April 1, 2019 Special Edition

SPECIAL EDITION: BREAKING NEWS APRIL 1, 2019

April 1, 2019—East County Magazine has the exclusive scoop on astounding major stories breaking today.

Is truth stranger than fiction? You decide. Click any title  to view a description of each story, then click "

read more to view full story.  Click here to view  our full special edition.

Trust us, you won't want to miss this news! 

 

 


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INIITIATIVE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESS SHELTER ATOP SANTEE’S CITY HALL



By Able Towers

Special report: April 1, 2019 (Santee) – A citizens’ group today announced a ballot initiative titled “Put It All on City Hall” to meet state mandates for low-income housing and shelter the city’s growing homeless population, while improving citizens’ access to city government.

Santee has long grappled with a NIMBY (not in my backyard) attitude opposing such projects in the city’s neighborhoods. When the state of California passed a law requiring every city to build affordable housing, Santee’s City Council responded with proposals to tear down the city’s drive in movie-theatre or raze a historical barn, the city’s oldest structure.

Now, the “Put it All on City Hall” coalition seeks voters’ approval to erect a 25-story tower at the civic center site, putting hundreds of affordable and low-income housing units, as well as a homeless shelter and services, all  atop a revamped City Council chamber.

See details below:


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LA MESA FINDS LOFTY SOLUTION TO FARMER’S MARKET LOCATION

By Olive Root

Special report April 1, 2019 (La Mesa) –Ever since the La Mesa farmer's market moved last year to downtown on Friday nights, the community has been split between residents and some merchants who love a market in the village core, vs. some restaurant owners who complain that the market has hurt their businesses by taking away parking.

So today, the City of La Mesa and La Mesa Village Association announced an innovative solution: the farmer’s market will be moved into a new sky bridge to be built over the intersection of La Mesa Blvd. and Spring St., much to the surprise and delight of merchants an market vendors.

See their commments below:


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

UCSD RESEARCHERS ANNOUNCE INVENTION OF HIGH-GRADE ARTIFICIAL SAND, ELIMINATING NEED FOR LOCAL SAND MINES

By Halle Lujah

Special report: April 1, 2019 (San Diego) – In a joint announcement today, UCSD researchers and the County of San Diego revealed a major scientific breakthrough.

“Our technology team has developed a superior grade of artificial sand made from recycled products that can replace sand from riverbeds long used in construction of highways and other projects,” said Wei Tugo, lead researcher.

Dianne Jacob, Chair of the County Board of Supervisors, announced, “Thanks to this groundbreaking advance, the County of San Diego will no longer be buying sand for use in any of our roadways or other construction projects. Not only will this provide a use for recyclables that currently end up in our landfills, it will also eliminate the need for dredging scenic areas and wildlife habitat across our region to mine sand.”

Owners of properties proposed for sand mine developments at Cottonwood Golf in Rancho San Diego and El Monte Valley in Lakeside stated that due to the lack of a local marketplace for sand, they are abandoning their sand mining plans, said spokesman Rocky Crush. Details below:


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

CITIZENS ADVSIORY BOARD IN EL CAJON PROPOSES VETTING GUIDELINES FOR CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES AND APPOINTEES

By Paulie Ticking

Special report: April 1, 2019 (El Cajon)—At a community town hall convened today in El Cajon, residents volunteered to form a Citizens Advisory Committee on Vetting City Council Candidates.  

The meeting was convened to propose criteria for filling the vacancy left by the resignation of Councilman Ben Kalasho.

Residents offered some creative suggestions, as our story below details:


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

BORREGO SPRINGS ASKS TOURISTS’ HELP TO EASE WATER SHORTAGE

By Hope Springs

Special report: April 1, 2019 (Borrego Springs) – The Borrego Water District, in partnership with the Borrego Chamber of Commerce, has issued a plan to help ease the region’s dire water shortage. A new publicity campaign titled “Bring a bottle to flush: keep the desert lush” is rolling out today.

Flyers, posters and press releases urge tourists and residents to buy bottled water outside the region and to please pour a bottle into the toilet before each flush.

With long lines of traffic flowing into the region for wildflower viewing, art shows and the Borrego Days annual festival, civic leaders hope this plan will help:


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

TRANSPARENCY SLATE RUNS FOR CAJON VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD

By Will Teach Yu

Special report: April 1, 2019 (El Cajon) – Promising a platform of transparency, accountability and better test scores, a trio of candidates has announced plans to challenge incumbents on the Cajon Valley Union school District board.  See their statements below:


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