Updated February 7, 2025 with statement from the Council on Islamic Relations in San Diego.
By Miriam Raftery
February 6, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – Many world leaders as well as Congressional leaders in both parties are pushing back on President Donald Trump’s call for the U.S. to “takeover” Gaza, relocate Palestinians to neighboring nations and turn Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Trump initially spoke of a permanent resettlement, with the U.S. taking ownership. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio later walked that back, indicating relocation of Palestinians would only be temporary during debris removal and new construction. “In the interim, obviously people are going to have to live somewhere while you’re rebuilding it,” he stated, AP reports.
Trump insisted,”Everyone loves my Gaza idea,” the Jerusalem Post reported.
But with the exception of some Israeli leaders, reactions around the world have overwhelmingly rejected the concept. Here are their statements:
”He (Trump) has a different idea, and I think it’s worth paying attention to this,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a White House visit
Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League released a joint statement rejecting any plans to move Palestinians out of their territories in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. according to AP. The leaders caution that Trump’s plan would “threaten the region’s stability, risk expanding the conflict, and undermine prospects for peace and coexistence among its peoples” and undermine long-term efforts to attain a two-state solution.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres reportedly told Trump to “stay true to the bedrock of international law,” avoiding making the problem worse by removing Palestinians from their homeland, according to Reuters.
Forcibly removing people from their homeland violates the Geneva Convention under international law, the Washington Post reports.
Yousef Munayyer, the head of the Palestine-Israel Program at the Arab Center Washington D.C, had this reaction to the proposal, the New York Times reports: “Outrageous, criminal, harebrained.” He noted that the idea of forcing Palestinians from their homes brings up a troubling history. “The region has suffered for decades from instability and conflict precisely because of the mass ethnic cleansing of Palestinians during the creation of Israel in 1948,” he added.
Sami Abu Zuhri, spokesman for Hamas ,told called the proposal “ridiculous and absurd.” He told Reuters, “Any ideas of this kind are capable of igniting the region.” Hamas’ attack that killed over1,300 Israeli civilians and seized hostages sparked the war in Gaza, prompting Israel’s massive retaliation which has killed an estimated 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that Moscow maintains the only way to resolve the Middle East conflict is through the creation of a Palestinian state to exist side-by-side with Israel, Reuters reports. "This is the thesis that is enshrined in the relevant U.N. Security Council resolution, this is the thesis that is shared by the overwhelming majority of countries involved in this problem. We proceed from it, we support it and believe that this is the only possible option," the Russian spokesman said.
Many Palestinians have voiced fear that if relocated, they may not be allowed to return home—and some expressed anger over the proposal.
“Trump can go to hell with his ideas, his money, and with his beliefs. We are going nowhere. We are not some of his assets.” -Samir Abu Basel, father of five in Gaza City displaced by the Israel-Hamas war.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned President Trump for stating the "U.S. Will take over the Gaza Strip" and "own it." In addition CAIR San Diego reaffirms its commitment to Palestinian self-determination and condemned Trump’s assertion that the U.S. will “take over Gaza.”
Community Organizer Summer Ismail issued a statement urging the American public to recognize the role of U.S. tax dollars and military support in the continued suffering of Palestinians even amid a cease-fire. “The idea that the U.S. should take control of Gaza is a reckless and blatant endorsement of illegal occupation in violation of international law. The Palestinian people have a right to self-determination. Attempts to impose foreign control will only perpetuate oppression and violence," Ismail states, also calling on the state department to comply with international law. "We need a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank. Only then can we rebuild and restore Palestinian sovereignty."
San Diego Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, a Democrat, had this to say in a post on X. “No one wants another indefinite U.S. military occupation in the Middle East or anywhere else. This is ethnic cleansing – and this is Palestinian land, not ours. The best path for long-term peace and security is a two-state solution.”
Even some Trump supporters are strongly opposing the idea.
“I thought we voted for America first. We have no business contemplating yet another occupation to doom our treasure and spill our soldiers’ blood,” Republican Senator Rand Paul posted on X.
