Yes it's Monday but you can also buy one alpaca and get one free at A Simpler Time in El Cajon.

• Just in time for the holidays.

☀️Today's weather: Coast — Sunny, high 80. Inland — Sunny, high 87.

• Coastal flood advisory until noon tomorrow.
• Beach hazards statement until 10pm tomorrow.

🎧 Sounds like: "Dreams" by Brandi Carlile

🚨 Situational awareness: With about 390,000 ballots left to count, the sales tax increase Measure B is ahead with 52% of the vote, and supporters are declaring victory.

• In District 4, incumbent Councilmember Henry Foster is down 1,779 votes to challenger Martha Abraham.
• In District 8, Antonio Martinez is ahead by 3,177 votes.

🎂 Happy belated birthday to our members Seth Brody and Jill Miller!

Today’s newsletter is 1,098 words — a 4-minute read.

Now that Democrats have taken the House, our representatives are making plans to capitalize on their new power.

Why it matters: They want to use the new majority to lower costs, investigate President Trump's administration and push for funding to address Tijuana sewage pollution and nuclear waste.

State of play: City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert's victory in the 48th Congressional District means all five local House members are Democrats.

• They'll be serving under a new Democratic majority that gives local lawmakers more clout to get benefits for the region, SDSU political scientist Brian Adams told Axios.

The big picture: Ending the war in Iran and reversing Trump's tariffs are at the top of the list for von Wilpert, Rep. Scott Peters and Rep. Sara Jacobs, they said in statements to Axios.

• Reps. Mike Levin and Juan Vargas said their highest priority is making life more affordable.

Zoom in: Peters, Jacobs and Levin also want to enact universal child care, build more housing, regulate AI development and lower health care and energy costs. Von Wilpert wants to pass the PRO Act, making it easier to form unions.

On the local level, Peters and Levin mentioned:

• 💧 Ending the cross-border sewage crisis
• 🛂 Fixing the immigration system, which Peters called "inhumane"
• 🌊 Protecting the coastline
• ☢️ Addressing spent nuclear fuel at San Onofre

Inside the room: When the local delegation included Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, they always worked well together, Jacobs said.

• She hopes the addition of von Wilpert will continue that tradition.

Yes, but: A House majority doesn't give Democrats unilateral power to enact their agenda. Legislation still must clear the Senate and contend with Trump's veto power.

• And the question of what to do with their huge majority is already igniting a power struggle between Democrats' ideological factions, Axios' Andrew Solender reports.

State of play: Many of the Democrats elected to the House last week are moderates running in majority-Republican districts, Adams said.

• "So there is a very strong incentive for the Democratic Party to avoid issues like immigration, where there's a deep party divide," he said.

The bottom line: "I'm hopeful that this big Democratic majority won't just revert back to the status quo, but change it," Jacobs said. "We need to show that government can actually deliver for people."

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Californians leads the country for electric cars ownership, but homeowners were nearly twice as likely as renters to have one in 2025, new Census data show.

Why it matters: This reveals a striking divide in America's shift to electric cars.

State of play: Reliable access to charging is critical — giving homeowners with private driveways or garages an advantage over renters, particularly those in multifamily buildings.

By the numbers: About 7.3 million U.S. households — 5.5% of the nation's 134 million — reported having at least one EV, according to the 2025 American Community Survey.

• Homeowners reported EVs at a rate of 6.4%, compared with 3.6% of renters.

Zoom in: Here, about 17.7% of homeowners reported an EV, compared with 8.9% of renters.

• Santa Clara County, home to much of Silicon Valley, led the nation at 24.1% of households — roughly 163,000 households.

More on cars

⚽ The Wave's season ended with a 1-0 playoff loss to Utah. The team had never lost to the Royals before. (Times of San Diego)

🏗️ Midway Rising faces a City Council vote today on its $4.2 billion plan for a new arena and 4,224 homes, including 2,000 affordable units. Opponents pushed for a delay over financing and environmental concerns. (Times of San Diego)

💰 Our budget deficit could disappear next fiscal year without additional cuts or new revenue, the mayor announced on Friday. (NBC 7)

• That's because of the trash fee, new hotel tax revenue, lower-than-expected pension payments and city labor unions agreeing to no raises this year.

🌊 Our sea level was the highest ever recorded last month because of unusually high tides, El Niño and a marine heat wave. More abnormally high tides are forecast for Nov. 22–27. (LaJolla.ca)

Your Thanksgiving Day doesn't have to involve a roasting pan.

The big picture: Local restaurants are offering everything from traditional turkey dinners and waterfront buffets to sushi platters and a take-home duck feast.

Plan ahead: Some takeout orders close as early as Thursday, Nov. 19, and reservations are booking up fast.

🍽️ Thanksgiving dine-in

🌊 George's at the Cove: Gather in the Ocean View Room for a family-style feast with turkey breast, sage-sausage-stuffed turkey leg, chestnut-mushroom stuffing, Parmesan mashed potatoes and Japanese sweet potatoes with yuzu marshmallow.

🏖️ The Shores Restaurant: For a more casual beachfront celebration in La Jolla, The Shores is serving a buffet of coastal-inspired dishes and traditional Thanksgiving fare.

⛵ Covewood at San Diego Mission Bay Resort: The three-course dinner includes kabocha squash bisque, turkey and an apple pie cinnamon roll.

🥡 Thanksgiving takeout

🦃 The Cork & Craft: The Rancho Bernardo restaurant's dinner package includes sliced turkey, sage-sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, candied yams with marshmallow, Brussels sprouts, turkey gravy and Caesar salad.

🍣 Glass Box: Give the turkey a year off. The Del Mar restaurant's sushi platters include varieties such as California, shrimp tempura, Rainbow and Dragon rolls, plus soy sauce, ginger, wasabi and serving utensils.

🔥 Del's Hideout and Coaster Saloon: The feast includes a choice of meat, three family-size sides, rolls and cranberry sauce. Side options include stuffing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, candied yams and green bean casserole.

More options and details

Are you trying to buy a house in our region, or do you know someone who is?

• We want to hear how it's going for future stories.

Hit reply or email us at [email protected],

🧑‍🍳 Claire is looking forward to her cherished tradition of not cooking Thanksgiving dinner.

👩🏻‍🍼 Kate is on parental leave.

This newsletter was edited by Hadley Malcolm.