Updated March 22 with responses from East County cities and the County.
March 13, 2023 (La Mesa) – Two failed banks have been taken over by federal regulators. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has taken control Silicon Valley Bank on Friday and Signature Bank on Monday. That’s sent ripples of concern through the financial community, also prompting La Mesa’s Treasurer to assure residents that at least 99% of the city’s assets are safe.
How did the bank failures happen?
The failures are tied to the Trump administration’s rollback of Dodd-Frank banking regulations, an action that eased restrictions on banks with under $250 billion in assets. That measure passed Congress in 2018 with overwhelming Republican support, though a few Democrats also backed the regulatory rollbacks. Both failed banks had under $250 billion in assets and would have been subject to stress tests and other regulatory scrutiny before the rollback of regulations.
Silicon Valley Bank got in trouble when many of its tech industry and business start-up customers needed money and made large withdrawals. So SVB had to start selling assets, mainly bonds, at a loss to free up funds for those withdrawals until its losses became too high, fueling a bank run by customers fearful of losing their money. That prompted the FDIC to take action. Like SVB, Signature Bank had over 90% of its deposits that were unisured, over the federally insured amount. Now, the federal government is stepping in to help restore funds for investors -- but will not bail out the banks, leaving shareholders and holders of unsecured corporate bonds to absorb the losses.
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Hearing April 5 for County Supervisors to weigh the Regional Decarbonization Framework
Public urged to speak at meeting and submit comments by March 31 deadline at project website
By Miriam Raftery
Hear our interviewwith Bill Powers, Protect Our Communities Foundation, recorded four days before the nonprofit group filed a lawsuit against the County. The interview originally aired on KNSJ radio. View video of interview.
March 8, 2023 (San Diego) – The Protect Our Communities Foundation (POCF) has filed a lawsuit against the County of San Diego contending that the County hired a biased utility industry consultant direct the County’s Regional Decarbonization Framework (RDF) and that the RDF’s conclusions are skewed toward utilities’ interests over consumers’ interests based on flawed data. The suit also names the University of California as a defendant, contending that UCSD concealed researcher David Victor’s financial ties to the utility industry when it won a no-bid contract from the County to prepare the report that Victor co-authored.
In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine aired on KNSJ radio four days before the suit was filed in late February, Bill Powers, an engineer and board member on the Protect Our Communities Foundation, discussed why the organization is taking a stand against the RDF. He contends that if approved by Supervisors as written, it could result in fast-tracking industrial-scale wind and solar projects in our backcountry, even waiving environmental impact reviews, when it would be more economical to build rooftop and parking lot solar in urban areas – without harm to local communities and environmental habitats.
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“Really crazy stuff,” Rupert Murdoch, CEO of Fox, on Donald Trump’s stolen election claims.
“I did not believe it for a second.” – Sean Hannity, Fox broadcaster, on stolen election theory pushed by Trump’s attorney.
March 8, 2023 (San Diego) – Fox News Network LLC, the parent company of Fox News, is being sued by Dominion Voting Systems for allegedly broadcasting misinformation about voter fraud during the 2020 election. Dominion Voting is seeking $1.6 billion for defamation in the lawsuit. Fox News is also being sued by Smartmatic Voting Machines, for $2.7 billion. Evidence presented shows that Rupert Murdoch knew that Fox News was endorsing misinformation about the 2020 election. Murdoch is the head of Fox Corp and Fox News as well as many other media outlets in the U.S and Australia. In a deposition while under oath, Murdoch acknowledged that some commentators on Fox News endorsed the idea of a stolen election on the air, knowing this was false.
When asked if Fox News spread false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, as Donald Trump claimed, Murdoch stated, "Some of our commentators were endorsing it." Murdoch also said in an email that the election denial is “Really crazy stuff.”
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March 8, 2023 (San Diego) – San Diego County residents, along with residents in most other California counties, can delay filing their state and federal taxes until October 16 – if you were impacted by the recent winter storms.
``As communities across the state continue recovering from the damage caused by the winter storms, California is working swiftly to help recovering Californians get back on their feet,'' Gov. Gavin Newsom said. ``The state is aligning with the Biden Administration and extending the tax filing deadline in addition to the tax relief announced earlier this year.''
Those with storm damage can also claim a deduction for disaster loss.
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March 3, 2023 (Alpine) – Loveland Reservoir near Alpine remains closed to public access for fishing, hiking and recreation since storms in January destroyed the floating fishing dock and caused severe erosion. The damage occurred after Sweetwater Water Authority drained the lake to an unprecedented dead pool status, killing off fish and destroying habitat. Even after January’s heavy rains, Sweetwater again drained the reservoir – angering recreational enthusiasts and environmentalists.
