Chart, left, prepared by city staff, shows general fund forecast for next 10 years if Prop L is extended.
April 23, 2024 (La Mesa)—The La Mesa City Council will hold a special meeting at 4 p.m. today to review and discuss the Proposition L renewal survey results. Prop L, the ¾ cent sales tax increase approved by voters in 2008, is set to sunset in 2029, unless a measure to extend it is put before voters and approved. Prop L revenues currently account for 20% of the city’s general fund revenues.
The announcement of a special meeting comes after a letter sent April 17 by former Mayor Art Madrid to the current Mayor, City Council, and City Manager urging action.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
Photo: Flooding during San Diego County's January 2024 severe storms
April 23, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) final rule in the Federal Register to help communities prepare for and reduce flood damage. This rule aims to protect communities from flood risk, heavy storms, increased frequency of severe weather events and disasters, changes in development patterns, and erosion.
The new rules apply in areas designated as 100-year floodplains, such as portions of San Diego County that experienced severe flooding in January, prompting disaster declarations at the local, state and federal levels.
April 22, 2023 (Sacramento)-- Today, in honor of Earth Day, climate advocates are asking California lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom to rally around a plan to put a $15 billion bond measure on the November ballot.
If passed, the bond measure would fund a range of climate resiliency measures.
Sam Hodder, president and CEO of the Save the Redwoods League, said March was the tenth month in a row to break monthly heat records.
By Isabel Dominguez, Outreach Coordinator at CSA San Diego
April 21, 2024 (San Diego) -- Imagine you are in search of affordable housing for yourself, and you come across a home that happens to check all of your boxes. You love the neighborhood, it’s in your price range, and has the perfect amount of room for you. As you become certain about this decision, the housing provider refuses to negotiate and tells you that it is no longer available despite it still being listed.
The Fair Housing Act protects various classes of individuals from facing discrimination from a housing provider. This act prevents landlords and real estate companies from being discriminatory towards a person’s race, color, national origin, familial status, sex, religion, or disability. It protects them in all aspects of housing whether it be renting, buying, seeking housing assistance, or getting a mortgage.
April 21, 2024 (San Diego)-- CSA San Diego County invites you to learn about your rights as a tenant at a Fair Housing presentation on May 1 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Spring Valley Library(836 Kempton St., Spring Valley, CA 91977). RSVP here for the Spring Valley Fair Housing Presentation
CSA San Diego County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose primary mission is the promotion of social justice and public welfare through programs, services, and advocacy against all forms of discrimination, including advocacy for the eradication of housing discrimination to assure equal housing opportunity for all individuals. CSA can be reached at (619) 444-5700 or at outreach@c4sa.org.
Topics to be discussed in this presentation include:
- What is Fair Housing?
- What are protected classes?
- What to do if you have faced housing discrimination.
Photos via Wikipedia: Former President Donald J. Trump; likely prosecution witnesses Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, and Karen McDougal, an ex-Playboy model
April 20, 2024 (New York, NY) – Twelve jurors and six alternates have been selected in the federal criminal case against Donald J. Trump in Manhattan, the New York Times reports. Opening arguments by the prosecution and Trump's lawyers are slated to begin Monday in the case, which accuses the former President and presumptive Republican nominee of funneling hush money payments through his lawyer to prevent negative information from surfacing during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Ahead of this first-ever criminal trial of a former president, which has no clear historical precedent in the U.S., here are the essentials to know.
Story and Photos by Mimi Pollack and Fred Kropveld, San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
Photo: Mimi Pollack
April 19, 2024 (San Diego) -- As someone who is not comfortable with organized religion, I rarely go to a temple or synagogue. However, I am all in when a house of worship opens its doors to artists, so they can display their work.
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
Photo: job seeker conversing with recruiters at Grossmont College job fair
April 19, 2024 (El Cajon) -- More than 40 employers will be attending the 3rd Annual Refugee Job Fair being held May 1 at Grossmont College, a free event focused on finding new careers for refugees, Dreamers, international students and community members.
The job fair will be held in the Main Quad at Grossmont College from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no charge for parking at the college.
Photo: Kayli Ortega, of Spring Valley, pictured with her winning entry alongside her father, Gabriel Ortega, at the Financial Literacy Superhero’s Awards Ceremony at the Comic-Con Museum April 13, 2024
April 19, 2024 (San Diego) -- Kayli Ortega, a resident of Spring Valley, entered this year’s third annual Financial Literacy Superheroes Competition and was honored for her entry encouraging healthy financial literacy habits. She was honored with the other winners from across San Diego County at an Awards Ceremony held at the Comic-Con Museum on Saturday April 13th.
