“It could happen, at any water system in the United States. The systems were not designed for what we what we witnessed in L.A.,” says Helix Water District general manager Brian Olney, though Helix has taken steps to reduce risk
By Karen Pearlman
March 20, 2025 (La Mesa) -- The city of La Mesa is being proactive on educating residents on emergency situations for water needs in case of out-of-control wildfires such as the January blazes that devastated Los Angeles County. Concerns about fires and lack of water to fight them led to elected officials in the city of La Mesa to have Helix Water District share insight and information about protection in a presentation at the March 11 City Council meeting.
Reports are still coming in, but the fires earlier this year in Los Angeles are thought to have caused an estimated $250 billion in total damages, with more than 18,000 homes and structures destroyed. While the fires were aided by drought conditions, low humidity, a buildup of vegetation and hurricane-like winds, part of the equation also included local infrastructure issues, troubles tapping into water, and empty fire hydrants and reservoirs.
“I know there’s been a lot of confusion after the fires and a lot of questions about what goes on,” said Helix Water District General Manager Brian Olney (photo, right). “Are we prepared? Yes, we’re prepared for what we know can happen.” He added, “The events in in Los Angeles obviously really put some visuals and some things into our minds about what really happens in a water system, and ‘Can that happen here with us?’ I think it opens us up to have really healthy discussions about ‘What are the expectations?’ and ‘What can a water system survive?’”
Olney explained that fire hydrants can run out of water during high demand. He said while the systems are designed to meet current standards, urban wildfires’ demands “far exceeds whatever was expected or possibly anticipated in terms of the design of that system.”
Most urban water systems are not designed to fight wildfires, he said. Urban water systems are designed to meet normal and peak demands, and provide water to fight fires for two to four hours.
He said when several fire trucks are hooked up to a fire hydrant to put out fires at several homes, the system can manage that for multiple hours at a time, “but when you have 50 fire hydrants that run into a neighborhood and they’re hitting every fire hydrant in place, there’s no chance that there will be enough water left in that system.”
Olney said some homeowners who leave their homes during a fire turn on their irrigation systems, putting added demand onto the system, overwhelming and outpacing the pumping capacity designed into the systems.
“So could this happen in La Mesa?” Olney asked. “Yes, it could. It could happen, at any water system in the United States. The systems were not designed for what we what we witnessed in L.A.”
La Mesa City Councilmember Patricia Dillard (photo, right) asked Olney about protection needs, especially concerning some of the more hilly areas of the city.
“We definitely have the capacity to go out and we can turn valves, we can isolate systems, we can turn water off in an area that doesn’t need the water, and kind of focus it,” Olney said. “We can isolate certain things, but we currently don’t have technology installed in our system where we can shut off an individual house in that area and not to have all the water just go to the to the fire hydrants. “There is some technology that exists out there that does allow you to shut off individual homes, but it’s quite expensive and so we’re not quite down that path yet.”
Olney said the district is in touch with local fire chiefs from Heartland Fire, Lakeside Fire Protection and San Miguel Fire districts. “We’re not only working them on a daily basis to let them know what we’re doing in our system, where we’re taking things out of service so they would have kind of reduced flow, but we’re also working with them on ideas,” Olney said. ‘How do we improve the communication?’ ‘What information do they need moving forward to help these types of responses?’”
He said the fire districts are aware that Helix can provide data in real time of where there might be issues in the water system, and can direct them to another part of the system that has capacity to help them plan on what resources they need.
“We absolutely can have crews out in the field and we can manipulate areas of the system to kind of redirect water where we need it so that it is there,” he said, adding that the Helix crews and firefighters can open and close the 16,000 valves and 6,600 hydrants in Helix’s water distribution system.
While Helix Water District hasn’t been tested in fight major wildfires, other water agencies in San Diego County have. Several faced issues in losing portions of their water system, running out of water during the major wildfires that hit the region in 2003 and 2007.
As part of its strategy to keep that from happening, Helix “has shared resources agreements with all the municipalities and water agencies so we can share people, equipment, emergency response mechanisms,” Olney told the Council.
He said Helix has a direct link to San Diego Gas & Electric, and also stays ahead of things like power outages. Its system can be backed up and run either through stationary or mobile power generation systems. The district has installed diesel-powered, backup generators at critical sites.
