Communities

Photo, left to right:  Councilmembers Lauren Cazares and Patricia Dillard, Mayor Mark Arapostathis, Councilmembers Laura Lothian and Genevieve Suzuki

Source:  City of La Mesa

January 10, 2025 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa welcomed two new councilmembers during its City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The occasion marked a historic milestone in La Mesa as the council now consists of a majority of women, including women of color, with four women and one man who serves as mayor.

“This is a proud and historic moment for La Mesa,” said Mayor Mark Arapostathis. “Our City Council reflects the strength and diversity of our community. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to continue making La Mesa a place where everyone feels represented and empowered.”

Joining the council are the newly elected members, Lauren Cazares and Genevieve Suzuki. Both Cazares and Suzuki have deep roots in the La Mesa community. Cazares, lifelong La Mesan, currently serves as Policy Advisor at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and has been actively involved in various boards and committees, including the City of La Mesa Community Police Oversight Board.

“I‘m deeply honored to serve as a member of the La Mesa City Council and continue the work of building a safer, stronger, more affordable community for all,” said Councilmember Cazares. “As a proud Latina, the youngest Councilwoman in La Mesa history and first openly LGBTQ+ Councilmember, I’m committed to ensuring that our City remains a place where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered to thrive.”

Suzuki, a family law attorney with more than a decade of legal experience, is a dedicated advocate committed to community service in La Mesa. She has served on the Community Services Commission and the La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation Board.

“I'm honored to have been elected to represent our vibrant community and work with Mayor Arapostathis, Vice Mayor Patricia Dillard, and fellow Councilmembers Laura Lothian and Lauren Cazares,” said Councilmember Suzuki. “I look forward to making sure everyone feels heard and using my time on the City Council to continue the progress made by outgoing councilmembers Colin Parent and Jack Shu.”

The election of these new councilmembers by the people of La Mesa reflects the city’s diverse makeup, with women representing approximately 52% of the population. This milestone builds on the foundation set in 1980 when Jerri Lopez was elected La Mesa’s first female City Councilmember.

“History, history, and more history! I’m thrilled to have made history at Tuesday’s final City Council meeting of the year,” said Vice Mayor Patricia Dillard. “I’m especially excited to welcome our two new Councilmembers, Lauren Cazares and Genevieve Suzuki, as they were sworn in helping form a supermajority female council. Together, we will continue to represent our community with dedication and excellence. Four highly qualified women, each with diverse multicultural backgrounds, are poised to lead. Congratulations to us all!"

“I first attended La Mesa City Council meetings when the council comprised of Mayor Art Madrid and Councilmembers Dr. A, Ernie Ewin, Ruth Sterling and Dave Allen,” said Councilmember Laura Lothian. “Since then, our City Council has always been majority male. This new council, with four women and one man, will be very different and interesting. We are a diverse council, with a Greek mayor and the four councilmembers who are female, Black, Hispanic, and Asian.  My ethnic background is half Guatemalan and half English. We are also diverse in age, with Vice Mayor Dillard and I being grandmothers, Genevieve Suzuki as a young mom, and Lauren Cazares, the youngest councilmember elected since the 1970s!”

Cazares and Suzuki are replacing Colin Parent and Jack Shu on the City Council. Parent served on the City Council for eight years, where he focused on housing policies and championed labor initiatives. Shu served on the City Council for four years, earning recognition for his commitment to environmental advocacy.

The swearing-in ceremony took place during the City Council’s regular meeting.

The City encourages residents to engage with the new councilmembers and participate in upcoming City Council meetings. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located at 8130 Allison Ave., La Mesa.

East County News Service

January 25, 2025 (Rancho San Diego, CA) -- In light of the ongoing evacuations at the Border Fire, the Water Conservation Garden on the campus of Cuyamaca College is opening its grounds with free admission to evacuees and their pets. Free Wifi is available.

“We hope The Garden can provide a peaceful escape, a place to recharge, and a reminder of the resilience of nature and community,” says Lauren Magnuson, Director of Garden Operations. She adds, ”Stay safe, and we look forward to welcoming you.”

For more information, visit  https://thegarden.org/

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.

At 12:08 p.m. Mountain Disrupt Unit, Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), and Border Patrol Search Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) agents infiltrated to the area, locating the injured victim and stabilizing him.

Agents created a protective perimeter and extracted the victim via CBP Air and Marine Operations San Diego, according to the CPB. 

According to Scott Lord business director with Mercy Air, "The victim was transferred to Mercy Air Ambulance and flown to Sharp Medical Center in  San Diego for treatment."  He indicated that this is the first incidence of a hiker shooting along the border locally that he is aware of, adding that he has friends who have hiked the Pacific Coast Trail from Mexico to Canada and never heard of anything like this.

BORTAC and BORSTAR agents maintained a secure perimeter and tracked the assailants back to the border where they returned to Mexico.

It is unclear why the CPB believes the attackers were cartel members, though cartels have long been involved in smuggling operations along the U.S.-Mexico border.

