Communities

East County News Service
January 6, 2025 (Santee) – Jordan Marks, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC), has announced that early appointments are now available for civil wedding ceremonies between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.  Couples can book their Valentine’s Day appointments for marriage licenses and ceremonies at one of four ARCC offices, including Santee, Chula Vista, San Marcos and the San Diego Downtown ARCC headquarters at the County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego. The Downtown location also offers indoor ceremony rooms or a picturesque, outdoor marriage arbor on the waterfront. The ARCC Santee branch office in East County is located at 10144 Mission Gorge Ave.

The ARCC office is responsible for issuing marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, as well as registering business names and recording all legal real estate documents. On average, the ARCC office provides nearly 25,000 marriage licenses and performs more than 11,000 weddings annually.

However, Valentine’s Day is historically one of the busiest and most popular days of the year for same-day marriage licensing and civil ceremonies, according to Marks, a countywide elected official who serves as county commissioner of civil marriages in his role as San Diego County ARCC.

“Valentine’s Day 2025 will be extra special this year because it falls on a Friday, allowing for a weekend of fun for the newlyweds,” said Marks. “Happiness begins here at my County Clerk Office for hundreds of couples looking to tie the knot on this unforgettable day. I highly encourage couples to make their Valentine’s Day 2025 appointment now, using my award-winning online booking system to secure their reservation for love on this highly-sought-after day.”

Cost for a non-confidential marriage license is $129. Cost for an ARCC staff member to perform the ceremony is an additional $107. Ceremonies can be conducted in English or Spanish.  To make an appointment, visit www.sdarcc.gov, or call (619) 237-0502.

Source: SDG&E

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

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

Power shutoffs are possible in the following areas:

• Alpine
• Barona Reservation
• Boulevard
• Campo
• Campo Reservation
• Capitan Grande Reservation
• Chula Vista
• Descanso
• East San Juan Cap
• El Cajon
• Escondido
• Fallbrook
• Jacumba
• Jamul
• Julian
• La Jolla Reservation
• La Mesa
• La Posta Reservation
• Lakeside
• Los Coyotes Reservation
• Manzanita Reservation
• Mesa Grande Reservation
• Pala
• Pala Reservation
• Pauma and Yuima Reservation
• Pauma Valley
• Pechanga Reservation
• Poway
• Ramona
• Ranchita
• Rancho Bernardo
• Rancho Santa Fe
• Rincon Reservation
• San Diego
• San Pasqual Reservation
• Santa Ysabel
• Santa Ysabel Reservation
• Santee
• Sycuan Reservation
• Valley Center
• Viejas Reservation
• Warner Springs

SDG&E has activated its Emergency Operations Center and staffed it with key personnel to monitor weather conditions throughout the duration of the event, especially the wind speeds in the high fire risk areas of the county. 

If SDG&E implements a PSPS for public safety, it will open Community Resource Centers to support impacted customers.   

Given the potential for extended power outages, SDG&E encourages customers to be prepared. Outage preparedness tips can be found at sdge.com/outage-center; safety guidelines for generator use can be found at sdge.com/generator.    

Never approach a downed line; report it by calling 911 or SGD&E’s call center at 800-411-7343.

Real-time information about unplanned power outages can be found at www.sdge.com/outage.  

Updates about this PSPS can be found at sdge.com/Ready and SDGEToday.com or by following SDG&E’s X channel, @SDGE. 

By Miriam Raftery

January 2, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – 2024 has been a turbulent year, from devastating floods in January to controversies over homelessness and immigration, contentious elections, land use and fire issues, expansion of Jamul tribal lands, officials grappling with hate speech, resignation of the County Supervisors' Chairwoman Nora Vargas, and at year’s end, Syrian-Americans rallying in El Cajon to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime.

Below are the top stories of the year which had an impact in East County communities.

FLOOD INNUNDATES REGION

The year opened with extreme flooding in January, resulting in county, state and federal emergency declarations. As ECM reported, thousands sought help at a flood assistance center in Spring Valley. A woman drowned in a flooded Santee creek. In East County, floodwaters caused severe damage to homes in areas such as Rolando and destroyed relief supplies for Ukraine gathered by a Ukrainian church in Spring Valley, where community members sought donations to help neighbors. ECM published links to multiple relief and donation efforts to help victims, also highlighting acts of heroism.  A civil rights advocate announced plans to sue the city of San Diego over its failure to clear storm drains and attorney Mike Aguirre filed a class action suit. But those legal actions offered no help for residents of unincorporated areas, some still struggling to rebuild their lives.

FBI PROBES SHOOTING OF DENTIST IN EL CAJON

In February, a shooting suspect was arrested following a manhunt after he opened fire at an El Cajon dental clinic, killing Dr. Benjamin Harouni, who was Jewish, and injuring two other employees. The FBI launched an investigation and community members voiced concerns over a possible hate crime, though the shooter, Mohammed Abdulkareem, was a disgruntled patient.  Dr. Harouni’s family held a vigil and fundraised to help the surviving victims, also announcing plans to start a charity, Hearts over Hate.

