Podcast appearances and mentions of lisa halverstadt

A KPBS analysis finds the new proposed ADU rules in San Diego would make it significantly more difficult to build in the city's whitest and wealthiest neighborhoods. Then, find out which issue UC San Diego researchers say has broad support among Republican and Democrat voters. Voice of San Diego's Lisa Halverstadt joins us to talk about how a fight between the city and county is endangering one successful homeless shelter. And a white actress is suing the county library for discrimination after it wouldn't allow her to portray Black civil rights icons. Finally, health violations at an El Cajon skilled nursing facility temporarily shut down its kitchen — a rare, but serious action.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria gave his state of the city speech. If last year was the everything is awesome speech, this year was the everything is definitely not awesome speech. This was the tough conversations speech. The we can do hard things speech. The dynamic PowerPoint that went with included such rousing lists like refocus, reimagine, revisit and re-evaluate… SHOW NOTES 00:00:00 Opening January 28th Event: Meet the Beat: South County January 28 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Free Have you met our newest journalist Jim Hinch yet? Have refreshments and get to know the face behind Voice’s South County Report. This event is open to the public. 00:06:14 State of the City Part I 2025 State of the City Livestream Mayor: Steep Budget Cuts Are Coming San Diego by Will Huntsberry and Lisa Halverstadt 00:16:43 State of the City Part II 2024 State of the City Livestream 00:32:45 State of the City Part III Morning Report: Deep Cuts Coming to City 00:37:48 County Update San Diego Is Less Blue Public Matters Public Matters is led by KPBS, inewsource and Voice of San Diego. These three independent, nonprofit news organizations are partnering to share content, conversation, and events that ensure all San Diegans understand their opportunity to participate in the democratic process and that it means more than voting in an election. The initiative provides news stories on politics and governance including the areas of housing affordability, public safety, neighborhood improvements and social justice; facilitated, in-person discussions around important issues that often divide us; and resources to help you make a difference in your community. At its core, it is about reminding us that we have a shared humanity, and together we are empowered to make positive change. Become a Member See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is our first show of 2025 and it is already starting with some huge news: We finally will discuss the incredible news that County Supervisor Nora Vargas will not be taking the oath of office for her re-election. The balance of power in the county is once again up for grabs, right as the county braces for thousands more people being forced into treatment. What’s going to happen? Who’s going to run? We’ll get into everything plus an update about stunning news from the San Diego Housing Commission: It has decided it no longer has the resources to dole out vouchers to specific low-income housing projects. IT’s a move that could have major implications for the Sports Arena project and other efforts to provide housing. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 0:05:21 - 0:11:28 The Libby App (app that Scott uses to read books) The Power Broker (book) Segment 2 0:11:33 - 0:19:26 Politics Report: Another County Supe Down by Scott Lewis, December 21, 2024 Locate Your District (San Diego County site) Segment 3 0:19:39 - 0:40:56 Morning Report: Another Scandal Ends in a Resignation by Voice of San Diego, April 5, 2023 Segment 4 0:41:01 - 1:05:12 In 2025, San Diego Can’t Look Away from the Screaming by Scott Lewis, January 1, 2025 City’s Housing Agency Won’t Issue Vouchers for New Housing Projects The San Diego Housing Commission has decided it no longer has the resources to dole out vouchers to specific low-income housing projects, a move expected to slow the pace of new homeless housing. by Lisa Halverstadt, January 2, 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

December 13, 2024 The election just ended. The election just started. We often accuse politicians of being short sighted but one thing they definitely plan far in advance is their next political move. We may have heard the first shots in the 2028 mayoral race. The city has a new president of the City Council and the region has a new Republican leader, same as the old one. And the county passed a rule about what the sheriff can and cannot do with immigration enforcement officers and the sheriff said thank you but I run my own show. We get into the meat and potatoes of it all. Show Notes San Diego's Pension Scandal: Wikipedia San Diego pension scandal VOSD Mayor Announces New Pension Board Nominees; Whistleblower’s Name Absentby Andrew DonohueFebruary 28, 2005 La Jolla Secession: VOSD Morning Report: In Point Loma, Talk of Secessionby Randy DotingaJanuary 6, 2011 VOSD Mayor Gloria Chimes in on La Jolla Secession‘As a Mayor, I wouldn’t recommend