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Scoop: San Diego police quietly signed new Flock tech deal

Police say the software was exempt from an oversight process for surveillance tech.

News

Privacy advocates are alarmed that San Diego Police acquired a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surveillance-related technology" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/10/san-diego-police-flock-license-plate-surveillance-cameras" data-vars-content-id="dbbead24-d45c-4136-afab-2ed17d56bd1c" data-vars-headline="Scoop: San Diego police quietly signed new Flock tech deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/10/san-diego-police-flock-license-plate-surveillance-cameras" target="_self">surveillance-related technology</a> without going through the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="city&#x27;s public oversight process" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/01/24/council-amends-surveillance-oversight-ordinance" data-vars-content-id="dbbead24-d45c-4136-afab-2ed17d56bd1c" data-vars-headline="Scoop: San Diego police quietly signed new Flock tech deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/01/24/council-amends-surveillance-oversight-ordinance" target="_self">city&#x27;s public oversight process</a>, but the police say the platform in question didn&#x27;t need that approval.Why it matters: The contract for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Flock Nova" data-vars-click-url="https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-nova-smarter-investigations-faster-case-resolutions" data-vars-content-id="dbbead24-d45c-4136-afab-2ed17d56bd1c" data-vars-headline="Scoop: San Diego police quietly signed new Flock tech deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/flock-nova-smarter-investigations-faster-case-resolutions" target="_blank">Flock Nova</a> platform was quietly signed in December, as local residents and City Council members questioned police using <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Flock&#x27;s Safety&#x27;s other surveillance technology" data-vars-click-url="https://transparency.flocksafety.com/san-diego-ca-pd" data-vars-content-id="dbbead24-d45c-4136-afab-2ed17d56bd1c" data-vars-headline="Scoop: San Diego police quietly signed new Flock tech deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://transparency.flocksafety.com/san-diego-ca-pd" target="_blank">Flock&#x27;s Safety&#x27;s other surveillance technology</a> — specifically <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="license plate readers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/12/city-council-flock-alternatives-license-plate-reader-police-surveillance" data-vars-content-id="dbbead24-d45c-4136-afab-2ed17d56bd1c" data-vars-headline="Scoop: San Diego police quietly signed new Flock tech deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/12/city-council-flock-alternatives-license-plate-reader-police-surveillance" target="_self">license plate readers</a> — to assist investigations.

Big delays in plan to curb off-leash dogs at schools

Six months after promises, most school fields still lack enforcement and even a way to report issues.

Neighborhoods

It&#x27;s gotten much harder to report off-leash dogs and their scofflaw owners who use San Diego school fields and don&#x27;t clean up their mess.Why it matters: Some school fields have been riddled with holes and dog poop since the pandemic, when people got used to letting their pups run free. Now that kids are back on the fields, the doggy detritus has been an incessant problem.

8 things to do in San Diego this weekend

From Gaslamp fiestas to Del Mar food stalls and live shows, here's what to do this weekend.

Things to Do

We&#x27;ve got you covered if you&#x27;re looking for plans this weekend.The big picture: Cinco de Mayo celebrations, food festivals and live shows are taking over San Diego as May kicks off.

Scoop: AI is helping answer San Diego 911 calls

The city is using AI agents to sort nonemergency calls and assist dispatchers with transcripts and prompts.

Public Safety

San Diego has rolled out <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI for police dispatchers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/04/01/how-san-diego-uses-ai-government-copilot-gemini-future-potholes-records-requests" data-vars-content-id="67608916-df80-467d-93a9-4d57f51f8dad" data-vars-headline="Scoop: AI is helping answer San Diego 911 calls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/04/01/how-san-diego-uses-ai-government-copilot-gemini-future-potholes-records-requests" target="_self">AI for police dispatchers</a>, including AI agents that answer non-emergency calls and automatically classify calls by type, per a contract obtained exclusively by Axios.Why it matters: The contract is another example of the city using <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI technology" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/10/20/san-diego-chula-vista-police-drones" data-vars-content-id="67608916-df80-467d-93a9-4d57f51f8dad" data-vars-headline="Scoop: AI is helping answer San Diego 911 calls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/10/20/san-diego-chula-vista-police-drones" target="_self">AI technology</a> to help employees be more efficient, but advocates warn it could <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="violate privacy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/04/29/san-diego-police-flock-nova-surveillance-technology-contract-review" data-vars-content-id="67608916-df80-467d-93a9-4d57f51f8dad" data-vars-headline="Scoop: AI is helping answer San Diego 911 calls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/04/29/san-diego-police-flock-nova-surveillance-technology-contract-review" target="_self">violate privacy</a>.

