🌱 What Exactly Is Middle Income? + SD Native Honored On MLK Day

Hello, everyone! Bettyann Pernice here with your fresh copy of the San Diego Daily. As you enjoy your coffee/tea and breakfast, read on to find out what's happening in our town today:

• Are you still considered middle income?
• SD honors a native son on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
• What you need to know about food waste recycling.

But first, today's weather:

Turning cloudy.🌥️ High: 59, Low: 43.

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

1. With rising costs for everything, and stagnant wages, you may be wondering if you're still considered to be middle income? While "middle class" has many different definitions, most Americans think of it as being the income level above poor and below rich. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the middle-income range is $61,000 to $182,000 for those living in San Diego, Chula Vista and Carlsbad, California. For more specific information, you can check the CNN Money Calculator here. (10 News)
2. He was a former NFL player and a father figure to many in the inner-city community. He engaged with children in his role as a city parks and recreation supervisor. His name is Neil Petties, and he was given a lifetime achievement award for his work here in the San Diego community. The award was accepted by his family on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the WorldBeat Center in Balboa Park. Petties is now 82 years old and battling dementia. (ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV)
3. During the early part of 2023, green bins will be delivered to homeowners in the City of San Diego. It’s part of the new program mandated by the state to fight climate-warming carbon emissions. Citizens will need to recycle organics such as non-treated woods, fruit, vegetables, coffee grounds and filters, plate scrapings, including cooked foods, food-soiled paper napkins, plant clippings and yard trimmings. For more information, check out the city’s Q & A here. (KPBS)
4. This is a terrible time to be homeless. Those who find themselves without a place to live struggle to find shelter to shield themselves from the drenching rain. Homeless advocates say that more shelters are needed to accommodate the unhoused people living on the streets in San Diego. Even some with full-time jobs cannot find affordable housing for their families here in our city. Though the city and nonprofits have created much-needed housing here, it is just not enough to shelter everyone. (CBS News 8)
5. It was known as the Museum of Man, but in 2020 it became the Museum of Us. Now, the Museum of Us is reimagining an exhibit created in 2015: “Race: Are We So Different?” Visitors are being asked to share their thoughts on the exhibit and will even be paid for their time. The goal is to redesign a new exhibit to reflect the current thinking of the community. If you would like to share your thoughts, email museum@museumofus.org. (KPBS)

Today in San Diego:

• Qi Gong: Recharging Body & Mind — Riford/La Jolla Branch Library (9:30 a.m.)
• Preschool Storytime — Carmel Mountain Ranch Library (10 a.m.)
• Lunar New Year Storytime — College Rolando Branch Library (10 a.m.)
• In-Person Resume Strategies Workshop — San Diego Public Library/Central Library. (10 a.m.)
• Grief Support Group — OASIS San Diego. (10:30 a.m.)
• Bilingual Storytime: Chinese New Year —Riford/La Jolla Branch Library. (10:30 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• Some streets closed: "Flooding alert! ⚠️☔️ Drivers are encouraged to use caution in Mission Valley where all surface street crossings at the San Diego River are flooded due to the ongoing rain. Most of these crossings will be closed until midweek." (City of San Diego via Facebook)
• 104 dogs adopted: "Thank you, Mayor Todd Gloria, for helping 104 adult dogs find loving homes during the #Gloria100 adoption promotion! We were thrilled to see these deserving pets adopted over the weekend and we're so grateful to Mayor Gloria for helping." (San Diego Humane Society via Facebook)
• San Diego's new Poet Laureate: "Let's give a hand to San Diego's new Poet Laureate—Jason Magabo Perez! 🎉 He made his official debut at the State of the City Address reading his home 'We Draft Work Songs for This City.' Watch it on the City's YouTube channel: youtu.be/..." (San Diego Central Library via Facebook)
• Families in need of support: "The fight for racial justice and heath care equity are interwoven. Through our programs we seek to improve health and mental well-being and address inequities for parents through free access to transportation, mental health support and supportive services." (Miracle Babies via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Bettyann Pernice

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