City Council member Laura Lothian (photo, right) said she thought one of the most shocking stories from the L.A. fires was the empty Santa Ynez Reservoir, a 117-million-gallon water resource near Pacific Palisades that was under renovation and empty when the fires ripped through the region.
She asked about the amount of water that would be available at Lake Jennings and Olney said the district keeps 75 days’ worth at minimum. He said that currently the reservoir is holding about 130 days’ worth of water.
“We’re not going to run out of water in terms of putting water into the system,” he said. “All the water in there is what we’ve purchased to put in there so it’s completely manipulated and managed by the district itself.”
The district has invested and continues to invest in diverse, reliable water supplies to ensure that the region has the water it needs. Its water comes primarily from the Colorado River and the state water project in Northern California as well as Lake Jennings, the El Capitan Reservoir and Lake Cuyamaca. Its water suppliers also include the Carlsbad Desalination Plant and the Emergency Storage and Carryover Project.
Helix Water District is the second largest water utility in the county, serving more than 275,000 people in La Mesa, Lemon Grove, El Cajon and other areas in the county.
East County News Service
March 21, 2025 (Valley Center) – Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call yesterday reporting that a family member who recently passed away was buried on the family property in the 29000 block of Paso Robles Road, Valley Center. Deputies found a grave that appeared recent.
“Due to there being no record of the decedent's death, the Sheriff's Homicide Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation,” says Lieutenant Patrick Fox with the San Diego County Sheriff’s department.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330/after hours at (858) 868-3200. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
The USDA has cut funding for two programs that allowed schools and food banks to purchase fresh food from local farms, also halting deliveries to food banks.
By G. A. McNeeley
March 21, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Trump administration has cut two programs that provided more than $1 billion to schools and food banks to purchase food from local farmers and ranchers.
About $660 million of those funds were contained in the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), which provided funds to schools and child care facilities.
The rest of those funds were part of the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), which provided funds to local food banks and other organizations.
State officials were notified on Friday, March 7, of the USDA’s decision to end these programs this year. More than 40 states had signed agreements to participate in previous years, according to the School Nutrition Association (SNA) and several state agencies. The USDA also notified states that it was unfreezing funds for existing LFPA agreements, but did not plan to carry out a second round of funding for fiscal year 2025.
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources confirmed it was notified on March 7, that the 2025 funding would be terminated within 60 days.
These cuts come as Donald Trump’s second presidential administration has cut federal spending and imposed tariffs, which forced food organizations and farmers to cut staff and halt investments.
What Do These Programs Do?
"This program will strengthen the food system for schools and childcare institutions by helping to build a fair, competitive, and resilient local food chain, and expand local and regional markets with an emphasis on purchasing from historically underserved producers and processors," the USDA website says on the LFS program's page. The LFS program helped build new income sources for local farmers and food producers.
The LFS program was also expanded to include child care centers, which was announced by the USDA in December 2024. "Families can feel good knowing their kids are eating food that was grown right in their own community," said then-Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Cindy Long.
The goal of the LFPA program is to "improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency," their website said.
LFPA agreements allow states, tribal and territorial governments to purchase food within their own communities (in the state itself, or within 400 miles of the food's destination). That food goes to food banks and organizations that feed people in "underserved communities," according to the USDA's website.
Both programs were introduced to respond to the impacts to the food supply chain brought on by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the USDA. By the end of 2024, food purchased through the program had been distributed at 7,900 food banks, food pantries, and communities in the U.S., the agency said.
In December 2024, the USDA announced a $1.13 billion investment for the programs. Of that funding, $471.5 million was slated for states and territories to "purchase local, unprocessed, or minimally processed domestic foods" to serve in schools participating in free or reduced-cost meal programs, and $188.6 million for child care centers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Food banks have also been seeing demands (due to rising food prices) and Republicans in Congress are pushing to make significant cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
What Are the Officials Saying?
“These proposals would cause millions of children to lose access to free school meals at a time when working families are struggling with rising food costs,” said Shannon Gleave, the president of the SNA, in a press release. “Meanwhile, short-staffed school nutrition teams, striving to improve menus and expand scratch-cooking, would be saddled with time-consuming and costly paperwork created by new government inefficiencies.”
Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts, criticized the Trump Administration for cutting programs that would’ve provided $12 million in food-related funding for schools and food banks in her state.