DEADLY MARINE HELICOPTER CRASH

Crash of a Marine helicopter during a winter storm in February over rugged terrain near Pine Valley triggered a desperate search for survivors. Sadly, all five Marines on board were later confirmed dead.

HATE SPEECH LEADS TO BAN ON REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTS IN LA MESA

In response to anti-Semitic rants in February during a La Mesa City Council meeting which may have been AI generated as part of a national campaign, councilmembers in March voted to ban remote public comments.  The action triggered objections from La Mesa activists who say remote comments allows greater public access; they hope that a newly elected Council majority may lift the ban in 2025.

WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN FINANCIAL CHALLENGES

In February, the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College abruptly closed amid restructuring, due to financial challenges after the Joint Powers Authority denied pleas to boost funding. Later in the month, the garden reopened with reduced hours and the Garden’s Joint Powers Authority taking over operations from the troubled Friends of the Water Conservation Garden nonprofit, which later declared bankruptcy and defaulted on several large loans.

By June, under leadership of interim director Lauren Magnuson with help from JPA members and volunteers, the garden reported strong growth in revenues, though a budget gap remained. The Garden drew a large crowd for its 25^th anniversary event in November, showing that the community supports the venue and wants it to thrive.  But troubles remain, since some JPA water agency members facing financial troubles of their own have voiced intent to withdraw and the remaining agencies don’t want to pick up the other agencies’ shares of funding.  Options include finding new funding sources, persuading reluctant water agencies not to bolt, or turning the Garden over to Cuyamaca College to use as an educational facility,  an option which some fear could limit or eliminate public access.

GUHSD STAFFING AND SAFETY CUTS

In March, over the objections of a vocal crowd, the Grossmont Union High School District’s board majority voted to lay-off 91 full time employees, including teachers, certified staff members, interpreters, and administrative assistants. The board also terminated the district’s school safety director and eliminated its department of school safety.

The action was shocking and particularly troubling in a district that survived two deadly  mass shootings at Santana and Granite Hills high schools in 2001. School shootings are at record levels nationwide today.

IMMIGRATION ISSUES

With a surge in migrants in Jacumba, ECM reporters used Google Translate to interview people in April who had come here from around the world including some fleeing violence in their homelands, others hoping for economic opportunities, and a young Russian opposed to the war in Ukraine. Their stories were harrowing and heartwarming; our coverage received journalism awards. Some political leaders stoked fear of migrants, much of it unjustified such as claims of rampant crime (in fact the crime rate among immigrants is lower than among citizens).  But one fear had a legitimate basis: border fires sparked by migrants seeking to keep warm or alert authorities when they needed help. By year’s end, local city and county leaders found themselves in the crosshairs between state and federal regulations, with the incoming Trump administration threatening to arrest civic leaders who refuse to cooperate in mass deportation efforts, while state law prohibits such actions. El Cajon’s City Council on January 7 will consider Mayor Bill Wells’ proposal to cooperate fully with federal immigration authorities. County Supervisors took an opposite path, seeking to protect migrants beyond what state law requires, but the Sheriff announced she will follow state law, which allow cooperation for deportations of serious criminals but not other migrants.  Coming next year: a new Border Patrol Station in Dulzura to house migrants, as ECM reported last January.

HOMELESSNESS

The point-in-time count conducted in January and released in May showed that while East County’s overall homeless population dropped 28% over the prior year, La Mesa and Lemon Grove had sharp rises, like due to the city of San Diego banning homeless camps. In June, a Supreme Court ruling found it legal to sweep homeless camps and effectively criminalize homelessness.

Yet efforts to provide housing for the homeless have proven frustrating for officials. Supervisors approved sleeping cabins for homeless people in Spring Valley in March, only to withdraw the plan in June after vocal public opposition. A new proposal to build the sleeping cabins in Lemon Grove raised hopes among homeless people interviewed by ECM in Lemon Grove. But residents accused county officials of ramming through the project before any public hearing and objected to some councilmembers voicing support for the plan with no public hearing.  One bright spot for the homeless came when the county announced plans in May to build an East Region Crisis Stabilization Unit and Recovery Bridge in El Cajon.

RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE

An ECM investigative report in April on rabbit deaths in rural East County led the state to analyze carcasses, after residents said their requests to do so had been ignored. In June, the state confirmed deaths of rabbits in Jamul and Dulzura were due to rabbit hemorrhagic disease. The disease, a form of viral hepatitis, is fatal 50 to 100% of the time in wild rabbits and hares

CPUC REJECTS AT&T PLAN TO PULL PLUG ON LAND LINES

Land-line telephones remain the only reliable source of communication during emergencies in some rural East County areas.  So when ECM published a report on the proposal, local residents flooded the California Public Utilities Commission with comments objecting to the plan. At a March hearing, rural residents from across California warned that eliminating AT&T’s responsibility as telephone carrier of last resort could cost lives.  In May, the CPUC announced its intent to deny AT&T’s request, assuring rural residents would not be left without communications during emergencies.

