Newsletter: Stay cool, safe and sun-ready this summer in San Diego
Plus, religious leaders escort immigrants leaving court and surfers reclaim the water for Juneteenth.
It’s finally summer, which means more beach days, cookouts, hikes and pool hangs.
While San Diego isn’t hitting the extreme temperatures seen elsewhere in the country this week, it’s always a good idea to stay hydrated, sunblocked and cool while spending time outside. Here are some tips to keep in mind as we head into the second weekend of summer.
Stay Hydrated: As the temperature rises, so should the amount of water you drink each day. According to Scripps Health, you can defend yourself against dehydration by regularly sipping water throughout the day, eating water-rich foods like watermelon and cucumbers, and adding flavors to your water like fresh fruits to entice you to drink more.
Keep Cool: Once the thermostat starts to tick up, staying in cool, air-conditioned rooms is important for keeping your body at the right temperature. Don’t have AC at home? No problem! San Diego County hosts Cool Zones throughout the summer at libraries, teen and senior centers and other public spaces throughout the region.
Slather Up: With more time spent outside comes a greater need to spread on the sunblock. Family Health Centers of San Diego recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF, or sun protection factor, of at least 15. It’s important to liberally apply it at least 20 minutes before going out in the sun, and make sure to reapply it every two hours.
Protect Your Pets: Hot temperatures also impact our furry besties, and unfortunately, they can’t verbally tell us when they’re feeling the heat.
Whether the windows are opened or closed, it’s important not to leave them alone in parked cars, which can reach 120 degrees inside when it’s 80 degrees outside, according to the San Diego Humane Society. Make sure you bring cool water they can sip on, keep them off the pavement when it’s hot out and provide shade if they’ll be hanging around outside.
Practice Fire Safety: Summer fun is often marked by barbecues and bonfires, but with SDG&E’s warning about this year’s “above-normal fire potential,” as reported in The San Diego Union-Tribune, it’s important to practice fire safety.
San Diego Fire-Rescue advises keeping grills at least 3 feet away from other objects, keeping kids and pets away from the grill and checking for leaks in gas grill systems before lighting them up.
For recreational fires, maintain constant supervision to ensure they don’t exceed 3 feet in diameter or 2 feet in height. They also must be kept 15 to 25 feet away from structures, depending on the size and container. It’s also important to keep a fire extinguisher, garden hose, sand or other equipment nearby.
SDG&E will host its next wildfire safety fair at the Rancho Bernardo Community Park on July 19, with subsequent events planned for Alpine and Valley Center.
Fireworks Survival for Pets: With an onslaught of professional and amateur fireworks, the Fourth of July can be terrifying for pets, according to the San Diego Humane Society.
The nonprofit suggests preparing for firework displays in advance by making sure pets are microchipped and have collars with tags. It also might be helpful to consult a veterinarian to find ways to lower your pet’s anxiety or hire a pet sitter so they won’t be left scared at home.
— Lauren J. Mapp
Editor's Note: We are thankful to Marco Guajardo for his support of our mission to make San Diego’s media landscape more inclusive and equitable as a co-founding member of our team. Marco has decided to step down from our team and the Daylight board to pursue other opportunities, and we wish him the best.
Paddling out to celebrate Juneteenth
Black and Brown San Diegans surfed, practiced yoga and danced during Paddle for Peace’s fifth annual Juneteenth celebration in La Jolla Shores.
— Lauren J. Mapp
Interfaith leaders show up for immigrants
To mark World Refugee Day, a delegation of interfaith religious leaders attended a number of immigration court hearings in downtown San Diego on Friday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have made numerous arrests inside the hallways of the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building in recent weeks.
— Lauren J. Mapp
The people detained in immigration court
After Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrest people at immigration court, many are ending up in detention centers to continue the cases they were already participating in willingly from their homes in the community. That includes a man from Afghanistan who was a translator for the U.S. military and came to the United States to flee the Taliban.
— Kate Morrissey
From community activism in El Cajon to a hands-on art workshop at the Mingei International Museum, San Diego County is buzzing with events this week. Whether you want to network, learn about Oaxacan weaving or show up for immigrant rights, here’s what’s happening around the region.
— Lauren J. Mapp
Other news
Yesterday, the San Diego City Council passed a proposal raising the minimum wage to $25 an hour for hospitality workers, KPBS and City News Service reported. Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera and his staff will present an ordinance draft to the council later this year, and if passed, the pay hike up from $17.25 an hour will apply to those working in amusement parks, event centers, zoos and hotels with at least 150 rooms.
New trash fees are set to hit single-family homes next week after voters last year approved allowing the city to charge collection fees. While most San Diego multi-family complexes have long had to pay for private hauling services, paying for trash is new for single-family and some smaller complexes. Customers can opt in to use smaller trash bins and pay lower fees, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Five homeowners are trying to thwart the incoming fees by suing the city, according to Voice of San Diego.
At Palomar Community College, leaders have voted to end the practice of reciting a land acknowledgement honoring Indigenous history and culture during its meetings, inewsource reported. While land acknowledgements have become more widely used in recent years, the requirement to have them read during public meetings or included in college syllabi has been a topic of debate and contention.
The organization #AfghanEvan has partnered with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to create a new program called Battle Buddies that allows veterans to sign up to accompany former military translators from Afghanistan to immigration court hearings.
Upcoming Events
June 26
MTS Networking Night: Mid-City CAN hosts a conversation with MTS CEO Sharon Cooney to discuss the Comprehensive Operational Analysis, a process the agency is undergoing this summer to evaluate future priorities for San Diego's bus and trolley system. Light snacks, childcare and Spanish interpretation will be provided. 5-7 p.m., 4305 University Ave. Suite 640, San Diego, CA 92105
June 28
Community March Against ICE: Fuerza Hispana de El Cajon, CA invites community members to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in the city. The march will begin in the Manolo Farmers Market parking lot and continue to El Cajon City Hall. 11 a.m. 1099 E Main St., El Cajon, CA 92021
SDBlackACD Music Festival: The San Diego Black Arts and Culture District is teaming up with the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts for an all-day music festival at Martin L. King Jr. Park. The festival — hosted by Dominic Malone — includes live performances by Miki Vale, C.C. Carter, Daneen Wilburn, Lenny "Fuzzy" Rankin and Ben Williams.
There will also be a selection of food vendors, a STEAM Tent with the Elementary Institute of Science, an African Artifacts Exhibit presented by San Diego Mesa College and a sneak peek of an augmented reality exhibit. 12-8 p.m., Martin L. King Jr. Park, 6401 Skyline Dr., San Diego, CA, 92114
June 30
RISE San Diego is hosting its 9th annual Inclusive Leadership in Action (ILIA) Awards to honor local leaders in diversity, equity and inclusion on Oct. 13, and nominations close Monday, June 30 at 11:59 p.m. Nominations can be filed online.
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