In a press release, Healey said, “Donald Trump and Elon Musk have declared that feeding children and supporting local farmers are no longer ‘priorities’, and it’s just the latest terrible cut with real impact on families across Massachusetts”.
“There is nothing ‘appropriate’ about it. Trump and Musk are continuing to withhold essential funding in violation of court orders, and our children, farmers and small businesses are bearing the brunt of it,” Healey added.
An unnamed USDA spokesperson told Politico that funding for the programs, “is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification”.
The spokesperson also said, “These programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer affect the goals of the agency. LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance.”
ECM spoke with the San Diego Food Bank, and asked them how these cuts would affect their budget, as well as their ability to provide food to their customers.
Cole Williamson (Vice President of Administration), told us in an email, “At the SDFB, we do not know precisely how changes to USAID or other Federal programs will impact us. We are working with State and Federal officials to figure that out. We will continue to monitor the developing situation and adjust as needed.”
USDA Halts Food Bank Deliveries
On Wednesday, March 19, Politico reported that the USDA halted millions of dollars worth of deliveries to food banks without explanation, according to food bank leaders in six states.
The USDA had previously allocated $500 million in deliveries to food banks for fiscal year 2025 through The Emergency Food Assistance Program. Now, the food bank leaders say many of those orders have been canceled.
For the Central California Food Bank, that means a loss of 500,000 pounds of expected food deliveries worth $850,000 just for April through July, according to co-CEO Natalie Caples.
Caples says that she has not received any assurances from USDA on whether the delivery cancellations are temporary.
The money that was clawed back came from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). It’s not clear how much of the $500 million for the emergency assistance program has been cut, but one USDA employee (granted anonymity to discuss private conversations), said the Trump administration has been trying to claw back CCC money that the Biden administration previously allocated in order to devote funds to other priorities.
USDA was supposed to spend $148 million of the $500 million this year to buy dairy products, eggs, blueberries and more. But last month, the department notified state agencies that it was canceling solicitations from suppliers, according to a February 20 email that Feeding America sent to its network of food banks (and was viewed by Politico).
“USDA has not yet announced plans to move forward with the canceled food orders,” the email states. “We believe the best approach is for network members to work through state agencies to obtain clarification from USDA.”
The emergency food assistance network gets its funding from a mix of money from the farm bill and through commodities USDA purchases. But the patchwork funding system has left the program unable to meet increasing hunger needs (especially during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent years of food inflation), anti-hunger advocates say.
The Biden administration responded to the demand on food banks by supplementing the emergency assistance funding with roughly $2 billion from the CCC fund in 2022 and 2023, then the additional $500 million in 2024.
Many of the organizations that rely on funding from the emergency assistance program were also receiving funding from the LFPA.
The clawbacks come as Congress is weighing shrinking the SNAP, which helps 40 million low-income Americans afford food. That could further exacerbate the pressure on food banks, which provide just one meal for every nine that SNAP supplies.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/11/usda-cuts-food-banks-schools
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/10/usda-cancels-local-food-purchasing-for-schools-food-banks-00222796
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/11/usda-food-bank-school-funding-cuts/82265217007/
https://schoolnutrition.org/sna-news/proposed-school-meal-cuts-prompt-nationwide-advocacy/
https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-denounces-president-trumps-decision-to-cut-12-million-in-federal-funding-to-feed-children-support-local-farmers-in-massachusetts
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/19/usda-halts-deliveries-food-banks-trump-00239453?cid=apn
Eligible low-income residents aged 55, older may receive funds for housing
Source: City of La Mesa and Jewish Family Services
March 21, 2025 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa and Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) are launching the City’s first-ever Older Adult Rental Assistance Program, assisting seniors aged 55 and older who are at risk of homelessness. The program, operated by JFS, will provide 40 participants with a $500 monthly housing subsidy paid directly to their landlords for 12 months and individualized case management. Applications are being accepted beginning the last week of March. Priority will be given to applications filed by April 4.
According to the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, nearly half of unhoused Californians are 50 and older, and more than 41% are experiencing homelessness for the first time in their lives.
"With many seniors on fixed incomes challenged by increasing expenses, this program serves as a vital lifeline,” said La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis. “The program will help rent-burdened older adults in La Mesa maintain housing stability and financial security, allowing them to age in place with dignity.”