April 18, 2024 (Spring Valley) – Reyvon English, 18, has been booked into San Diego County Jail for rape, kidnapping, and other sexual assault-related charges. He allegedly assaulted a 15-year-old female student in a restroom at Mount Miguel High School in Spring Valley on April 11 around 4 p.m
April 18, 2024 (San Diego) – San Diego County’s agriculture is a rich tapestry of over 5,000 mini-farms seamlessly blended into expanding urban landscapes. Most are family-owned organic farms producing high-value crops on just a few acres of land to turn a profit in this water-scarce, highly urbanized region. The moderate climate, ample sunlight, and varied terrain made the area perfect for cultivating an astonishing variety of 200+ commodities, ranging from strawberries and citrus to avocados.
Today, San Diego is the No. 1 nursery crop producer and the 12th-largest agricultural economy in the U.S. It also outperforms its fellow top-producing counties within California in terms of average dollar value per acre.
On the downside, as climate change effects become increasingly felt in the region, this places an enormous strain on local agricultural producers.
April 18, 2024 (San Diego) -- Customers who ate the oysters at 100s Seafood Grill Buffet in Mission Valley on March 30th became sick, a couple days later one person went to the emergency department.
Photo: Newly dozed driveway, with Ben Good's home/barn in background
April 17, 2024 (Pine Valley, CA) -- Neighbors have secured nearly 1,800 signatures on a petition opposing plans to build a cemetery on 38 acres of land about 2.5 miles east of La Posta Ranch, just south of Interstate 8 and Old Highway 80. The cemetery proposed by SD Crescentwood Services would provide burial space for Muslims in San Diego County, which currently has no Muslim cemetery.
Residents’ primary concern is over potential groundwater contamination, since the graveyard would be over the EPA-designated sole-source aquifer that residents in several backcountry communities rely upon for well water. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported on cemeteries’ potential impacts on public health, when close to aquifers or other water sources.
April 17, 2024 (La Posta) -- There was a glaring error on the Major Use Permit application filed with the County of San Diego on April 6, 2023 for the proposed Crescentwood Cemetery: the address listed for the project, at 35252 Old Highway 80 in La Posta.
But 35252 is also the location of Ben and Trina Good’s green clapboard home, which sits across Old Highway 80 from the 38 acres where Crescentwood wants to build a new cemetery. The proposed cemetery land has a “parcel number” -- but no assigned street address. So the applicants, SD Crescentwood Services, used the Good’s address on their application.
April 17, 2024 (Spring Valley) – Sheriff’s deputies from the Rancho San Diego Station responded to a call yesterday morning reporting that someone was trying to break into a residence in the 800 block of La Presa in Spring Valley. Deputies entered and found a female victim with head trauma.
“Deputies immediately began life saving measures until relieved by paramedics. Unfortunately, the victim passed away on scene” says Lieutenant Michael Krugh. She has been identified as Ashley Bird, 35.
The suspect,Christopher Bird,39, was later found deceased in a vehicle.His body was found by law enforcement in Orange County.
April 16, 2024 (El Cajon) -- John Paul Campbell, 37, a suspect in the April 9 death of a homeless man in El Cajon was apprehended on April 12 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents.
The victim, Robert Mansi, 41, was found by El Cajon Police officers responding to an assault near 100 West Main Street at 3 a.m. on April 9. He died at the scene with injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. His death has been classified as a homicide.
April 15, 2024 (Pine Valley) – A Pine Valley woman, 61, was struck and killed Saturday morning while walking on the shoulder along Pine Boulevard south of Rocky Pass. The victim was Mary Lombard Stewart, according to her husband, Brian Stewart.
“The sirens were for my wife Mary, who was struck from behind while walking to our house on Valley View Trail,” he posted on Facebook. “My wife did not survive the impact.”
April 15, 2024 (El Cajon) – An El Cajon man, 38, was struck and killed on April 13 while walking in the #2 lane on westbound Interstate 8, near East Main Street in El Cajon.
Hopefully, this exhibit will be the first of many more to come. This East County Artist's type of art would be perfect for Earth Day!
By Mimi Pollack, San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
April 15, 2024 (San Diego) -- When immigrants first arrive, everything is new for them, and they must work to repurpose their life. Many volunteers, including Roni Breite, guide them in doing that.
In a similar way, Breite gives new life to discarded objects she finds and fashions them into her own unique designs. The display she had at the First Annual Artists’ Showcase at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Carlos earlier this month was fascinating.
You’re invited to our next East County Dining Club event! This event benefits East County Magazine and our East County Wildfire & Emergency alerts. Everyone is welcome to attend our event at this popular new eatery founded by chefs with international experience!
Photo: Iranian missiles over Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, courtesy of Mehr News Service under a Creative Commons 4.0 license.
April 14, 2024 (San Diego) -- Iran’s drone and missile attack against Israel that began Saturday evening in the Mideast was quickly condemned by the governor, San Diego lawmakers and Jewish community leaders.