This Lemon Grove backyard serves an Egyptian feast

A mother-daughter duo hosts intimate dinners, and now brunch, at their home in Lemon Grove.

Food and Drink

There&#x27;s a backyard oasis tucked away in Lemon Grove that&#x27;s serving home-cooked, Egyptian meals for an unexpected <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dining experience" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/food-and-drink" data-vars-content-id="e3f8d317-08d7-46da-aca0-06d402ce5f01" data-vars-headline="This Lemon Grove backyard serves an Egyptian feast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/food-and-drink" target="_self">dining experience</a>.Dig in: Chef Noura Bishay and her mother, Samia Khair, opened <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Hidden Gazebo Eatery" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hiddengazebo.com/" data-vars-content-id="e3f8d317-08d7-46da-aca0-06d402ce5f01" data-vars-headline="This Lemon Grove backyard serves an Egyptian feast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hiddengazebo.com/" target="_blank">The Hidden Gazebo Eatery</a> in January, cooking a seven-course dinner out of their home.<ul><li>Now, they&#x27;re adding a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="four-course brunch menu" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hiddengazebo.com/brunch-menu" data-vars-content-id="e3f8d317-08d7-46da-aca0-06d402ce5f01" data-vars-headline="This Lemon Grove backyard serves an Egyptian feast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hiddengazebo.com/brunch-menu" target="_blank">four-course brunch menu</a> and we got to taste test the new dishes from their Egyptian homeland.</li></ul>

San Diego's Stone Brewing sold, beer production moving out

Some local taprooms are part of the deal, but the fate of the Escondido brewery is unclear.

San Diego&#x27;s largest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="craft brewer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/04/san-diego-breweries-squeezed-as-costs-outpace-prices" data-vars-content-id="31245fde-0fa3-42a7-9f74-fac2f7f16397" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s Stone Brewing sold, beer production moving out" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/04/san-diego-breweries-squeezed-as-costs-outpace-prices" target="_self">craft brewer</a>, Stone Brewing, and its local taprooms are being sold again.Why it matters: The sale of the iconic brand means most production of the locally beloved beers will move outside of San Diego County — another sign of the once-booming craft beer industry <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shifting under financial strains" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/04/san-diego-breweries-squeezed-as-costs-outpace-prices" data-vars-content-id="31245fde-0fa3-42a7-9f74-fac2f7f16397" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s Stone Brewing sold, beer production moving out" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/04/san-diego-breweries-squeezed-as-costs-outpace-prices" target="_self">shifting under financial strains</a>.

What San Diego homeowners do for a living

Even high earners struggle as prices make buying a home challenging.

Real Estate

Business professionals and STEM workers are most likely to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="own homes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" data-vars-content-id="eec25da1-7d1f-4d4f-afc2-0ace37039a7e" data-vars-headline="What San Diego homeowners do for a living" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" target="_self">own homes</a> in San Diego, according to a recent real estate analysis.The big picture: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="occupations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/17/ai-job-risk-tool-betting-odds-predictions" data-vars-content-id="eec25da1-7d1f-4d4f-afc2-0ace37039a7e" data-vars-headline="What San Diego homeowners do for a living" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/17/ai-job-risk-tool-betting-odds-predictions" target="_self">occupations</a> with the highest homeownership rates haven&#x27;t changed much in the past decade, but a few saw notable shifts.

How San Diego is a runway for the future of air travel

The city's infrastructure and talent pool created a runway for what's next in airplane design.