While unprovoked attacks on hikers locally are rare (ECM has never received any previous similar eport  since our founding in 2008), cartel criminal activities have spilled over the border. including illicit drug activities and more. On January 21, San Diego Police announced arrest of dozens of individual suspected of criminal activities affiliated with Mexican Mafia, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The suspects are largely street gang members who “took orders from cartel bosses operating in state prison and preyed on business owners by forcing mafia-style taxes,” District Attorney Summer Stephan said Tuesday at a news conference.

The hiker’s shooting comes days after President Donald Trump declared a border emergency  designating Mexican drug cartels and other Latin American criminal groups as terrorist organizations. Trump's order states that these groups "threaten the safety of the American people, the security of the United States, and the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere." He has threatened to send U.S. special forces commando into Mexico to go after cartels.

El Centro Sector Chief Gregory Bovino states, “The wounded hiker is an ‘I told you so moment’ highlighting the importance of adequate infrastructure the Border Patrol has been championing for years now.” He predicts, “Suspected cartel terrorists, however, are fixing to learn this type of conduct will be an end game type of activity here in the Premier Sector. All threats, anywhere, or at any time throughout this sector will be addressed vigorously.”

Jacumba Hikers issued a statement on Facebook indicating that while this incident did not involve their hiking group,"Due to this incident, we have decided to cancel the upcoming hike and avoid hiking near the border at this time."

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that the patient was transported on Reach Air Ambulance, based on a Border Patrol press release. However Mercy Air has contacted us to clarify that their company provided the transport.

Update January 25, 2025- The fire had modest growth overnight and is now 6,500 acres, per Cal Fire.

Update 8:15 p.m.-- Per CalTrans, State Route 94 is closed in both directions between Honey Springs Rd. in Jamul and State Route 188 (access road to Tecate) due to the fire.

Update 5:55 p.m.-- The fire is now 6,272.7 acres per Cal-Fire. The mandatory evacuation area has been extended to some areas east of State Route 94.

January 24, 2025 (Jamul/Dulzura) -- Evacuation orders and warnings for the #Border2Fire now extend to immediately south of Jamul Casino, including areas east and west of State Route 94, and significant portions of Chula Vista.  Photo left is as of 1 p.m.; click this link for latest evacuation areas and hit the plus sign to enlarge to view details: https://app.watchduty.org/camera/2231   Also see another map here:  https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/23/border-2-fire.

The fire, which started on Otay Mountain yesterday,  is now 5,389 acres and 10% contained per Cal Fire.  An Evacuation Center has now been set up at: Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92019. 

The Sheriff has suspended visits to county jail in Otay Mesa including George Bailey and Rock Mountain detention facilities as well as the East Mesa Reentry facilities.  Currently inmates are sheltering in place but there is an evacuation plan in place if it becomes necessary, the Sheriff advises.

Sign up to receive our free East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts via email at https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/wild-fire-alerts.  You can also follow EastCountyAlert on Twitter.

Source:  Downtown El Cajon

January 24, 2025 (El Cajon) - For the first time in 30 years, dogs are wagging their tails back into downtown El Cajon! Join the city on Saturday, January 25th for the End of Pawhibition, a celebration of this historic ordinance repeal. This all-day event will be filled with pawsitively delightful activities for you and your four-legged friends.

East County News Service

January 24, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- The  San Diego County Office of Education has announced numerous school closures today due to the Border 2 Fire as well as power outages.

Power outages have resulted in closure of all Mountain Empire Unified School District and Warner Unified School district campuses today, as well as all Borrego Unified School District and Dehesa School District schools.. Currently over 19,000 customers are without power due to public power safety shutoffs, with more than 63,000 more at risk of losing power. For updates on power outages due to public safety shutoffs, visit https://www.sdge.com/psps-dashboard.

The Border 2 Fire has caused closures of the following schools:   Eastlake High, Eastlake Middle, East Hills Academy in the Sweetwater Union High School District,High Tech High in CHuula Vista, Arroya Vista Charter School, and in the Chula Vista Elementary School District Arroyo Vista, Camarena, Eastlake, Liberty, Marshall, Olympic View, Salt Creek, and Wolf Canyon elementary schools are closed; all other CVESD schools remain open but on rainy day schedule due to poor air quality.

For additional updates, follow @SanDiegoCOE on X (formerly  Twitter)

Update 12 p.m.:  Cal Fire has mapped the fire at 5,389 acres. It remains 10% contained. View laetst evacuation areas, whcih have expanded,  here:  https://app.watchduty.org/i/41110 

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The #Border2Fire has exploded overnight to 4,250 acres with 10% containment, Cal Fire reports this morning.  Per San Diego County Sheriff, #Border2Fire. An evacuation order has been issued for people who live in the red shaded areas as shown on the map at left as of early this morning. It means there is an immediate threat and you need to leave right now. An evacuation warning has also been issued for the areas in yellow.

Areas under evacuation notices include Dulzura, portions of Jamul, Lower Otay Reservoir, Otay Mt. Truck Trail, Campo Rd., the Elite Training Center and more. Otay Ranch Town Center and Olympian High School are under evacuation advisories.

