week, we're dropping a special interview between Scott Lewis and host of the San Diego 101 podcast, Maya Srikrishnan. Scott was featured on the latest SD101 episode, "A Short History of San Diego Politics," along with Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher and San Diego City Councilman Chris Cate. Lewis has been covering San Diego politics since 2004 — when a whole bunch of political drama boiled over. In this int...
How Sean Elo-Rivera Wants to Lead the City Council
December 24, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBNew San Diego City Council president Sean Elo-Rivera joined us this week to talk about why he sought the job, his biggest priorities for the city and how he wants to tackle our biggest issues — like homelessness, government transparency and suffering infrastructure. Join our year-end campaign at vosd.org/podcast2021 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SD101: A Short History of San Diego Politics
December 21, 2021 12:00 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBEpisode 6 We're going to go back about 18 years — roughly when the region's newest voters were being born. In this episode of SD101, we'll guide you through the scandals that shaped San Diego, explain how the region's leadership shifted from predominantly Republican to Democrat and share tales of those who have risen to power and shaped the region. This episode features VOSD's Scott Lewis, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher and San Diego City Councilman Chris Cate. Learn more at sd101...
Our Favorite Immunologist Explains Omicron
December 17, 2021 22:55 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBShane Crotty, a lead researcher at the La Jolla Institute of Immunology, has helped us out here on the VOSD Podcast throughout the pandemic. He laid out the science of COVID vaccines when they were new. He explained the Delta variant as it swept the country. And this week, he’s back in an interview with Scott Lewis to talk about Omicron — the latest variant that demonstrates, as Crotty put it, “this virus is more clever than most anyone expected.” The interview starts around minute 33 of t...
A Roadtrip to the New City Council President
December 10, 2021 19:54 - 53 minutes - 49.1 MBBuckle up and grab a snack. We're hitting the road. This week, hosts Scott Lewis, Andrew Keatts and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña are taking you on a drive through the week's local news. We start at the bathroom shortage the city says it'll fix by putting one within five minutes of anyone downtown. Then, we're on the roads of SANDAG and some major hiccups the transportation agency is having to finalize its plan by year's end. And finally, we arrive at the the San Diego City Council chambers, wher...
SD101: The Housing Crisis
December 07, 2021 12:00 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MBYou’ve probably noticed that San Diego is a really expensive place to live. The city has a large homeless population, the cost of rent eats away our paychecks, and for most people, buying a home is out of reach. For years, we’ve been hearing about the housing crisis in San Diego and throughout the state of California. But how has it gotten so bad? In the latest episode of our San Diego 101 series, we're going to explain how we got here — and how a long legacy of racist housing policies mad...
Death Records Show How COVID Hit Communities Differently
December 03, 2021 20:50 - 40 minutes - 37 MBLast year, Voice of San Diego sued the County of San Diego to get death records for local residents who died directly or indirectly from COVID-19. A few months ago, we won. Since then, a team of reporters has blazed through thousands of these records to assemble the data and reveal trends — to show the true impact of COVID, how our region works for different populations and who was most affected by the pandemic. Reporter Will Huntsberry joins the show this week to share the insights. Also...
Friendsgiving
November 24, 2021 20:51 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBThis week on a special Friendsgiving edition of the show, hosts Scott Lewis, Andrew Keatts and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña are joined by local journalists Alain Stephens and Cristina Kim to talk about happy holiday things like bathrooms, racist deeds and guns. Happy Thanksgiving! Follow Cristina @Cristinakim830 Follow Alain @AlainStephens Support the show at vosd.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Fight for Representation Is in Redistricting
November 19, 2021 21:57 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBThis week, we jump into the fray of redistricting and discuss how new changes in the city’s population affect how people are represented in politics. Plus: Palm trees, a park tax and a new trolley line. Support this podcast by sharing it with a friend! Send them to vosd.org/pod Or tag us on social media @voiceofsandiego See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SD101: City Versus County Government
November 16, 2021 12:00 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBEpisode 4 Local government can get complicated. But there's one major distinction you need to understand in order to follow it all: the difference between the city government and the county government. In this episode, we spoke with a few government experts to help us understand what the city does, what the county does, who the representatives are for each — and what you need to know to make it work for you. Let's roll some School House Rock music! Learn more at vosd.org/sd101 Support th...
The Most Ambitious Climate Plan Ever Still Isn't Enough
November 12, 2021 22:35 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBSan Diego Mayor Todd Gloria released a draft of the city’s updated Climate Action Plan — with an ambitious new target of net zero emissions by 2035. This week, we look back at the previous Climate Action Plan, which didn’t do all it set out to do. And now, even if the city does everything outlined in its new, super ambitious plan, it still falls short of its own goal. Plus: Public comments and their place in democracy. And the Great Resignation hits San Diego schools and parks. See omnys...
Here's How Many Toxins We're Allowed to Breathe
November 05, 2021 21:21 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MBSan Diego’s Air Pollution Control District is forcing industries to reduce cancer risk in San Diego. There was a major change this week in how many canceer-causing toxins local industries were allowed to spew in the air. We sat down with environment reporter MacKenzie Elmer to talk about what goes into these standards, what local industries had to do to alert residents of the risks and what changes are coming. And a San Diego-based nonprofit Saved in America says they save people from hum...
SD101: How Redistricting Shapes Your Community
November 02, 2021 11:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBEpisode 3 Throughout San Diego – and across the country – there are lots of meetings happening, in which communities are talking about how they can maximize the power of their vote by creating new maps. This is because every 10 years all sorts of political entities from cities to school districts to state legislatures go through a process called redistricting. In this episode of San Diego 101, we're going to explain how this process works, who's drawing the maps, and how normal people get...
Rep. Scott Peters' Big Moment
October 29, 2021 19:15 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBSan Diego Rep. Scott Peters is in front of an enormous choice. It's one that could sway one of the most consequential legislative dramas in decades that includes tax credits, child care and education, climate change and — importantly — pharmaceuticals. This week on the show, we wonder: What is the point of Peters? This choice could determine that. Plus: St. Louis got a billion dollars when it lost its football team. What did San Diego get?! And we look ahead to 2022 ballot measures startin...
It's All About Law and Justice
October 22, 2021 19:56 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBThis year, we dedicated our annual local news summit to: law and justice. Politifest 2021 happened this week and it was full of great, though sometimes difficult, conversations about surveillance, criminal sentencing, the trauma of incarceration and more. This week, we're giving you the short and sweet summaries of a few panels. And we'll discuss some of the most crucial moments that spotlight how directly law enforcement can shape society. Plus: A local labor leader got money he wasn't su...