CEMETERY PROPOSAL IN PINE VALLEY RAISES GRAVE OBJECTIONS

A proposed cemetery with capacity for 25,000 burials over Pine Valley’s sole-source aquifer drew strong objections from rural planning group members and residents concerned over potential groundwater contamination. One neighbor claims he was duped by a project representative, allowing access over his property in the belief that a single-family home was slated to be built, instead of a massive cemetery. At year’s end, the project remains pending, with no hearing date set yet by the County Planning Commission.

INCUBATOR BUSINESS CENTER OPENS IN EL CAJON

Fulfilling a decade-long dream, the Chaldean Community Council opened an incubator business center in El Cajon in May with a goal of helping refugees start up businesses to fulfill the American dream.  The county and city provided funding, using monies from the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Small Business Stimulus Grant program, and the County’s Community Enhancement program.

Supervisor Joel Anderson, presenting a half-million dollar check, called the day a “joyous occasion,” adding, “In East County, we’ve got enterpreneurial spirit to be tapped. He predicted that the enterprise will produce new entrepreneurs, “bringing wealth and opportunities to East County.”

CAMPUS PROTESTS OVER ISRAEL-GAZA WAR

Campus protests over the Israel-Gaza war erupted nationwide in May, including here in San Diego. Locally, a student protest at San Diego State University remained peaceful, but arrests were made at the University of California San Diego campus and in Los Angeles, student protests turned violent.  Pro-Palestinian protesters demanded an end to the war and to American funds and weapons being shipped to Israel as the Gaza death toll rose, also calling on universities to divest from investments in Israel. Counter-protesters expressed support for Israel, citing the deadly Hamas attack last year, and voiced concerns over safety of Jewish students and anti-Semitism.

BATTERY STORAGE FIRES IGNITE SAFETY CONCERNS

A fire at a lithium battery storage facility in Otay Mesa in May forced neighboring businesses to evacuate for nearly two weeks.  Another fire in May broke out at an Escondido lithium ion battery storage site, prompting evacuation of residents. In La Mesa, where a smaller lithium battery storage site was proposed, City Manager Greg Humora issued safety assurances, highlighting key differences between the Otay and La Mesa projects in size, technology, and fire protection plans. The incidents are reminders that clean energy technologies, though less polluting and free of greenhouse gases that fuel climate change, can pose safety issues of their own.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP CONVICTED ON 34 FELONY COUNTS

In May, a New York jury found former president Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony criminal counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments to a porn star in order to influence the 2016 election. But after his reelection in November, the judge delayed sentencing until after Trump’s four-year term of office. The action left Trump supporters rejoicing and critics decrying lack of accountability.

LEGENDS LOST

In May, two of East County’s most famous residents passed away: NBA basketball superstar Bill Walton of La Mesa and world renown architect/artist James Hubbell of Santa Ysabel. Their lives have ended, but their legacies live on. Read about other local leaders lost in 2024 here.

LOVELAND RESERVOIR RESTORATION

In a win for local fishing enthusiasts, Sweetwater Water Authority voted in May to restore the floating fishing dock destroyed by a storm, after extreme draining of the reservoir left the dock vulnerable. But activists’ efforts to restore sunrise-to-sunset access remain unresolved.

FIRE INSURANCE AND ZONE ZERO DEFENSIBLE SPACE REQUIREMENTS

Soaring and often inaccessible fire insurance rates, new “zone zero” defensible space mandates for the five feet closest to structures, and how to form fire-wise communities were among the hot topics discussed at the Jamul-Dulzura Fire Safe Council meeting in June. Speakers Sharon Smith, outreach analyst with the Calif. Dept. of Insurance, and Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire Captain Thomas Shoots provided insights, as ECM reported. In September, ECM interviewed Cal Fire Captain Mike Cornette, with tips on how to prepare for wildfires and keep households safe.

CATHOLIC DIOCESE DECLARES BANKRUPTCY

In June, Cardinal Robert McElroy announced that the San Diego Roman Catholic Diocese was declaring bankruptcy. The action shields the church from paying out full settlements over sexual abuse claims and enables the church to continue it religious mission. But an attorney representing survivors of clergy sex abuse is blasting the action as a deceptive legal ploy to protect church assets and hide secrets.

18 LOCAL WATER SYSTEMS FAIL SAFE DRINKING STANDARDS

In San Diego County, 18 water systems failed repeated tests due to contaminants that include arsenic, uranium, nitrate, nitrite, manganese, E-coli, heavy metals, and more, including numerous water providers in East County. Sixteen other local water systems are at risk or potentially at risk, according to state records. ECM interviewed state water officials on our radio show for in-depth details on why so many water systems are failing safety tests—and what’s being done about it.