Business

A San Diego-based aerospace company is developing futuristic fuel-efficient planes that the founders and industry watchers think could upend the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="airline industry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/08/delta-earnings-iran-war-ceasefire-fuel-costs" data-vars-content-id="c2036db5-8cb8-4f08-b72a-518129089f13" data-vars-headline="How San Diego is a runway for the future of air travel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/08/delta-earnings-iran-war-ceasefire-fuel-costs" target="_self">airline industry</a>.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Natilus" data-vars-click-url="https://natilus.co/" data-vars-content-id="c2036db5-8cb8-4f08-b72a-518129089f13" data-vars-headline="How San Diego is a runway for the future of air travel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://natilus.co/" target="_blank">Natilus</a> chose to design, test and build its aircraft here because of the city&#x27;s business and education ecosystem, unique infrastructure and aviation legacy, CEO and co-founder Aleksey Matyushev told Axios.

California has the country's worst tippers, according to Toast

California diners at restaurants using the Toast platform left 17.2% on average.

California is home to America&#x27;s worst tippers at restaurants using the Toast platform, with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="diners" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/07/solo-dining-self-care-fast-food" data-vars-content-id="ff128ef7-e5ec-4890-a0e2-d43608564d68" data-vars-headline="California has the country&#x27;s worst tippers, according to Toast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/07/solo-dining-self-care-fast-food" target="_self">diners</a> leaving 17.2% on average.The big picture: Nationwide, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tips" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/01/no-tax-on-tips-jobs-trump-bill" data-vars-content-id="ff128ef7-e5ec-4890-a0e2-d43608564d68" data-vars-headline="California has the country&#x27;s worst tippers, according to Toast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/01/no-tax-on-tips-jobs-trump-bill" target="_self">tips</a> at full-service restaurants using the platform averaged 19.2% in Q4 2025, the same as the previous quarter, per Toast&#x27;s latest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="restaurant trends report" data-vars-click-url="https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/data/toast-restaurant-trends-report-coffee-prices-2026" data-vars-content-id="ff128ef7-e5ec-4890-a0e2-d43608564d68" data-vars-headline="California has the country&#x27;s worst tippers, according to Toast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/data/toast-restaurant-trends-report-coffee-prices-2026" target="_blank">restaurant trends report</a>.

San Diego's cheapest gas right now

While averages hit $5.85, a few stations still offer cheaper fill-ups.

These days, it feels like you&#x27;re lucky if you can find gas under $5.50 a gallon, but there are still a few holdouts around town.The big picture: Gas prices have seriously spiked after the U.S. and Israel&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="strikes on Iran" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/3-us-fighter-jets-friendly-fire-kuwait" data-vars-content-id="969658ce-15eb-45b9-bca9-031906f3dc28" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s cheapest gas right now" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/3-us-fighter-jets-friendly-fire-kuwait" target="_self">strikes on Iran</a> late last month and have remained high as the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="war escalates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/iran-war-oil-market-barrel-cost" data-vars-content-id="969658ce-15eb-45b9-bca9-031906f3dc28" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s cheapest gas right now" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/iran-war-oil-market-barrel-cost" target="_self">war escalates</a>.

San Diego revives push to lure film crews

County leaders hope "One Battle After Another" draws more productions.

San Diego County is hoping to capitalize on the success of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;One Battle After Another&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/09/26/san-diego-on-the-big-screen-in-leonardo-dicaprio-s-new-movie-one-battle-after-another" data-vars-content-id="6288850d-d64d-4826-b43f-dbe9215a219f" data-vars-headline="San Diego revives push to lure film crews" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/09/26/san-diego-on-the-big-screen-in-leonardo-dicaprio-s-new-movie-one-battle-after-another" target="_self">&quot;One Battle After Another&quot;</a> to bring more filming to the region.Why it matters: Shooting movies and commercials here creates jobs and boosts the local economy, according to county officials, so they&#x27;re trying to make it as easy as possible.

Birria's boom fuels Mike's Red Tacos national expansion

The birria boom is fueling the expansion from local food truck to national franchise.