it,’ he said on the VOSD Podcast last week.by Jakob McWhinneyDecember 10, 2024 101 Ash Street (the former Sempra building) Wikipedia 101 Ash Street VOSD How the City Came to Lease a LemonIt’s likely the city never would have purchased 101 Ash St. if a developer hadn’t come along to act as middleman. But that structure also laid the groundwork for a situation that is stunningly messy even in the canon of San Diego real estate history.by Lisa Halverstadt and Jesse MarxAugust 10, 2020 San Diego City Council Meeting Item 330: Proposed Settlement Agreement Involving Acquisition of the 101 Ash Street and Civic Center Plaza Properties Carl DeMaio Carl DeMaio Won an Assembly Seat but the Road to Victory Was Vicious The Republican Party of San Diego County has been absorbed in a family feud centered around their newest elected official, incoming Assembly member Carl DeMaio. by Deborah Sullivan BrennanDecember 6, 2024 Sanctuary City San Diego Border Report: Schools, Churches Mull Sanctuary Policiesby Brooke BinkowskiDecember 5, 2016 Neither San Diego – Nor California – Is a Sanctuary for the Undocumentedby Scott LewisFebruary 21, 2017 Border Report: What a Sanctuary City Is, and Isn’tby Kate MorrisseyDecember 9, 2024 Jim Desmond's Instagram AccountWhat does it mean to become a “Super” Sanctuary County? To fully grasp the implications, you need to understand California’s current sanctuary state law and its impact. San Diego County Board of Supervisors Meeting Agenda Item 29SUBJECT: ADOPTING A BOARD POLICY ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENTTO ENHANCE COMMUNITY SAFETY (DISTRICTS: ALL)December 10, 2024 Agenda Item 29 PDFMeeting Video on YouTube Statement on Board of Supervisors Vote on Immigration EnforcementSheriff's Office to continue following state law.Post Date:12/10/2024 5:15 PMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The city of San Diego is building a massive wastewater-to-drinking water recycling plant. It's going to cost billions and will require tearing up roads in the process. But after years of dumping sewage into the ocean, it may be time for a change. Plus, Lisa Halverstadt is back on the show this week with updates on county detox beds, the Hope @ Vine mega shelter and her take on Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent executive order.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt has been watching the city of San Diego's real estate deals for years. 101 Ash St. was a notorious real estate endeavor in which the the city entered a lease-to-own deal for a downtown high rise. The deal was quickly engulfed in scandal and asbestos. After years of lawsuits and a criminal investigation, taxpayers paid more than $200 million dollars and the building remains vacant. So, when Mayor Todd Gloria unveiled a big new deal for a big new building to be a new homeless mega shelter, Halverstadt dug in. This week, Halverstadt discussed how this building came to the attention of city staff and the motivations of the man trying to sell it. Plus: A new softball scandal. What "fire SDG&E" really means. Goodbye to Nate. Subscribe to the North County report: vosd.org/northcountySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interfaith's podcast, 'Homeless in San Diego,' is making a grand return! Not only are we launching the first episode back with senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt, but going forward each episode will have a video version. Lisa Halverstadt is a senior investigative reporter for Voice of San Diego who has been digging into the region's homelessness crisis for more than eight years. Join us for this episode as we interview Lisa the most tenured reporter on homelessness in San Diego. As we cover our broken homeless system, the increased need for behavioral health beds, and the challenges people face experiencing homelessness. If you have ever wondered how difficult it is for people to get help this episode offers invaluable insight. Make sure to look at the show notes below P.S. After we recorded this episode Lisa released a two-part in-depth story on homeless hospital patients detailing the complex reality our San Diegans face on a daily basis. If you have the time we highly encourage you to read the story as well. Email: lisa@vosd.org X: @LisaHalverstadt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-halverstadt-781a283/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaHalverstadt https://www.homelessinsandiego.org/listen/jen https://voiceofsandiego.org/2023/11/03/law-could-increase-demand-for-often-elusive-addiction-treatment/ https://www.talesofthestreet.com/ vosd.org/lisa https://voiceofsandiego.org/2024/01/03/county-under-pressure-to-deliver-more-behavioral-health-beds/ https://voiceofsandiego.org/2023/12/28/san-diegos-homeless-response-took-a-punitive-turn-in-2023/ https://voiceofsandiego.org/2024/01/31/theyre-medically-cleared-get-them-out-why-homeless-hospital-patients-end-up-on-the-street/ https://voiceofsandiego.org/2024/02/06/why-shelter-is-often-elusive-for-homeless-hospital-patients/ 