Applicants must be 55 and older and reside in the incorporated area of La Mesa with a household income at or below 50% of the city’s median income. They must be currently spending at least half of their income on rent or be at risk of losing their housing. Their landlord must also be willing to participating in the program. Priority will be given to heads of household who are 65 and older and households with incomes at or below 30% of the area median income.
Working closely with the City of La Mesa, JFS will provide monthly case management, creating individualized plans and assessing each participant’s needs at the end of the program.
To apply and learn more, visit www.jfssd.org/our-services/older-adults/la-mesa-older-adult-rental-assistance. Or call (858) 637-3217.
JFS staff are also available to answer questions, help determine eligibility and begin the application process during the following office hours, with appointments required:
- March 24, 1 to 4 p.m.
- March 26, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- March 27, 4-7 p.m.
Individuals can call 619-667-1322 to reserve a 20-minute appointment. All sessions are hosted at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center located at 8450 La Mesa Blvd.
“We look forward to partnering with the City of La Mesa to run the Older Adult Rental Assistance Program. There is a great need for programs like these as studies show the number of older adults accessing homelessness services has more than doubled in the last seven years,” said JFS COO and incoming CEO Dana Toppel. “At JFS, we run a number of programs dedicated to supporting older adults’ health and well-being to assist them as they age in place with dignity. We are looking forward to continuing that mission through this innovative program in La Mesa.”
In addition to JFS’s On the Go rideshare, Fix It home modification, meal delivery, congregate dining and day center programs for older adults throughout San Diego County, the agency operates a privately funded Older Adult Rental Assistance Subsidy Pilot through its Center for Jewish Care. The pilot supports 27 Jewish participants at risk of homelessness with a $360 per month subsidy paid directly to their landlords for 12 months.
About Jewish Family Service of San Diego – Moving Forward Together
Founded in 1918, Jewish Family Service (JFS) is one of San Diego’s most impactful nonprofit agencies – providing resources and support to over 105,000 people every year. Through integrated services, the organization empowers people of all ages, faiths, and backgrounds to overcome challenges, set goals, and build more stable, secure, and connected lives. JFS is committed to helping individuals and families move forward, while developing innovative strategies to break cycles of poverty and strengthen our San Diego community.
East County News Service
March 21, 2025 (Lemon Grove) - On March 18, Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow issued a proclamation declaring March 30 as the “Lemon Grove Incident Day.” There will be a celebration on March 30 at 1:00 p.m. in front of the mural that tells the story of a historic school desegregation case victory for students in Lemon Grove nearly a century ago. The mural is on the side of the building at 7963 Broadway, Lemon Grove.
LEMON GROVE INCIDENT
March 30, 2025 marks the 94th anniversary of the first successful school desegregation case in the United States, in 1931, when Mexican-American parents challenged the Lemon Grove School District’s attempt to segregate their children. The case was called “Roberto Alvarez v. the Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove School District” and is often referred to as the Lemon Grove Incident. This was 23 years before Brown v. Board of Education case.
CELEBRATION
The celebration of the Lemon Grove Incident will take place in front of the mural on the side of 7963 Broadway. The proclamation will be presented by Pastor Anne Stapleton to Roberto Alvarez Jr, the son of the original plaintiff in the landmark case. At the event, Alvarez will retell the story and artist, Mario Chacon, will talk about the mural he painted back in 2022.
The celebration will be hosted by the new tenants moving soon into 7963 Broadway – Grace Communion Lemon Grove, with pastors Anne and Mark Stapleton.
GRACE COMMUNION OPENS NEIGHBORHOOD SPACE AT SITE OF MURAL
GC Lemon Grove believes all people are built for connection and is therefore building out the space to be called “The Neighborhood” which will host local events that help neighbors connect with neighbors.
Members of the City Council and Planning Commission will also be present.
Mexican food and drinks will be available for purchase at the Lemon Grove Incident Celebration to help support future community gatherings.
Source: California Attorney General's Office
March 21, 2025 (Oakland) - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert to customers of 23andMe, a genetic testing and information company. The California-based company has publicly reported that it is in financial distress and stated in securities filings that there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue, which is a growing concern. Due to the trove of sensitive consumer data 23andMe has amassed, Attorney General Bonta reminds Californians of their right to direct the deletion of their genetic data under the Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) and California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA). Californians who want to invoke these rights can do so by going to 23andMe's website.
“California has robust privacy laws that allow consumers to take control and request that a company delete their genetic data,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Given 23andMe’s reported financial distress, I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company.”