On Thursday, March 23 at 6 p.m., the Alpine Community Planning Group will hear a presentation by Sweetwater on the current and future state of Loveland Reservoir.
Friends of Loveland Reservoir, a group formed to advocate for restoring the lake, states, “We desperately need community members to show up and calmly and professionally share the importance of the Reservoir. If Sweetwater does not hear from us, they will understandably believe this matter is not important to us and will continue down their chosen path.”
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March 7, 2023 (San Diego) – Michael J. Buono, a professor at San Diego State University, has died of Legionnaire’s disease, SDSU confirmed today. He was a faculty member in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Science and had been with SDSU for four decades.
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El Cajon is second-hardest hit community, losing 752,000 meals, report by San Diego Hunger Coalition finds
East County News Service
March 7, 2023 (San Diego) -- CalFresh pandemic emergency allotments have ended, resulting in a significant hit on the grocery purchasing power of many San Diego households during a time of soaring grocery store prices.
But those affected may be able to increase their monthly benefits amountby updating monthly household expenses on record with County of San Diego—and the San Diego Hunger Coalition can help.
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Jury concluded Arambula acted in self defense following conflicting statements by Williams about whether his dispensary application was discussed and how much he drank.
Missing witness, in a deposition, stated under oath that Arambula had history of wanting to "fight" after drinking, threw a glass against wall, told witness he "beat" Williams and asked witness to destroy photos of plaintiff's injuries. The jury never heard this evidence.
By Jessyka Heredia
Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report
March 6, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- On Monday, in day three of the Williams vs. Arambula and City of Lemon Grove civil trial, David Arambula and the City of Lemon Grove were both found not liable by a jury in the assault and battery case filed by Christopher Williams.
The case centered around an evening in July 2017 at Arambula’s home, which ended in violence. A mutual acquaintance, Taisha Brown, set up the meeting, which Williams said was to discuss his pending marijuana dispensary application but which Arambula said he believed was to discuss bringing new business investment to the city. Williams claimed they discussed the dispensary and that Arambula pushed him to bring in a partner, but he refused. Arambula denied those claims. After others left, Williams returned for his cell phone and contended that he was assaulted unprovoked by Arambula, resulting in hospitalization for injuries. Arambula claimed Williams attacked him first and that he acted in self defense.
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Photo: Jennifer and Kirk Nichols, courtesy of Dignity Memorial
March 4, 2023 (Jamul) – Robert Keith Thomas, 30, pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter and has been sentenced to four years in state prison, CBS 8 reports. He was driving a pickup truck on State Route 94 on Feb. 25, 2022 when a boat trailer he was towing came unhitched and slid across the highway.
It struck a vehicle driven by Jennifer Nichols, 49, wife of then-interim San Diego Harbor Police Chief Kirk Nichols. She later died in a hospital. Her husband, who was a passenger, had minor injuries.
Thomas also faces a civil suit filed by Nichols’ husband and their two sons, Times of San Diego reports.
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March 4, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Testimony was heard yesterday from the defendants in day two of the civil trial Christopher Williams vs. David Arambulaand the City of Lemon Grove, in which Williams alleges that former Councilman Arambula assaulted him during a business meeting at Arambula”s house to discuss Williams’ medical marijuana dispensary application with the City. The application had been denied by the planning commission and an appeal was slated to be heard by the City Council the following week.
Arambula disputes assault claims
Arambula was called to the stand first by Cory Briggs, who represents Williams in the case. Arambula said he met Williams for the first time the evening of July 14, 2017 at his home. Arambula stated that Taisha Brown, Vice Chair of the county Democratic party at the time, invited Williams with Arambula’s consent because Arambula was tasked with “bringing as much revenue sources as possible” by the city Manager Lydia Romero.
Arambula said that Brown knew the city’s financial condition was in the red and that Williams wanted to invest in the city. When asked by Briggs if he knew they would discuss city business, Arambula said, “Yes, investing in the City.” He denied knowing that Williams had a pending cannabis dispensary application on appeal, contradicting Williams' testimony the day before.
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March 3, 2023 (San Diego) – The National Weather Service has released precipitation totals for the three days ending March 2. Residents have been left snowed in at some San Bernadino mountain towns, with Bear Mountain receiving nearly 5 feet of snow and snow resorts such as Big Bear and Snow Valley around 40 inches. Here in San Diego County, Palomar Mountain got another 20 inches of snow and Mount Laguna another 10 inches, atop multiple feet of snow already on the ground, while Julian got 4 more inches.