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer is making more news these days as he seeks a seat on the County Board of Supervisors. And this week he opined on some big homelessness ideas. Sunbreak Ranch is a farfetched plan that the city of San Diego could create a camp — far from residential areas — to provide shelter and services to unhoused folks. The idea gained steam as local philanthropists got behind it. And now, Faulconer's in. Through his spokesman, Faulconer also indicated he does not support one of the city's current big ideas to build services and shelter at "H Barracks," which could accomodate 300 to 700 people. On the podcast this week, we unpack the dueling plans — and the new conservatorship law with senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt. Plus: FBI and DA's office are investigating stadium scandals. Sean Elo Rivera narrowly kept Council Presidency. County Supes postpone conservatorship. See the stadium concessions investigation at vosd.org/concessions Support our work at vosd.org/communitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're in your podcast feed early this week with another Politifest 2023 drop: "What We Know About Homelessness" with Dr. Margot Kushel. Kushel, one of the nation's foremost experts on health and homelessness, sat down with Voice of San Diego senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt to break down an unprecedented study on homelessness Led by Kushel, the study included interviews of nearly 3,200 people across the state. Kushel summarized the study's findings for us in this interview, including demographic breakdowns, behavioral health, substance use and treatment, and supports the state needs. See all our videos, transcripts and reports from Politifest 2023 at politifest.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday was the first day San Diego police could enforce the homeless camping ban — made to crack down on specific areas of the city where street camping has proliferated. Voice reporter Lisa Halverstadt has been following this ban since its inception. This week she surveyed common camping areas to see how the city and police curbed campsites and affixed new warning signs. She shares all the latest details on the city's homeless efforts in the podcast. Plus: Halverstadt broke the news that the city's largest homeless services provider — Father Joe's Villages — is in hot water. Also this week: The worst trees in San Diego. Transpo leader Hasan Ikhrata is out. Fact check on Monica Montgomery Steppe's "defund the police" record.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we've got updates from the highly anticipated safe camping site put in place by the city of San Diego. The city opened the site to provide unhoused residents a safe place to camp, made to be more attractive than sidewalks. The first of two such sites, it precedes stricter enforcement to get tents off city streets and away from sensitive areas like schools. On the show, reporter Lisa Halverstadt details the amenities and intake numbers — and a new story about how increased homeless enforcement may affect Black San Diegans disproportionately. Plus: A wealthy family's 100-year-old company is blocking a permanent housing project. And San Diego Unified is facing big budget deficits. Keep up with all our stories with the Morning Report: vosd.org/morningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Jason Hughes — former real estate advisor to the city of San Diego  — pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge after agreeing to pay $9.4 million back to the city, which he received for his work on two city lease deals. In this episode, hosts Scott Lewis, Andrew Keatts and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña tell the tale (for the last time?!) of the downtown high-rise that plagued the city for the better part of a decade. After years of dogged reporting by Voice's Lisa Halverstadt, one of the most topsy-turvy, confusing and expensive recent city controversies appears complete. See the full investigation at vosd.org/101ash Support this impactful investigation (and the VOSD Podcast!) at vosd.org/podpeople Also this week: Balboa Park groups push back against a safe camping idea at Inspiration Point.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many San Diegans who are addicted to drugs are begging for help. One intake specialist at a local detox program said that at least once a week, someone stops her on her way to work, begging for a detox bed so they can get clean. She often has to turn them away. For the entire San Diego region, there are about 70 beds where Medi-Cal patients can get the help needed to detox. None are in the city of San Diego, where most fentanyl overdose deaths occurred in recent years. This week, senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt joins us to talk about her latest story on the detox bed deficit. See Lisa's latest at vosd.org/lisa Plus: 2023 Schools Guide is out! Get your free copy at vosd.org/schools Support the show at vosd.org/podpeopleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we're Andy-less. But our temp co-hosts — associate editor Jesse Marx and senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt — have us covered with some hard-hitting cop