To Delete Genetic Data from 23andMe:
- Consumers can delete their account and personal information by taking the following steps:
- Log into your 23andMe account on their website.
- Go to the “Settings” section of your profile.
- Scroll to a section labeled “23andMe Data” at the bottom of the page.
- Click “View” next to “23andMe Data”
- Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding.
- Scroll to the “Delete Data” section.
- Click “Permanently Delete Data.”
- Confirm your request: You’ll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.
To Destroy Your 23andMe Test Sample:
If you previously opted to have your saliva sample and DNA stored by 23andMe, but want to change that preference, you can do so from your account settings page, under “Preferences.”
To Revoke Permission for Your Genetic Data to be Used for Research:
If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers to use your genetic data and sample for research, you may withdraw consent from the account settings page, under “Research and Product Consents.”
Under GIPA, California consumers can delete their account and genetic data and have their biological sample destroyed. In addition, GIPA permits California consumers to revoke consent that they provided a genetic testing company to collect, use, and disclose genetic data and to store biological samples after the initial testing has been completed. The CCPA also vests California consumers with the right to delete personal information, which includes genetic data, from businesses that collect personal information from the consumer.
To learn more about the CCPA, please visit here.
County’s Planning Group to hear controversial proposal on April 18
Story and photos by Karen Pearlman
Photo,left: Valle de Oro Community Planning Group members during packed hearing on Cottonwood Sand Mine
March 20, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) – More than 100 residents who would be most affected by the proposed Cottonwood Sand Mine gathered in force Tuesday, March 18 at the Rancho San Diego Library to let the Valle de Oro Community Planning Group know they don’t want it in their neighborhood.
After listening to more than two dozen people share their concerns, the community planning group voted 11-0 to recommend opposing the project that would see 214 acres of the former 280-acre Cottonwood Golf Course along Willow Glen Drive in Rancho San Diego turned into a digging site for sand mining for at least 10 years.
The group also voted 10-1, with one abstention, to not agree with a design exception review to waive the undergrounding overhead utilities along Willow Glen Road.
Next step: County Planning Commission hearing April 18
Oday Yousif, chairman of the Valle de Oro planning group, said he would be submitting a formal recommendation on behalf of the organization and those it serves, to not approve the sand mine Major Use Permit application to the San Diego County Planning Department by the March 23 due date before the item is heard at the April 18 meeting.
That recommendation, along with a recommendation from the county’s Planning Department Services, will be presented to the county’s five-member Planning Commission. The County Planning Commission will then decide on whether to approve or not approve the sand mine operation permit application.
The County Planning Commission meets monthly to consider land use projects affecting unincorporated areas of the county. Its next me
eting is March 21, but the meeting for the sand mine item has been set for 9 a.m., Friday, April 18 at the County Operations Center Hearing Room on Overland Drive.
Photo, right: Valle do Oro Community Planning Group Chair Oday Yousif, left, looks on as County Land Use Planner Chris Jacobs gives presesntation.
Residents share concerns during crowded meeting
Residents at the meeting expressed concerns ranging from environmental, health and safety issues related to the silica dust being kicked up during the process, as well as traffic impacts, especially for emergency safety needs. Among those there to listen was applicant representative Brice Bossler and County Land Use Planner Chris Jacobs.
San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District Director Theresa McKenna said that in 2022, then-Fire Chief Criss Brainard provided comments the county on the district’s concerns about the project related to emergency response time delays.
“Increased heavy truck traffic and slowing during construction all have the potential of increasing emergency response times,” McKenna said. “In our letter to the County, the Fire District requested health and safety concerns be mitigated for the benefit of the community, since even short delays can mean the difference between life and death.”
Detractors say that the project is inconsistent with both the County General Plan and Community Specific Plan. The Rancho Specific Plan identifies the golf course serving as a buffer area and providing a larger setback to sensitive habitat areas.
They also say that a final Environmental Impact Report has not been shown, so they are working off information culled from the Draft EIR, first circulated in 2021.
The site is in the middle of the Rancho San Diego region, and shares borders with homes, and is near schools and businesses.
Dr. Bob Foster (photo, left), a retired physician, said he is “extremely concerned about the negative health effects of this sand mine idea.”
