By Miriam Raftery
December 30, 2023 (San Diego’s East County)—It’s been a turbulent year, from the resignation of a supervisor to a tropical storm slamming our region, from environmental impacts of a drained reservoir to a migrant crisis at the border, from homelessness challenges facing local cities to financial challenges shutting down a popular parade, to name just a few of the top local stories. National and international news stories also sent shock waves across our region, from a former president and current candidate indicted on criminal charges to the Israeli-Hamas war igniting anguish and protests.
Our reporting team has worked hard to bring you in-depth coverage on the most important stories of the year affecting residents across East County.
Here are the top news stories and issues that we covered in 2023.
NEW SUPERVISOR IN DISTRICT 4
FLETCHER RESIGNS, STEPPE ELECTED AS FIRST BLACK SUPERVISOR
Supervisor Nathan Fletcher announced his resignation after sexual misconduct allegations arose in March, following a lawsuit and an investigation by the Metropolitan Transit System. After the remaining Supervisors voted to hold a special election to fill the District 4 vacancy, East County Magazine reported on the candidates who qualified for the August primary and ECM held a candidate forum . After the field narrowed to two finalists for the general election, our media outlet covered another candidate forum held at Cuyamaca College. San Diego City Councilwoman Monica Montgomery Steppe won the race handily in November, becoming the first black woman to serve on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
IMMIGRATION CRISIS IN EAST COUNTY
MIGRANT SURGE IN JACUMBA, BOULEVARD AND CAMPO RAISES HUMANITARIAN AND BORDER SECURITY CONCERNS
East County Magazine was the first media outlet to report when hundreds of migrants appeared in Jacumba Hot Springs as well as nearby Campo and Boulevard in April, winning a journalism prize for our coverage. Our report led to an investigation by Southern Border Communities Coalition, which filed a lawsuit accusing Border Patrol of human rights violations for failing to provide detained migrants with water, food, shade or other essentials. Calls for increased border security also grew. But the surge continued, as local residents chipped in to use “peanut butter diplomacy” as they gave sandwiches, water, jackets and more to those seeking a better life in America. They set up a website, BorderKindness.org, to seek donations. In October, Supervisors voted to use $3 million in federal funds for a migrant center to shelter the immigrants, who face dangers not only from extreme weather and crossing rugged terrain, but also from smugglers such as a former LAPD officer convicted of rape, arrested in November for smuggling people in Campo. In December, Supervisors voted for more funding to keep the migrant shelter open, but failed to provide any money to aid migrants in the high desert border towns where they first arrive. So volunteer efforts remain the only means of providing basic humanitarian aid.
CRIME
LICENSE PLATE READING CAMERAS
Days after installing new license plate reading cameras, El Cajon Police reported multiple arrests and stolen property recovered, thanks to the license plate reading technology, though critics have raised privacy concerns. In November, El Cajon’s cameras helped identify suspects in a double murder of two teens outside a house party. In December, La Mesa became the second East County city to approve adding license plate reading cameras, which have also rolled out in the city of San Diego.
MURDER FUGITIVE HELD
PUBLIC OFFICE IN CAMPO
The arrest of Donald Santini, known locally as Wellman Simmonds, in June sent shockwaves through the rural Campo-Lake Morena community. A fugitive for nearly 40 years, he was hiding in plain sight—brazenly even holding public office as an elected member of the Campo-Lake Morena Community Planning Group and president of the Lake Morena Views Mutual Water Company. His local wife and daughter were double shocked to learn that he was also a bigamist, with another wife and child in Texas. Extradited to Florida, he pleaded guilty in November to the murder of a young Florida mother of three and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
SCAMMERS STEAL EBT BENEFITS
Scammers stole EBT (formerly known as food stamp) benefits from recipients, including an ECM volunteer, as we reported in April. El Cajon Police initially declined to take a report, referring such crimes to the County. But at the urging of ECM, ECPD eventually did take a report—and released a video to alert consumers how to spot skimming devices used to steal benefits.