Across the country, storms the past three days also brought substantial rain. Lake Henshaw had 3.85 inches and Santa Ysabel had 2.21 inches. El Cajon, La Mesa, and Santee had between 1 and 2 inches, while Borrego’s Palm Canyon in the desert got .84 of an inch.
The storm also brought hail to much of the region, from coastal areas such as Encinitas, El Cajon and La Mesa.
Extreme weather also caused some power outages, with some Borrego Springs residents left in the dark for nearly a full day.
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March 3, 2023 (Ramona)-Caltrans construction crews will continue pedestrian crossing ramp improvements in downtown Ramona along Main Street as part of the State Route 67 (SR-67) Pavement Rehabilitation Project. The sidewalks will be compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Nighttime work is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 5, through Monday, March 6, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. at the following locations:
Ramona Street/Day Street and Main Street
15th Street and Main Street
13th Street and Main Street
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March 2, 2023 (San Diego) – 46-year-old Lonnie Newton Rupard, a mentally ill homeless man, was found unresponsive in his cell at San Diego Central Jail on March 17, 2022. Sheriff's deputies and medical staff performed lifesaving measures until he was transported to a hospital, where he died.
Today, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's (M.E.) Office released its autopsy report which found the manner of death was homicide. The preliminary cause of death is pneumonia, malnutrition and dehydration related to untreated mental conditions along with COVID-19 viral infection, pulmonary emphysema and duodenal ulcer as contributing factors, though the report also found blunt force injuries to his head, torso and extremities. Though he had schizophrenia and psychosis, he had refused medications while in custody and threatened to kill medical providers who tried to treat him, according to the report.
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Updated March 3, 2023 with identity of the victim.
March 2, 2023 (La Mesa) – An 18-year-old El Cajon man, Eugene Nelson,has died after he lost control on I-8 west and struck a California Highway Patrol vehicle that had stopped to investigate a pair of unrelated solo-vehicle accidents on Feb. 25.
According to Officer Jared Grieshaber, the vehicles involved in those two accidents were blocking the center divider and the #1 lane of traffic. “The CHP officer on scene parked his patrol vehicle with the emergency lights activated, within the #1 lane, and partially within the center divider for scene safety,” Officer Grieshaber said.
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March 2, 2023 (San Diego) -- The atrocities committed against African slave descendants, and how those very descendants are entitled to reparations by those who committed those atrocities, have sparked much debate since the prospect of reparations for the African American community came to fruition. On January 27th and 28th, the AB 3121 Task Force, which is an eight-member task force responsible for researching reparations and proposing ways to educate Californians on their discoveries, held one of its periodic meetings at San Diego State University.
The panel’s discussion on the 27th explored five key questions that were posed by economic experts on five areas of harm and the time frames that the harm occurred including: mass incarceration from 1970 to the present, housing discrimination specifically from redlining from 1937 to 1977, discrimination against black owned businesses 1900 to the present, over policing from 1971 to the present, and health harms that occurred from 1900 to the present.
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Photo: Williams' facial injuries, taken by Kathleen McLean
March 1, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – A civil lawsuit filed by Christopher Williams against the City of Lemon Grove and former Councilman David Arambula alleges that Arambula violently assaulted Williams at Arambula’s home in July 2017. Williams contends that he was “attacked” after a meeting regarding an appeal filed by Williams over a cannabis dispensary application. Attorneys for Arambula and the city contend that Williams’ injuries resulted from a “fight” and that Arambula acted in self defense.
In opening statements in Superior Court on day one of the trial today, Williams’ attorney Cory Briggs stated that the evidence will show that “Mr. Arambula, unprovoked, beat my client almost senseless,” causing a visit to a hospital emergency room and resulting in serious physical and emotional damage.
Briggs told the jurors to focus on where the meeting took place at Arambula’s house and why was it held there, as well as how the meeting ended in violence, and why. He cautioned that much of what the jurors would hear would be “noise” intended to distract them from the evidence.
Kathryn Lee-Colgan, attorney for Arambula, told the jury to focus on “responsibility, reasonableness and common sense. She stated that Arambula was the city’s first elected Latino councilmember and a former Marine.
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By Cassie Klapp, County of San Diego Communications Office
March 1, 2023 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors yesterday approved a reimagined department to support children and families. The new Child and Family Well-Being Department will integrate multiple child and family serving systems, including First 5 San Diego, Child Welfare Services, and other Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) departments, under one umbrella to deliver both prevention and safeguarding services.
