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Drivers run new stop signs at fatal San Diego crash site

Police issued 39 tickets after new signs went up where 11-year-old Andrew Olsen was killed.

Public Safety

After an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="11-year-old was killed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/11/san-diego-dangerous-intersections-traffic-deaths" data-vars-content-id="e0d5c171-daad-473b-b066-9639b341c2ea" data-vars-headline="Drivers run new stop signs at fatal San Diego crash site" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/11/san-diego-dangerous-intersections-traffic-deaths" target="_self">11-year-old was killed</a> by a car at a San Carlos intersection last October, the city installed stop signs that drivers have frequently been blowing through, records show.Why it matters: The stop signs were meant to prevent more tragedies like Andrew Olsen&#x27;s death. Instead, many drivers appear to be either missing or ignoring them.

Sips & Snacks: Sayulitas 2-pound burrito hits hard

It's currently holds the title for heavyweight champ among San Diego's California burritos.

Food and Drink

There&#x27;s a new heavyweight champ among <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Diego&#x27;s California burritos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/28/california-burrito-san-diego-cost-increase-restaurant-inflation" data-vars-content-id="388a0dd5-43c0-45d0-b0f9-5e0cb5670dd1" data-vars-headline="Sips &amp; Snacks: Sayulitas 2-pound burrito hits hard" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/28/california-burrito-san-diego-cost-increase-restaurant-inflation" target="_self">San Diego&#x27;s California burritos</a>.Dig in: On our search to find the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fattest burrito in town" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/11/finding-san-diego-fattest-california-burritos" data-vars-content-id="388a0dd5-43c0-45d0-b0f9-5e0cb5670dd1" data-vars-headline="Sips &amp; Snacks: Sayulitas 2-pound burrito hits hard" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/11/finding-san-diego-fattest-california-burritos" target="_self">fattest burrito in town</a>, readers recommended <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sayulitas" data-vars-click-url="https://sayulitaseats.com/" data-vars-content-id="388a0dd5-43c0-45d0-b0f9-5e0cb5670dd1" data-vars-headline="Sips &amp; Snacks: Sayulitas 2-pound burrito hits hard" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sayulitaseats.com/" target="_blank">Sayulitas</a> again and again. And rightfully so.

What ChatGPT secretly thinks about San Diego

A new study looks at how AI models rank U.S. cities and reinforce stereotypes.

News

Researchers have found that large language models (LLMs), such as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ChatGPT" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/09/chatgpt-ads-testing-go-free" data-vars-content-id="fc721872-653b-4845-bd2d-1dc98a673468" data-vars-headline="What ChatGPT secretly thinks about San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/09/chatgpt-ads-testing-go-free" target="_self">ChatGPT</a>, are just as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="biased" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/02/13/study-chatgpt-bias-chicago-oxford-kentucky-llm-city-stereotypes-ranking" data-vars-content-id="fc721872-653b-4845-bd2d-1dc98a673468" data-vars-headline="What ChatGPT secretly thinks about San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/02/13/study-chatgpt-bias-chicago-oxford-kentucky-llm-city-stereotypes-ranking" target="_self">biased</a> as the rest of the world, including in their perception of San Diego&#x27;s chill culture.The big picture: Internet scholars at University of Oxford and University of Kentucky <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recently compared" data-vars-click-url="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/29768624251408919" data-vars-content-id="fc721872-653b-4845-bd2d-1dc98a673468" data-vars-headline="What ChatGPT secretly thinks about San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/29768624251408919" target="_blank">recently compared</a> 91 U.S. cities with populations over 250,000 across a range of categories to gauge AI inequality and bias, including social and physical attributes, food quality, governance, politics and business climate.

San Diego income growth outpaces national rate

New federal data shows local personal income climbed 5.9%, outpacing the national gain.

Money

Personal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="income levels" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/25/trump-economy-inflation-income-growth" data-vars-content-id="d9d81d75-7c16-46fa-91a2-fe7dbf3b9890" data-vars-headline="San Diego income growth outpaces national rate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/25/trump-economy-inflation-income-growth" target="_self">income levels</a> rose 5.9% in San Diego County from 2023 to 2024, according to new U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-by-county" data-vars-content-id="d9d81d75-7c16-46fa-91a2-fe7dbf3b9890" data-vars-headline="San Diego income growth outpaces national rate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-by-county" target="_blank">data</a>.The big picture: That&#x27;s bigger than the national increase of 5.6%.

The push to make Chula Vista the next Hollywood

Producer Aaron Roberts says the space could grow into a major film and TV hub.

Development

Aaron Roberts said he&#x27;s well on his way to creating a 90,000-square-foot studio space in Chula Vista that could one day also become a sound stage for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="movies and TV shows" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/23/oscar-nominees-which-movies-to-watch-streaming" data-vars-content-id="aa952300-6232-4c1f-8cdd-bd8325f176aa" data-vars-headline="The push to make Chula Vista the next Hollywood" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/23/oscar-nominees-which-movies-to-watch-streaming" target="_self">movies and TV shows</a>.Why it matters: The Chula Vista Entertainment Center would create space for photographers, podcasters and digital creatives to work, and ultimately bring movie and TV filming to Chula Vista, Roberts told Axios.