talk. Halverstadt had the story this week about slow San Diego Police response times. Robberies, active domestic violence incidents and assaults are among the calls that saw marked increases last year compared to 2018. But the police budget keeps going up. So what gives? In this episode, we review the types of incidents in question, experiences of San Diego residents distressed by slow law enforcement and what police leadership say are hampering SDPD's speed. Plus: New proposals to curb street camping and focus solutions at Balboa Park's Inspiration Point. Scott's bear bias. Support the show at vosd.org/podpeople  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homelessness is our region's foremost humanitarian crisis — and one of the most divisive political issues. Voice's Lisa Halverstadt got into it with San Diego's two most powerful politicians, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Chair of the County Board of Supervisors Nathan Fletcher. Talking points: Bathrooms. Safe lots. Homelessness prevention and tenant protections. The service provider shortage. Housing policy. Bill Walton. See more at politifest.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four months ago, Voice of San Diego reporter Lisa Halverstadt got an email. A local woman, Natalie Raschke, asked Halverstadt to tell her family's story. “My kids matter, they have faces, they deserve to be heard and seen. I'm hoping you can help me achieve that,” she wrote. This week, we share that story. Plus: San Diego's next strategy for 101 Ash St. New street vendor rules. And OMG  the Assembly Select Committee on Gasoline Supply and Pricing is here. Keep up with all of Lisa's stories at vosd.org/lisa See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was a major development this week in one of the most dramatic stories VOSD has followed the last couple years. Say it with me: 101 Ash St. On Tuesday, VOSD's Lisa Halverstadt broke the news that district attorney investigators were raiding the offices of Hughes Marino, Cisterra Development and the home of Jason Hughes. Halverstadt joins the podcast to recap all the steps that led us to this week — and where things may go next. Plus: San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera's quest to kill the People's Ordinance.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was a major development this week in one of the most dramatic stories VOSD has followed the last couple years. Say it with me: 101 Ash St. On Tuesday, VOSD's Lisa Halverstadt broke the news that district attorney investigators were raiding the offices of Hughes Marino, Cisterra Development and the home of Jason Hughes. Halverstadt joins the podcast to recap all the steps that led us to this week — and where things may go next. Plus: San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera's quest to kill the People's Ordinance.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, VOSD's Adriana Heldiz saw a large-scale operation by the city of San Diego to clean a homeless camp that had been growing for months in the Midway District; it recently grew so large it was spilling into the street, according to the city. Staff loaded tents and tons of belongings into a trash truck to try and sort out the area. Officers offered shelter to the people living there and cited those who rejected the offers. It put a spotlight on a lot of the issues at play for one of the region's biggest problems: homelessness. This week, we talk with Heldiz and VOSD's Lisa Halverstadt about what's going on with homelessness right now. Plus: The video that got Mayor Todd Gloria in trouble this week. Subscribe to our new San Diego 101 podcast! The trailer is out now. Subscribe to "San Diego 101" wherever you listen. And tell your friends. vosd.org/101podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, VOSD's Adriana Heldiz saw a large-scale operation by the city of San Diego to clean a homeless camp that had been growing for months in the Midway District; it recently grew so large it was spilling into the street, according to the city. Staff loaded tents and tons of belongings into a trash truck to try and sort out the area. Officers offered shelter to the people living there and cited those who rejected the offers. It put a spotlight on a lot of the issues at play for one of the region's biggest problems: homelessness. This week, we talk with Heldiz and VOSD's Lisa Halverstadt about what's going on with homelessness right now. Plus: The video that got Mayor Todd Gloria in trouble this week. Subscribe to our new San Diego 101 podcast! The trailer is out now. Subscribe to "San Diego 101" wherever you listen. And tell your friends. vosd.org/101podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buckle up, folks. There's another major revelation in the 101 Ash St. saga this week. (That segment starts around minute 30 in the episode if you're antsy.) It turns out the city's real estate adviser, Jason Hughes, got paid about $9.5 million dollars (as a volunteer) for the deals he facilitated. The scoop this week by VOSD's Lisa Halverstadt was that Hughes made an agreement with Cisterra Development (the city's eventual landlord) to