EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

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December 28, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

STATE

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

LOCAL

Village divided (La Mesa Courier )

La Mesa farmers market causes rift between downtown businesses...According to the report, the farmers market performed well in its new location. The number of market vendors doubled compared to its previous location in the Civic Center parking lot; total gross sales increased by 80 percent from May to September…The results of the surveys, however, highlighted a divide between residents and newer businesses, which view the market favorably, and more established businesses — mostly restaurants — that want the market moved from Fridays or off La Mesa Boulevard entirely

Civic Center housing takes a step forward in La Mesa (La Mesa Courier)

At the Nov. 27 City Council meeting, Paul Marrow of Kaiser Marston Associates presented a financial feasibility study on the best way to convert the former La Mesa Police headquarters site into housing. Citing the study, Marrow said that the “highest and best usage” for the 1.2-acre site is a multi-family housing complex. The study envisioned a project with 104 units averaging 873 square feet each in a four-story building and 138 parking spaces.

San Diego County has highest number of veteran suicides in CA (KUSI)

According to the California Department of Public Health, in 2017, San Diego County had the highest number of veteran suicides in the entire state. (Of note: Los Angeles, which has far more veterans, has far fewer suicides)

Public safety hub at Wells Park gets approval (San Diego Union-Tribune)

As part of its plan to make parks safer for families and children, the El Cajon City Council will put in a Public Safety Substation at Wells Park. The station for the public safety officers, to be known as park rangers, will be located in an office belonging to the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County.

New housing project in La Mesa concerns locals, intrigues others (San Diego Union-Tribune)

While some La Mesa residents welcome it, a new housing project proposed near the La Mesa Civic Center is not sitting well with some others in the area. Jefferson La Mesa is planned for the same site along Baltimore Drive as Park Station at the Crossroads of La Mesa.

Shot hole beetle invades San Diego River (San Diego Reader)

Native to Southeast Asia, the shot hole borer beetle is making its way along the southern Californian coast including the San Diego River Valley.

STATE

From plastic straws to pet CPR: How new California laws could change your life in 2019  (SF Chronicle)

The beginning of a new year is a time for tradition: Revelry late into the night. Resolutions for self-improvement. Hundreds of laws taking effect in California. Here are some of the new policies – the useful, the controversial, and the downright quirky – that could change your life starting Jan. 1, 2019.

California Moves Up Primary, Wants Bigger Impact In 2020 Vote (Associated Press)

Early voting in California's primary will overlap with the traditional early nominating contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. That could force the sprawling field of Democrats to navigate those states as well as California's notoriously complex landscape, where campaigning is done through paid political ads.

Why ugly stock market is very bad news for California's finances  (CNBC)

 California could see its tax collections take a hit in December because of its heavy reliance on the wealthy for personal income taxes and its revenue volatility in stock market gyrations.

Fire-scarred Wine Country critical of planned PG&E blackouts  (SF Chronicle)

 Just before Pacific Gas and Electric Co. intentionally turned off power to prevent fires for the first time ever two months ago, one sheriff learned the utility had potentially life-saving information. .. the day before power was cut to parts of his region, Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin discovered PG&E had contact information for local residents who require access to energy for health reasons, such as being on life-support equipment. Martin wanted to use the list so he and his deputies could help the utility check whether those vulnerable residents knew they could lose power…Instead, PG&E delivered red tape…

Jerry Brown—most forgiving governor in modern California history (Calmatters)

In keeping with eight years of holiday tradition, Gov. Jerry Brown issued 143 pardons this week. The display of Christmas spirit from the former Jesuit seminarian will be his last as governor of California, capping off a record-breaking eight years that make Brown the most forgiving governor in modern California history.

A grandmother lost everything in the Woolsey fire. Her granddaughter created art from the ruins (Los Angeles Times)

First came the fire and then rejuvenation — like a mystical bird rising from the ashes. After the Woolsey fire consumed 90-year-old Letty Bierschenk’s Bell Canyon home last month, her granddaughter was determined to find something meaningful among the devastation. Jessica Bierschenk, 17, returned to the woman’s home after the fire was extinguished and began to sift through the charred heirlooms

 


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