East County News Service

February 19, 2019 (Spring Valley) – A Volkswagen sedan struck and injured a pedestrian near the intersection of Campo Road and North Granada Avenue in the Casa de Oro area shortly before 5:50 this morning, the California Highway Patrol reports.

By Miriam Raftery

February 19, 2019 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Community Planning Group has called a special meeting to be held this Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lakeside Teen Center in the Community Center. The County will have a representative present to “explain some of the actions that the County Planning Commission has approved and is sending to the Board of Supervisors for their approval regarding changes to the local zoning ordinances that will have an effect on Lakeside,” according to an email sent by LCPG chair Brian Sesko.

Sesko told ECM that the county presented the matter as zoning “cleanup” and complying with state mandates, but that some residents who went down and ready the full proposal raised concerns about potential impacts on Lakeside and other unincorporated areas.

He added that Supervisors are slated to hear the proposed amendments next Wednesday and that the County Planning Commission already voted in favor despite some objections.

East County News Service

February 19, 2019 (San Diego) - In a shocking turn of events, MLB all-star third baseman Manny Machado has signed with the Padres after being scouted by the Yankees and several other teams, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reports.

By Joel A. Harrison

Photo: Swedish bike lane, creative commons

February 18, 2019 (San Diego) -- While the following editorial uses my neighborhood as an example, other cities in San Diego County face similar housing problems and the currently proposed one for the city of San Diego will NOT solve them.

My family has been in North Park since 1936. My mother graduated from Hoover High, class of 1941. Currently there are 17 two-story apartments and seven houses on my block. At 5 a.m. every morning I walk my dog about a mile, where I often count between 25 and 30 cars parked at the North Park public library. Sometimes I don’t see a single empty space within several blocks. If not for the library, where would they park? And now the push is to build multiple story apartments with NO parking space requirement. So, let’s look at the issues:

By Jack and Helen Ofield, https://www.newpacificproductions.com

February 18, 2019 (Lemon Grove) -- On President's Day we honor the father of our country, George Washington (born Feb. 22, 1732). Knowledge of his life and achievements is, alas, fading, yet he is the one who ensured the birth of our nation and the adoption of its Constitution--the document that prompts millions to move to the USA whether they understand it or not. 

Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

February 18, 2019 (El Cajon) - The 10-year era of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District with Chancellor Cindy L. Miles at the helm will soon draw to a close.

 With what she described as “mixed feelings,” Miles announced today that she will be retiring at the end of the year. Her retirement contract, set to go before the Governing Board Feb. 19, calls for Miles to remain until the end of the year to allow time for a successor to be selected.

By Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

February 17, 2019 (San Diego) - A parade of rabbinical colleagues and family members mourning Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal, praised him, which they acknowledged he would have hated, and told jokes about him, which they said he would have loved.  The rabbi’s funeral service was attended by hundreds of congregants and friends Friday afternoon in the congregation he had served for over 30 years, Tifereth Israel Synagogue.

By Miriam Raftery

February 17, 2019 (Washington D.C.) –President Donald Trump has signed a compromise bill to keep the government from shutting down again, but issued an emergency declaration Friday to build a border wall in defiance of Congressional wishes.  Both the Republican-controlled Senate and the Democratic-controlled House previously refused to allocate $5 billion requested by Trump for the border wall.

The compromise bill signed by Trump does include $1.3 billion for border security, including 55 miles of new barriers. But under Trump’s executive order he would take even more money than he previously sought – over $7 billion that he hopes to divert from military construction projects, combatting narcotics smuggling, and asset forfeitures.

The latter, money seized from criminals, is currently used to fund police and sheriff operations including substantial local funding in San Diego County. Fom 2004 to mid-2014,San Diego's Sheriff and District Attorney kept 80% of federal assets seized, or about $1.5 million a year, according to a records request by ECM, as we reported in October 2014.

By Miriam Raftery

February 16, 2019 (El Cajon) – Heartland Fire and Rescue crews extinguished a blaze Monday night in the garage of a home in the 1500 block of Condor Ave. in El Cajon.  Residents were reportedly doing laundry when they smelled smoke and found their garage on fire.

Firefighters cut open the garage door to access the flames and were able to douse the fire within 10 minutes, saving the residence where eight people reside.

Mallory Adams had a team high 17 points 

February 16, 2019 (Boise) - The Aztecs women’s basketball team (10-13, 5-7) had their four-game winning streak with a 91-67 loss at first place Boise State (21-3, 12-1) Saturday afternoon. The high-powered Bronco offense scored 50 points on 68 percent shooting in the first half and built an insurmountable lead. 

By E.A. Barrera

Photo by E.A. Barrera:  Property in Lakeside saved from development by CEQA

February 16, 2019 (San Diego) --- There is a false and very dangerous idea being advanced that somehow the crises of affordable housing can be solved by weakening or gutting the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and other zoning and environmental protections. 

Groups calling themselves "Yimby" (Yes in my backyard) have formed across the state. At first glance their intentions seem great - organize and advance the development of greater densities within existing neighborhoods to provide more housing for low income residents. 

But these organizations have swiftly become fronts for development, real estate and banking interests who seek to eliminate all rules regarding development. These interests push a tired and flatly deceptive line that if only they could be allowed to develop more supply, the trickle down effect would be lower prices across the board in housing.

By Michelle Mowad, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  Andrea Martinez-Pastor and Miguel Pastor 

February 15, 2019 (San Diego) - Rain could not dampen the spirit of love for couples tying the knot Thursday at County offices. Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year for the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk’s Marriage Section, and the office expected more than 100 couples at its downtown location.

East County News Service

February 15, 2019 (San Diego's East County) -- The county Office of Education reports that schools in the Bonsall Unified School District, Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, Mountain Empire Unified School District, Julian Union School District, Julian Union High School District and Fallbrook Union High School District will be be closed today as a result of winter weather conditions. Hazards include flooding, power outages and dangerous travel due to snow or icy condiions.

Monte Vista High School will be closed today due to a broken water main, the Grossmont Union HIgh School District has announced on Twitter.