By Miriam Raftery

Photo: screenshot of aerial video by ECM news partner 10 News shows military troops with razor wire at a staging site in the South Bay, as troops prepare to deploy to fortify U.S. - Mexico Border and aid in Trump crackdown on border crossings.

January 26, 2025 (San Diego) – A tough crackdown on immigrants has begun, after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency at the Southern Border. On Thursday, 1,500 active-duty military troops have been deployed to patrol the borders in San Diego and San Antonio, Texas, with the first soldiers arriving Thursday. 10 News shot footage showing troops, including hundreds from Camp Pendleton, arriving at staging area in Imperial Beach along with concertina razor wire, tents, and military trucks.

Yet according to Associated Press, data doesn’t back up Trump’s contention of an “invasion” of immigrants.  In fact,  AP reports, “arrests for illegal border crossings plummeted more than 80% to about 47,000 in December from an all-time high of 250,000 the same period a year earlier. Arrests fell by about half when Mexican authorities increased enforcement within their own borders a year ago and by about half again when former President Joe Biden introduced severe asylum restrictions in June.”

Immigration sweeps have also begun across the nation, striking fear into immigrant communities as Border Patrol agents in some areas reportedly demanded documentation of everyone stopped, including citizens. Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, told Fox News that ICE arrested over 308 “serious criminals” in the first 24 hours after Trump took office.

One day later, Newsweek reports, Trump’s Acting Secretary of Homeland Security  Benjamine Huffman lifted a long-standing ban, now allowing ICE to target immigrants in sensitive locations including schools, churches and hospitals.

In addition to fortifying the border to block crossings by migrants, including many seeking asylum and fleeing violence or persecution, Trump's administration has disabled the app which formerly allowed asylum-seekers to apply online without crossing the border, effectively blocking all asylum efforts, NPR reports. 

East County News Service

Photos courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol

January 25, 2025 (Jacumba Hot Springs, CA) – Two hikers in the Jacumba Wilderness were robbed and attacked, with one man shot by “suspected Mexican cartel terrorists,” according to a press release issued by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

According to the CPB, agents from the El Centro sector were dispatched following a 911 call reporting that a man had been shot and needed assistance. The agents found  a group of hikers about 1,000 feet north of the international border in the Jacumba Wilderness, which is near the San Diego County and Imperial County line. The hikers reportedly stated that two of the hikers, an American and a Canadian, were ordered by armed men to approach.

When the hikers refused, “the assailants fired a volley of shots toward the hikers, striking one victim in the leg. The assailants advanced on the downed hiker and his Canadian companion, robbing them of their cell phones and backpacks,” the release states.

Resources available for impacted customers at community resource centers

January 8, 2025 (San Diego) – This week marks the driest start to the rainy season in San Diego County in 174 years. As a result of these dry conditions and Santa Ana winds, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) continues to implement Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in an effort to reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety.

As of tonight, 8,946 customers have power shut off.  Another 69,155 are at risk of power shutoffs.The effort aims to prevent hellacious firestorms such as those currently ravaging L.A., as wind gusts up to 85 miles per hour are forecast to reach San Diego County soon.

Because of the extended wind forecast, customers may experience prolonged or more than one PSPS. An up-to-date list of impacted communities can be found at sdge.com/ready.

Available Resources for Impacted Customers

SDG&E is opening of Community Resource Centers in affected communities. These Centers are equipped with resources such as Wi-Fi and phone and medical device charging, and they will remain open for customers in need until conditions improve. A list of active Community Resource Center locations and their hours of operation can be found at sdge.com/ready.

McElroy speaks out against mass deportations as "incompatible with Catholic doctrine" in first appearance as Archbishop

By Miriam Raftery

Photo of Cardinal McElroy by Chris Stone, Times of San Diego

January 8, 2025 (San Diego) – Pope Francis on Monday named San Diego’s Cardinal Robert McElroy has the new Archbishop of Washington D.C., where is expected to provide a strong moral voice opposing some policies of the incoming Trump administration.

McElroy was appointed by Pope Francis to serve as Bishop in San Diego in 2015 and in 2022 was elevated to Cardinal. He replaces retiring Cardinal Wilton Gregory,77, as Archbishop in the district that includes the nation’s capitol and is home to more than 667,000 Catholics.

Archbishop McElroy, in an online press conference Monday, acknowledged that each nation has a right to control its borders, but he denounced Trump’s call for mass deportation of immigrations.  “We are called always to have a sense of the dignity of every human person, and thus plans which have been talked about...of having a wider indiscriminate massive deportation across the country would be something that would be incompatible with Catholic doctrine.”

Source: SDG&E

January 6, 2025 (San Diego)  – Due to extreme fire weather conditions and forecasted Santa Ana winds, San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) has notified 64,866 customers that it may have to turn off power to reduce wildfire risk as early as Tuesday. Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are approved by state regulators as an important safety tool of last resort to mitigate fire risk during dangerous weather conditions. 