earn a profit off the deals or be held financially accountable if they fell apart. Also this week: Some cops refuse to get vaccinated. A vaccine expert gets real about the Delta variant. And a local hotelier makes a splash at the Elizabeth Holmes trial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buckle up, folks. There's another major revelation in the 101 Ash St. saga this week. (That segment starts around minute 30 in the episode if you're antsy.) It turns out the city's real estate adviser, Jason Hughes, got paid about $9.5 million dollars (as a volunteer) for the deals he facilitated. The scoop this week by VOSD's Lisa Halverstadt was that Hughes made an agreement with Cisterra Development (the city's eventual landlord) to earn a profit off the deals or be held financially accountable if they fell apart. Also this week: Some cops refuse to get vaccinated. A vaccine expert gets real about the Delta variant. And a local hotelier makes a splash at the Elizabeth Holmes trial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In March, city of San Diego residents will once again vote on a hotel room tax hike. Measure C, which is supported by Mayor Kevin Faulconer, unions and hotels, aims to raise the hotel room tax and fund a Convention Center expansion, homeless services and roads. This week, Voice of San Diego's Lisa Halverstadt detailed the two major contentions that have emerged over the homelessness funding: . Hosts Scott Lewis, Sara Libby and Andrew Keatts also discuss one man's fight to kill the initiative. Homeless advocate Michael McConnell has so far spent more than $236,000 on mailers and ads against the measure. why he would spend so much of his own money fighting Measure C, he said it was “advocacy for a better city.” In the second half of the show, Lewis talked to VOSD's Ashly McGlone about . The district is asking voters for $448 million to renovate schools. It will cost just $650 million to repay. We say "just" because if you've been a Voice of San Diego reader for a while now, you'll remember that back in 2011, Poway Unified got voters to approve a $105 million bond for construction projects. That bond will cost an astonishing $1 billion to pay back. Our investigation led to a new state law that stopped districts from doing deals like that one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The San Ysidro School District in Southern California has reported as much as one-third of its students are homeless — the highest concentration in its region. In 2019, the district kicked a homeless student out of school over a paperwork issue. Voice of San Diego reporter Lisa Halverstadt got a tip and followed the story. This is our last episode of the season! Thanks for listening. You can keep up with other Voice of San Diego podcasts at vosd.org/pod Follow us on your favorite social media platform @voiceofsandiego

The San Ysidro School District in Southern California has reported as much as one-third of its students are homeless — the highest concentration in its region. In 2019, the district kicked a homeless student out of school over a paperwork issue. Voice of San Diego reporter Lisa Halverstadt got a tip and followed the story. This is our last episode of the season! Thanks for listening. You can keep up with other Voice of San Diego podcasts at vosd.org/pod Follow us on your favorite social media platform @voiceofsandiego See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the past couple of weeks,  due to the recent influx of Central American migrants who are seeking asylum in the United States. President Donald Trump deployed troops to the border to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Local residents in Tijuana have . And Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum has spoken out against them. At the same time, the migrants themselves have grown desperate as the process of requesting asylum has become more difficult in recent weeks. All that tension reached a fever pitch on Sunday, when  after hundreds of migrants rushed toward the border. In this week’s podcast, host Scott Lewis sits down with Voice of San Diego reporter Maya Srikrishnan to discuss what exactly led up to that moment. Also on the podcast, Lewis and Andrew Keatts go over the fiery trash talk that’s been happening at City Hall. Plus, Lisa Halverstadt answers  submitted by our readers in a new  segment. One last thing: Don’t forget to check out . Lewis sat down with Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez and County Supervisor-elect Nathan Fletcher, two of San Diego’s most influential politicians, and talked about a wide range of issues. Hero of the Week This week’s hero is Superior Court Judge Ronald Frazier, who’s  an Encinitas law giving locals final say over major land-use changes. Goat of the Week The Carlton Gallery in La Jolla gets the goat. San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott  for allegedly trafficking in ivory, which is illegal under state law. Voice now has a podcast texting club for listeners. To join, text the word “podcast” to 619-202-9051. We’ll send you links to new episodes weekly and solicit questions and ideas for future podcasts.