Arab Americans for Trump has announced it has changed its name to Arab Americans for Peace following Trump’s call for the U.S. to takeover Gaza. “Obviously we’re completely opposed to the idea of the transfer of Palestinians from anywhere in historic Palestine,” the group’s chairman Bishara Bahbah stated, AP reports.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he is keeping an “open mind” on the idea, but voiced concerns about the potential for U.S. troops to be sent to Gaza, which he noted “would be a tough place to be stationed as an American,” according to Politico.
There is some precedent for a major U.S. intervention after a conflict, notably the Marshall plan to rebuild Japan after World War II, despite the fact that Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and fought on the Axis side against the Allied forces. But the U.S. is not a direct party in the Israeli-Gaza conflict, though the U.S. has sent arms to Israel.
Rebuilding Gaza is expected take many years, given the vast toll of devastation. But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that Trump was not committing U.S. troops and didn't plan to use taxpayer dollars to rebuild Gaza, Axios reports.
Without support from Arab nations, the United Nations, or the Palestinian people, and with no U.S. troops to keep the peace nor American funding to clear debris and rebuild, it appears implausible that Trump could achieve a peaceful relocation of Palestinians, let alone muster the massive international resources needed to make Gaza safe and stable.
Update: An earlier version of this article contained information added by our editor stating that the vote violated California's Brown Act. The City has disputed this and indicated that a public vote was held. Our earlier report was based on a text from a Councilmember indicating that the vote was "anonymous" after ECM's editor asked whether the vote was unanimous. An anonymous vote during a public meeting would be illegal. Please see correction note below this article for full details.
By Jessica Brodkin Webb
Miriam Raftery contributed to this report.
February 5, 2025 (Lemon Grove) –Lemon Grove’s City Council last night appointed Yadira Altamirano to fill the seat left vacant after Allyson Snow was elected as Mayor in 2024. She was previously appointed to finish City Council Member Matt Mendoza’s term from late 2019 through December 2020.
To members on the dais, Altamirano recalled her arrival in Lemon Grove as a young child who did not speak English but felt safe walking to and from school, playing in neighborhood parks and navigating city streets.
Since then, the businesswoman said, she grew to appreciate where she was raised and chose to come back and raise her own children in the small city.
“My desire is to make an impact and make Lemon Grove as I remember it when I was little,” Altamirano said.
Answering questions posed by Snow and city council members, Altamirano said her top focus points would be improved safety, infrastructure projects and city repairs.
“Our youth are our future,” Altamirano said, and emphasized her desire to clean up the city is rooted in wanting to restore the Lemon Grove she remembers from her own youth. Her application indicated her goals include reopening the city’s rec center.
She also said she wants to see time dedicated to community service projects, and suggested residential buildings could be cleaned up to illustrate a sense of pride in Lemon Grove.
When Council members asked about her experience, she suggested she might be a wiser choice than other candidates, as this will be her second go-round on the dais.
Her first time on the Council coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, during which many operations including City Council meetings were handled remotely. She did not address how that experience would inform her ability to affect change under current, post-pandemic practices.
When pressed for suggestions on what she might do to enhance the city, she cited La Mesa’s car show and farmers market as examples of events which bring the community together, but reiterated the city’s need to clean up its appearance so events are attractive to residents. On her application, she mentioned bringing back the Old Times Parade as a goal.
Altamirano landed this second appointment to City Council over candidates Kenneth Davies, Robert Holaday, Cody Littleton, Oyuki Littleton, Minola Manson, Robert Rael, Seth Smith and James Stout. Jay Bass withdrew his application before last night’s Council meeting, which included interviews with all applicants.
After the interviews, Councilmembers were asked to place marks next to up to three candidates whom they would be willing to have serve on the Council. Altimirano received three votes, the most of any applicant. A subsequent vote was held publicly, with a motion and second, according to the Mayor, with Altimirano receiving a unanimous vote of all four Councilmembers.
The next Lemon Grove City Council meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Lemon Grove Community Center.
