EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

July 26, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• San Diego median home price hits its highest ever: $575K (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove nixes tax measures, faces growing shortfall (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Cohn restaurants is building a restaurant and brewery in La Mesa (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• County failed repeatedly to stop sexual abuse of foster children, lawsuit alleges (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• How will San Diego fend off Coastal Commission, legal challenges to Airbnb rules?  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• DA Drops Felony Charges Against Lawyer Who Defended Marijuana Businessman  (Voice of San Diego)
• Sacramento Report: We Know What Gonzalez’s Next Big Move Might Be  (Voice of San Diego)
• Community Energy Programs Are Accountable in Ways Investor-Owned Utilities Are Not  (Voice of San Diego)

STATE

• Yosemite National Park visitors flee as Ferguson fire grows ‘quickly’ (San Francisco Chronicle)
• California funds new dams to protect against future drought (Cal Matters)
• Traces of the Fukushima Meltdown Can Be Found in California Wines (Popular Mechanics)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

LOCAL

San Diego median home price hits its highest ever: $575K (San Diego Union-Tribune)

A lack of homes for sale has reduced sales significantly, while pushing prices up.

Lemon Grove nixes tax measures, faces growing shortfall (San Diego Union-Tribune)

The Lemon Grove City Council last week failed to reach consensus on two November ballot measures that could have raised much-needed revenue for the city. The first measure called for a half-cent sales tax increase, from 7.75 percent to 8.25 percent; the other measure would have hiked business license fees and established a tax on gross receipts from marijuana dispensaries.

Cohn restaurants is building a restaurant and brewery in La Mesa (San Diego Union-Tribune)

After an 18-year hiatus, the Cohn Restaurant Group is hopping back into the craft beer production industry with a 25,000 square-foot restaurant, brewery and event space on a recently acquired two acre parcel in La Mesa. /Draft Republic Brewing Co., as the venue will be called, is replacing the overly ambitious Depot Springs project, which collapsed earlier this year following money troubles.… The original plan for a distillery and outdoor music venue has been scrapped….

County failed repeatedly to stop sexual abuse of foster children, lawsuit alleges (San Diego Union-Tribune)

[Now adult,] in a 2016 lawsuit by A.G. and his twin brother, M.G. are suing the county and 14 of its social workers for leaving them at Hayes’ mercy despite more than a dozen reports of suspected abuse from an educator, a lawyer, a psychologist and others. 

How will San Diego fend off Coastal Commission, legal challenges to Airbnb rules?  (San Diego Union-Tribune)

… cities up and down the state are joining an increasingly pitched battle to contain the proliferation of short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods…San Diego will soon be caught up in a similar fight as it prepares to implement controversial rules approved last week that are expected to dramatically curtail short-term home stays across the city. Under the new regulations, expected to go into effect next July, vacation rentals will be limited to primary residences only, meaning investors and out-of-towners will no longer be able to rent out secondary homes for stays under 30 days…

DA Drops Felony Charges Against Lawyer Who Defended Marijuana Businessman  (Voice of San Diego)

McElfresh vowed to plead guilty in 12 months to violating San Diego municipal code, an infraction. An agreement signed Monday stipulates that she cannot violate any laws within that timeframe…. The agreement also stipulates that McElfresh must pay a $250 fine, go through a state bar ethics program and pass a professional responsibility exam, and complete 80 hours of community service.

Sacramento Report: We Know What Gonzalez’s Next Big Move Might Be  (Voice of San Diego)

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez dropped some news during our live podcast taping last week…. Voice’s Sara Libby wanted to know if Gonzalez is considering running for secretary of state. Her answer: “probably,” but not until current Secretary of State Alex Padilla steps down in 2022 (assuming he wins re-election this year).

Community Energy Programs Are Accountable in Ways Investor-Owned Utilities Are Not  (Voice of San Diego)

Solana Energy Alliance was created by the community, for the community, and it will be a key part of Solana Beach’s Climate Action Plan, delivering nearly half of the targeted electricity-related greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

STATE

Yosemite National Park visitors flee as Ferguson fire grows ‘quickly’ (San Francisco Chronicle)

Thousands of visitors are fleeing Yosemite Valley on Wednesday, ending their vacations early due to park closures, as firefighters struggle to wrangle the obstinate Ferguson Fire, which jumped fire lines and moved south before dawn.

California funds new dams to protect against future drought (Cal Matters)

 For the first time since California’s dam-building boom ended nearly a half century ago, state officials on Tuesday approved a windfall of cash for new water storage projects, setting the stage for at least a mini-resurgence of reservoir construction.

Traces of the Fukushima Meltdown Can Be Found in California Wines (Popular Mechanics)

Popular Mechanics - Researchers found increased levels of radioactive particles in wines made after Japan's Fukushima meltdown.