Brian Beevers is the man behind the farmers markets in Clairemont, Serra Mesa and at Horton Plaza. He's also got a farmers market-inspired shop called Simply Local in North Park that sells goods made by San Diegans. Becoming one of the region's biggest purveyors of local products, though, wasn't easy. The success of a farmers market relies heavily on finding — and keeping — the right locations. That means Beevers' businesses over the years have often fallen victim to the whims of landowners. In a new episode of I Made it in San Diego, a podcast about the people behind the region's businesses, Lisa Halverstadt talks to Beevers about his ongoing struggle to open farmers markets and sustain the interest. “I've always known that I am at the mercy of the land owners, and it's something that you just have to kind of live with every day, that you just don't know for sure when somebody just might pull the plug on you," Beevers said. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian Beevers is the man behind the farmers markets in Clairemont, Serra Mesa and at Horton Plaza. He's also got a farmers market-inspired shop called Simply Local in North Park that sells goods made by San Diegans. Becoming one of the region's biggest purveyors of local products, though, wasn't easy. The success of a farmers market relies heavily on finding — and keeping — the right locations. That means Beevers' businesses over the years have often fallen victim to the whims of landowners. In a new episode of I Made it in San Diego, a podcast about the people behind the region’s businesses, Lisa Halverstadt talks to Beevers about his ongoing struggle to open farmers markets and sustain the interest. “I've always known that I am at the mercy of the land owners, and it's something that you just have to kind of live with every day, that you just don't know for sure when somebody just might pull the plug on you," Beevers said.

The first time Daniel Sullivan was introduced to solar, he was hooked. He said he knew right away that it would take off, even though it was an expensive and somewhat obscure technology at the time. He was an electrician, so he brought the business opportunity to his employer. "I went to my boss and I said, look, this is something that I think is going to be a big deal," Sullivan said. His boss shut him down. And that was just the first time someone told Sullivan that his big solar bet was a loser. In the latest episode of I Made it in San Diego, a podcast illuminating the stories behind the region's businesses and entrepreneurs, Voice of San Diego's Lisa Halverstadt sits down with Sullivan to talk about how and why he went all in on solar despite the naysayers' warnings. Sullivan got a slow start, but his persistence eventually led to the creation of a solar company that now pulls in $50 million a year and operates in San Diego, Orange County and the Inland Empire. He says his main motivation to build the business was the California energy crisis, the oil and gas industry and his newborn son. "So it all came together for me that this is what I need to do," he said. "This is what makes sense and we can't continue to be beholden to an industry that wreaks havoc all over the world." Sullivan's road to success wasn't smooth. He explains how he went from sleeping in a garage and living paycheck-to-paycheck to running a multimillion-dollar business. "It was really a sink-or-swim situation," he said. "You know when you don't have a backstop, when you don't have a safety net, when you don't have a means to provide for yourself unless you succeed at every stop, you're very mindful of every decision you make. ... There's no room for error." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first time Daniel Sullivan was introduced to solar, he was hooked. He said he knew right away that it would take off, even though it was an expensive and somewhat obscure technology at the time. He was an electrician, so he brought the business opportunity to his employer. "I went to my boss and I said, look, this is something that I think is going to be a big deal," Sullivan said. His boss shut him down. And that was just the first time someone told Sullivan that his big solar bet was a loser. In the latest episode of I Made it in San Diego, a podcast illuminating the stories behind the region’s businesses and entrepreneurs, Voice of San Diego’s Lisa Halverstadt sits down with Sullivan to talk about how and why he went all in on solar despite the naysayers' warnings. Sullivan got a slow start, but his persistence eventually led to the creation of a solar company that now pulls in $50 million a year and operates in San Diego, Orange County and the Inland Empire. He says his main motivation to build the business was the California energy crisis, the oil and gas industry and his newborn son. "So it all came together for me that this is what I need to do," he said. "This is what makes sense and we can't continue to be beholden to an industry that wreaks havoc all over the world." Sullivan's road to success wasn't smooth. He explains how he went from sleeping in a garage and living paycheck-to-paycheck to running a multimillion-dollar business. "It was really a sink-or-swim situation," he said. "You know when you don't have a backstop, when you don't have a safety net, when you don't have a means to provide for yourself unless you succeed at every stop, you're very mindful of every decision you make. ... There's no room for error."