EGG RANCH FIRE IN RAMONA

A fire at the Demler Brothers Egg Ranch in July killed tens of thousands of chickens, raising animal cruelty concerns.  The ranch supplies eggs to Walmart, Smart & Final and other major retailers, yet had no plans to evacuate birds even in adjacent barns to the one in which chickens burned to death.  The ranch has previously been investigated for animal cruelty complaints after investigators from Direct Action Everywhere, an animal rights group, reportedly found tens of thousands of birds in extreme confinement, with corpses on the floor and injured birds languishing in trash bins.

PARKWAY PLAZA REDEVELOPMENT

With online sales taking a bite out of retail traffic, shopping malls across the U.S. are struggling and some have closed down. Seeking to avoid that scenario, the City of El Cajon commissioned a market analysis envisioning redevelopment options for Parkway Plaza,  East County’s largest regional shopping mall. In July, El Cajon Councilmembers unanimously favored a motion to move beyond proposed aspirational measures and begin the next step toward transforming Parkway Plaza into a mix of residential, retail, offices, entertainment and community space.

TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS

A would-be assassin opened fire at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania in July, killing an audience member, injuring Trump’s ear and wounding two other rally goers before Secret Service killed the gunman. Two months later, Secret Service agents spotted a man pointing a rifle as Trump golfed two holes away at his Florida course.  An agent opened fire and the man fled, dropping the weapon. He was arrested a short time later. The incidents raise questions over the adequacy of Secret Service steps to protect former presidents, and presidential candidates.

SHERIFF ANNOUNCES DRUG SCREENINGS FOR EMPLOYEES AT JAILS

In the latest effort to address the high rate of deaths in local jails, Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced in July that random drug and contraband screenings would be implemented at county-run jails. The action had long been called for by advocates of jail reforms to prevent drug overdoses among incarcerated individuals.

BIDEN DROPS OUT OF PRESIDENTIAL RACE, HARRIS ACCEPTS NOMINATION

Following a shaky debate performance, 84-year-old President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race in July, just months before the November election. In this unprecedented situation, Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her party’s nomination to head the ticket at the July Democratic National Convention.  Despite a strong debate performance against Trump in September, Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, ultimately lost the election to Trump in November, when Republicans also took control of both the House and Senate.

WILDFIRES THREATEN HOMES

ECM sent alerts on dozens of brush fires in 2024 across our region, including several with evacuations in East County communities. The largest was the Nixon Fire, which scorched 4,941 acres in late July and early August. The blaze burned 7 homes in Riverside County and caused evacuations in the Warner Springs area in San Diego County before firefighters finally extinguished the fast-moving fire.

JUDGE BLOCKS FANITA RANCH IN SANTEE

In the latest round of legal wrangling over the proposed 3,000-home Fanita Ranch project in Santee, a in August judge ordered Santee’s City Council to rescind its latest approval of Fanita Ranch. Judge Katherine Bacal ruled on behalf of environmental groups led by Preserve Wild Santee, finding that the city illegally ignored its own rule which required that voters be allowed to weigh in on any new development requiring a change to the city’s general plan.

LOCAL CLIMATE ACTIONS

In September, County Supervisors adopted a new climate action plan, a blueprint for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the unincorporated area and at County facilities to reach net zero emissions by 2045. In November, La Mesa’s City Council adopted an enhanced climate action plan which Councilman Jack Shu called “best climate change plan” in the region. Although the incoming Trump administration has pledged to slash climate action programs and withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, the actions of local governments still have a role to reduce greenhouse gases and work to slow climate change.

PROJECT 2025

Project 2025 is an 887-page blueprint for a second Trump administration, according to its authors. Trump has alternately praised it, claimed never to have read it, and said he disagrees with parts of it; he has denied knowing its authors, even though those authors include 140 top officials and advisors from Trump’s first presidential term, some of whom wrote entire chapters. ECM reviewed the entire document and provided an analysis of its most controversial provisions and how they could impact our readers and our community.

Project 2025’s  stated mission is to restore family as centerpiece of American life, “dismantle the administrative state”, defend our nation’s sovereignty and borders against global threats, and secure ”God given individual rights to live freely.” But if fully implemented, it would dismantle many branches of our federal government, shut down the department of education and the federal emergency management agency (FEMA), politicize federal agencies,  weaponize the justice department, weaken environmental protections and abandon climate change goals, as well as take away many rights and protections for women, minorities, and the LGBTQ community.

SALES TAX MEASURES APPROVED BY VOTERS IN 3 OF 4 EAST COUNTY CITIES

With local governments grappling to fund essential services ranging from police and fire protection to filling potholes, four East County cities put measures on the ballot to increase or extend prior sales tax hikes.  Voters in Lemon Grove, La Mesa and Santee voted enthusiastically to support passage of those measures, but Santee voters defeated a sales tax initiative intended to bolster fire protection.