Adopted unanimously, the new department will allow the County to better address equity and improve outcomes for children and families in a more holistic way by focusing its effort and budget on child and family strengthening programs and community partnerships.
“Equity and the safety of our community’s children have always been at the core of our efforts,” Kim Giardina, director of Child Welfare Services said. “This transformation allows us the flexibility to respond to the changing landscape and needs of our neighbors to best support them now and many years into the future.”
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Average gas bill expected to decrease by $140 relative to January
East County News Service
February 28, 2023 (San Diego) – After hitting a historic high in January due to unprecedented natural gas market conditions in the West that resulting in a doubling of consumers' gas bills, San Diego Gas & Electric announced today that the March natural gas commodity price has declined by approximately 83% compared to January 2023, plunging from $3.45 per therm to $0.60 per therm.
The typical residential customer’s gas bill (commodity plus delivery charges and other mandated fees and taxes) is expected to decrease to about $85 in March, from around $225 in January. This is the second month in a row that natural gas commodity prices are going down. The reduction in wholesale natural gas price is driven in part by the restoration of service to an out-of-state pipeline.
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February 28, 2023 (Rancho San Diego) – David “Dave” Steele has passed away of suddenly of congestive heart failure. Named small businessman of the year by the San Diego East County Chamber in 2022, Steele owned Pure Solar Power and was known as the “East County Solar Guy.” He was also an elected member of the Valley De Oro Community Planning Group and an active member of the La Mesa Business Networking International group.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, March 3 at 2 p.m. at Skyline Church, 11330 Campo Rd. in Rancho San Diego.
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400+ properties offered; register by March 2 to participate
Source: Treasurer-Tax Collector of San Diego County
February 28, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister announced bidder registration for the 2023 online property auction closes this Thursday, March 2. A total of 404 properties are currently for sale.
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February 27, 2023 (Julian, CA) -- We decided to go up the mountain to Julian yesterday because it’s beautiful after a snowstorm. So we woke up bright and early and packed the Jeep for an adventure in the mountains. We also wanted to introduce my service dog to snow. As always, we packed our press passes and camera equipment, the latter because we wanted to take photos of this amazing winter wonderland, and in this, we were not disappointed.
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February 26, 2023 (San Diego) – Kathi Torres with Freedom from Exploitation, an organization that helps survivors of human trafficking, is also a survivor of sex trafficking. In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine originally aired on KNSJ radio, Torres speaks out on her own experience, how to protect teens from traffickers, and how to get help for victims here in San Diego County, a national hub for human trafficking.
She also calls for repeal of a state law, Senate Bill 357, that decriminalized loitering to solicit prostitution, which she says has cut off the main avenue for victims to get help.
“Because of this new law, police can’t stop, cite or arrest anyone for loitering to solicit prostitution,” including victims as well as men driving around looking to pick up prostitutes. But when police can’t detain trafficking victims, the victims don’t get referred to programs that can help them escape from being trafficked, says Torres, who was also a panelist at a recent presentation of “Stolen,” an NBC San Diego investigative series on trafficking.
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February 25, 2023 (San Diego) – A man arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and causing an accident that seriously injured a motorcyclist has died in San Diego County’s Central Jail.
Robert Shuey, 67, of San Clemente was arrested in Oceanside shortly before 4 a.m. on Feb. 21 by the Oceanside Police Department. He was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation. After the hospital cleared him medically later that morning, he was booked into the Vista Detention facility and then transferred at 11 a.m. to San Diego Central Jail.
Shortly before 8 p.m., during an hourly safety check, Shuey was found unresponsive in his cell. Deputies and medical staff immediately responded to the location and began CPR, according to the Sheriff’s department. Paramedics arrived and took over life-saving measures, but despite these efforts, Shuey was pronounced dead before he could be transported to a hospital.
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Update: The hearing has been postponed until April 3, 2023.
By Miriam Raftery
File photos: Councilmembers Liana LeBaron, left, and Jennifer Mendoza, right
February 25, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – A judge has granted a temporary restraining order requiring Lemon Grove Councilmember Liana LeBaron to stay at least 100 yards away from fellow Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza, as well as Mendoza’s home and vehicle, pending a March 6 hearing. The order further orders LeBaron to avoid harassing or intimidating Mendoza, and prohibits LeBaron from owning firearms.
“I’m filing this request because I’m afraid that LeBaron’s stalking and harassing of me is escalating,” Mendoza states in a description detailing a pattern of alleged harassment. She adds, “I am concerned about my safety.”
