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.

February 14, 2019 (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

• Wild winds and torrential rains close schools, trigger rock slides and delay air traffic (San Diego Union Tribune)
• Costs for Pure Water Project Are Rising – by Billions (Voice of SD)
• Layout change for farmers market in La Mesa hits snag (SDUT)
• Trump administration waives environmental review to replace more San Diego border fencing (SDUT)
• Suspect reportedly opens fire into Hillcrest restaurant; 1 detained (KNSD)
• Hate crimes: several swastikas found in La Jolla and Pacific Beach (CBS 8)
• MTS Leaders Are Digging in on a 2020 Ballot Measure  (Voice of San Diego)
• Environment Report: County Penalized for Sewage Spill Into Local River (Voice of SD)
• San Diego Can’t Hit State Climate Goals Without Major Transportation Changes (Voice of SD)
• Social Media, Texts Have Fueled Numerous Instances of Teacher Misconduct (SDUT)
• San Diego proposal to wipe out parking requirements takes key step forward (SDUT)

STATE

• Gavin Newsom wants California to be its own nation-state in the Trump era (SF Chronicle)
• Getting Your Hands On California Campaign Finance Records Could Get Easier (Cal Public Radio)
• Senator Dodd proposes California wildfire warning center (Cal Matters)
• State government lobbying rose again last year. Who spent the most? (Sacramento Bee)
• All too often, California’s default mental institutions are now jails and prisons (Cal Matters)
• A ‘Water Tax’ Is Looking Increasingly Likely (Voice of SD)

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

Action comes on heels of countywide firearms trafficking investigation

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Photo: Capt. Marco Garmo,10 News

February 14, 2019 (Rancho San Diego) -- Capt. Marco Garmo, who most recently headed up the Rancho San Diego substation of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has been placed on an administrative leave until further notice, according to ECM news partner 10News.

On the same day that the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted raids throughout San Diego County, including the large sprawling Jamul estate of San Diego jeweler Leo Hamel due to a firearms trafficking investigation, Garmo was put on leave. The Rancho San Diego substation covers the same area of Hamel’s property.

Sheriff Gore, in a e-mail obtained by 10News yesterday, states that he was made aware of potential criminal conduct by Garmo by a senior member of the Sheriff’s Department, and implies that the removal of Garmo is linked to the broader federal investigation involving Hamel’s properties.

East County News Service

Photo by Robert Gehr

A flash flood warning is in effect countywide through 1:15 p.m. Flash flooding, heavy rains and high winds .are causing power outages and road closures across our region including:

• Highway 94 is closed at Honey Springs Rd. due to flooding.
• Mud/rocks on Lyons Valley Rd. in Jamul.
• Summit Drive in La Mesa is closed at the 4400 block due to power lines down
• 13^th St. and Maple are closed in Ramona between just north of Hwy 67 and Walnut St. due to flooding.
• Vallecitos School Rd. is closed due to flooding.
• Power lines are down on Hwy 78 near San Pasqual cemetery
• Power lines are down on Hwy 67 near Mt. Woodson.
• Montezuma Valley Rd. in Borrego is closed from Palm Canyon to the 6 mile marker due to rock slides covering both lanes
• Pine Valley’s Manzanita Drive from Lilac Dr. to Lakeview Dr. is closed.
  

East County News Service

February 14, 2019 (Alpine) - You’re invited to join the Alpine Chamber of Commerce “Third Thursday Mixer” on Feb. 21 at Mediterraneo’s Bistro Bar & Grill in Alpine.

Source:  California Department of Justice

February 13, 2019 (San Diego) - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today announced the sentencing of Prakashumar ("Kash") Bhakta for operating a mortgage fraud scheme throughout Southern California and the Inland Empire that preyed on homeowners facing foreclosure. Today, Mr. Bhakta was sentenced to seven years and eight months in state prison. Restitution will be ordered in the amount of $256,000. Co-defendants Jacob Orona, Aide Orona, John Contreras, Marcus Robinson, and David Boyd previously pled guilty. They were sentenced to state prison terms ranging from four years to seven years and four months.

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

February 13, 2019 (San Diego) - Behind a standout defensive performance, the Aztec women’s basketball team (10-12, 5-6) knocked off Colorado State (8-15, 2-10) 54-45 Wednesday evening inside Viejas Arena. SDSU held the Rams to 28 percent shooting from the field and held them to seven points or less in the first and third quarter.

By Robert Gehr

February 13, 2019 (El Cajon) -- On my walk earlier Wednesday morning, I encountered a shattered store front window at Maximon Botanica, 127 N. Magnolia Ave. in El Cajon. The faith establishment sells a wide variety of religious items.

By Laurel Rosenhall, CALMatters

CALmatters is an independent public interest journalism venture covering California state politics and government.

February 13, 2019 (Sacramento) - A month after being inaugurated, Gov. Gavin Newsom used his State of the State speech Tuesday to make his strongest showing yet that Jerry Brown is no longer in charge.

He proposed scaling back two of Brown’s legacy projects—a high-speed train and a pair of tunnels to move water from north to south. He rescinded Brown’s deployment of California National Guard troops to the Mexican border. He voiced support for education and housing policies that Brown stayed away from.

A new archive of hundreds of letters between a group of volunteers and asylum seekers along the U.S.-Mexico border has been developed and is being digitized at the SDSU Library.

By La Monica Everett-Haynes

February 13, 2019 (San Diego) - What began as a casual gathering of friends has become a first-of-its-kind living archive of handwritten letters shared by hundreds of asylum seekers detained along the U.S.-Mexico border. Those letters, in the collective correspondence, provide a detailed description of each person’s path to pursuing asylum, and the conditions inside detention centers.