NEW FACES TO REPRESENT EAST COUNTY

The November election swept in some new faces to represent East County communities.  Lemon Grove voters sought change, ousting an incumbent mayor and councilmember while voting in Alysson Snow as the new mayor, along with new councilmembers Steve Faia and Alysson Snow.  In La Mesa, two open seats were won by Lauren Cazares and Genevieve Suzuki, giving La Mesa a diverse city council with four women, two Latinos, an African-American, and the city’s first LGBTQ+ representative.  ECM held candidate forums for Lemon Grove’s mayoral and council candidates, as well as for La Mesa’s city council contenders.

In the state Assembly, Carl DeMaio defeated fellow Republican Andrew Hayes, while LaShea Sharp-Collins won over fellow Democrat Colin Parent. Akilah Weber, formerly in the Assembly, advanced to the State Senate, defeating Bob Divine.  California also has a new U.S. Senator, Democrat Adam Schiff. 

Incumbents won reelection handily in the El Cajon and Santee City Council races, while East County’s incumbent Congressional members Darrell Issa and Sara Jacobs also won reelection by wide margins.

ISRAEL-LEBANON CEASE FIRE

In November, U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emanuel Macron announced a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The historic accord  included assurances that Israel will be secure from threats by Hezbollah, which had been bombing Israel from southern Lebanon, and other terrorist groups, with stabilization of southern Lebanon to be provided under international supervision. The agreement called for withdrawal of Hamas from southern Lebanon and withdrawal of Israeli forces, with a goal of ultimately allowing residents of both Israel and southern Lebanon to return safely to their homes.

SERIAL ARSONIST ARRESTED

In early December, Cal Fire announced the arrest of a serial arsonist accused of setting nine fires in November including blazes in Rancho San Diego, Jamul, La Mesa, San Diego, and Dehesa. The news came as a bright spot, helping to keep our communities safer.

BIRD FLU EMERGENCY

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state emergency in December over bird flu, after the virus began spreading through dairy cows and raw milk. San Diego County Public Health officials issued a warning to consumers not to consume raw, unpasteurized milk and not to feed it to their pets, since some have died as a result.  Bird flu has also been transmitted to workers handling farm animals or wildlife carrying bird flu, which can be fatal to humans as well as animals.

SYRIANS IN EL CAJON CELEBRATE LIBERATION OF THEIR HOMELAND

After the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in Syria, hundreds of local Syrians gathered in El Cajon’s Kennedy Park to celebrate Syria’s liberation with dancing, sharing stories, and waving. U.S. flags. Emotions ran high among refugees who fled Syria to escape the brutal Assad regime. Now, local Syrians report seeing  friends and family members freed from the infamous Saydnaya prison. Many harbor hopes of someday returning home, but for now, they are waiting to see the results of the new leadership and whether its promise of a stable Syrian future will hold.

SUPERVISORS’ CHAIR NORA VARGAS STEPS DOWN OVER SAFETY CONCERNS

In a surprise announcement, newly reelected Nora Vargas, Chair of the County Board of Supervisors, announced she will step down January 6 when her term ends due to “safety and security” concerns. Vargas has said she has received death threats and harassment. The County’s first Latina Supervisor has also faced hateful comments online and abusive remarks at public meetings, as well as harsh criticism and racist remarks over her advocacy for equity and support for immigrants. She has also drawn concerns from Spring Valley and Lemon Grove residents over her support of sleeping cabins for the homeless. She and her staff have also been targets of legal claims claiming they discriminated against prospective employees.  

Her resignation will leave the board with a partisan 2-2 split until the position is filled either by appointment or special election.  Her decision not to serve her next term is deeply troubling if due to death threats and harassment as she has indicated, something no public official should have to endure.  Whether or not other factors influenced her decision, announcing a resignation due to severe harassment  also has the disturbing potential to embolden disturbed individuals to launch racist personal attacks or threaten harm to other elected officials--actions that have no place in a free society.

JAMUL TRIBAL LAND EXPANSION

 In December, legislation authored by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) to place 172 acres of land in East County into tribal trust for the Jamul Indian Village passed the House and headed to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law, after the measure passed the house and a companion measure authored by Senator Padilla passed in the Senate.

Tribal Chairwoman Erica Pinto told Senators that in approving the measure, “The federal government would be helping the Tribe to honor its ancestors and their sacrifices in order to remain and prosper in the place that we have always called home.”  Legislators approved the measures despite objections raised by the Jamul-Dulzura Planning Group over potential traffic issues and concerns over the procedures followed.

