🌱 Few Workforce Housing Options Here + Enjoy 50% Off Museum Month

Good morning, San Diego! I'm back with the latest edition of the San Diego Daily. Enjoy your morning coffee/tea, crunch those Belgian waffles, and read on for what's happening in town today:

• Jobs may be available but San Diego has few workforce housing options.
• Now is the time to get out and enjoy 50% off Museum Month.
• Parents can now register kids 4 years old by September in a new kindergarten program.

But first, today's weather:

Sunshine and patchy clouds.🌞 High: 64, Low: 46.

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

1. According to Zillow, San Diego now has the dubious distinction of being the fifth priciest area in the country, in relation to income. Teachers, nurses and other middle-class workers feel that they will never be able to purchase homes here. Renters are also affected, as the supply of middle-income housing is disappearing. Many will leave the county in search of jobs and housing elsewhere. (KPBS)
2. February is 50% off month at San Diego museums, and it’s a great time to get out and visit the museums, gardens and historic sights offered in our area. With more than 60 locations participating this year, our museums truly have something for everyone. You can pick up your museum pass at any library in the county or download here. See our top 10 picks, as well as all the offerings available this month.
3. If you live in the San Diego Unified School District and your child will be age 4 by September, you can now enroll your child in Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK). A Pre-enrollment Priority Window is now open to allow families to apply for a spot in advance, and pre-enrollment forms are available now on the district’s website. The program being offered provides a foundational year for kids before heading into kindergarten. (Times of San Diego)
4. After years of crucial water restrictions due to years of drought, recent rains have loosened the state’s water budget for our area. Residents are still limited to three-days-per-week watering, and other rules remain in place as before. The state cautioned San Diegans that we are still in a drought condition despite recent rains and will be for some time (San Diego Patch)

Today in San Diego:

• Qi Gong — University Community Branch Library. (9:30 a.m.)
• Storytime — Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center. (10 a.m.)
• Fun & Games for Seniors — Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center. (10 a.m.)
• Baby Sign Storytime! — San Ysidro Branch Library. (Noon)
• Ikebana Japanese Floral Design — Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center. (12:30 p.m.)
• David C. Copley Foundation Teen IDEA Lab — Logan Heights Branch Library. (2:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• SDPD gets new Kevlar uniforms: "Safety has always been a priority, and that's why the San Diego Police Department is proud to announce the arrival of the new Kevlar uniforms for our Motor Unit. Approximately 23 Motor Officers will be outfitted." (San Diego Police Department via Facebook)
• Want to raise chickens? "🍳 Egg-asperated by the egg shortage? Consider raising chickens in your backyard for home-fresh eggs. Most City homes are allowed up to five chickens with a chicken coop in the rear yard, 5 feet from side property lines and 13 feet from the rear property line." (City of San Diego via Facebook)
• $2.45 million for homeless strategies: "The City’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department was awarded a $2.45 million state grant to help people living in encampments in East Village. The Encampment Resolution Fund grant will be used to focus efforts on finding safe and stable housing for an identified area known for high concentrations of encampments." (City of San Diego via Facebook)
• Bicycle Coalition loves roundabouts: "Why we love roundabouts! In this mini blog, we share 4 reasons why roundabouts are safer than traffic signals and why we believe the proposed Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue Roundabout is particularly well designed. Many cyclists are not aware of the safety benefits of roundabouts, so that's why we are here to help!" (San Diego County Bicycle Coalition via Facebook)
• Vibrant blooms at the Garden: "Nothing like a little rain to bring out the bright beautiful colors of the Garden! Not only are there vibrant blooms, but uniquely shaped ones as well, all around the Garden there are plants of all types loving the rain and sharing their flowers with us." (San Diego Botanic Garden via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. I'll see you soon!

— Bettyann Pernice

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