By Mike Allen
March 12, 2025 (Santee) -- Kristen Dare, who led the Santee Chamber of Commerce as CEO for the past six years, resigned from the position to take a new job at Waste Management Corp.
In an email sent to chamber members March 3, Chamber Chair Susie Parks said she is grateful for Dare’s decade of experience at the business association. She joined at the nonprofit on St. Patrick’s Day in 2014.
“Under her guidance, we have seen much growth and success even during challenging times. While we will certainly miss Kristen's leadership, we fully understand and support her decision,” Parks said.
Parks, the owner of Coffee Corner on Town Center Parkway, said the chamber is retaining Dare in a consulting capacity as the organization goes through a transition and searches for a new chief executive. Particularly she will assist in the group’s signature spring events and ensure a seamless experience for our Santee business community, she said.
The Santee Chamber, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, has about 250 members and an annual budget of about $350,000, Dare said.
In addition to regular networking events to foster support for local businesses, the chamber puts on annual community events
By Miriam Raftery
March 10, 2025 (San Diego) -- As President Donald Trump rolls out hefty tariffs on imported goods from America’s biggest trading partners—Mexico, Canada, and China, American businesses and consumers are bearing the brunt, with higher prices on everything from steel and lumber to food and consumer products.
The action has drawn opposition even from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, normally a staunch Republican ally. In a press release, the Chamber warns, “Tariffs on Canada and Mexico will have a real, devastating impact on thousands of small businesses across the nation — and on all Americans in the form of higher prices.”
While the U.S. Chamber shares concerns about border security and the scourge of fentanyl, unfair trading practices, tariffs on Canada and Mexico won't solve those problems and instead would lead to higher prices for Americans, the business organization states.
Chamber President and CEO Suzanne Clark, in her annual State of American Business, said pointedly. “"The bottom line is this: tariffs are a tax paid by Americans and their broad and indiscriminate use would stifle growth at the worst possible time.” She stressed that to boost economic growth, America must participate in the global economy. That includes seizing opportunities to increase trade.
Trump has justified the tariffs as intended to encourage production of goods made in America and ultimately boost the economy.
He signed an executive order on February 1st to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and 10% on Chinese imports. He did so by declaring a national emergency over undocumented immigration and drug trafficking. Trump later paused the Mexican and Canadian tariffs by 30 days and extended an exemption for the auto industry.
China meanwhile countered by announcing hefty new duty charges on numerous American goods ranging from cars and agricultural machinery to crude oil, coal and liquified natural gas.
Next up in mid-February, Trump announced a whopping 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, metals that are used in many consumer products from vehicles to cookware. He also called for reciprocal tariffs on any goods that other countries tax, a move that economists warn could create chaos for the global business community.
He’s also pledged to soon add tariffs on products from other countries, including a 25% tariff on some goods from our allies in Europe as well as tariffs on imports from India.
On March 4th, Trump doubled the tariff on Chinese imports to 20%.
After Trump doubled the Chinese tariffs, China imposed tariffs of up to 15% on numerous American farm exports and levied export controls on some two dozen American companies, Associated Press reports.
Canada slapped tariffs on over $100 billion worth of American goods over just 21 days. One Canadian province removed all U.S.-made alcoholic beverages from store shelves, replacing them with Canadian liquor. Canadian travelers have begun cancelling visits to the U.S., harming the American tourism industry.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheibaum has said her country will also impose retaliatory tariffs but has not yet provided details.
In early March, Trump postponed the 25% tariffs on some Mexican and Canadian imports for a month, crediting Mexico’s president with working to reduce drug smuggling and illegal border crossings, though the U.S. has also ramped up border security under the Trump administration.
The impacts have sent the stock market tumbling, fueling fears of a recession. Trump has said he doesn’t know if a recession can be avoided.
The effects of the Trump tariffs are also being felt locally.
Brent Schertzer, managing director of apartment developer Holland Partner Group, told the San Diego Union Tribune that tariffs on steel and other building materials could add millions of dollars to large construction projects. He said that material suppliers will have no choice but to charge more for steel, or risk going out of business.
Alan Gin, a professor of economics at the University of San Diego, told KUSI Fox 5 that some of the biggest cost hikes for Americans will include vehicles, oil and gas, electronics, and groceries — further fueling the inflation that have already caused hardships for many U.S. households.
East County News Service
February 22, 2025 (El Cajon) -- Goodwill San Diego announces the Grand Opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new mobile Community Employment Center in El Cajon on February 26 at 9 a.m. This mobile center is designed to meet job seekers where they are, particularly assisting residents in rural areas and those facing transportation and childcare challenges.
The mobile center will actively participate in hiring events and is available to support local organizations and events as needed. The ribbon-cutting will be held at the Goodwill El Cajon Retail Store parking lot, 420 North 2nd Street, El Cajon on Wednesday, February 26 at 9 a.m.
In 2020, Goodwill received a generous gift from venture philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The funds from this donation were used to purchase the mobile center, enabling Goodwill to extend its reach to those in need of our free employment programs and services, helping residents achieve their career goals.
As a local nonprofit organization, Goodwill San Diego operates its social enterprise consisting of donation centers, retail stores, outlet centers, an online shopping platform (Shopgoodwill.com) and community employment centers to generate the resources needed to fund its mission.