Congressman Issa stated, ““This is the right thing to do, and it empowers not government, but individuals, to take new charge and best care of their lives. This Fee-to-Trust bill provides that opportunity, securing Jamul’s land, preserving its sacred sites, and protecting Kumeyaay traditions for generations to come.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: surveillance footage from New Orleans terror attack

January 3, 2025 (San Diego) – A U.S. military veteran drove a rented electric pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s Day revelers in New Orleans shortly after 3 a.m. on New Year’s morning, killing 14 people before he was fatally shot by police officers. Authorities found improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted in the area; ABC news reports that an explosion to a hotel has been tied to the driver, The FBI reports that he posted videos declaring support for the terror group ISIS shortly before the attack, which the FBI confirms was an act of terrorism.

Later in the day, a U.S. Army Green Beret on leave detonated a rented Tesla filled with explosives and fireworks in front of Trump Tower in Las Vegas; his motive is not yet clear. The medical examiner confirmed that the driver shot himself before his body was burned in the explosion. Both attackers were U.S. citizens.

Tonight, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in San Diego is asking locals to be vigilant and report any threats, though the FBI and Sheriff’s department assure that there are no known threats in our region.

Local law enforcement responses

“Protecting the American people from acts of terrorism remains the FBI’s number one priority,” the FBI states in a joint press release released by multiple local law enforcement agencies. “Attacks such as the tragic event in New Orleans have a lasting impact not only on the immediate community but all Americans. The terrorism threats we face are complex and ever evolving, demanding we all work together to keep our communities safe.”

THE FBI is working with law enforcement partners to share information and disrupt any threats to our community.

The public is asked to report suspicious activities or threats to  FBI San Diego at (858) 320-1800 or submit a tip to https://tips.fbi.gov/ or 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).

San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez states, The recent tragic events in New Orleans and Las Vegas weigh heavily on our hearts. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families, loved ones and communities affected by these horrific incidents. We are grateful for the courage and heroism of the dedicated law enforcement officers and emergency personnel who responded swiftly and courageously. These acts of terror remind us of the vital role community partnerships play in keeping us all safe.”

The Sheriff is the regional coordinator for mutual aid response, working with local, state, federal and tribal partners to collaborate on training, share intelligence and harden infrastructure to keep our region safe. A new asset is a team of explosives detection K-9 dogs; others include the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson unit working with FBI bomb technicians and other agencies. The Sheriff’s office also participates in the Joint Terrorism Task Force to proactively address emerging threats.

District Attorney Summer Stephan emphasizes, “Keeping San Diego County safe from international or domestic terrorism and other threats of violence is a daily priority working collaboratively with all our law enforcement partners in a coordinated and effective manner. We also rely on the community to be the eyes and ears to any potential threat. Several destructive threats have been neutralized due to the prompt reporting by a student, parent or community member of suspicious activity including words that threaten harm.”

The aftermath of the 9/11 attacks by terrorists resulted in creation of the National Fusion Center Network to strengthen national security by effectively sharing information between various law enforcement organizations. The San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center (SD-LECC) is an all crimes, all hazards fusion that also serves as the Regional Threat Assessment Center (RTAC) for San Diego and Imperial Counties and is part of the California State Threat Assessment System (STAS).

Details on the New Orleans and Las Vegas attacks

The driver who plowed into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, an army veteran who served in Afghanistan before his discharge in 2015. He most recently has worked in real estate in Houston. A recent convert to Islam, he carried an ISIS flag in the rental truck and posted five pro-ISIS videos while driving from Houston to New Orleans, citing a “war between the believers and the disbelievers,” according to the FBI. 

He swerved around barriers before ramming the crowd, then got out of the car, wearing body armor, and began shooting at police officers before he was shot and killed by law enforcement officers, according to the New Orleans Police department.

The FBI has reviewed his phone and computer.  “"At this point, currently, and this is another fact I want to be clear on, we do not assess at this point that anyone else is involved in this attack except Shamsud-Din Jabbar," deputy assistant director of the FBI's counterintelligence division Christopher Raia said in a news conference on Thursday, CBS news reports.

Surveillance video showed Jabbar placing IEDs at the scene and in the French Quarter. Authorities found two active devices described as pipe bombs containing nails, screws and tacks in coolers. President Joe Biden says the FBI advised him that a remote detonator was found in the vehicle.

An FBI poster seeks information about the deadly attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on New Year's Day.

Raia has said there is currently “no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas," despite some similarities. Both attackers rented electric vehicles through Turo. Both attackers were U.S.-born citizens with military experience, including service in Afghanistan and at Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty), North Carolina, though no direct connection between the two men has been found, CBS News reports.

Photo, left: Tesla truck explodes outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas; source: CCTV

The Las Vegas attacker has been identified as Matthew Livelsberger, 37, an Army Green Beret, trained in special forces to work in counter-terrorism. He was awarded five Bronze Stars including one for courage under fire, as well as an Army Commendation Medal.

He rented the electric Tesla truck in Colorado; charging station photos en route show he was alone in the vehicle. According to the Associated Press, he likely intended a more damaging explosion, but the steel-sided vehicle absorbed much of the force of explosion from firework mortars and camp fuel cannisters packed into the truck. The explosion injured several bystanders but did no damage to the Trump International Hotel just a few feet away. Livelsberger’s charred body has been positively identified via tattoos and he had several forms of ID in the truck.