Mike&#x27;s Red Tacos opened its third San Diego location on Tuesday, but the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="local restaurant" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/16/best-dishes-cocktails-san-diego-restaurants-2025" data-vars-content-id="050fce91-99e2-4c67-a3fc-6a3576eadf39" data-vars-headline="Birria&#x27;s boom fuels Mike&#x27;s Red Tacos national expansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/16/best-dishes-cocktails-san-diego-restaurants-2025" target="_self">local restaurant</a> group is taking its birria national with a burst of new franchises.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="popular taco joint" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/02/06/best-local-taco-shops-san-diego" data-vars-content-id="050fce91-99e2-4c67-a3fc-6a3576eadf39" data-vars-headline="Birria&#x27;s boom fuels Mike&#x27;s Red Tacos national expansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/02/06/best-local-taco-shops-san-diego" target="_self">popular taco joint</a> that started as a food truck five years ago has more than 200 locations planned across the country over the next several years.

How the cost of breweries' beer has risen

Federal data shows draft beer wholesale prices jumped 15% in five years.

U.S. breweries have been charging bars, restaurants and distributors more for wholesale draft beer over the past five years, federal data shows.Why it matters: The rising cost offers some insight into why consumers might be seeing more expensive pints of lagers and IPAs on menus.

San Diego breweries squeezed as costs outpace prices

A pint of draft beer can hit $10 at taprooms as ingredient, labor and utility costs soar.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Diego brewery" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/07/03/pizza-port-california-craft-brewery-sales" data-vars-content-id="c9dbdc3c-dfb6-4036-a408-b65f2b01916b" data-vars-headline="San Diego breweries squeezed as costs outpace prices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/07/03/pizza-port-california-craft-brewery-sales" target="_self">San Diego brewery</a> bills are going up just like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="local residents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/26/san-diego-budget-deficit-fee-hikes-trash-parking-water-2025" data-vars-content-id="c9dbdc3c-dfb6-4036-a408-b65f2b01916b" data-vars-headline="San Diego breweries squeezed as costs outpace prices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/26/san-diego-budget-deficit-fee-hikes-trash-parking-water-2025" target="_self">local residents</a>&#x27;, making it tougher to brew and sell beer.Why it matters: The financial strain from higher costs, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="more competition" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/23/athletic-brewing-beer-dry-january" data-vars-content-id="c9dbdc3c-dfb6-4036-a408-b65f2b01916b" data-vars-headline="San Diego breweries squeezed as costs outpace prices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/23/athletic-brewing-beer-dry-january" target="_self">more competition</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="less demand" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/24/dry-january-february-athletic-beer" data-vars-content-id="c9dbdc3c-dfb6-4036-a408-b65f2b01916b" data-vars-headline="San Diego breweries squeezed as costs outpace prices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/24/dry-january-february-athletic-beer" target="_self">less demand</a> is creating a crisis for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="once-booming craft beer industry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/09/craft-beer-production-closings-gabf" data-vars-content-id="c9dbdc3c-dfb6-4036-a408-b65f2b01916b" data-vars-headline="San Diego breweries squeezed as costs outpace prices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/09/craft-beer-production-closings-gabf" target="_self">once-booming craft beer industry</a> that&#x27;s leading to closures.<ul><li>Consumers are also feeling the squeeze as beer gets more expensive on draft lists.</li></ul>

Axios Richmond

A table that shows San Diego County homeownership rates by occupation in 2014 and 2024. Management and business rose from 60% to 61%, the highest in 2024. Transportation and public safety fell the most from 45% to 39%, but service was the lowest in 2024 at 33%.

San Diego County homeownership rate, by occupation

Data: National Association of Realtors analysis of Census Bureau data; Chart: Kate Murphy/Axios

A choropleth map of the United States showing the average tip among restaurants on the Toast platform as of Q4 2025. The national average tip is 18.8%. California has the lowest average tip, 17.2%, while Delaware has the highest, 21.8%.

Business 🏦

This Lemon Grove backyard serves an Egyptian feast

San Diego's Stone Brewing sold, beer production moving out

What San Diego homeowners do for a living

How San Diego is a runway for the future of air travel

California has the country's worst tippers, according to Toast