EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP

February 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup covers top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s eastern regions, published in other media.

Top Roundup stories include:

• Cartels crumble in Tijuana
• City of San Diego needs 10 new fire stations, study says
• Lemon Grove trying to protect funds
• $2 billion in aid open to struggling homeowners
• San Diego County’s homeless numbers rise
• California parks must refocus to survive, study says
• La Mesa thrift store gives its profits back to community
• Group in honor of Amber Dubois gets new 4-footed member

CARTELS CRUMBLE IN TIJUANA
Criminal groups no longer operate effectively, top cop says
February 17, 2011 (San Diego Union-Tribune)– The drug cartels that once ruled parts of the border region have disintegrated to the point where they are no longer able to operate effectively, declared one of the officials most responsible for fighting them in the last few years.
http://www.sandiegored.com/noticias/6152/Cartels-crumbling-in-Tijuana/

CITY OF SAN DIEGO NEEDS 10 NEW FIRE STATIONS, STUDY SAYS
But first step is to fully staff existing stations by ending “brownouts”
February 14, 2011 (San Diego Union-Tribune)--The city of San Diego needs to build and staff 10 new fire stations at a cost of well over $100 million to reach acceptable response times, according to a study released Monday.
The report comes amid a citywide “brownout” policy that calls for up to eight of the city’s 47 fire stations to go without an engine on any given day. The idled engines rotate among 13 fire stations in various neighborhoods for an annual savings of $11.5 million.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/14/study-san-diego-city-need...

LEMON GROVE TRYING TO PROTECT FUNDS
February 14, 2011 (San Diego Union-Tribune)--Like other cities throughout California, Lemon Grove is doing what it can to protect itself against Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to eliminate local redevelopment agencies.
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, City Manager Graham Mitchell will ask that the city pledge redevelopment agency funds to support several public works projects, putting them off limits if the state legislation is successful.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/14/lemon-grove-council-tryin...

$2 BILLION IN AID OPEN TO STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS
February 14, 2011 (San Diego Union-Tribune)--Four new mortgage-aid programs costing $2 billion might help 100,000 households avoid foreclosure, California Housing Finance Agency officials say.
The state program, "Keep Your Home California," is available to eligible homeowners throughout the state, including in San Diego County.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/14/2b-foreclosure-aid-could-... /

SAN DIEGO COUNTY’S HOMELESS NUMBERS RISE
February 14, 2011 (San Diego Union-Tribune)-- A recent San Diego County-wide count of the homeless showed a 3.3 percent increase in their numbers compared to last year's tally.
The Point-in-Time Count, conducted on Jan. 28, tallied 8,802 homeless. Last year, that number was 8,517. The number of homeless living on the streets rose 3.5 percent, from 4,599 in 2010 to this year's count of 4,758.
The number of sheltered individuals went up as well, from 3,918 to 4,044. That's a 3.2 percent increase.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/14/san-diego-countys-homless...

CALIFORNAI STATE PARKS MUST REFOCUS TO SURVIVE, REPORT SAYS
February 13, 2011 (Sacramento Bee) --There might be no money for state parks, but money isn't all they need.
That is the basic message in a new study released Friday by California's largest parks advocacy group.
The "Vision for Excellence" report by the nonprofit California State Parks Foundation is an acknowledgment that no financial salvation is at hand for the embattled parks, and that a new mission for an austere future may be needed.
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/12/3396748/parks.html#ixzz1DxGlSBG1

LA MESA THRIFT STORE GIVES ITS PROFITS BACK TO COMMUNITY
February 14, 2011 (San Diego Union-Tribune)--It looks like any other thrift store. Books, movies, household items and all sorts of knickknacks line the shelves. But the La Mesa Thrift Shop is no ordinary secondhand store.
This one gives back to the community it serves — via grocery store gift cards, emergency rations and clothes for low-income La Mesa families. It’s been lauded for giving away thousands of new toys to local kids at Christmas over the years.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/14/la-mesa-thrift-store-give...

GROUP IN HONOR OF AMBER DUBOIS GETS NEW 4-LEGGED MEMBER
Puppy Donated By Owner Of California Pets

February 13, 2011 (10 News)-- Two years after Escondido teen Amber Dubois was killed, the volunteer group formed in her memory has a new, special member with four legs.

The newest member of Team Amber Rescue, which was formed as a tribute to Amber, is a six-month, yellow lab puppy. The puppy was donated by the owner of California Pets to Amber's mother, Carrie McGonigle.

http://www.10news.com/news/26851472/detail.html