Update: An earlier version of this article contained information added by our editor stating that the vote violated California's Brown Act. The City has disputed this and indicated that a public vote was held.  Our earlier report was based on a text from a Councilmember indicating that the vote was "anonymous" after ECM's editor asked whether the vote was unanimous. An anonymous vote during a public meeting would be illegal. Please see correction note below this article for  full details.

By Jessica Brodkin Webb

Miriam Raftery contributed to this report.

February 5, 2025 (Lemon Grove) –Lemon Grove’s City Council last night appointed Yadira Altamirano to fill the seat left vacant after Allyson Snow was elected as Mayor in 2024. She was previously appointed to finish City Council Member Matt Mendoza’s term from late 2019 through December 2020.

By Miriam Raftery

January 30, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – Eleven people have applied to fill a vacancy on the Lemon Grove City Council created when former Councilmember Alysson Snow won the mayoral election.  The City Council will interview the applicants during the Feb.4 Council meeting at 6 p.m. at the Lemon Grove Community Center. View the full agenda including candidate applications: https://events.lemongrove.ca.gov/council.

The Council previously approved filling the vacancy via appointment, to avoid a costly election. The appointee chosen will serve the remainder of the term, which expires in December 2026.

Applications included detailed questions about candidates’ backgrounds and goals, though some did not identify policy objectives.

The applicants, in order of their interview times, are as follows, along with highlights from their applications:

By Jessica Brodkin Webb

January 27, 2025 (Lemon Grove) -- Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow called the Jan. 21 City Council meeting “very light,” yet there was time enough for staunch resident pushback against a historically controversial tiny homes project which was not on the agenda. 

Update January 10, 2025 -- A third suspect has been arrested and charged with aiding and abetting in the murder of Darron Willie Singleton, Jr.  On Thursday January 9, 2025, 45-year-old Valena Marie Gonzales of San Diego was apprehended by the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force near Valley Road and Rio Drive in San Diego. She has been booked into custody at Las Colinas Detention Facility.

East County News Service

January 8, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The Sheriff’s office today announced the arrest of two men suspected in the murder of 23-year-old Darron Willie Singleton, Jr.  

On Sept. 18 around 10:55 p.m., deputies responded to reports of gunfire and found Singleton suffering gunshot wounds to the torse in the 2200 block of Dain Street in Lemon Grove. Despite lifesaving efforts by San Miguel Fire Department personnel and Sheriff’s deputies, Singleton died at the scene.

“Months of intensive investigation led to the arrests of two individuals believed to be involved in this heinous crime,” says Lieutenant Michael Krugh.

East County News Service

January 2, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – A 20-year-old man and a 19-year old woman are dead as a result of a collision in Lemon Grove yesterday.

By Miriam Raftery

November 30, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – ‘Tis the season to be jolly – so Revitalize Broadway invites singers (no experience required) to join in spreading some holiday cheer. Caroling on Broadway will take place Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 21.

East County News Service

November 13, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – A fourth suspect has been arrested in connection with the death of Gregory Moore, 39, who was fatally shot on March 18, 2023 in Lemon Grove. 

By Miriam Raftery

November 5, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Councilmember Alysson Snow may be poised to oust incumbent Mayor Racquel Vasquez in Lemon Grove, if early election returns hold. With 855, 948 ballots counted out of the county’s 1,983,767 registered voters, Snow has 41.27%,  Vasquez 30.34%, and Councilmember Liana LeBaron  28.39%.

October 17, 2024 (Lemon Grove) -- All four candidates running for Lemon Grove City Council participated in East County Magazine’s candidate forum on Oct.10, which was moderated by editor Miriam Raftery.

The candidates are Councilman George Gastil, a history professor, Seth Smith, Chair of the Lemon Grove Planning Commission, architectural designer and project manager, high school coach Steve Faiai, and Jessyka Heredia, a small business owner, community volunteer, and reporter who previously covered Lemon Grove issues for our news site. 

Candidates fielded questions on issues including infrastructure, housing, homeless, the business community, and increasing access to public meetings through livestreaming and videotaping.  See highlights of their responses belone, or click here for video of the complete forum.  Listen to audio here, as aired on our radio show on KNSJ, edited slightly for length.

October 10, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – East County Magazine will host two candidate forums tonight on Zoom.  The Lemon Grove mayoral  candidates’ forum will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the Lemon Grove City Council candidates’ forum  at 7 p.m.