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February 24, 2023 (San Diego) -- The City of San Diego today announced that due to weather conditions and “an abundance of caution,” it has closed Mission Trails Regional Park, as well as Los Penasquitos Preserve, Chollas Lake and Maple Canyon parks.
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February 24, 2023 (Cuyamaca) – With lots of snow already on the ground and a major new storm set to bring the heaviest snowfall in recent memory, Rancho Cuyamaca State Park today announced that the park is closed.
California State Park Service posted on Facebook, “The park is expected to reopen sometime on Sunday. PLEASE DO NOT COME UP TO THE PARK TOMORROW (Saturday). The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning through Saturday, February 25th.” The Park Service urges people to avoid the mountain areas until after the storm, and urges would-be visitors to keep these things in mind:
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Public can also submit comments online, by phone, or by mail
February 23, 2023 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has applied for a general rate increase starting in 2024. SDG&E wants to grow revenues by $449 million (17.6%) in 2024. This application also includes requested increases of 10.5% in 2025, (9.2% in 2026, and another 7.7% in 2027.
If approved, the first year increase alone would hike the average monthly electric bill by $9 a month and gas by $9.60 a month, or $18.60/mo. total. Combined, that’s over $220 a year for the average ratepayer – with some homeowners and businesses paying far more. By 2027, the average ratepayers would pay $285.91 more per year than today.
Three hearings are slated on the proposed price hikes, conducted by an administrative law judge for the Calif.Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The first two are virtual on March 6 and 15, the third is in-person in San Diego on March 23 in both afternoon and evening.
Coming on the heels of a doubling of natural gas prices locally in January, on top of utility rates that are already among the highest in the nation, SDG&E’s proposal has sparked outrage. Of 395 public comments received so far on the CPUC website, all voiced anger and 100% are opposed to raising rates.
SDG&E says it wants its customers to help pay for infrastructure projects including putting power lines underground to prevent fires, building more electric vehicle charging stations, and modernizing the electric grid. SDG&E bases its rate increase proposal on the assumption that energy use will double by 2045.
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February 23, 2023 (El Cajon) – An early morning fire damaged URBN pizza and adjacent Creative Creature Brewing Company, according to Heartland Fire and Rescue Dept.
There had been a large party the previous night that kept staff there until midnight, said Derek Carnation of Creative Creature. "The fire started in their kitchen, and we're just next door; it's mainly smoke damage," he told East County Magazine after their establishments were cleared by the Health Department Thursday afternoon for reopening pending City Inspection, he tells ECM.
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Photos: Snow in Julian today, courtesy of San Diego Sheriff Media Relations unit
February 23, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Treacherous. Severe. Really dangerous conditions. Those are terms used by National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Tardy in a webinar today to describe a slow-moving atmospheric river, coupled with high winds and frigid temperatures from an arctic jet stream, swooping into San Diego County Friday and Saturday.
The storm could dump a potentially unprecedented three to five feet of snow at elevations above 4,000 feet in some parts of Southern California, with another foot and a half forecast on Mt. Laguna atop considerable snow that's already fallen. Also forecast are debris flows in areas not normally subject to them as snow melts. Blowing and drifting snow will impact major southern California highways, including highway 78 and the eastern portions of Interstate-8 in San Diego County.
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February 22, 2023 – The storm has caused power outages amid frigid weather in some parts of East County. While power has been restored in most areas, power went down in parts of Borrego Springs last night due to weather affecting SDG&E equipment, and is not expected to be restored until this evening. Borrego resident Nikki Symington posted on Facebook, “I am freezing. No electricity since 9 last night."
According to SDG&E, “Last night at its peak 11,000 SDG&E customers were without power during the night, in addition to momentary outages caused by high winds. Crews have made significant progress in restoring thousands of customers and are working to restore remaining customers as quickly and safely as possible.”
The utility states that to protect the safety of its customers, employees and communities, the company has taken proactive steps to prepare for winter storms this week, with the strongest storm due this weekend. A news release from SDG&E states, “In anticipation of these storms, SDG&E increased the number of field crews and equipment available to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. The company’s meteorology team is also monitoring weather conditions minute-by-minute to help provide situational awareness to crews working hard to maintain the infrastructure that serves our communities. However, preparedness is a community effort, and the company encourages all of its customers to have a plan in place in case of unplanned outages.”
To help customers prepare for the upcoming storm, the company is sharing the following safety tips to help keep you and the region safe:
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