Note: Evacuations orders and warnings may be updated frequently; for the most recent maps please see:

https://protect.genasys.com/fullscreenMap?  and

http://emergencymap.sandiegocounty.gov/index.htmlSome schools in the area are closed. 

Road closures

Westbound & Eastbound SR-94 at Otay Lakes Rd is closed due to the fire - per Caltrans San Diego on X.

Alta Road is closed to traffic just south of Otay Mesa Road.Otay Lakes Rd is under a hard closure at Wueste Rd.

 

Sign up to receive our free East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts via email at https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/wild-fire-alerts.  You can also follow EastCountyAlert on Twitter.

Our El Cajon Living section covers the city of El Cajon and unincorporated El Cajon areas including Fletcher Hlils and Rancho San Diego.

Click here for fascinating facts about El Cajon.  For community and city links, click here.

FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT EL CAJON

El Cajon is located in Southern California, 15 miles east of San Diego and is the fifth largest of 18 cities in San Diego County.

El Cajon is Spanish for “the box”, a reference to its valley location.

The Spanish padres at San Diego’s mission once ran cattle and grew grapes in the El Cajon Valley.

El Cajon became a city in 1912 and recently celebrated its centennial. 

One of the first official acts of the new Council was to ban horse racing down Maine Street and ownership of livestock within the city limits.

In 1914, the city repealed a portion of that law to once again allow chicken ownership in El Cajon.

El Cajon and the Rancho San Diego area are home to 40,000 to 60,000 Iraqi Chaldean Christians, the second largest Chaldean population in the United States, after Detroit.

The Chase gold mine in El Cajon yielded over $100,000 in gold before it shut down during World War II.

The El Cajon/Rancho San Diego communities are home to two community colleges, Grossmont and Cuyamaca.

Each Sunday before Thanksgiving, El Cajon hosts the annual Mother Goose Parade, the largest parade of its type west of the Mississippi with floats, bands, equestrians, clowns, giant helium balloons, celebrities and Santa Claus.

Downtown El Cajon hosts Cajon Classic Cruises and Concerts on the Green all summer along, as well as HauntFest on Main at Halloween. America on Main Street is yet another annual festivity in downtown El Cajon.

The world-famous Taylor Guitars is located in El Cajon. Taylor has made guitars for many famous musicians from Taylor Swift to Kenny Loggins and bands from Chicago to the Rolling Stones.

El Cajon has had many residents achieve fame including Olympic diver Greg Louganis, NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, Padres infielder Kurt Bevacqua, NFL quarterback Brian Sipes, and many other sports stars as well as James Wong, producer of the X-Files, and Lester Bangs, rock music critic for Rolling Stone magazine.

By Alyssa Hiestand

May 26, 2024 (El Cajon) -- Just fifteen minutes from Downtown San Diego lies El Cajon, bustling with small businesses, delicious eateries, and more to make any day or night well-spent. Offering an insider perspective, here’s what we’d recommend doing for the ultimate day on Main Street in El Cajon:

• Begin your day at Surje Coffee at the Gallery – a delightful fusion of your favorite cup of joe and the elegance of art! This unique stop along Main Street, open Thursday through Sunday, offers a one-of-a-kind way to start your day in El Cajon.  

• Spend your morning and early afternoon at The Weighorst Museum and The Water Conservation Garden, two prime examples of how El Cajon celebrates nature, art, and history. The Weighorst Museum pays homage to Olaf Wieghorst, renowned for his depictions of the nineteenth-century American West, including the cowboys, Native Americans, and settlers who shaped the Western landscape. The Water Conservation Garden showcases drought-tolerant plants, a butterfly pavilion, a soil erosion exhibit, and more, offering a unique perspective on environmental conservation. 

• Moving to lunchtime, we recommend Por Favor. It has served traditional Mexican fare to El Cajon since 1974, making it a popular destination for enchiladas, tacos, tostadas, burritos, Punta de Filete, Arroz con pollo, Carnitas and Fajitas. Happy hour runs daily from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and all day on Mondays! 

• Another option is Mal Al Sham Mediterranean Food, offering a modern interpretation of classic dishes. Also found along Main Street, a stop at this local eatery is a must, allowing guests to indulge in options like Mal Al Sham Falafel, Chicken Tikka, Hummus, and a variety of Kabobs!  

• Head to Burning Beard Brewery before the evening hits, a brewing operation local to El Cajon. It focuses on instilling quality, craftsmanship, and service into every bite and sip. Proudly serving their Burning Beard Hazy IPA is local venue The Magnolia – a nighttime staple for any great day in El Cajon! 

• End your day with a concert at The Magnolia. It’s the entertainment epicenter for connecting not only El Cajon but all of San Diego with diverse performers, including A-list concert artists, comedians, community events, live podcasts, and more! Following a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2019, The Magnolia includes free parking, pre-show happenings in an expansive outdoor plaza, a completely refurbished lobby bar serving craft beer and cocktails, a brand-new VIP Lounge, updated guest amenities, and stunning audio and visual capabilities. Upcoming performers include Iron & Wine, Joe Jackson, Whitney Cummings!

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