Correction: An earlier version of the article indicated that the vote was held anonymously, which would violate California’s Brown Act prohibiting secret votes on any agendized item in a public meeting. The Brown Act information was added to our reporter's original article draft, due to a text from a Councilmember to our editor stating that the vote was “anonymous” and that each councilmember could vote for “up to three.” This text was in response to our editor's text asking who voted for or against the appointment, which was not in our reporter’s draft. The Councilmember’s text also included a photo of the vote tally for each applicant, without any Councilmembers identified on the vote tally. That tally showed three votes for Yadira Altamira.
Mayor Snow and a city legal representative have both since advised that a second vote was held in public and seconded (after the initial tally), and that this vote was public and unanimous, with all four Councilmembers supporting Altamirano's appointment.
Lemon Grove does not videotape its Council meetings, unlike all other East County cities, nor are email addresses for staff listed on the city’s webpage, making it difficult to verify information or obtain answers to question in a timely manner after a meeting. In this case, ECM sought information from the only city representative we had contact for after hours, since our editor wanted to post the news about Altamirano's appointment before leaving town for three days. ECM regrets the error.
Source: San Diego County Sheriff
February 6, 2025 (El Cajon) -- Several people have been arrested due to criminal activity at a homeless encampment near Willow Glen Drive in unincorporated El Cajon on a variety of charges.
On Tuesday, February 4, around 2 p.m., a small fire broke out at the encampment. Firefighters quickly knocked down the flames. Fortunately, there were no injuries or property damage.
“Deputies with the Sheriff's Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) have conducted multiple outreach operations at this location over the past month, offering services and resources to those experiencing homelessness. Despite these efforts, deputies continued to respond to reports of criminal activity at the encampment,” says Sergeant Aaron Montan.
On Wednesday, February 5, Sheriff's HART performed an enforcement operation at the encampment. Several individuals were arrested on various charges, including drug-related offenses, outstanding misdemeanor warrants and identity theft.
The encampment has now been cleared and clean-up efforts are underway.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office remains committed to a balanced approach of outreach and enforcement, working closely with community partners to connect individuals in need with available services while addressing criminal activity that impacts public safety, Sgt. Montan says.
To learn more about Sheriff's HART, visit: https://www.sdsheriff.gov/community/homeless-outreach.
To report suspicious or criminal activity, call the Sheriff's Office at (858) 868-3200.
East County News Service
February 5, 2025 (El Cajon) – Sarhad Yawsip Jammo, the Bishop who led the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle for the western U.S. from 2002 until his retirement in 2016, has died at the age of 83. Born in Iraq and later based at St. Peter’s Chaldean Cathedral in El Cajon, Bishop Jammo was a noted scholar, author and religious leader who guided the diocese through turbulent times, including wars ravaging his homeland and terrorists targeting Chaldean Christians in Iraq.
The Chaldean Diocese announced on Instagram, “The Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle mourns Bishop Sarhad Yawsip Jammo Bishop Mar Sarhad Yawsip Jammo passed from this earthly life and entered eternity on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in San Diego, California. Let us join in prayer for his soul.”
Born to a Chaldean family in Baghdad on March 14, 1941, he went to Rome at age 17, where he obtained master’s degrees in theology and philosophy at the Pontifical Urbaniana University. He later earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Eastern Ecclesiastical Studies at Pontifical Oriental Institute with a dissertation titled “The Structure of the Chaldean Mass.”
He taught at the University of Notre Dame, the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, and the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.
He was named pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Baghdad, serving there from 1969 to1974.Later he became rector at the Chaldean Patriarchal Seminary in Mosul. In 1977, he came to the United States and served as a pastor at two churches in Michigan.
In 2002, Pope John Paul II created a second Chaldean diocese in the U.S. and appointed Jammo to preside over the Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle covering the western U.S., a position he held until his retirement in 2016.
He led the diocese through challenging times. In 2010, he led a prayer vigil in El Cajon for Chaldeans including priests massacred in a Baghdad church by terrorists. El Cajon was home to some 40,000 Iraqi Chaldeans at the time.
Bishop Jammo traveled to Washington D.C. in 2014 to meet with political leaders including Congressman Juan Vargas, who introduced a bill to grant asylum for religious minorities persecuted by ISIS in Iraq and raise the cap on refugees from that region to come to the U.S.