“I’m adamantly opposed to it,” Foster said. “I think it's a horrendous plan that this is come up with and I want to be clear that we’ve got to do everything we can to stop this from ever becoming a reality. It’s a danger to those kids who have to walk to school every day across the clouds of smoke and sand that are going to be expelled from the sand mine operation. It’s just appalling to me that this plan has actually gotten to this level.”
The site also runs along the Sweetwater River watershed --a nearly 230-square mile region that goes from the Cuyamaca Mountains out to San Diego Bay. Groundwater from its lower basin is also linked to the watershed. The site is upstream from a federal wildlife preserve.
Sweetwater Authority, which oversees the water in the region, has expressed concern in the past about the project’s impact on water levels and quality.
Josan Feathers (photo, right), a registered Civil Engineer and member of the Valle de Oro Cottonwood Subcommittee, posed 
some rhetorical questions to those in attendance.
“Would you trust an applicant or engineers who missed the need for an additional 3.5 million tons of backfill? Would you trust the same applicant to excavate 79 acres downstream of the 30-year-old Steele Canyon Bridge (in Jamul) and about 100 acres upstream up to 40 feet below the ground surface?”
Feathers said that the development proposes to backfill the river “with excavated materials they can’t sell.”
“This project can potentially taint and pollute the drinking water that flows into the Sweetwater Reservoir which serves almost 200,000 South Bay residences, potentially endangering and impacting them, as well as the wildlife in the area,” she said.
The developer’s view
The developer of the land at the golf course, New West Investment, has said previously that the project is needed to supply sand for local building and infrastructure projects, and its presence will mean avoiding the cost of importing sand.
Areas included within the project boundary that are not disturbed by mining would be subject to habitat improvement through removal of invasive species in the river channel (if necessary) or would be left in their current condition including the existing Sweetwater River channel. (See map of project site, left)
The project would also make certain improvements to Willow Glen Drive prior to beginning mining operations.
New West Investment and Los Angeles-based investor Michael Schlesinger purchased Cottonwood in 2015, four years after the golf course filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Representatives for the project were asked to weigh in the following day, and provided only a brief statement.
“The Cottonwood Proposal would ultimately transform a defunct golf course property into 200 acres of permanent, preserved open space for the community to enjoy,” the statement reads.
“In the near-term, it would provide critically needed sand supplies for housing and infrastructure projects through a phased approach that reduces community concerns around views. Creating a local sand supply at Cottonwood is a win for the San Diego region because it would reduce the increased costs and environmental damage caused by trucking sand in from outside the region and Mexico.”
Schlesinger has been planning to mine the site of the former Cottonwood Golf Course since 2018. He bought the property in 2015.
He had also purchased the Escondido Country Club in 2012, then shut down the golf course and worked to build nearly 400 homes on the site. Involved in several legal battles related to that, the homes were eventually built and are now known as the master planned Canopy Grove.
What happens if it’s approved?
While the new EIR has not been released, as originally filed, the proposal explains the plan to mine 4.7 million cubic yards with nearly 3.8 million cubic yards (or 5.7 million tons) of washed concrete sand (construction aggregate) produced over 10 years. It will be done in phases with reclamation planned after each phase for a total of 12 years of activity.
The extraction process would occur in three phases over the span of 10 years and the cleanup, equipment removal and final reclamation would occur in the fourth phase over two years.
Sand excavation and processing would occur between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with trucking operations for material sales and backfill import from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Stop Cottonwood group mobilizes opposition
Elizabeth Urquhart, who has spearheaded the Stop Cottonwood Sand Mine efforts, spoke passionately at the meeting and presented evidence she said “shows the continued sand mine Major Use Permit application is unsuitable for approval” based on myriad factors, “including impacts on the surrounding environment neighborhood character and public facilities.”
The stopcottonwoodsandmine.com site has been active since the beginning of the issue, and through its work, a large number of Rancho San Diego’s nearly 21,000 residents have signed petitions and have packed public meetings through the years to oppose the project.
After the meeting, Rancho San Diego resident Anne-Marie Jacques said residents “feel like the developers don’t give a crap that this project just doesn’t make sense in this community, and they’re hoping we just give up.”
“Communities like RSD don’t need a sand mine because it wouldn’t add anything of substance or value to us,” she said. “They’re only looking out for their bank accounts not the people who live, work and go to school in the area.”