His motive is not yet known, though tipsters have reportedly told law enforcement that he had a fight with his wife over their relationship shortly before renting the truck and loading it up with explosive materials as well as guns.

Authorities have thus far not found a direct connection between the Las Vegas and New Orleans attackers, but have also not ruled out a link.

“It’s not lost on us that it’s in front of the Trump building, that it’s a Tesla vehicle, but we don’t have information at this point that definitively tells us or suggests it was because of this particular ideology,” said Spencer Evans, the Las Vegas FBI’s special agent in charge. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, is a major Trump campaign donor and has been recruited by Trump to head up a commission aimed at cutting government inefficiencies.  Neither Trump nor Musk were in Las Vegas on the date of the explosion.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday afternoon on X that “we have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself.”

East County News Service

February 2, 2025 (Santee) - Key of She, a 12 woman choral group, is presenting a free concert on Sunday March 2, at 2 p.m. at the Carlton Hills Lutheran Church at 9735 Halberns Blvd in Santee. The repertoire is an eclectic blend of classical and contemporary pieces. Some a cappella and some accompanied, to cover all tastes in music.

You’re invited to join the Key of She in their first appearance “East of I-15."

You can hear previous performances on their website: KeyOfShe.org.

East County News Service

County News Service contributed to this report

January 2, 2025 (San Diego) -- The County of San Diego’s Behavioral Health Services has spent the last year organizing extensive planning and training to prepare for the biggest update to California’s civil detention and conservatorship laws in more than 50 years.  Advocates argue that the measure is needed to assure that severely mentally ill  people including some homeless individuals will receive treatment, though opponents voice concerns over forced institutionalization.

The updates are required by State Senate Bill 43 (SB-43) which took effect Jan. 1, 2025.  Now, more people in San Diego needing help with behavioral health conditions may be involuntarily transported for evaluation, treatment and potential conservatorship, according to a County News Center press release.

The law significantly modifies the legal definition of “grave disability” which can be used to evaluate the condition of a person with a behavioral health illness. It was signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 10, 2023. 

Previous state law allowed civil detainment, in cases of suspected mental health condition, when people are determined to be:  

• a danger to self,
• a danger to others, or
• gravely disabled because they cannot secure food, shelter or clothing. 

Under the new law, grave disability is redefined to not only include those unable to secure food, shelter and clothing, but also those who cannot keep themselves safe or secure necessary medical care.  Additionally, grave disability may be determined to be a result of mental illness or substance use disorder as a standalone condition.

The new law has been opposed by some human rights advocates, but supported by some other groups helping disadvantaged individuals.

 San Francisco and San Luis Obispo were the first in January 2024 to agree to follow SB-43. The County of San Diego chose to defer for one year to allow for a major training effort with regional partners. Most counties in California decided to start applying SB-43 in January 2026. 

San Diego County’s Behavioral Health Services over the past year organized an extensive planning and training effort to prepare locally, involving community members, hospital emergency department staff, regional law enforcement leadership, members of the harm reduction community, legal advocates and others.  

Officers from law enforcement agencies representing all 18 cities and the County Sheriff’s Office have gone through SB-43 trainings. The trainings have been led by the Jewish Family Service Patient Advocacy program.  

“I can’t say enough about how all the stakeholders have come together to ensure we are properly, and compassionately applying this new law to help some of our most vulnerable residents,” said Luke Bergmann, director of County Behavioral Health Services. “From the County’s side, we stand ready with our Crisis Stabilization Units and substance use treatment providers to help. It is going to require a community-wide effort and it will be a learning process. I’m confident that the many stakeholders are ready to help those affected and work our way through the challenges that come with being one of the first to comply with the law, just as we have managed this last year with the CARE Act.” 

But some human rights groups and advocates for the disabled have voiced concerns over the new law.

According to a letter sent to legislators by Human Rights Watch in opposition to the measure, the bill did not address structural causes of homelessness but instead  “expands the circumstances[3] under which the State can deprive people of their autonomy and liberty, making it easier to remove both housed and unhoused people from society.[4] Given the racial demographics of California’s unhoused population,[5] and the barriers to adequate mental health care faced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities regardless of housing status [6] this plan is likely to disproportionately place many BIPOC Californians under state control.”

This new definition of “gravely disabled” applies to the three primary processes established in previous law: 

• Assessment, evaluation and crisis intervention or placement for those on a 5150 hold, an involuntary psychiatric hold that can last up to 72 hours
• If necessary and appropriately authorized, the intensive treatment period for grave disability may be extended for up to two periods of 30 days each
• Conservatorship of up to one year, and renewable, for ongoing behavioral health treatment and support, subject to a court’s determination.  

