🌱 Among Most Expensive Cities In World + Falling Behind on Housing

Hello everyone. It's me, Bettyann Pernice, your host of the San Diego Daily. Let's get this Sunday started off right with a look at what's happening today in San Diego:

• How did we become one of the most expensive cities in the world?
• Why is San Diego falling behind on housing?
• Where you can enjoy celebrating Hanukkah in San Diego.

But first, today's weather:

Rain; breezy in the morning.🌧️ High: 62, Low: 48.

Here are four of the top stories in San Diego today:

1. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), San Diego is now one of the most expensive cities in the world. Why? You wonder. Since the pandemic began, we have become a destination for people of means coming from the Bay Area and other locations, who are no longer shackled to their offices, since they can work remotely. Greater competition for space and the sunshine of San Diego caused a rise in prices throughout this area. San Francisco and Los Angeles are still more expensive, but we now have the dubious distinction of being number 17 on the list of top 20 most expensive cities in the world. (NBC San Diego)
2. Why is the City of San Diego so far behind in its housing goals? Permit applications are up but staffing at San Diego’s Development Services Department is way down. The reality is that a department that receives 60,000 permit applications each year has close to 100 vacancies. To mitigate that circumstance, a recent report recommended that the city should stop duplicating efforts to finance affordable housing, should make it easier to build prefabricated housing, and should change height limits to allow for more development. (inewsource)
3. A shortage of blood is at a critical level in our area right now and donors are needed to ensure hospitals have the blood they need through the end of the year. In this season of giving, help by donating blood, or blood platelets, to the San Diego Red Cross. This month, a $10 Amazon.com gift card or a T-shirt will be given to those who donate. Open your heart, make an appointment, and give! (CBS News 8)
4. This year, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah will be observed Dec. 18 – 26. If you would like to attend this year's Festival of Lights here in San Diego, join in the celebration at a number of locations around town. Events are happening in Liberty Station, La Jolla, Seaport Village, North County, Hotel Del Coronado, and Carlsbad. Enjoy! (ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV)

Hanukkah in San Diego

Today in San Diego:

• Winter Express Experience — San Diego Model Railroad Museum. (9 a.m.)
• SD: Paint Your Pet: Fundraiser — Labradors and Friends Dog Rescue Group. (Noon)
• Museum of Contemporary Art Storytime — Riford/La Jolla Branch Library. (12:30 p.m.)
• Holiday Sing-Along and Book Drive — The Conrad. (5 p.m.)
• Pet Photos With Santa — Fashion Valley for the Holidays. (6 p.m.)
• Harry Connick, Jr. A Holiday Celebration — Broadway San Diego. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Adoption fees waived: "This weekend, Dec. 10-11, all adoption fees will be waived for the first 100 adult pets (7 months and older), thanks to San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria! After 100 adoptions are reached, adult animal adoption fees will be $25 for the remainder of the weekend." (San Diego Humane Society via Facebook)
• Repairs in Paradise Hills: "This month, City crews are out in District 4 installing sidewalks, curbs, gutters, retaining walls and ADA ramps on Sea Breeze Dr. in Paradise Hills. 🙌 Sidewalks enhance neighborhoods by allowing residents of all abilities to move about safely." (City of San Diego via Facebook)
• Save lives using your Venmo app: "We're not kitten: you can now save lives through Venmo! It’s as easy as searching @sdhumane in your Venmo app. The best part is that all donations are being doubled — up to $500,000 — thanks to our friends at the Resource Partners Foundation!" (San Diego Humane Society via Facebook)
• Sausage tree: "Have you ever seen the fruit of the Kigelia africana! Native to tropical Africa, it produces an interesting fruit that gives it it's common name of the sausage tree. Looking at the fruit you can see the resemblance and reason behind the name." (San Diego Botanic Garden via Facebook)
• 16,000 elearning classes: "Access 16,000+ expert-led courses and practice what you learn with quizzes and tests! Find LinkedIn Learning on sdcl.org/elibrary #linkedin #learning #SDCL #libraries" (San Diego County Library via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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• Au Pair Childcare USA — (Visit website)
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Events:

• Le Salon de Musiques: Masterpieces by Brahms, Puccini, & Weber. (Dec. 11)
• Preparing for Divorce in 2023 — Vesta Carlsbad, CA Hub. (Dec. 13)
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Other classifieds:

• Open House 12/10/2022 1/4 (Details)
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That's it for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Bettyann Pernice

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming San Diego Daily? Contact me at sandiego@patch.com