By Miriam Raftery

Photo, right: Councilmembers Phil Ortiz and Steve Goble

September 28, 2022 (El Cajon) – At yesterday’s El Cajon City Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously to create a subcommittee to help draft regulatory policy for motels operating with homeless vouchers. Councilmembers Steve Goble and Phil Ortiz will serve on the subcommittee.

Councilmembers and the City Manager also voiced frustration over problems caused by the county filling up motels in the city with homeless individuals using county-issued vouchers, concerns echoing those raised in a recent press conference. City leaders also expressed disappointment in the county’s failure to respond to complaints and by a threat from the Attorney General demanding that the city rescind warning notices sent to hotels exceeding a city limit on long-term occupancy by homeless instead of short-term travelers.  As ECM reported, the AG accused the city of violating California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.

The City also made its case that it has done more than its fair share to help the homeless in our region – far more than the county or neighboring cities in East County.

By Miriam Raftery

September 27, 2022 (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council received some upbeat news in a report on the financial performance of The Magnolia (formerly known as the East County Performing Arts Center).  In a presentation during today’s Council hearing, representatives of the city and the Magnolia confirmed that the theater has exceeded projections and attained profitability in its third year – despite mandated shutdowns in 2020 and part of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: California Attorney General Rob Bonta

September 27, 2022 (El Cajon) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta sent a warning letter to El Cajon’s Mayor and City Council on Sept. 23 demanding that the city rescind warning notices sent to hotels housing homeless individuals under the County of San Diego’s voucher program. Bonta letters calls the County’s program “unquestionably legal” and claims the city’s notices constitute unlawful discrimination under the Fair Employment and Housing Act, which prohibits housing discrimination based on income source.

Last week, the city of El Cajon sent warning notices to seven of the eight hotels/motels participating in the County of San Diego’s voucher program to temporarily house homeless people. The city warned that the motels were violating a city law that limits hotels to a maximum 25% of capacity for homeless people in the voucher program. The city notified the hotels that they would be fined up to $1,000 a day if they did not comply.

The city noticed an increase in drug dealing and drug use around the motels, then learned that the County had placed homeless people from across the region into the motels through the voucher program.

By Miriam Raftery

September 27, 2022 (La Mesa) - A fire at Spring Hills Apartments, 4341 Spring Street in La Mesa, last night has displaced around 30 residents due to fire or water damage. Fortunately, due to a swift and strong responses by firefighters, most of the building was saved from burning.

By Ken Stone

Originally published in Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Sheriff’s candidate John Hemmerling won’t take a public stand on Proposition 1 regarding abortion rights. Photo by Ken Stone

September 27, 2022 (Ramona) - The San Diego County Republican Party and the state GOP agree: Voters should reject Proposition 1, which would make abortion a constitutional right in California.

By Elijah McKee

September 26, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — “I’ve always felt that if you want to make a difference, you need to get involved,” said Jennifer Mendoza, a Lemon Grove City Councilmember currently serving her second four-year term. “You don’t just sit back and complain, and wait for other people to do things the way you want them to do it — you need to get involved.”

Mendoza, who has announced her bid for re-election, is one of five candidates vying for seats on the Lemon Grove City Council this election year. She officially qualified for the ballot last month, and according to her she has been endorsed by the Mayors of Lemon Grove, Chula Vista and San Diego, as well as her own representatives, Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. 

East County News Service

September 25, 2022 (La Mesa) – A man jumped to his death this afternoon off of State Route 125 onto Interstate 8 east in La Mesa, the California Highway Patrol reports.

By Miriam Raftery

September 25, 2022 (San Diego) -- The House of Representatives has unanimously passed the bipartisan Human Trafficking Prevention Act, introduced by Congressman Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) along with Reps. Mace, Jeffries and Bass. The legislation will require display of National Human Trafficking Hotline information in restrooms of all U.S. ports of entry, airplanes, airports, trains, train stations, busses, and bus stations so that victims or anyone who notices a potential victim of human trafficking can reach out for help.  

Source:  goaztecs.com

Video courtesy goaztecs.com

September 24, 2022 (San Diego) - The Aztec football team (2-2) defeated Toledo (2-2) 17-14 Saturday afternoon at Snapdragon Stadium. After holding a lead for the first 57 minutes, SDSU went down 14-10 late in the fourth quarter and then responded with a game-winning drive capped off with a Jordan Byrd one-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds left.

By Elijah McKee

September 20, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — “The greatest endorsement that I have and am most proud of is [from] the residents themselves,” said Blanca Lopez Brown, a 15-year member of the Lemon Grove School District Board of Trustees. “It helps to keep me grounded and centered as to why I took this on to begin with.”

Brown is one of five candidates vying for seats on the Lemon Grove City Council this election year. She officially qualified for the ballot last month; other endorsers include the Lincoln Club of San Diego. “I am grateful,” she said of the conservative business group’s endorsement. “However, I am here to serve the community of small businesses, residents, and families of Lemon Grove.”

East County News Service

September 24, 2022 (El Cajon) -- Robert Gehr snapped these photos with his iPhone XR about 30 minutes apart, shows the color change as the sun was rising in the east this morning over El Cajon. The sight transitioned from a vivid orange sunrise to white clouds afloat in an azure blue sky.