City Council

PARENT, SHU LEAD IN LA MESA CITY COUNCIL RACE

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: left to right: Allan Durden, Colin Parent, Mark Papenfuss, Kristine Alessio, Jack Shu, Laura Lothian

November 3, 2020 (La Mesa) – Councilman Colin Parent and Jack Shu, both endorsed by the Democratic Party, are leading in the La Mesa City Council race with 25.15% and 24.76% respectively in a field of six candidates with two seats up for grabs.  If the current lead holds, incumbent Kristine Alessio may lose her seat.

While some feared an anti-incumbent backlash in the wake of the May 30 riot, that does not appear to have impacted the leaders in this race.  However, both Parent and Shu supported formation of La Mesa’s Citizens Police Oversight Board and a citizens advisory committee on homelessness. Parent appears to have weathered controversy over developer donations over a proposed homeless shelter that was later withdrawn by the county. 

Shu told ECM, ""The early results look very good but I'm waiting for more ballots to be counted before presuming anything.  However, there is a clear message that La Mesa is ready for positive change. I'd like to thank the community for the tremendous outpouring of support we've received and my campaign team and volunteers who did a phenomenal job."


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COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD RECRUITMENT NOW OPEN

Source: City of La Mesa

Photo: Themis, Blind Justice, Cast Bronze by Design Toscano

Click here to apply

October 28, 2020 (La Mesa) – Applications are now being accepted for the newly created Community Police Oversight Board (“CPOB”). The deadline for submission of applications is 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2020, in the City Clerk’s office at La Mesa City Hall, 8130 Allison Avenue. Applications may be obtained at City Hall or from the City of La Mesa website.

The CPOB will provide recommendations to the Chief of Police, Mayor, City Council, and City Manager on the La Mesa Police Department procedures and policies and on matters of public safety within the City. The CPOB will consist of an 11 member panel (must be residents of the City of La Mesa) as follows:


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LA MESA OUSTS ROUNDABOUTS

 

East County Magazine

April 27, 2015 (La Mesa) – Back in December 2013, the city of La Mesa installed roundabouts to slow down speeders at two locations on Harbison Avenue, at the Watson Way and Annapolis Avenue junctions.


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MAYOR PROPOSES MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTIONS

 

By Miriam Raftery

October 7, 2014 (San Diego) – San Diego city residents may soon have mandatory water restrictions.  Mayor Kevin Faulconer has proposed that the city move to drought alert status.  If approved by the City Council, drought alert status would impose limits on when residents can wash cars, water lawns, gardens and other plants, among other restrictions.


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MAYOR FAULCONER RELEASES COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN

 

October 1, 2014 (San Diego) – San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has responded to calls from the City Council and more than a thousand climate march activists locally by releasing a comprehensive Climate Action Plan. The plan calls for cutting the city’s carbon emissions 15% by 2020 and nearly in half --49%-- by 2035. The city also aspires to produce 100% of its power from renewable resources by 2035.


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MAYOR KEVIN FAULCONER VETOES MINIMUM WAGE AND SICK DAYS ORDINANCE

 

By Nadin Abbott

August 8, 2014 (San Diego) San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has vetoed the Minimum Wage: Sick Leave Ordinance previously approved by the City Council.


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EL CAJON VOTES TO LOWER SALES TAX

 

By Miriam Raftery

July 13, 2014 (El Cajon) – Starting March 31, 2015, the sales tax in El Cajon will drop by a half cent on every dollar, from 9 cents to 8.5 percent.


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SANTEE FORMS PUBLIC ART SUB-COMMITTEE

 

By Janis Mork

March 15, 2013 (Santee) - At Wednesday’s city council meeting, the council was informed of a Santee Public Art Sub-Committee under the Santee Park and Recreation Committee. Community services director Bill Maertz explained that the new sub-committee hopes to have public art projects and paintings among other things to promote works of art, such as depictions of nature. “We’re looking at proceeds from the Bluegrass Festival, volunteer painters, and donations from public” along with anyone else who may offer their skills and expertise, he said.


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CITY ATTORNEY TO ENFORCE MEDICAL MARIJUANA ZONING LAWS UNTIL NEW ORDINANCE IS ENACTED

January 29, 2013 (San Diego) -- Today, the City Council met in Closed Session to address civil enforcement actions that were filed against marijuana dispensary operators and property owners to compel compliance with the City’s zoning laws.

On a unanimous vote (with Councilmember Faulconer absent) and with agreement by the Mayor, the Council directed the City Attorney not to dismiss the cases. In order to preserve the status quo, the current zoning laws will be enforced. Dispensaries should not open in violation of existing laws.


