Jeff McDonald

San Diego taxpayers spent more than $8,000 on mayor’s trip to Philippines, records show Todd Gloria said he paid his own way to Manila and back, but his office acknowledged that two members of the mayor’s security detail joined the delegation.

Despite San Diego facing $250M+ budget deficit and a “ban” on nonessential travel, records show mayor’s secret trip to Philippines cost more than $8k www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/02/17/s...

San Diego mayor quietly visited Philippines last week, despite city pause on nonessential travel A spokesperson for Mayor Todd Gloria said he paid for his own travel. Two members of his police security detail accompanied him; the city paid their expenses.

From the San Diego Department of Do as I Say Not as I Do www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/02/11/s...

U.S. appeals court reverses ruling ordering release of internal sheriff’s records The opinion, unsealed Monday, came in a 2-1 decision, with the dissenting judge saying the material in dispute should be made public.

While federal courts across the country pause Trump executive orders, two U.S. appellate judges reverse San Diego court order to release sheriff’s jail-death records www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/02/10/u... latest w/ @kellylynndavis.bsky.social

First jail-death records obtained under new oversight law show lapses in care — and limits of disclosure Gaps in materials disclosed by sheriff’s officials under SB 519 raise questions about whether the law is being interpreted as intended.

What happens when a sheriff refuses to follow the law? Nothing, apparently. In stunning detail, @kellylynndavis.bsky.social examines San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez’s handling of new disclosure rules over jail deaths, and it’s hugely disturbing www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/02/02/f...

Sheriff’s deputy accused of excessive force against inmate in federal indictment Deputy Jeremiah Manuyag Flores was indicted Thursday with charges of violating civil rights and falsifying a record in a federal investigation

Feds indict San Diego sheriff’s deputy, accusing him of violating inmate’s civil rights by beating him while shackled then lying to cover up the excessive force www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/01/31/s...

Despite judge’s intervention, Trump freeze on federal spending roils San Diego leaders ‘Until we hear specifically that the grant programs will be terminated, I guess we’ll continue to employ our staff,’ said the leader of one community clinic

Trump spending freeze sews chaos and drama across San Diego leaders www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/01/28/d...

Why are so many people dying in San Diego jails? A conversation with Jeff McDonald, investigative reporter from the San Diego Union-Tribune.

YouTube (40min)
https://buff.ly/4jaSdMH

@byjeffmcdonald.bsky.social

Trump grants full pardon to former Rep. Duncan Hunter President Donald Trump on Tuesday granted a full pardon to former Republican congressman Duncan Hunter, who had pleaded guilty to illegally spending campaign money for his personal use.Hunter was s…

This is the same sort of spending that led former Rep. Duncan Hunter to plead guilty to a felony for misusing campaign funds. He and his then-wife received full pardons from Trump right before he was due to report to prison www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2020/12/22/t...

‘Endless Summer’ star, local surf icon dies in Encinitas Mike Hynson, 82, parlayed his passion for waves into a lifetime of sand and sport on beaches across the globe

What a life. Surf legend Mike Hynson kicks out at 82 www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/01/11/e...

New year, but same old deaths happening in San Diego County jails www.sdsheriff.gov/Home/Compone...

Lawsuit alleges San Diego police improperly used surveillance equipment at Comic-Con, Pride The suit alleges that the police department did not receive proper approval from the City Council to place surveillance equipment at the events

San Diego police accused of illegal spying at hugely popular Pride and Comic-Con events www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/12/20/l...

Oversight board finds safety-check failures in two jail deaths. To advocates, they’re ‘monumental failures.’ Months before Matthew Settles and Abdiel Sarabia died in San Diego County jails, a state audit had already warned that safety checks in the system were inadequate.

Two more San Diego jail deaths follow failed safety checks by sheriff’s deputies, civilian oversight board finds www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/12/18/o... latest w/ @kellylynndavis.bsky.social

Months into his tenure, Parker resigns as San Diego police commission executive Calling the body ‘unwieldy,’ Paul Parker said he hopes to find solutions when he meets with council members in the coming weeks. ‘I wish them well,’ he added.

Civilian oversight of San Diego Police Department takes another step backward www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/12/12/m...

To fight jail deaths, San Diego County supervisors approve new powers for civilian oversight board Sheriff Kelly Martinez opposed the plan. ‘There is an active narrative that we are not making changes or improving our system,’ she said. ‘This is a false narrative.’

Hundreds of people died in San Diego County jails over the past two decades. Elected officials finally did something about it, and the sheriff is not happy www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/12/10/t...

Months after her son died, grieving mother demands answers from sheriff Abdul Kamara, 29, died during an encounter with San Diego sheriff’s deputies more than nine months ago.

Hours after grieving mother collapses at protest demanding answers about her son’s death in San Diego jail, prosecutors announce no criminal charges www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/12/09/m...

Their daughter died in jail. Wrestling triumph from tragedy, they launched a nonprofit to seek justice, reforms. ‘We are united by the loss of our loved ones, and we all have a common goal: to get answers and find justice.’

After their daughter died a horrible death in San Diego County jail, the Serna family used part of the $15M legal settlement to start a charity to help other families whose loved ones died in custody www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/12/02/t...

Mayor Gloria uses his elected office to solicit donations to nonprofits. Now another city leader is joining him. A spokesperson said Mayor Gloria’s record of soliciting contributions reflects his willingness to use his office to expand city services without adding to the budget.

One great perk of elective office in CA is behested payments, the ability to ask for donations to pet causes. This review of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s latest solicitations is the first in a trio of reports looking at local officials’ recent filings www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/11/26/m...

Challenge to San Diego’s franchise agreements with SDG&E rebuffed by state appeals court In a split decision, a majority of a three-judge panel agreed with the trial court that the plaintiff violated legal procedures by not first asking the City Council to reverse its decision before s…

Legal challenge to multibillion-dollar franchise agreement between San Diego and SDG&E rejected by state appeals court www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/11/21/c...

A Man Convicted in a Major Law Enforcement Scandal Is Doing Big Business with the City In 2022, Giovanni Tilotta was convicted of three felonies as part of a gun-trafficking scheme involving former sheriff's captain Marco Garmo. Since that time, he's sold more than $1 million worth of g...

Hard to believe San Diego officials didn’t know about this guy’s criminal history, given all the publicity that caper received five years ago voiceofsandiego.org/2024/11/18/a... Good get by Will Huntsberry

More often than not, San Diego sheriff, probation chief reject or delay oversight board recommendations Over nearly five years, the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board issued 91 formal recommendations. Only 34 have been accepted, a new analysis finds.

San Diego sheriff, probation chief ignore and reject majority of recommendations from civilian oversight board www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/11/17/m...