This week marks the driest start to the rainy season in San Diego County in 174 years. As a result of these dry conditions and expected Santa Ana winds, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of Orange and San Diego Counties beginning Tuesday evening through late Wednesday night. SDG&E’s meteorology team is closely monitoring weather conditions. 

Power shutoffs are possible in the following areas:

County approves tough migrant protections, but Sheriff says state laws should prevail;  El Cajon Council weighs city’s legal and moral obligations

Update:  The letter sent by Mayor Wells to the Attorney General is now available here.The letter states that the City Council is considering a resolution declaring the city's intent to "comply with federal immigration laws and assist federal authorities in their enforcement efforts to the maximum extent possible."

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Right, El Cajon Mayor Wells calls sanctuary policies "stupid and dangerous." He has voiced support for Trump's mass deportation policies but wants clarification on the city's legal obligations.

Left, Councilman Gary Kendrick does not support having police "dragging children out of schools or churches" or aiding in deportation of residents with no criminal records,only those guilty of serious crimes.

December 11, 2024 (San Diego) – Yesterday, San Diego County Supervisors and El Cajon’s City Council held discussions that could determine fates of many immigrant residents—and set the stage for showdowns among federal, state and local authorities. San Diego County has an estimated 169,000 undocumented residents, according to the Migration Policy Institute, based on 2019 data.

The incoming Trump administration has announced plans to deport millions of immigrants nationwide—and demands that local authorities cooperate in mass deportation efforts. But a California law, Senate Bill 54, passed during the last Trump term, prohibits state and local jurisdictions from cooperating with federal authorities on deportation,with notable exceptions for serious crimes. Local authorities are carefully weighing the legal and moral implications of potential actions.

Team Funded by Statewide “Stop the Hate” Program Supports Those Impacted by Antisemitism

By Miriam Raftery

November 28,2024 (San Diego) – The inaugural cohort of San Diego’s Jewish Community Emergency Response Team (JCERT) is now prepared to respond in the aftermath of a sharp rise in local antisemitic incidents. Team members aim to help strengthen individual recovery and community resilience.

Nineteen Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) team members graduated from the JCERT training program in late October, after completing more than 35 hours of specialized coursework developed by the organization’s Center for Jewish Care on Jewish cultural competency, antisemitism, listening and communication skills, trauma and trauma-informed care.. Future program cohorts will be members of the larger community, including from partner organizations.

Located throughout the county – from Escondido to the border and Alpine to the coast – this first group of responders represents eight spoken languages and several religions. Each is now ready to immediately respond after a hate incident or crime – whether individual or large-scale – against the San Diego Jewish community. Certified in psychological first aid, suicide awareness and prevention, CPR/AED/first aid and food handling, the team is designated to assist victims with compassionate triage, psychological support, and connection with short-, medium-, and/or long-term resources to aid in recovery.

Source: County News Service

Proposals from developers due by Dec. 20

November 11, 2024 (San Diego) – Just in time for Veterans’ Day,the County of San Diego has made $11.5 million available to finance the creation of affordable housing to benefit low-income people and unsheltered veterans.  

The notice of funding availability (NOFA) was created from a combination of funds:

View video of full interview,  hear audio,  or scroll down for highlights

East County News Service

November 2, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Stephen Houlahan is a former Santee City Councilman and registered nurse who led successful effforts to block a dangerous liquified natural gas pipeline through the 48^th Congressional district that he is now running to represent.  That seat is currently occupied by Rep. Darrell Issa. The contrast is dramatic—and Houlahan says he’s running to restore freedoms, protect our democracy, and bring home federal dollars to underground power lines that have sparked wildfires and caused insurance rates to skyrocket.

The contrast couldn’t be more clear.

• Issa voted against certifying the 2020 election results and opposed efforts to investigate the Capitol insurrection.  Houlahan says a peaceful transfer of power is a hallmark of democracy, and has won endorsement from National Security Leaders of America, a bipartisan group of retired military leaders and cabinet officers.
• Issa is coauthor of a bill to outlaw abortion nationwide, with no exceptions even to save a mother’s life.  Houlahan wants to restore women’s reproductive freedoms taken away when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
• Issa voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Houlahan wants to fight to bring home infrastructure dollars to improve storm drainage infrastructure, repair the dangerous El Capitan dam, and improve fire safety.
• Issa has opposed clean energy investment.  Houlahan  backs rebuilding the energy grid, including undergrounding power lines to protect our backcountry.
• Issa voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Houlahan wants to protect it and expand Medicare to cover those 55 and up, also adding a MediKids program to cover 4 million uninsured children.
• Issa, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, has been accused of corruption including most recently failing to timely report hundreds of thousands of dollars in treasury bonds, a potential violation of the Stock Act.  Houlahan says he will stand against corruption and for transparency, calling for tougher penalties on insider trading by members of Congress and a need for honest leadership.

