Episode 248 - Convo with Jim Desmond

California Underground Podcast: Discussing California Politics Through a Lens of Sanity

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Episode Summary

In this episode, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond discusses the impact of the open border on San Diego County. He highlights the situation at the border, including the presence of a hole in the fence and the influx of migrants from various countries. The conversation covers various themes related to the challenges faced by California, including the issue with Prop 1 and homelessness, the affordability problem in the state, the lack of transitional housing for the homeless, the impact of immigration and homelessness on blue cities, the consequences of increasing minimum wage, and charging utilities based on household income.

Takeaways

• The border situation in San Diego County is a significant concern, with an open border allowing migrants from various countries to enter unimpeded.
• Street drop-offs of migrants in San Diego County have led to confusion and strain on local resources, including the use of the airport as a makeshift migrant center.
• The diversion of funds from homelessness and mental health programs to address the migrant issue has hindered efforts to address local issues.
• The broken immigration system allows people to cut ahead of the line and enter the country illegally, undermining the legal immigration process. Throwing money at the homelessness problem without addressing the underlying issues and policies is not an effective solution.
• The affordability crisis in California, including housing costs and taxes, is a major concern that needs to be addressed.
• There is a need for more transitional housing and support for homeless individuals who have gone through detox and need a clean and sober environment.
• The connection between immigration and homelessness is becoming more apparent, and there is a growing dissatisfaction among constituents with the current approach.
• Increasing the minimum wage can have unintended consequences, such as job losses and automation.
• Charging utilities based on household income is a form of socialism and sets a dangerous precedent.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Border Situation

03:43 Impact on San Diego Airport

08:10 Financial Burden on San Diego County

13:40 Broken Immigration System

16:11 Consequences of Immigration Policies

22:06 Impact on County Funding and Resources

23:10 Prop 1 and Homelessness Funding

27:16 The Issue with Prop 1 and Homelessness

29:48 The Affordability Issue in California

34:10 The Lack of Transitional Housing for the Homeless

38:34 The Impact of Immigration and Homelessness on Blue Cities

45:32 The Consequences of Increasing Minimum Wage

50:20 Charging Utilities Based on Household Income