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CITY COUNCIL APPROVES FARMERS’ MARKET IN EL CAJON

The market will be held on Thursdays downtown starting March 21

By Janis Mork

January 30, 2013 (El Cajon) - Following approval at Tuesday’s January 22nd City Council meeting, the City of El Cajon will now have its own farmers’ market in the downtown area. The City is working with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and others to establish a certified farmers’ market on Thursday evenings, beginning March 21, at the Prescott Promenade, located at 201 East Main Street in downtown El Cajon. 


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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: TOP LOCAL AND STATE NEWS

November 20, 2012  --  (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:

STATE

LOCAL

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.


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CITY COUNCIL AND AUTO DEALERSHIPS FORM PARTNERSHIP IN EL CAJON

October 31, 2012 (El Cajon)—  At the October 23rd Council meeting, Councilmember Wells proposed that the El Cajon City Council authorize the City Manager to expend General Fund revenues as a 50 percent match with the dealerships for the costs of creating an “El Cajon Auto Dealership Association,” not to exceed the amount of $10,000. 

The City Council voted 4-0 to support this new partnership.


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CITIZENS CALL ON CITY TO ENFORCE 1985 MANAGED GROWTH INITIATIVE RIGHT TO VOTE

October 23, 2012 (San Diego)--Members of San Diegans for Managed Growth (SDMG), the original sponsor of the 1985 Managed Growth Initiative, were joined on Sunday by representatives of the League of Women Voters (LWV), Protect San Dieguito River Valley (PSDRV) and other organizations in calling on the Mayor, City Attorney and the City Council to enforce the initiative’s requirement for voter approval of urban development in certain agriculturally zoned open space areas of the City referred to as “Proposition A Lands” in the City General Plan.  


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READER’S EDITORIAL: THE WONDERLAND OF EL CAJON CITY CAMPAIGN POLITICS

By Bonnie B. Price

October 2, 2012 (El Cajon)--As campaign season draws nearer to the November 6 election, contenders for the three city council seats are having a strange type of conflict in the wonderland of El Cajon campaign politics.  Issues such as the highest sales tax in the county and high sewer taxes* in the poorest city in the county are not being discussed. 

Instead, people have been distracted from these significant issues with a battle over political sign locations! 


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LILY SCHWORM RUNS TO LEGALIZE CHICKENS, CUT SOCIAL SERVICES IN EL CAJON

By Miriam Raftery

September 11, 2012 (El Cajon ) – Lily Schorm, a teacher, learned some lessons while attending El Cajon City Council meetings. Now she’s among seven candidates running for three Council seats in November.

“It’s illegal to have chickens in El Cajon,” says Schworm, in an exclusive interview with ECM.  She has been working to persuade the City Council to legalize chicken ownership.  During that process, she saw Council  approve expenditures that she considered wasteful.


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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: TOP LOCAL AND STATE NEWS

 

September 6, 2012  --  (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/REGIONAL

  • La Mesa-Spring Valley schools face cuts of $12.5 million  if tax vote fails (La Mesa Patch)
  • Wages in San Diego not rising fast enough (UT San Diego)
  • La Mesa City Council Candidates (La Mesa Courier)
  • 10 privatization fact checks (Voice of San Diego)
  • 21 homes red-tagged: What to expect from classic Brawley earthquake swarm  (NBC)
  • Recruiting allegations haunt Helix, defending state football champions (Mt. Helix Patch.com)

STATE

  • California jobs picture brightens (Sacramento Bee)
  • Gov. Brown promotes Prop 30, warns of devastating cuts to education if it fails (Santee Patch)
  • Most tax deals die as GOP stands united (UT San Diego)
  • Self-driving cars approved by California legislature (CNBC)
  • California way behind Germany in solar development (KCET)
  • Three races could tip the balance of power in state Legislature (Sacramento Bee)
  • U.S. Chamber launches ad attacking California budget, economy (Sacramento Bee)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.


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POLITICAL WRANGLING: HATS ARE IN THE RING, GLOVES ARE COMING OFF

 
By Buck Shott
 
August 5, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – As the political season kicks into gear, we’ve got the roundup of who’s running (so far) for East County’s three city councils.  We bring you the latest mud fests and hot gossip in San Diego’s mayoral race. Plus see who’s having a bad week on the presidential campaign trail – all in this week’s Political Wrangling. Yee-ha!

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CHICKENS MAY SOON FLOCK TO EL CAJON: COUNCIL VOTES IN FAVOR BACKYARD CHICKEN OWNERSHIP

 

 
Staff to prepare draft ordinance
 
By Janis Mork
 
June 26, 2012 (El Cajon)- At the El Cajon Council meeting today, one of the items on the agenda concerned changing the zoning requirement so El Cajon residents can own chickens in their own backyards. The public was able to voice their concerns to allow backyard chicken ownership.