The organization provides employment and training opportunities to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Free employment programs and services are available to all San Diego County residents and can be accessed through Goodwill Community Employment Centers in person or online in English or Spanish.
Source: City of La Mesa
February 20, 2025 (La Mesa) - On Wednesday, March 5th, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them at the 10th Annual Spring Fling Business Expo. This special evening will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego El Cajon, 141 N. Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. There will be raffles and business vendors who will offer free door prizes that evening.
The Chamber thanks the event sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor – U.S. Bank
Premier Sponsor – Kirk Paving, Inc.
Printing Sponsor – AAA Imaging
Friendship Sponsor – Lily’s Manufactured Homes
Supporting Sponsors – Amanda Hammett Insurance & Financial Services – State Farm, California Coast Credit Union, Feeding the Flock SD and Mattia & Yousif Law.
You will meet Chamber member business owners showcasing their business services. To date, businesses signed up include: AAA Imaging, Amanda Hammett Insurance & Financial Services--State Farm, California Bank & Trust, California Coast Credit Union – La Mesa, Carrie Smedley Photography, Deano’s Pub, Deliberately Adopted Floral & Design, Express Blinds & More, Feeding the Flock SD, Foothills Art Association, Dave Lemox -Bridlewood Medicare Insurance, La Mesa Lion’s Club, La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation, La Mesa Rotary, Lemon Grove Media and Communications, Local Umbrella Media, Mattia & Yousif Law, Miracle Youth Productions, Nightwalker Caverns & Escape Room, North Island Credit Union, Orange Theory Fitness, Preplan CA, San Diego Community Power, San Diego County Credit Union, Spa Piel, St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, Stills by Hill, Sungarden Terrace Retirement Community, Sunset Finishing Door & Trim, The Montera Senior Living, UCSD Health, U.S. Bank and Westmont of La Mesa.
The evening will be captured by Chamber photographers – Carrie Smedley Photography and Sandra Small Photographer who will be aided by social media partner, Lemon Grove Media & Communications.
Join the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce for this fun-filled evening that begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m. Order your tickets at: www.lamesachamber.com.
By Mary England, La Mesa Chamber of Commerce
Photos courtesy of Carrie Smedley Photography
February 19, 2025 (La Mesa) -- The owner of Aromas of India Bar and Grill, Dinesh Shah, made history in La Mesa at the February 5 grand opening of his newly renovated restaurant, located at 5270 Baltimore Drive. Dinesh and his staff offered complimentary dinners to the public and La Mesa Chamber of Commerce guests for three hours from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., which has never been done in the Chamber’s history and possibly never in the La Mesa business community’s history. The robust marketing plan generated over a thousand reservations for the evening and brought hundreds and hundreds of people to La Mesa to savor this new restaurant.
Guests were advised when they RSVP’d that parking was non-existent and public transportation or another form of transportation would be needed to attend. The lines of eager guests began to form at 4 p.m. By 5 p.m., the line traversed all the way up Baltimore Drive. The wait did not dampen the mood of the guests, who were excited to serve themselves and choose from the eight different menu items that were offered: chicken tikka marsala, naan, vegetable samosas, basmati rice, vegetable egg rolls, mixed vegetable curry and dal makhani.
Chef Prakash and his team did a remarkable job of preparing the food for the evening, as well as refilling the serving dishes as needed. While guests waited outside to take their turn at the buffet tables, Indian dancers provided entertainment for their pleasure. Inside the restaurant while dining, guests were entertained by jazz musicians, making the entire evening a memorable experience and totally delightful.
“We are thrilled to have this new Indian restaurant in our city,” says Mary England, president of the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce. "Dinesh Shah and his staff produced a first-class evening that entertained hundreds of people and introduced them to his menu. He took a vacant building and totally remodeled it into a showpiece that includes a new bar and a tasteful inside and outside dining area. We are grateful for his investment in La Mesa and for providing jobs, a great menu for locals and visitors and for stimulating our local economy.”
Due to the crowd, the Chamber held several ribbon cutting activities and photo opportunities beginning at 6 p.m. that captured the family members, the management team of the restaurant, the elected officials, the La Mesa Chamber, Miss La Mesa Samantha Luevano and Miss La Mesa Teen, Jaeden Roy and other friends to celebrate this historic moment. Presentations were made to Dinesh and his family and team by Jason Wiecz representing Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, La Mesa City Council members Laura Lothian, Lauren Cazares and Genevieve Suzuki and the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce. We were thrilled to have the Honorary Consul General and Honorary Consulate of Nepal; Rishi P. Dhakal travel to join us for this momentous occasion.
This new addition to the dining landscape in La Mesa offers an additional opportunity for locals and guests to savor Indian spices and flavors while dining in a modern fine dining atmosphere. The motto of Aromas of India Bar & Grill is “Dine Like Royalty” and you certainly will. Stop in and enjoy a delicious meal, while supporting a new La Mesa business and welcome owner Dinesh Shah to La Mesa! For take-out orders or to contact the restaurant call 619 439-6072.
Dinesh also offers catering services for 100 to 2,000 people, so keep that in mind when you are planning your next business or family get-together.
You can visit their website to view the menu and other facts at aromaslamesa.com.
