Local Crank Gets HBO Treatment<\/p>\n
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Daniel Smiechowski in \u201cNeighbors.\u201d Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery<\/p>\n
Daniel Smiechowski is an irritant \u2014 to San Diego\u2019s political system and his neighbors. It\u2019s the latter that got him featured as the central character in the season finale of HBO\u2019s \u201cNeighbors.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Smiechowski has run for multiple local offices and only weeks ago showed up to a City Council candidate forum dressed as a mime, as we reported in the Politics Report<\/a>. But politics isn\u2019t his only schtick: Much to the dismay of his neighbors, Smiechowski also loves to work out in a bright yellow thong in his driveway.\u00a0<\/p>\n His skill at being annoying is beyond question. But the final episode of \u201cNeighbors\u201d was spectacular, because it dug several layers deeper.<\/p>\n He is a litmus test for his neighbors\u2019 chill \u2014 and few pass the Smiechowski vibe check. Some think he deserves a beating or jail. Others say what he\u2019s doing isn\u2019t illegal and people should just relax. <\/p>\n Ultimately, he comes off as a man obsessed by expectations \u2014 both the silly ones that come from society and the hard-to-shake ones that come from parents.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to watch, but it\u2019s a must-watch for all San Diegans.\u00a0<\/p>\n Teachers Union Rebel Caucus Still Alive<\/p>\n The top two positions at San Diego Unified\u2019s teachers union are heading to a runoff.\u00a0<\/p>\n The results, released Tuesday, show sitting-President Kyle Weinberg received 39 percent of votes cast. Challenger Monique Barrett received 34 percent, meaning the pair will advance to a second round of voting in the coming weeks. The election for vice president is also heading to a second round between teachers Kiki Ochoa and Matthew Schneck.<\/p>\n Barrett and Schneck are part of a slate of challengers called the Good Trouble caucus who, alongside the heads of the district\u2019s classified unions, have been fiercely critical of Weinberg\u2019s leadership<\/a>. Their contingent claims Weinberg has not only ostracized members of other district unions, but also misled his own members about having done so.<\/p>\n While some of the slate\u2019s candidates won their positions outright, others came up short. On the losing side were two teachers who have raised concerns about the integrity of the election process<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Other News<\/p>\n Despite protests from District Attorney Summer Stephan, county supervisors voted Tuesday to move forward <\/a>with a new Consumer Fairness and Public Protection Unit. (NBC 7) <\/p>\n Today, the county board is now set to consider Supervisor Joel Anderson\u2019s transparency proposal for county subcommittees <\/a>that have largely met behind closed doors.<\/p>\n Former San Diego city Councilmember Scott Sherman has filed a legal challenge against language in the ballot measure<\/a> that would tax empty second homes. The challenge may get thrown out of court \u2014 but it could also end with modifications to the language of the ballot measure or the measure being cut entirely from the ballot. (Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n EdSource reports that by January 2026, candidates running to be California\u2019s Superintendent of Public Education had raised a whopping $2.6 million<\/a>. San Diego Unified Trustee Richard Barrera raised nearly $130,000. That sum was dwarfed by the haul of fundraising leader and former Speaker of the California Assembly Anthony Rendon who raised $1 million.<\/p>\n Money from a statewide climate fund created by Proposition 4 will help<\/a> the southeast San Diego community of Nestor build a park it\u2019s been planning for decades. (KPBS)<\/p>\n Over 100 unfilled positions at the city of San Diego due to a budget deficit means <\/a>dirtier restrooms at city beaches, less upkeep at city pools and less tree trimming among other public service reductions. (Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n The San Diego Humane Society\u2019s wildlife center in Ramona is caring<\/a> for two black bear cubs from Monrovia after state wildlife officials euthanized their mother who was deemed \u201ca public threat.\u201d The mother bear, nicknamed \u201cBlondie,\u201d allegedly clawed<\/a> a woman, who was walking her dog, on the back of her knee. The bear\u2019s death has inspired a petition for policy changes at the state level. (KPBS and ABC 7)<\/p>\n