County Behavioral Health Services estimates an increase of about 1,500 72-hour detentions for involuntary treatment over years past with the changes of SB-43. The actual number will depend on actions taken by law enforcement, medical and behavioral health clinicians. 

Individuals detained under a 5150 hold for involuntary treatment are transported by peace officers or mobile crisis response teams to emergency departments or crisis stabilization units. Upon arrival, they undergo assessment and receive care tailored to their situation. A person may be released at any time if they no longer meet the criteria for involuntary treatment or agree to voluntary care, which ends the hold.  

Detailed information about SB-43 and its roll out in San Diego County is available to the public online at a website updated regularly by San Diego County Behavioral Health Services.

The Alliance’s Intricate Float Honored Historic Arrival of Giant Pandas

Source: San Diego Zoo Wildflfe Alliance

Photo by Emily Senninger, courtesy of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

January 2, 2025 (San Diego) – The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance won top honors at the 136^th annual Rose Parade® Presented by Honda with a float commemorating the historic arrival of giant pandas. For the second consecutive year, the Alliance received the Sweepstakes Trophy given for most beautiful entry, encompassing float design, floral presentation and entertainment.

The San Diego Zoo’s float, “Friendship Across the Earth,” transported viewers across Asia’s magnificent ecosystems and honored Yun Chuan (“yoon chu-an”) and Xin Bao (“sing bao”), the first giant pandas to enter the United States in 21 years. Five-year-old male Yun Chuan and four-year-old female Xin Bao made their public debut at the San Diego Zoo on August 8, 2024—designated “California Panda Day” by Governor Gavin Newsom. The 2025 Pasadena Tournament of Roses theme, Best Day Ever, celebrated life’s best moments. 

“To receive the Sweepstakes Award is in itself such an honor, but to do so this year feels especially momentous,” said Paul Baribault, president and chief executive officer, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “In 2024, we had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of watching as Yun Chuan and Xin Bao brought the world together. They represent what is truly possible when we come together with a shared purpose, commitment, and trust in one another.” 

Intricated designs of Xin Bao and Yun Chuan traversed the dramatic ridgeline at the center of the float. Surrounded by a bounty of bamboo, Xin Bao, whose name means “precious treasure of prosperity and abundance,” gently turned her head as she listened to the lyrics of “Best Day Ever,” and looked ahead to the new year. Next to her, Yun Chuan savored bamboo shoots. Named in honor of his grandmother, one of the first pandas at the San Diego Zoo, Yun Chuan celebrates a generational legacy between San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and its conservation partners. 

The striking orange stripes and regal reverence of Connor the Malayan tiger also featured on the float. Swinging high above cascading waterfalls, red pandas Lucas and Adira were seen frolicking among treetops. Riding below were San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance team members Dr. Megan Owen, Jana Biedenweg, and Dr. Xiaoxing Bian: a global conservation leader, a wildlife expert, and a scientist. 

Atop the 55-foot float, viewers got a glimpse of the vivacious landscapes and more than 700,000 individual plants that are cared for by horticulturists at the San Diego Zoo. More than 3,100 diverse plant species are part of this accredited botanical garden and arboretum and are vital to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s ongoing conservation efforts worldwide. Individual plants grown and propagated at the San Diego Zoo—including yellow groove, golden, and black bamboo—were transported to Pasadena and added to the float. 

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has a reputation for awe-inspiring floats. Its 2024 float, “It Began With a Roar,” celebrated the San Diego Zoo’s 107-year history and also received top honors with the Sweepstakes Trophy. Its float in 2023, “Celebrating 50 Years of Conservation” in celebration of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s 50th anniversary, received the Animation Award for most outstanding use of animation. 

East County News Service

January 2, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – A 20-year-old man and a 19-year old woman are dead as a result of a collision in Lemon Grove yesterday.
According to the Sheriff’s department, two vehicles collided at the intersection of Buena Vista and Broadway shortly after 11 am. The impact sent one of the cars into the path of victims, who were walking across the street.  

Paramedics and deputies immediately began life-saving efforts on the two pedestrians, but both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The drivers of the two vehicles involved in the collision were taken to a hospital with injuries that are non-life threatening, according to Sergeant William Price with the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s substation.  Results of blood tests for blood or alcohol are pending.

Identities of the pedestrians killed have not yet been released by law enforcement, however commumnity members have gathered to mourn those lost.

However former Councilmember Liana LeBaron, calling the deaths “tragic,” posted on Facebook, “There are many members of the Haitian community standing by the scene of the accident in support of one another and their loved ones who were struck and killed.”

Realtor Stephanie Klein stated, “Many members of the Lemon Grove community in general were standing by the scene in support of one another. We ALL feel this loss as a community.

Newly elected Councilmember Jessyka Heredia poste “Devastating,” offering “prayers to the families and loved ones.”

An earlier version of this story stated that the accident occurred after 11 p.m.; the correct time was shortly after 11 a.m.