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EMERALD WANTS SDG&E DOLLARS TO FUND FIRE/RESCUE DEFICIENCIES

 

June 13, 2012 (San Diego) -- San Diego Gas and Electric has agreed to pay the City of San Diego $27 Million to settle a lawsuit over the 2007 wildfires.  Councilmember Marti Emerald is asking the Mayor to reinvest this cash windfall back into public safety. 
 
The councilmember recommends spending $18 million to design and build critically needed fire stations, citywide, as recommended last year in the Citygate Report on San Diego’s emergency preparedness.

 


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READER’S EDITORIAL: A LITANY OF EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL’S ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST ITS CONSTITUENTS-VOTE “NO” ON PROP D CHARTER CITY INITIATIVE!

 
By Bonnie B. Price, PhD, and John Martes
 
April 24, 2012 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon is a city of 99,478, with 37,157 registered voters (4/6/12 SDROV).  Democrats number 12,453, Republicans 14,416, and No Party Preference (NPP) 8,294.  El Cajon is the poorest city in the county, with 30% of its population living at or below the poverty line.  It is a multi-ethnic, multicultural city having this composition: 57% white, 28% Hispanic, 4% Asian & Pacific Islander, 6% Black, and 5% other.  El Cajon’s population is 51% female and 49% male.  (All population data are from the 2010 Census available at SANDAG.org.)

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NEW ‘COMMUNITY BENEFIT DISTRICT’ BILL WOULD LOWER BAR FOR FEE ASSESSMENT IN CALIFORNIA

 
District 51 Congressional candidate seeks more money from residents for local government
 
By Billie Jo Jannen
For East County Magazine
 
April 2, 2012 (San Diego's East County)--A new state bill proposed by District 40 Senator Juan Vargas would modify existing law based on Property and Business Improvement District Law of 1994 to make it possible for municipalities to levy assessments to pay for improvements in the district without the 2/3 voter approval by people who would pay it.

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LA MESA TURNS 100, LET’S CELEBRATE!

 
February 6, 2012 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Centennial kicks off on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 from 3:00–3:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Blvd. Trolley Station, where the City Council and Centennial donors will ride a specially wrapped La Mesa Centennial trolley to the Trolley Station.  You will be able to remember the event with a free Centennial keepsake that will be given away at the unveiling.

 


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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: TOP LOCAL AND STATE NEWS

 
February 3, 2012 --  (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 
  • Does new County land use plan go too far? (San Diego U-T)
  • State realignment floods county jails and probation departments (KPBS)
  • Sheriff reduces jail time for inmates to avoid overcrowding (La Mesa Patch)
  • City Council meeting Tuesday: With redevelopment gone, now what? (Santee Patch)
  • Santee gets another ‘F’ in state of tobacco report(Santee Patch)
  • Beating Briarcrest: How La Mesa attorneys saved city $10.5 million (La Mesa Patch)
  • Student protester faces stiff sanctions (Daily Aztec)
  • New playground coming to Lake Murray (San Diego U-T)
  •  Helix community garden vote again delayed again by board, dismaying backers (La Mesa Patch)
  • California Health Dept. cites smart meter health risks in report (La Mesa Patch blog by Susan Brinchman)
  • Ramona Water District engineering consultant fees goes up 67% (Ramona Patch) 
 
STATE 
  • Controller: State to run out of cash in March with no action (Sacramento Bee)
  • Caltrans sidesteps accountability (Sacramento Bee editorial)
  • California lawmakers move to limit protests at funerals (Reuters)
  • High court overturns CA slaughterhouse law (PBS)
  • Los Angeles judge blocks state cuts to Medi-cal providers (Sacramento Bee)
 
 
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

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LA MESA HOSTS TOWNHALL MEETING FEB. 7

 
January 29, 2012 (La Mesa)--In an on-going commitment to communicating with residents and in honor of the City’s Centennial, all five members of the La Mesa City Council will host a Town Hall Meeting. The open-forum session is set for Tuesday, February 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa. 

 


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46TH ANNUAL AUTHORS EXHIBITION IN FEB.TO FEATURE MANY AUTHORS PROFILED IN EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE


By Dennis Moore

 
January 26, 2012 (San Diego)--The San Diego Public Library hosts the 46th Annual Authors Exhibition at the downtown library throughout the month of February. The Local Author Exhibit highlights the intellectual and creative accomplishments of writers in the San Diego region, and I am fortunate to be included among those. The aim of the exhibit is to bring exposure to local talent and to nurture the pursuit of the writing arts in San Diego.

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