Under subsequent ownership by Chicago-based Tribune Publishing, Enlace’s name changed to Hoy to match similar publications run by Tribune in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Fin de U-T San Diego

It’s the end of the line for the all-Spanish weekly tabloid published by the Union-Tribune, a newspaper that’s been shrinking all over under current owner Alden Global Capital. “The last issue of U-T en Español will be published on Dec. 30,” says a December 18 post on X by U-T Deputy Editor of Editorial & Opinion Laura Castañeda. “No announcements will be made to the community. I wish the best to my colleagues, especially [Lilia O’Hara] for 25 years of dedication to the Latino community on both sides of the border.”

Laura Castañeda bid a sad adios to the U-T en Espanol.

The once-vibrant Spanish newspaper, originally known as Enlace, saw its size and influence diminish over years of cost-cutting by a succession of U-T owners. Back in 2013, per a U-T news release, Enlace “grabbed the Gold Award” from the National Association of Hispanic Publications for “outstanding multiple article series; outstanding design — newspaper, broadsheet format; and outstanding event.”

Under subsequent ownership by Chicago-based Tribune Publishing, Enlace’s name changed to Hoy to match similar publications run by Tribune in Chicago and Los Angeles. “We compete nationwide with the best of the best in Hispanic publications,” said Tom Jimenez, the U-T’s vice president of Spanish-language products at the time. “We’re very proud.” Per the U-T: “Hoy San Diego will have zone pages for the North and South regions of San Diego County, as well as a Riverside edition and a Baja California edition named Hoy Fin de Semana.”

But that never happened, and a round of downsizing came after Los Angeles billionaire Patrick Soon Shiong bought the LA Times and the U-T from Tribune in 2018. “This is the Last Edition of Hoy San Diego,” wrote editor O’Hara in a note to readers announcing the change. “The title of this column sounds drastic, but in fact, it’s good news,” she added. “To support the quality of our information with even greater strength, Hoy San Diego changes its name and size.”

An accompanying pronouncement by U-T editor Jeff Light chimed in, “Welcome to the first edition of The San Diego Union-Tribune in Spanish.” Added Light’s statement: “the decision to align more tightly with the Union-Tribune in English reflects our conviction that San Diego is a single community.” Despite’s Light’s promise of beefed-up coverage, the Spanish version continued to diminish during his reign. He abruptly left his job when Alden Global Capital took over the paper from Soon-Shiong this past summer.

Volo Beach, San Diego

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, widely regarded as a shoo-in for reelection next year despite the surprise entrance into the race of fellow Democrat Geneviéve Jones-Wright, is raising cash for his bid for a spot on the board of the county Democratic Central Committee. Latest to give, with $1500 on December 14, is Volo, Inc., of Baltimore, Maryland. With Gloria on the fundraising trail, can a big-money development deal be far behind? In June 2022, Baltimore’s WBAL-TV reported that Volo was seeking to “build its own recreational center in Brewers Hill, in a bid to do for social sports leagues what ‘Topgolf did for golf.’” Whether by coincidence or not, the real Topgolf has been edging closer to a controversial deal with the San Diego port district for a high-tech driving range on East Harbor Island.

Geneviéve Jones-Wright thinks Todd’s time has passed.

Meanwhile, back in Baltimore this past summer, Volo Beach, “a 184,732-square-foot multipurpose sports entertainment venue located at Baltimore Peninsula (formerly Port Covington),” made its debut, per an August 8 news release. “The destination is a partnership between the developers of the $5 billion, 235-acre Baltimore Peninsula development, led by MAG Partners, and Volo Sports, a national provider of social and competitive adult sports leagues. Situated on more than four acres near the waterfront, Volo Beach is located directly behind the newly opening 1.1 million square feet of offices, shops, restaurants, apartments and hotels within Baltimore Peninsula.”

Baltimore Magazine describes Volo as a so-called adult sports network that “initially started as a Bocce league in Federal Hill in 2010 and has since grown to offer more than 15 sports (everything from softball and kickball to corn hole and badminton) in more than 10 cities.” Says Volo’s San Diego website: “Volo sports leagues are a fun way to get active and get social. You can build your squad, meet your next ex (or the love of your life), and get your sweat on.”...

Sempra Energy subsidiary San Diego Gas & Electric is gearing up for an epic big money battle to hold onto its lucrative monopoly franchise against a local initiative effort launched December 5 seeking to set up a city-owned utility. “It’s based on the premise that the system is broken at this point,” Bill Powers, chair of the Power San Diego campaign, told TV station KNSD. “San Diego Gas & Electric has the highest rates in the country. If we don’t move on doing this, we are stuck in a corner with San Diego Gas & Electric.” The group needs to collect 80,000 valid signatures to qualify the measure for the 2024 ballot, per the report. SDG&E’s counter committee, Responsible Energy San Diego, filed a December 15 registration with the city clerk’s office, listing Scott Crider as principal officer. He’s SDG&E’s Senior Vice President of External and Operations Support, according to the company’s website.

— Matt Potter

(@sdmattpotter)

The Reader offers $25 for news tips published in this column. Call our voice mail at 619-235-3000, ext. 440, or sandiegoreader.com/staff/matt-potter/contact/.