Mark Arabo, a Chaldean activist, remembered Bishop Jammo in a Facebook post today, praising Jammo as a “revered and legendary figure in the Chaldean Catholic Church.” He added, “Bishop Sarhad was a dear friend, - I cherish the memories we had together- from actively participating in various community gatherings, baptisms, communions, confirmations, weddings, and even our numerous trips to the White House, United Nations and so much more. Together, we created cherished memories and effected significant change at the highest levels of government through our unwavering focus on the well-being of others.”
Jammo also championed reconciliation within the church and ecclesiastical renewal. After the Vatican approved a liturgical reform, the St. Peter diocese became the first to implement the reformed mass. Bishop Jammo was also an author and historian who wrote numerous books and other publications on Chaldean Catholic history, language and liturgy.
He voiced pride in his Chaldean heritage, stating in this video, “For 2,500 years, my Chaldean nation survived all massacres and genocides. Chaldeans will survive in the future." He added, “My Chaldean heritage is a diamond and I claim it."
Bishop Jammo’s funeral mass will be held on February 8 at 10 a.m. followed by funeral prayers at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral, 1627 Jamacha Way, El Cajon. A viewing will be held Feb. 7 from 1 to 8 p.m. at the same location. Bishop Jammo will be buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in San Diego.
Screenshot from YouTube video: suspect hurls shampoo bottle at employee
View videos:
https://www.instagram.com/daygotv/reel/DFgPb6JoFCl/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKPxJKrzI30
East County News Service
February 5, 2025 (Santee) – August Marriott, 27, has been arrested for becoming violent and threatening employees at a hair salon in Santee. On January 29, after being told he was late for an appointment at Great Clips on Mission Gorge Road, the man began hurling shampoo bottles at workers and knocking products off shelves. He shouted obscenities and repeatedly threatened harm to an employee.
The incident was captured on cell phone video and has been shared on various social media platforms.
"An employee suffered minor injuries,” says Sergeant Stephen Chambers with the San Diego County Sheriff’s department.
The man left the store before Sheriff's Deputies could arrive at the hair salon. He was identified thanks to many tips from the public.
On Tuesday, February 4, deputies from the Santee Sheriff's Station arrested Marriott in Chula Vista. He was booked at the San Diego Central Jail on numerous charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism and violation of parole.
By Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters
CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters
Photo: The Eaton Fire burns in the community of Altadena. Firefighters were unable to get water from hydrants that ran dry, as homes and businesses burned, on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Ted Soqui for CalMatters
February 4, 2025 (Los Angeles) - State Farm, the largest insurer for California homeowners, this week asked the state to approve “emergency” rate increases for insurance policy holders, saying the recent Los Angeles County fires have imperiled its finances.
The company wants an average 22% increase for homeowners and 15% for renters on top of rate hikes it requested last year. Those requests — 30% for homeowners, 52% for renters and 36% for condominium owners — have not been granted and are being challenged before the state’s Insurance Department, which is investigating the company’s financial situation.
In a letter dated Feb. 3, State Farm CEO Dan Krause and other executives wrote to Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara that the company “needs your urgent assistance in the form of emergency interim approval of additional rate to help avert a dire situation for our customers and the insurance market in the state of California.”
State Farm has received more than 8,700 claims and paid more than $1 billion to its customers in the state as of Feb. 1, the executives said. “We know we will ultimately pay out significantly more, as these fires will collectively be the costliest in the history of the company,” they added.
The company has nearly 3 million policies in the state, including 1 million homeowner policies, the executives said. They mentioned that last year, credit-rating firm AM Best downgraded the credit rating for State Farm General, the California arm of the nationwide State Farm Group, because of its financial picture.
State Farm executives want the interim rates to be effective May 1, and referenced their pending rate requests from last year. Also in their letter, they alluded to both their company’s financial position as well as the state insurance market’s ongoing struggles: “In addition to your other efforts, immediate approval of additional and appropriately supported rate… sends a strong message that the state is serious about reforming its insurance market and allowing insurers to collect sufficient premiums to protect Californians against the risk of loss to their homes.”