You can watch live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EastCountyMagazine/.  The forum will also be posted later on our homepage at https://www.eastcountymagazine.org.

All candidates have agreed to participate.

East County News Service

Update Sesptember 9, 2024:  The victim has been identified as Diego Omar Valera-Trujillo.  A suspect, Joshua Gonzalez, 27, has been arrested near his home on Lincoln Ave. in Lemon Grove. He will be charged with murder.

September 8, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – A 21-year-old  man has died in the hospital after being shot multiple times last night in Lemon Grove.

Sheriff’s deputies were on Lemon Grove Avenue when they heard several gunshots at 11:34 p.m. While checking the business area, they were told that  a group of people were arguing in the 3100 block of  School Lane. Deputies searched the area and found the victim.  They provided medical aid until Heartland Fire Department arrived and transported the victim to a hospital, where he died of his injuries.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos, top left to lower right:  Sitivi "Steve" Faiai, Councilman George Gastil, Jessyka Heredia,and Seth Smith

August 27, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Four candidates are running for two City Council seats in Lemon Grove.  Councilman George Gastil seeks reelection. The other candidates are Sitivi “Steve” Faiai, Jessyka Heredia, and Seth Andrew Smith.  Depending on the outcomes in the Council and mayoral races, Lemon Grove will have at least one new face on its City Council, and could have as many as three. 

That’s because Councilmembers Liana LeBaron and Alysson Snow are challenging incumbent Racquel Vasquez in the mayoral race. LeBaron’s Council term is up this year, meaning if she loses her mayoral bid, she will be off the Council.  Snow’s term isn’t up until 2026, meaning she will stay on the Council if she loses her mayoral bid. If Snow wins, this would create a new open seat, which the new City Council could fill by appointment or special election.  Read ECM’s article on the mayoral race.

Lemon Grove’s City Council meetings have often been contentious, with clashes among some Councilmembers as well as pushback from some members of the public on issues including homelessness, housing, business development, street repairs and flooded storm drains. The city has a smaller budget than other East County cities, making it a daunting challenge to meet the many priorities voiced by residents.

Here are highlights of each candidate seeking to represent residents on the Lemon Grove City Council, listed in alphabetical order.

Source: Lemon Grove Lions Club

August 18, 2024 (Lemon Grove) -- In a heartwarming display of community spirit, the Lemon Grove Improvement Council, Lemon Grove Lions Club and the Lemon Grove Forward Club joined forces  for a special mission: stuffing school supplies into backpacks for local students. With the new school year just around the corner, the importance of preparation can't be overstated.

Together, these dedicated organizations prepared around 200 backpacks filled with essential supplies, all destined for homeless students in the Lemon Grove area. The Lemon Grove School District played a crucial role by identifying the students most in need and will also assist in distributing the backpacks.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos, top left to bottom right:  Homeless people camped in Lemon Grove and their stories: Erika, a diabetic unable to drive; Christopher, a widower and carpenter seeking work; Elijah, who says his unemployment payments were stolen, Cardell, a nurse whose family died, and Kimberly, 78, who says she has lung cancer and a fractured skull; she has been sheltering in a rancid storm drain after her tent burned.

July 2, 2024 (Lemon Grove)-- Kimberly, 78, is frail, petite, and in desperate need. She  struggles to push a shopping cart laden with rumpled belongings on a scorching July afternoon. The elderly woman, her wrinkled skin tanned and leathery, coughs frequently. An edge of fear underlies her soft voice.

”I have lung cancer,” she says.  Kimberly tells us that she suffered a fall recently in a nearby parking lot. “I’ve got a fractured skull right now.”   “Nobody’s helping me,” she says sadly.

Kimberly is one of 293 homeless people in Lemon Grove who might be helped if the County approves funds to build 60-70 sleeping cabins in Lemon Grove at Troy and Sweetwater on land owned by Caltrans.  On July 18at 6 p.m. a public hearing on this issue at the Lemon Grove Community Center, 3146 School  Lane, Lemon Grove, Supervisor Monica Montgomery-Steppe has announced.

East County News Service

June 16, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Two men and a woman were shot last night outside a residence near the intersection of Dain Court and Jadam Way in Lemon Grove.

Deputies from the Lemon Grove Substation and the Rancho San Diego Station responded to reports of shots fired around 9:40 p.m., but the three victims had already gone to a local hospital.

“There is currently no suspect description. No arrests have been made,”says Lieutenant Joe Barry. The victims are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at the hospital and are in stable condition, he adds.