Council supports state bill making distribution of hate flyers on private property a civil rights violation, retains controversial ban on remote public comments
By Michael Howard
Photo: Vice Mayor Laura Lothian discusses State Assembly Bill 3024 during April 9 La Mesa City Council Meeting.
April 14, 2024 (La Mesa, CA) – The La Mesa City Council continues to grapple with a balance between free speech protected by the U.S. Constitution and hate speech that just doesn’t seem to go away.
In its latest action, the Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday to adopt a resolution to support state bill AB 3024, the Stop Hate Littering Act, introduced by Assemblymember Chris Ward.
That bill adds language to section 51.7 of the current California State Civil Code to further define “intimidation by threat of violence” to include “distribution of hateful materials on private property of another without authorization for the purpose of terrorizing the owner or occupant of that private property or in reckless disregard of the risk of terrorizing the owner or occupant of that private property.”
CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters
April 13, 2024 (San Diego) -- A new bill would make it illegal for homeless residents to camp in certain places, such as near schools, throughout California. Its authors say such a ban has had great success in San Diego. But a closer look at that city paints a more nuanced picture.
Politicians pushing to make homeless encampments illegal across wide swaths of California point to one city as proof it will work.
This coverage was made possible in part by a grant from the A-Mark Foundation.
By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office
April 13, 2024 (San Diego) -- The Health and Human Services Agency’s 2024 Live Well San Diego Public Health Champion Awards Ceremony was held on Friday, April 5, 2024. This event honored 12 local people and organizations for their outstanding contributions in the prevention of disease or injury and the promotion of public health for all San Diegans.
The annual awards ceremony is held during National Public Health Week, a time to recognize the importance of public health and improving the nation’s health overall.
April 12, 2024 (Julian) -- Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures, invites you to their 9th annual Lilac Festival event on Saturdays and Sundays starting April 20 and will go on through Mother’s Day Weekend, May 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The outdoor educational farm that specializes in living history field trips, is also home to five acres of beautifully fragrant lilacs near the town of Julian.
Fort Cross is the largest lilac farm in Southern California that sells fresh-cut bouquets directly to the public, and will have different lilac varieties available for purchase 7 days a week as soon as the flowers are in bloom.
April 12, 2024 (City Heights) – Vibrant new public murals now adorn the exterior of City Heights Plaza del Sol, an affordable housing complex in the heart of San Diego’s City Heights community. The murals are the latest addition to a series of ArtReach Murals created under lead artist Josué Baltézar.
April 12, 2024 (Rancho San Diego, CA) — Cuyamaca College invites you to celebrate the season at its Spring Festival on Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s event is hosted by the Ornamental Horticultural Dept. and Heritage of the Americas Museum.
April 12, 2024 (San Diego) -- Refresh your closet for spring, sustainably! Bring clothing in good condition, and swap with other community members for new-to-you outfits.
Join Sydney Williams for a hike, a book signing + discussion of her new book, Hiking Your Feeling: Blazing a Trail to Self-Love
April 12, 2024 (San Diego) -- Turn your pain into power. Part inspirational memoir, part practical guide, Hiking Your Feelings offers a toolkit to unpack your “trauma pack” and step into the best version of yourself.
Join wellness advocate and wilderness guide Sydney Williams for a book signing and discussion of her new book, Hiking Your Feeling: Blazing a Trail to Self-Love, as well as a guided walk through the park. The book will be available for purchase at the MTRP gift shop.
April 11, 2024 (El Cajon) – Recent rains have brought spring flowers. Robert Gehr sent in these photos of beautiful blooms in his El Cajon neighborhood.
By Isabel Dominguez, Outreach Coordinator at CSA San Diego
Story and Photos by Mimi Pollack and Fred Kropveld, San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
Photo: Kayli Ortega, of Spring Valley, pictured with her winning entry alongside her father, Gabriel Ortega, at the Financial Literacy Superhero’s Awards Ceremony at the Comic-Con Museum April 13, 2024
Reyvon English, 18, has been booked into San Diego County Jail for rape, kidnapping, and other sexual assault-related charges. He allegedly assaulted a 15-year-old female student in a restroom at Mount Miguel High School in Spring Valley on April 11 around 4 p.m
By Mykyta Dubina 
County health officials have linked 11 confirmed and probable cases of norovirus illness to frozen oysters imported from South Korea. 
By Kirsten Andelman
By Kirsten Andelman
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
Hopefully, this exhibit will be the first of many more to come. This East County Artist's type of art would be perfect for Earth Day!
By 
Council supports state bill making distribution of hate flyers on private property a civil rights violation, retains controversial ban on remote public comments
By 
By 
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
April 11, 2024 (El Cajon) – Recent rains have brought spring flowers. Robert Gehr sent in these photos of beautiful blooms in his El Cajon neighborhood.
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