Lara’s plan to address insurance availability in the state took effect at the beginning of the year, just days before the L.A.-area fires. It is widely expected to lead to significantly higher premium increases as the state allows insurers to include catastrophe modeling and the cost of reinsurance when setting their rates.
In response to State Farm’s new request, the department is scheduling a meeting of its rate-review experts, State Farm and Consumer Watchdog, which last year challenged the rate increases, insurance department spokesperson Gabriel Sanchez said. Department staff will then make an “urgent formal recommendation for action” to the commissioner, Sanchez said.
Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, said her group has repeatedly asked State Farm for more information about its finances, including why its parent company can’t “step in” and help its California business. Consumer Watchdog last year accused State Farm General of redirecting profit by buying reinsurance from its parent company, an allegation on which the company would not comment.
“Insurance Commissioner Lara must require State Farm to prove it needs this staggering increase,” Balber said.
CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters
By Miriam Raftery
Photo: Elon Musk and Donald Trump in Nov. 2024, via Speaker Mike Johnson
February 4, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – Donald Trump authorized Elon Musk’s unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to take total control of the U.S. Treasury Department’s payment system, locking out federal employees. DOGE’s young tech workers gained access to the private data of nearly every American including taxpayers, Social Security and Medicare recipients, government employees, student and SBA loan recipients and federal contractors in direct violation of laws intended to protect sensitive data. The information accessed by Musk’s team includes Social Security numbers, bank accounts, addresses and other data that if in the wrong hands, could lead to identity theft and looting of accounts.
“The scale of the intrusion into individuals’ privacy is massive and unprecedented,” states a lawsuit filed yesterday in federal court against the U.S. Department of the Treasury, its Bureau of the Fiscal Service which disperses payments, and newly appointed Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.
The suit was filed by the Alliance for Retired Americans and two labor unions under the AFL-CIO: The American Federation of Government Employees and Service Employees International Union.
“People who must share information with the federal government should not be forced to share information with Elon Musk or his `DOGE.’ And federal law says they don’t have to,” the lawsuit states. “The Privacy Act of 1974 generally, and the Internal Revenue Code with respect to taxpayer information, make it unlawful for Secretary Bessent to hand over access to the Bureau’s records on individuals to Elon Musk or other members of DOGE.”
The lawsuit seeks a temporary and permanent injunction to halt DOGE’s access to the Treasury system, though according to Senator Ron Wyden, ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, DOGE’s access has been “complete”; there is no way to know if the data has been further shared, or with whom.
Concerns have also been raised over the illegal shutting off of funding to any programs that Trump does not approve of. Trump initially ordered a broad freeze on spending, even though Congress has the power of the purse strings under both the Constitution and a law passed by Congress during the Nixon era which prohibits a president from refusing to spend money allocated by Congress.
Trump later rescinded his memo ordering the freeze after a judge ordered a halt, CBS News reports.
But Musk has already shut down all funds to U.S. Aid, the agency that provides foreign aid around the world, such as programs to ease hunger and prevent AIDS. The agency’s website has gone dark. Other funds halted thus far include money allocated by Congress for green energy programs and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Federal law requires that if a president wants funding reduced or halted, the president must ask Congress and cannot take action unless Congress passes a bill to change the funding mandates.
“Controlling the system could allow the Trump administration to unilaterally--and illegally--cut off payments for millions of Americans, putting at risk the financial security of families and businesses based on political favoritism or the whims of Mr. Musk and those on his team who have worked their way inside,” Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, stated in a letter to Bessent on Feb. 2.
Though Trump has long touted Musk’s DOGE as an independent, non-governmental entity, after the lawsuit noted that Musk is not a federal employee, Trump’s White Houe announced that Musk is serving as a “special government employee.” Such employees work only part of the year and have less stringent conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements than full-time government workers.
The world’s richest man, Musk is CEO of Space X and Tesla, which have received billions of dollars in federal contracts.