In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine also aired on KNSJ radio,  Houlahan also shared his views on the economy and inflation, immigration and border security NATO, the Israel-Gaza conflict,  Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and more.

By Miriam Raftery

October 8, 2024 (San Diego) – After winning the wildcard playoffs, the Padres have tied up the National League Division West  series, trouncing the Dodgers in a 10-2 victory last night at Dodger Stadium. The Padres became the first team in Major League history to slam six home runs in a post-season playoff game.

Game three takes place tonight at Petco Park in San Diego.

East County News Service

Photos via Padres on X

September 23, 2024 (San Diego) – The San Diego Padres  swept the Chicago White Sox over the weekend. Their 4-2 victory  Sunday keeps them vying for the wild card slot in the post-season playoffs, which the team could clinch as early as Tuesday.

The Padres will square off against the Dodgers Tuesday in a three-game series. The Dodgers are in first place, making the series critical.  If the Padres win at least one game, they will secure a wild card spot in the playoffs.  If they win all three games, they will move up to first place in the National League West with three more games to go--and a shot at snagging their first division championship in 18 years.

August 5, 2024 (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 round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• Cajon Valley board member questions superintendent's $19,000-a-month credit card bill CBS 8)
• The Learning Curve: Cajon Valley’s Had a Tough Month (Voice of  San Diego)
• 'Zombie snails' have been spotted at a lake in San Diego. Here's what you need to know (CBS 8)
• San Diego American Indian Health Center Will Now Help Newly Arriving Refugees (Times of San Diego)
• MTS Board approves Copper Line trolley segment between Santee and El Cajon (10 News)
• Water Rates Will Rise, But Hurt Less than Expected (Voice of San Diego)
• Border arrests plunge 29% in June to the lowest of Biden's presidency as asylum halt takes hold  (KPBS) 
• Escondido Leaders Say a Proposed State Housing Bill Misses the Mark  (Voice of San Diego)

 STATE

• Newsom’s Encampment Order Is on Everyone’s Mind (Voice of San Diego)
• COVID Levels 'Very High' In California As New Variant Spreads: CDC
• As massive Park fire marches into history books, firefighters face hurdles to slowing it down  (Los Angeles Times)
• California attorney files class action suit against homeowner-insurance provider  (NBC San  Diego)
• California Department of Education plans to develop housing on school district-owned lands (East Bay Times)
• U.S.
• As cartels take a stake in ‘green gold,’ US and Mexico rethink how avocados reach American kitchens (Apple News)

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

Suzanne Potter, California News Service

Photo via CNS

August 2, 2024 (San Diego) -- Tenant's rights groups are asking policymakers to move on several fronts to rein in corporate landlords who they said are worsening California's housing crisis.

Advocates said after the private equity firm Blackstone bought 5,600 apartments in the San Diego area in 2021, the company began squeezing out tenants in order to aggressively raise rents.

Amy Schur, campaign director for the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, works with a tenant group called the Blackstone Tenants Union.

July 8, 2024 (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 round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• San Diego County unemployment rate drops below national average at 3.6% (KPBS)
• New copper line trolley would bring major changes to East County  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Gang Member Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Killing Spring Valley Mother (Times of San Diego)
• $10M from state for tiny homes in jeopardy after county board kills Spring Valley plan (Times of Diego)
• San Diego County is unprepared for climate disasters (Axios)
• Threats, profanity, accusations skyrocketing at public meetings, KPBS analysis shows (KPBS)
• Controversial plans to urbanize San Diego neighborhoods advance, could soon get City approval  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego Humane Society creates 'Dog Day Out' program (CBS 8)

STATE

• Will Google strike a deal with California news outlets to fund journalism?  (San Jose Mercury News)
• DEA operation exposes growing ties between Mexican drug cartel and Chinese organized crime  (NBC)
• California Democrats agree to delay health care worker minimum wage increase to help balance budget (ABC News)
• California budgets up to $12 million for reparations bills, a milestone in atoning for racist legacy (KPBS)

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

By Miriam Raftery

June 29, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego County Supervisors this week approved a balanced budget of $8.5 billion for fiscal year 2024-2025. Among the East County capital projects funded are:

• Ramona Fire Station 80 - $250,000
• Ramona Sheriff's Substation - $5,000,000
• Stowe Trail - $4,400,000
• Sycamore Canyon Trails - $3,600,000
• Lindo Lake Improvements - $4,000,000
• East County Archery Park - $150,000
• Keeping Lake Hodges, Lake Sutherland, and El Capitan Reservoirs Open = $59,000
• $65.5 million for resurfacing 101 miles in unincorporated areas, including sections of Tavern Road and Japatul Road in Alpine. Report roads that need repairs here.

Supervisor Joel Anderson says, “Our balanced County budget is a huge win for District 2 residents and our shared top priorities of strong public and fire safety, attainable housing, improving homelessness and mental health, and supporting economic development.”