What's next for Midway Rising

City leaders say the $3.9B Sports Arena redevelopment is still moving ahead despite a court loss.

Developers and city leaders aren&#x27;t giving up on the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Midway Rising project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/09/25/san-diego-midway-rising-development-plan-vote" data-vars-content-id="35dc3dfb-d077-41df-a3e5-bf1476e48755" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s next for Midway Rising" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/09/25/san-diego-midway-rising-development-plan-vote" target="_self">Midway Rising project</a> despite a recent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="California Supreme Court ruling" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kpbs.org/news/quality-of-life/2026/01/06/midway-district-height-limit-will-remain-in-place-after-california-supreme-court-denies-city-appeal" data-vars-content-id="35dc3dfb-d077-41df-a3e5-bf1476e48755" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s next for Midway Rising" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kpbs.org/news/quality-of-life/2026/01/06/midway-district-height-limit-will-remain-in-place-after-california-supreme-court-denies-city-appeal" target="_blank">California Supreme Court ruling</a>.Why it matters: The city has been trying for years to get clearance for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the $3.9 billion project" data-vars-click-url="https://sandiegomagazine.com/features/midway-rising-redevelopment-project-san-diego/" data-vars-content-id="35dc3dfb-d077-41df-a3e5-bf1476e48755" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s next for Midway Rising" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sandiegomagazine.com/features/midway-rising-redevelopment-project-san-diego/" target="_blank">the $3.9 billion project</a> to move ahead, potentially remaking Sports Arena into a mixed-use development with thousands of apartments, shops, parks and a stadium.

San Diego's new apartment construction can't keep up

San Diego's housing growth slowed this year, trailing other U.S. cities even after a major surge.

San Diego is trailing other major U.S. cities in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new apartment construction" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/21/new-apartment-construction-rent" data-vars-content-id="f27c476c-cfbc-431c-8698-64e620ae68ed" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s new apartment construction can&#x27;t keep up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/21/new-apartment-construction-rent" target="_self">new apartment construction</a> this year, even after a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surge in housing production" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/05/08/affordable-housing-construction-development-boom-future-drop-off" data-vars-content-id="f27c476c-cfbc-431c-8698-64e620ae68ed" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s new apartment construction can&#x27;t keep up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/05/08/affordable-housing-construction-development-boom-future-drop-off" target="_self">surge in housing production</a>.Why it matters: More <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="housing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/05/16/salary-needed-buying-home-renting-san-diego" data-vars-content-id="f27c476c-cfbc-431c-8698-64e620ae68ed" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s new apartment construction can&#x27;t keep up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/05/16/salary-needed-buying-home-renting-san-diego" target="_self">housing</a> can drive down the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cost of living" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/01/28/apartment-rent-square-footage-metro-area" data-vars-content-id="f27c476c-cfbc-431c-8698-64e620ae68ed" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s new apartment construction can&#x27;t keep up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/01/28/apartment-rent-square-footage-metro-area" target="_self">cost of living</a> in the city.

San Diego's Midway Rising faces major vote

The plans for the entertainment district include a new sports arena and high-rise apartments.

The Midway Rising project could reach a major milestone today that would move forward grand <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plans to redevelop" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/03/21/san-diego-midway-rising-redevelopment-eifd" data-vars-content-id="10b59183-fd6c-4391-9f4d-df66752d410b" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s Midway Rising faces major vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/03/21/san-diego-midway-rising-redevelopment-eifd" target="_self">plans to redevelop</a> the Sports Arena area.Why it matters: The $3.9 billion project seeks to transform the 49-acre site into a walkable residential, retail and entertainment district with thousands of new apartments, shops, parks and a new arena.

New roadway into SAN opens to ease congestion

The first phase of the new Terminal 1 is slated to open in September.

San Diego International Airport is opening a new, dedicated road to both terminals Friday, shifting airport traffic off of Harbor Drive.Why it matters: The three-lane road on airport property is expected to divert 45,000 vehicles per day, at least initially clearing up congestion for both airport trips and local traffic.

Council to consider $267 million affordable housing project at troubled high-rise

The City Council will decide Tuesday whether to lease 101 Ash St. to affordable housing developers.

San Diego&#x27;s years-long <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="101 Ash St. saga" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/09/07/san-diego-high-rise-office-apartment-conversion" data-vars-content-id="cd469b36-48c8-4435-b1f8-3f127c8dffcd" data-vars-headline="Council to consider $267 million affordable housing project at troubled high-rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/09/07/san-diego-high-rise-office-apartment-conversion" target="_self">101 Ash St. saga</a> could me moving into a new chapter.Why it matters: The downtown high-rise has dominated City Hall politics since the city <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="acquired it" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2021/07/05/anatomy-of-the-deal-what-happened-on-ash-street/" data-vars-content-id="cd469b36-48c8-4435-b1f8-3f127c8dffcd" data-vars-headline="Council to consider $267 million affordable housing project at troubled high-rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2021/07/05/anatomy-of-the-deal-what-happened-on-ash-street/" target="_blank">acquired it</a> in 2016, but it was only briefly occupied due to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="major asbestos problems" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2020-03-15/contractor-for-ash-street-property-had-serious-doubts-over-safety-of-moving-into-building" data-vars-content-id="cd469b36-48c8-4435-b1f8-3f127c8dffcd" data-vars-headline="Council to consider $267 million affordable housing project at troubled high-rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2020-03-15/contractor-for-ash-street-property-had-serious-doubts-over-safety-of-moving-into-building" target="_blank">major asbestos problems</a>.