By Michael Howard
February 3, 2025 (La Mesa, CA) - The La Mesa City Council, during its Tuesday January 28, 2025 meeting, voted unanimously to increase city fees by 24.7%.
"Some fee schedules are increasing higher than normal,” Assistant to the City Manager Lyn Dedmon admitted to the Council members when the increases were presented for their vote.
City “user fees,” which are the fees charged to the users of certain city provided services, are not meant to be a source of revenue, per the city’s policy. Rather, the purpose of the fees are to recover the costs of providing the services that the city provides.
City services range from building permits to city-owned community pool swim passes, along with countless other engineering, planning, public works, and community services in between.
According to a report commissioned by the city to study the fee schedule, La Mesa only recovered 59% of the cost it takes to provide its services in fiscal year 2023-2024. Total costs were $7,626,128, but the city collected only $4,469.581.
According to Dedmon (photo, right), a big reason for the shortfall and resulting need to increase fees so dramatically is due to the pandemic and the increased cost of labor.
“It became clear that the pandemic’s impact on the fee schedule’s time line and overall year-to-year inflation in the years post-COVID, were the primary cause,” he reported to the City Council.
Employment costs have also increased, Dedmon explained. “Some of which the city controls,” he shared but added, “Some, the city does not control like health care and pension costs.” Contracted services that the city hires for various projects have also increased, he said.
Fee increases, however, are not across the board. Increases will vary by the services provided.
For example, a building permit for a building valued between $100,000 to $500,000 will increase a whopping 40%. In FY 2023-2024, the flat fee for a building permit in this range was $1,428.50, followed by $6.40 for every $1,000 increment in value up to $500,000. Starting in April of 2025, when the city’s fiscal year begins, that flat fee increases to $2,380.80 and the incremental amount for every $1,000 in value will be $10.60.
In comparison, the city of El Cajon charges $1,154.94 for the first $100,000 and $6.32 for each additional $1,000 increment in value.
But not all fees went up. Some fees will be lowered, or in some cases, removed. Fees for companies that fumigate, provide dry cleaning services, or that produce, store, or handle cryogenic fluids for example, all saw a slight decrease.
Service fees that were removed include the cost of inspection of day-care and in-home care facilities, mobile food vehicle inspections, and fire-plan checks.
Public comment was limited during the hearing. Only one citizen signed up to speak and her comment was a suggestion to charge a fee for short-term rentals. She did not comment on the increases.
In other actions, the city approved adding a section to the La Mesa Municipal Code to clarify the preemption, or precedence, of the California building code and appointed citizen members to the community police oversight board.
SOURCES
City of El Cajon. (n.d.-a). Budgets & Financial Policies | El Cajon, CA. Retrieved February 2, 2025, from https://www.elcajon.gov/your-government/departments/finance/budgets-financial-policies?form=MG0AV3
City of El Cajon. (n.d.-b). Master Fee Schedule. https://www.elcajon.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/27815/638428996424970000
City of La Mesa. (n.d.). CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION ADOPTING A FEE SCHEDULE TO BE CHARGED BY VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025—City Council—January 28, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025, from https://pub-lamesa.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=164e18d7-efd1-46c9-bcf7-3339182a746c&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English&Item=51&Tab=attachments
City of La Mesa. (2025, January 28). City of La Mesa Fee Schedule Fiscal Year 2024-2025. https://pub-lamesa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=17915
MGT Conusulting Group. (2024, May 28). COMPREHENSIVE CITYWIDE RECOVERY CSOST STUDY. https://pub-lamesa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=17914
East County News Service
Update Feb. 4, 2025 -- Supervisor Joel Anderson has launched a petition to oppose Snavely's placement in Julian. You can sign his petition here.
February 1, 2025 (Julian, CA) – San Diego County Superior Court has ordered the conditional release of Gary Snavely, a sexually violent predator (SVP) at 3452 Wynola Road in Julian. The public can submit comments from Feb. 3 through Feb. 16; hearing set for March 7.