By Miriam Raftery
March 21, 2025 (Borrego Springs) – An international aerobatics competition will be held at the Borrego Springs airport Thursday through Saturday, April 10-12, organized by the International Aerobatic Club’s Chapter 36. A highlight for viewers is Saturday’s four-minute freestyle flights set to music, usually involving smoke, flown by top pilots, IAC36 president Bryan Jones advises.
Thursday is practice and registration, while Friday features contest flights all day long.
You can also stop by the Propeller Bar and Grill, where you can enjoy food and drinks plus a rooftop deck to view the flying.
The IAC Chapter 36 is based in Borrego Springs and promotes precision aerobatics through coaching, competition and comraderie. The Borrego airport boasts the world’s finest, permanent surface-waivered aerobatics box.
For a full schedule of events, visit https://iac36.org/ .
East County News Service
March 20, 2025 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon announces the launch of “Via San Diego El Cajon,” a new app-based, on-demand transit program designed to expand transportation access for residents and visitors. Service went live on March 17, and all rides are free for the first month.
Via San Diego allows anyone within the El Cajon service zone to book a shared ride in the app (available in the App Store and Google Play) or by calling 619-413-9986. With the program, residents can affordably and conveniently reach local destinations like work, shopping, education, appointments, regional transit hubs, and more without needing a private car.
How does it work?
- Once someone books a ride, Via’s technology matches them with other riders headed in the same direction into one small electric vehicle – creating quick and efficient shared trips.
- Riders are directed to “virtual bus stops” (typically a short walk away from their pick-up and drop-off location), which minimizes detours and keeps trips running smoothly for everyone.
- The program will operate Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free ride period ends April 17, after which trips will cost $2.50 each.
- Riders with mobility issues can request door-to-door services and wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
“Via is thrilled to partner with the City of El Cajon to launch this zero-emission, tech-enabled micro-transit program as part of the broader Via San Diego platform,” said Brian Nelson, West Coast Partnerships Lead at Via. “The debut of Via San Diego will transform how the El Cajon community moves – whether that’s commuting, connecting with other transit options, or reaching important local opportunities.”
El Cajon’s decision follows a similar initiative by City Heights and North Park Main Street, which launched the “Mid-City GO” program using the same Via San Diego app in January. Via San Diego El Cajon is funded by a $1.5 million award from the Clean Mobility Options (CMO) Voucher Pilot Program, with additional support from the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program.
ABOUT VIA: Founded in 2012, Via pioneered the TransitTech category by using new technologies to develop public mobility systems — optimizing networks of buses, shuttles, wheelchair accessible vehicles, school buses, autonomous vehicles, and electric vehicles around the globe. Building the world’s most efficient, equitable, and sustainable transportation network for all riders — including those with limited mobility, those without smartphones, and unbanked populations — Via works with its partners to lower the costs of public transit while providing transportation options that rival the convenience of a personal car while reducing the environmental impact. At the intersection of transportation and technology, Via is a visionary market leader that combines software innovation with sophisticated service design and operational expertise to fundamentally improve the way the world moves, providing technology in 700 communities and more than 35 countries and counting.
ABOUT THE CLEAN MOBILITY OPTIONS PROGRAM: Clean Mobility Options (CMO) is funded by California Climate Investments and the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Clean Transportation Program. CMO, a California Air Resources Board and California Energy Commission project, is a statewide initiative that provides funding for zero-emission shared mobility options to under-resourced communities in California. CMO is available throughout California to all eligible disadvantaged and low-income communities and tribal governments to increase access to safe, reliable, convenient, and affordable transportation options. For more information, visit cleanmobilityoptions.org.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA CLIMATE INVESTMENTS: California Climate Investments is a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in underserved communities.
ABOUT CEC’s CLEAN TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM: California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program is investing more than $1 billion to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission transportation infrastructure and support in-state manufacturing and workforce training and development
East County News Service
March 20, 2025 (Ramona) -- The Ramona Valley Vintners Association and the Ramona Chamber of Commerce invite you to Cheers to the Valley Wine Festival on Saturday, April 5 from 12 to 4 p.m. at Begent Ranch (18528 Highland Valley Rd., Ramona).
The event includes catered small bites, arts and craft vendors, live music by a local artist, unlimited tastings from nine local wineries and a complimentary tasting glass.
For tickets and lists of participating wineries and vendors, visit https://ramonachamber.com/cheerstothevalley