IVN Podcast: The Initiatives Edition With UT Columnist Michael Smolens

Published: 29 Jun, 2018
1 min read
San Diego Union-Tribune Columnist Michael Smolens' recent piece, "Why San Diego's marquee initiatives might not make the ballot" is a great read that raises a lot of important questions on the possibility that four region changing initiatives might not make it onto the November ballot.
Smolens raises a number of questions including:
- Will the courts throw out the SDSU West and SoccerCity initiatives?
- Will Convention Center backers meet their signature gathering goal in time to be eligible for the November ballot?
- And will County Registrar Michael Vu finish recounting the Fair Voter Participation Act initiative so it makes it onto the November ballot?
For now, these issues might only be of interest to political insiders, but collectively the initiatives have the potential to completely change the future of our region.
Columnist Smolens joined me on the IVN Podcast to talk about his piece and discuss where he thinks all this is headed:
You Might Also Like
NEW POLL: California Governor’s Race Sees “None of the Above” Beat the Entire Democratic Field
A new statewide poll conducted by the Independent Voter Project finds California’s independent voters overwhelmingly support the state’s nonpartisan primary system and express broad dissatisfaction with the direction of state politics....
12 Jan, 2026
-
4 min read
This California Disposable Vape Ban Could Devastate The Legal Cannabis Industry Even Further
Good intentions often make for compelling policy. But in practice, consequences rarely fall in line as neatly as the ideas that inspired them....
12 Jan, 2026
-
6 min read
Missouri Republicans Admit They Skewed Ballot Language to Protect a Rigged Map
Missouri state officials have pulled out all the stops to prevent a veto referendum from getting on the ballot that would overturn a mid-cycle gerrymander. This includes writing a ballot summary that makes it sound like the veto referendum is trying to protect gerrymandering in the state....
13 Jan, 2026
-
4 min read