Snavely was convicted of molesting two girls ages 8 and 9 in Orange County back in 1987. In 1996 he was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender in San Diego County and went back to prison. After his release, he was placed in Jacumba in 2008 but after he abused his psychotropic medication and lied to his supervising staff he went back to Coalinga state hospital, though he was not accused of committing new crimes. Violations included failing to remain appropriately clothed at all times on his property while in public view, and failing to report any and all instances of sexual thoughts and fantasies involving sexual deviance to treatment staff.
Supervisor Bill Horn has called Snavely “the worst of the worst” adding, “No child or family should be forced to live in fear with Snavely as their neighbor,” back when Snavely was proposed for release in Borrego Springs, before the state withdrew that application and instead placed Snavely in Jacumba Hot Springs.
How to submit comments via email, phone, or at hearing
The SAFE Task Force will be accepting public comments about the proposed placement to be included in the formal response to the court and the Department of State Hospitals. Comments will be accepted between the dates of February 3, 2025 and February 16, 2025.
You can e-mail your comments regarding placement to: sdsafe@sdsheriff.org. You can also call (858) 583-7238. You can mail your comments to:
SVP/Release/SAFE Task Force
9425 Chesapeake Drive
San Diego, CA 92123
Oral comments may be accepted subject to court ruling during a hearing on:
March 7, 2025
9:00 a.m.
Honorable Jeffrey F. Fraser
San Diego Superior Court
Department 2002
1100 Union Street
San Diego, CA 92101
More information
For more information about the legal designation, treatment and release from confined facilities of sexually violent predators, visit the San Diego County District Attorney's website. You can also visit the Department of State Hospital's website.
To learn more about the SAFE Task Force, click here.
View ECM’s previous articles about Snavely here.
By Miriam Raftery
Photos by Lakeside Fire Department, which has sent firefighters to battle the Palisades wildfire
January 11, 2025 (Los Angeles) – After days of massive destruction and widespread evacuations, firefighters are finally making progress on four remaining wildfires in the Los Angeles area. At least 13 people have died in the fires, which have destroyed an estimated12,000 structures, the Los Angeles Times reports.
At least 90 firefighters from San Diego County have been dispatched to help fight the L.A. fires, including Lakeside Fire Department, which posted photos on social media of the Palisades Fire that their firefighters have been battling since Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands remain evacuated, as firefighters slowly make progress toward controlling fires fueled initially by hurricane-force winds.
Here are the latest updates from Cal Fire and L.A.-based news outlets:
The Palisades Fire has burned 22,600 acres and is now 11% contained. The wildfire has ravaged Pacific Palisades, portions of Malibu, and homes along Pacific Coast Highway. Current evacuation orders include much of Brentwood, Encino,Calabasas, Sansta Monica,Malibu and Pacific Palisades. This fire has damaged or destr
oyed around 5,300 homes; another 12,000 structures are still threatened.
The Eaton Fire has scorched14,117 acres and is 15% contained. Around 7,000 structures have been damaged or lost, according to fire officials, in Pasadena and Altadena.
The Kenneth Fire is now 80% contained after burning 1,052 acres near the Los Angeles and Ventura county lines. All evacuation warnings have been
lifted.
Evacuation orders have also been lifted for the Hurst Fire, which burned approximately 779 acres in the Sylmar area. The Hurst Fire is now 76% contained.
At least two other fires have been fully contained, including a blaze that threatened portions of Hollywood.
Firefighters have come from across the region and as far away as Canada and Mexico. Canada has deployed 250 firefighters, while Mexico has sent at least 101 “bomberos” or firefighters to L.A. Numerous inmate firefighters are also help to control the conflagrations.
After Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state emergency, President Joe Biden cancelled a planned trip to Italy to meet with the pope in order to get aid to California. President Biden announced that the federal government will cover “100 percent of all the costs” to fight fires in Los Angeles County, higher than the 75% customarily granted by the federal government to states during disasters.
It is unclear whether President-elect Donald Trump’s administration will continue to provide aid to California, since Trump has previously threatened to withhold disaster aid from states that didn’t vote for him. Asked if he is confident that the Trump team members will continue to send disaster aid to California, Biden responded, ”I pray to God they will,” Politico reports.