Daily Business Report: Friday, May 9, 2025
County Budget Muscles Into Supervisor Race
By Jim Hinch | Voice of San Diego
The San Diego County budget leaped to the forefront of the race to fill a vacant South County seat on the County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday.
Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, the Republican in the race, staged an early morning press conference to decry a recent proposal by board Democrats tap up to $355 million in rainy day funds to prepare for possible federal cuts to Medicaid and other programs.
McCann said the Democrats’ proposal, which comes at time when the county already faces a $140 million budget deficit, “turns our emergency fund into a slush fund…We need to stop ignoring the real problem, which is too much spending.”
McCann and Republican Supervisor Jim Desmond, who also spoke at the press conference, identified several county programs they’d target for elimination before tapping reserves: A $7.5 million expenditure on free phone calls for jail inmates, a $5 million program providing free legal services to undocumented immigrants and the county’s recently created Office of Racial Equity and Justice.
GXRLS ROCK! San Diego Summer Camp Gears Up for 10th Anniversary and Showcase from June 9 – 14th
By Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls San Diego
Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls San Diego is turning up the volume for its 10th year of empowering young musicians with its weeklong GXRLS ROCK! San Diego Summer Camp set for June 9–14, 2025. Camp will include five days of songwriting and instrument instruction at Montgomery Middle School in Linda Vista, culminating in a live showcase of original music by campers at Music Box in Downtown San Diego on Saturday, June 14th starting at 11:00 AM. Girls and non-binary youth ages 8–17 are encouraged to register, and the public is warmly invited to attend the final performance to experience the creative spirit and talent of the campers.
“This milestone year marks a decade of inspiring creativity, confidence, and collaboration through music, and we couldn’t be more excited,” says Camp Founder, Melissa Grove. “Since our launch in 2015, campers have formed 65 bands and written 65 original songs, culminating in unforgettable live performances that showcase the power of youth expression.”
GXRLS ROCK! provides a supportive, inclusive space for girls and non-binary youth to discover their voices, make friends, and gain life-changing confidence. Throughout the week, campers learn an instrument, form a band, attend workshops, and write and perform an original song – often having never picked up an instrument before. All gear is provided, and students are guided by enthusiastic staff, many of them local San Diego artists, who make learning songwriting and music theory fun and accessible.
To register for the 2025 GXRLS ROCK! San Diego Summer Camp you can click here. To purchase tickets for the showcase, you can reserve your spot here. And to learn more about Rock ‘n Roll Camp for Girls you can go to rockcampforgirlssd.org
San Diego County Fair’s Paddock Concert Series Lineup Brings the Beats
By San Diego County Fair
The San Diego County Fair on Thursday officially announced the 2025 lineup for its acclaimed Paddock Concert Series.
The 20-night Paddock Concert Series, presented by Chevrolet, includes a collection of Grammy-winning artists, rising stars, and tributes to legendary acts. The series is included in the price of admission, offering a real value and a fun experience for families to enjoy together.
Shows will begin at 9 p.m. nightly from June 11–July 6 on the Chevrolet Paddock Stage at the San Diego County Fair. These shows are for all ages.
Ozomatli opens the series on June 11 with their signature blend of Latin, hip-hop and rock.
Confirmed performances include:
June 11: Ozomatli
June 12: Strait Country (tribute to George Strait)
June 13: Jesse Royal
June 14: 24K Magic (tribute to Bruno Mars)
June 15: Sure Fire Soul Ensemble
June 18: Arena Rock Show
June 19: No Duh (tribute to No Doubt)
June 20: Jake Shimabukuro
June 21: Matthew Phillips
June 22: Who’s Bad Presents: The Evolution of Pop
June 25: The Long Run (tribute to The Eagles)
June 26: Jared Rogerson
June 27: The Expendables
June 28: Forever Ray (tribute to Ray Charles)
June 29: Dead Man’s Party (tribute to Oingo Boingo)
July 2: Michael Minelli
July 3: The Como La Flor Band (tribute to Selena)
July 4: TOBY (tribute to Toby Keith)
July 5: Long Beach Dub Allstars
July 6: Devotional (tribute to Depeche Mode)
“The Paddock Concert Series is one of the big reasons why we say that the San Diego County Fair is the best value for your entertainment dollar in our region,” said Katie Mueller, the Fair’s Chief Operations Officer. “We know this year’s lineup will provide our guests with world-class entertainment and a whole lot of fun.”