San Diego weighs moving City Hall for Civic Center project

Council members received a report on the vision for a new heart of downtown, and took the step of saying it's time to vacate their obsolete home.

City leaders seem ready to find a new City Hall to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="make way for redevelopment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/05/07/prebys-foundation-san-diego-civic-center" data-vars-content-id="b0ed4a38-67cd-48bc-b47f-1aa8781444c3" data-vars-headline="San Diego weighs moving City Hall for Civic Center project" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/05/07/prebys-foundation-san-diego-civic-center" target="_self">make way for redevelopment</a> of six city-owned blocks around the Civic Center.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="philanthropy-led effort" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/02/13/san-diego-civic-center-revitalization-prebys-gloria-downtown-partnership-city-hall" data-vars-content-id="b0ed4a38-67cd-48bc-b47f-1aa8781444c3" data-vars-headline="San Diego weighs moving City Hall for Civic Center project" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/02/13/san-diego-civic-center-revitalization-prebys-gloria-downtown-partnership-city-hall" target="_self">philanthropy-led effort</a> to relocate City Hall and redevelop the obsolete Civic Center is inching along, after the city <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="repeatedly" data-vars-click-url="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2010/06/24/new-city-hall-same-as-the-old/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="b0ed4a38-67cd-48bc-b47f-1aa8781444c3" data-vars-headline="San Diego weighs moving City Hall for Civic Center project" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2010/06/24/new-city-hall-same-as-the-old/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">repeatedly</a> tried and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="failed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/08/02/san-diego-city-hall-redevelopment-bid-deadline" data-vars-content-id="b0ed4a38-67cd-48bc-b47f-1aa8781444c3" data-vars-headline="San Diego weighs moving City Hall for Civic Center project" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/08/02/san-diego-city-hall-redevelopment-bid-deadline" target="_self">failed</a> to revitalize the area in the heart of downtown San Diego.

New ADU rules could let San Diego homeowners sell backyard units

San Diego could join San Jose as cities that allow property owners to sell ADUs like condos.

Politics

San Diego property owners may soon be able to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="build accessory dwelling units" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/06/17/adu-development-surge-bonus-program" data-vars-content-id="60f8bcc4-e0cf-4d90-a402-579f453ca64b" data-vars-headline="New ADU rules could let San Diego homeowners sell backyard units" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/06/17/adu-development-surge-bonus-program" target="_self">build accessory dwelling units</a>, or granny flats, and sell them as separate properties, like condos.Why it matters: The expected change could spur more property owners to consider building backyard units, just as the city <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reins in ADU policies" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/03/05/san-diego-council-adu-policy-backyard-apartments" data-vars-content-id="60f8bcc4-e0cf-4d90-a402-579f453ca64b" data-vars-headline="New ADU rules could let San Diego homeowners sell backyard units" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/03/05/san-diego-council-adu-policy-backyard-apartments" target="_self">reins in ADU policies</a> that generated neighborhood backlash.

Imperial Beach, National City have the most suburban renters

Nearly 70% of Imperial Beach and National City households are renters.

The San Diego suburbs with the highest share of renters are both in the South Bay.Why it matters: Housing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="affordability" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/03/homes-buyers-sellers-redfin" data-vars-content-id="4bb755f2-cb1c-4291-bdc7-62e833da99c5" data-vars-headline="Imperial Beach, National City have the most suburban renters" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/03/homes-buyers-sellers-redfin" target="_self">affordability</a> and changing demographics are transforming suburban life.

La Mesa may tighten affordable housing oversight

Cantera, a 32-unit townhome project, was built with the help of waived restrictions, in exchange for four affordable units. The developer asked out of providing the units after it already used the restrictions.

La Mesa&#x27;s City Council will decide Tuesday whether to prevent city staff from canceling low-income housing agreements with developers without approval of the council.Why it matters: The proposal is a response to a developer&#x27;s request last month to back out of a deal to provide low-income units in a project after it had already received incentives as part of the deal as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios revealed at the time" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/06/18/la-mesa-affordable-bonus-cantera-alessio" data-vars-content-id="b6abc97f-8bfa-4479-b9d4-872654c7f638" data-vars-headline="La Mesa may tighten affordable housing oversight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/06/18/la-mesa-affordable-bonus-cantera-alessio" target="_self">Axios revealed at the time</a>.

Development 🏗️

The push to make Chula Vista the next Hollywood

What's next for Midway Rising

San Diego's new apartment construction can't keep up

San Diego's Midway Rising faces major vote

New roadway into SAN opens to ease congestion