JAIL DEATHS
The high number of jail deaths in recent years prompted a state auditor’s report and legislative oversight. This year, newly elected Sheriff Kelly Martinez has implemented many reforms since taking office and has more planned. In an interview with East County Magazine in March, she talked about reforms to medical and mental health screenings and treatment, availability of Narcon that saved 15 people from overdoses, infrastructure improvements and body-worn cameras by deputies in jails. Those efforts are praiseworthy, but 12 more deaths occurred as of August, when a Ramona man was found dead of suicide by hanging.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Sex trafficking of children in San Diego “is happening in every single school district inSan Diego County,” NBC San Diego investigative reporter Monica Dean told parents and teachers during a showing of the documentary film “Stolen” at El Capitan High School in Lakeside in January. East County Magazine interviewed sex trafficking survivor Kathi Torres, who is now offering help to protect others. In February, California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta announced 48 arrests for human trafficking and related offenses in San Diego, as well as rescue of 8 children. In March, Bonta held a press conference with local civil rights leaders calling for repeal of a law that has made it easier for trafficking predators to prey on minors.
JIMMIE JOHNSON FAMILY TRAGEDY
Seven-time NASCAR champion and hometown hero Jimmie Johnson cancelled his participation in the NASCAR Cup Series in Chicago due to the tragic deaths of his wife’s parents in an apparent murder-suicide in late June. Locally, Johnson is beloved not only for his sports achievements, but also for his philanthropic support of local schools through the Jimmie Johnson Foundation that he and his wife run.
COUNTY SUED OVER SHERIFF SHOOTING
A Lakeside man who suffered permanent injuries from being shot 16 times has filed a lawsuit against San Diego County and two Sheriff’s deputies who opened fire. The civil lawsuit filed by Erik Talavera alleges that deputies gave conflicting commands and used excessive force and negligence during the incident in El Cajon. The deputies were cleared of criminal wrongdoing following an investigation by the District Attorney. Talavera was pulled over for driving a van towing a stolen trailer that was bait in a sting operation; he pleaded guilty to the theft and was sentenced to probation. He had exited the vehicle when body cam footage shows one deputy ordered him not to move, while the other ordered him to get on the ground. Deputies shot him 12 times, firing twice more after he was on the ground. Gunfire also struck a National City officer involved in the vehicle theft task force; he also sued the County, calling deputies’ actions “reckless.”
ENVIRONMENT
LOVELAND RESERVOIR RESTORATION
ECM has provided the most in-depth coverage of Loveland Reservoir controversies. Heavy January rains caused major damage, including trails and destruction of a fishing dock, after extreme draining of the lake by Sweetwater Water Authority. Yet in late January, Sweetwater drained water again and closed the lake to recreation, outraging residents. Friends of Loveland Reservoir formed to advocate for restoring public access to this liquid asset. At a heated Alpine Planning Group meeting, Sweetwater officials promised to reopen the lake, but wouldn’t set a date to restock fish killed by draining, nor pledge not to drain the lake to dead pool status again. Activists spoke out at a Sweetwater hearing in Chula Vista, as ECM reported. On May 30, the reservoir did reopen, but with some areas off limits due to erosion. By August, Friends of Loveland gained support from State Senator Brian Jones. A state grant was approved for Loveland improvements; in December, Sweetwater held a workshop on how to spend the money—but still would not commit to when fish would be restocked, or when dawn-to-dusk hours may be restored.
DECARBONIZATION PLAN CHALLENGED
As Kermit the frog once lamented, “It isn’t easy being green.” The County’s regional decarbonization plan drew opposition from rural residents concerned about waivers to expedite big energy projects with negative impacts on communities. In February, the Jamul-Dulzura community planning group agreed to send a letter to Supervisors opposing the draft plan. In March, the Protect Our Communities Foundation led by Bill Powers filed a lawsuit against the county alleging it hired a biased utility consultant and that findings were based on false data. Powers said putting solar on infill lots, roofs and parking lots would be more cost efficient without the environmental damages that industrial-scale energy projects cause, or the fire risks posed by power lines. In May, Supervisors responded, voting unanimously to approve a proposal by Supervisor Jim Desmond to study capacity for renewable energy projects on infill lots, roofs and parking lots, though the budget still includes funds for regional decarbonization.
COTTONWOOD SAND MINE EIR REVISED
Hundreds of residents showed up at a July meeting in Rancho San Diego held by the County to voice concerns over a revised environmental impact report released on the proposed Cottonwood sand mine along the Sweetwater River. East County Magazine was on hand to report on the points raised by opponents and share the positions of supervisorial candidates on this important environmental issue.
