Last week, our MacKenzie Elmer broke the news that Manchester Financial Group, namesake of prominent developer Doug Manchester, has been quietly pitching a large-scale data center on Navy-owned land near Old Town.<\/p>\n
Several San Diego politicians protested. They had envisioned housing there and other mixed-use features like hotels and restaurants.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now the Manchester Group has pledged that housing will be a \u201cmajor part\u201d of whatever final project emerges. The exact amount of housing is yet to be determined.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis project could include thousands of multi-family homes for San Diegans,\u201d wrote Ted Eldredge the company\u2019s CEO in an email.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The proposed development site involves two plots of land \u2014 one roughly 47 acres and the other nearly 22 acres. The data center would be on the smaller piece of land if it makes it into the final project, a company representative said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHousing is going to be a major part of this project \u2014 it\u2019s what helps make it feasible and we look forward to building the homes we need to address our region\u2019s housing crisis,\u201d Eldredge wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Read the full story here.<\/a><\/p>\n Border Report: Quantifying the Reported ICE Surge<\/p>\n There\u2019s been a flood of recent headlines about an apparent spike in immigration enforcement in San Diego ahead of the November election.<\/p>\n But as contributor Kate Morrissey explains in her latest Border Report, the data on ICE arrests that could show whether there\u2019s a real surge is lagging.<\/p>\n The indicators we do have: Activists are flagging a big increase in enforcement and a map where people can report ICE sightings is seeing a surge in postings. ICE arrests reported by the agency had also been steadily rising as of the last data dump.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, community organizations and leaders are both stepping up and grappling with how to respond.<\/p>\n Read the full Border Report here.<\/a><\/p>\n San Diego 101 on the Hotel Heir Tied to Elizabeth Holmes<\/p>\n A new documentary about convicted Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has been getting lotsa buzz<\/a>.<\/p>\n Among the hot topics: Holmes\u2019 partner Billy Evans, a native San Diegan, who some are describing as the villain of the new doc. (Don\u2019t worry, we won\u2019t elaborate on this angle. We\u2019ve only got one little spoiler we\u2019ll warn you about.)<\/p>\n About the San Diego family business: Evans is an heir to his family\u2019s hotel portfolio<\/a> which include Mission Bay\u2019s Bahia Resort Hotel and Catamaran Hotel & Spa, plus the Lodge at Torrey Pines overlooking the golf course. Interestingly, the New York Times notes that the company recently issued a statement<\/a> clarifying that Billy Evans \u201cis not involved in the business in any way, as an employee or shareholder.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Young Billy: WIRED reports<\/a> that Evans attended the private Francis Parker School and later graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with an economics degree. Then, according to the magazine, he tried to launch a startup and worked at multiple tech companies.<\/p>\n The coupling: Evans met Holmes in 2017 at a Bay Area Fleet Week event and later wrote that he was \u201ccaptivated by her childish wonder and authenticity,\u201d according to Entertainment Weekly<\/a>. They got engaged the following year. It\u2019s unclear if the couple is married but they now share two kids and Evans was at Holmes\u2019 side throughout her federal fraud trial.<\/p>\n The other Bill Evans: Billy\u2019s father Bill was also prominent at the trial. The elder Evans, for years one of the city\u2019s most outspoken and influential hoteliers, is no stranger to headlines. Literal 2012 Voice of San Diego headline<\/a>: \u201cBill Evans, Man of Influence.\u201d The elder Evans\u2019 made claims that he was a concerned citizen attending the trial rather than a family member, as NPR reported.<\/a> He was chatty, told reporters his name was Hanson and loudly opened a Rice Krispie Treat in the courtroom. People has more details on the Evans family<\/a>.<\/p>\n Evans\u2019 eyebrow raising venture: Light spoiler alert warning. Evans has his own testing machine company \u2013 Haemanthus \u2013 which WIRED writes<\/a> is \u201cworking to develop compact testing machines to analyze blood, urine and saliva.\u201d Evans says it isn\u2019t \u201cTheranos<\/a> 2.0.\u201d NPR reported last year that Evans raised millions of dollars<\/a> for the startup.<\/p>\n Save the Date: Post-Election Live Pod<\/p>\n Our Brews and News Live Podcast<\/a> is happening soon on Tuesday, Nov. 10 and you won\u2019t want to miss it!<\/p>\n Join Editor-in-Chief Scott Lewis, Managing Editor Andrea Sanchez-Villafa\u00f1a, and reporters Bella Ross and Jakob McWhinney with special guests Julie Roland and Mason Herron at Soda Bar for a night of beer, conversation, and celebration. Bring a friend, have a pint and embrace your inner news nerd. There will be games!<\/p>\n When: Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 6:00 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n Where: Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, CA 92104-1514\u00a0<\/p>\n Tickets: $22.66 (Venue processing fees included).\u00a0<\/p>\n Spots are limited. Grab your ticket now<\/a> to be part of the celebration!\u00a0<\/p>\n Reporter\u2019s Circle and Editor\u2019s Circle members (annual giving $500+) receive two free tickets. Email membership@voiceofsandiego.org to redeem your tickets.<\/p>\n In Other News<\/p>\n As the city prepares to expand its Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, inewsource reports on its status<\/a> as the \u201cnation\u2019s worst lead polluter.\u201d<\/p>\n Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton this past weekend pitched a statewide plan<\/a> to address the homelessness crisis modeled on the Sunbreak Ranch concept that has been pitched San Diego. (KTLA)<\/p>\n San Diego City Council unanimously approved Mayor Todd Gloria\u2019s appointment of COO Bethany Bezak<\/a> on Monday.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Union-Tribune reports that San Diego County\u2019s civilian Juvenile Justice Commission is the latest organization of its kind<\/a> to struggle in California, because no one is willing to fund it. (Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n For months, cash-strapped local housing agencies have been rushing to try to keep families housed via a Covid-era voucher program. Now there\u2019s a federal funding solution<\/a>.\u00a0 (inewsource)<\/p>\n As County Supervisor Jim Desmond campaigns to represent California\u2019s 48th Congressional District, the former commercial airline pilot is flying a plane<\/a> he bought from two longtime donors to traverse the large district. (Times of San Diego)<\/p>\n