ADVANCED WATER PURIFICATION PLANT UNDERWAY
Construction is underway on the Advanced Water Purification plant in Santee, running on schedule and on budget. Upon completion in 2025, the facility will produce around 11.5 million gallons of drinkable water daily for about 500,000 East County residents—a vital resource, particularly during times of drought.
HEALTH
VSV DISEASE AND LIVESTOCK QUARANTINES
East County Magazine was the first media outlet to alert readers to a case of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in a local horse in May, with more cases suspected. We were also first to report on livestock quarantines as the disease spread in East County. ECM informed readers of a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture webinar and expanded quarantines, with San Diego the most impacted county in the nation. Even a rhino at the San Diego Zoo safari park caught the disease, as ECM was first to report. Thankfully at year’s end, there are no more cases locally and all quarantines have been lifted, according to the USDA.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC ENDS
Three years after the first COVID-19 cases were diagnosed in the U.S., California and San Diego County reached a major milestone, declaring an official end to the pandemic emergency on February 28. Though cases remain, the prevalence of vaccines and Paxlovid treatments have made the disease, now endemic, less dire than in the past. Ending the pandemic declaration brought a hardship—7.7 million fewer CalFresh meals per month in San Diego County. In response to new COVID variants, updated vaccines and free COVID-19 tests were once again made available in September.
ABORTION RESTRICTIONS
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs.Wade and ruled that states can ban or restrict abortion, sparking nationwide protests, conservative appellate court judges ruled that the abortion drug Mifepristone could not be mailed to patients or prescribed by any medical professional other than a doctor. If upheld by the Supreme Court, this could restrict access even for women in states such as California, where abortion remains legal. Conservatives in Congress, meanwhile, are pushing to outlaw abortion nationwide. One voice speaking out against such limits is San Diego Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, one of the few Congressional members of child-bearing age, who has called the Mifepristone ban ““gross attack on our bodies and freedom.”
DRUG DEATHS
Deaths from the opioid fentanyl have soared locally in recent years, prompting enforcement crackdowns. In May, the Dept. of Homeland Security reported a 300% increase in fentanyl seizures in San Diego County during Operation Blue Lotus and a 30% increase in prosecutions. Many victims are unaware that street drugs and counterfeit painkillers are now laced with fentanyl. In February, a shocking report found that 71% of pills tested in Mexican pharmacies contained fentanyl—even medications for children. In November, Border Patrol seized $10 million in illicit drugs including fentanyl at our county’s ports of entry. But fentanyl isn’t the only problem. A county report found a 244% increase in methamphetamines locally, prompting ECM’s Advancing Healthy Communities columnist David Shorey to call for this crisis to be addressed head-on.
EMERGENCIES
TROPICAL STORM HILARY HITS REGION
As Hurricane Hilary barreled toward San Diego (later becoming a tropical storm), our editor realized the trajectory was similar to that of Tropical Storm Kathleen in the 1970s, which caused major flooding in Jacumba and Ocotillo. We sent our first warning on Aug. 17 to alert desert and mountain residents. By Aug. 18, our county’s first-ever tropical storm warning was issued. Governor Gavin Newsom visited on Aug. 19 and declared an emergency ahead of the storm, deploying the National Guard. As the storm hit on Aug. 20, other media focused on coastal areas. East County Magazine was first to report on boulders blocking I-8 at In-ko-pah near Jacumba, evacuation of Ocotillo due to flooding, and a rare tornado alert; we also published photos of Hilary’s havoc after the storm.
NIGHT AERIAL DROPS HALT HIGHLAND FIRE IN AGUANGA
The Highland Fire in Aguanga, at the county line separating San Diego and Riverside, showed what a difference night-time aerial drops can make. In October 2003, the deadly Cedar Fire started at 5:37 p.m. and a decision was made not to put pilots at risk with night drops. That fire grew to 273,000 acres and destroyed 2,200 homes. By contrast, when the Highland Fire began October 30 and burned 2,200 acres the first night, Cal Fire incident personnel made the decision to fight the fast-moving wildfire by air throughout the next night – preventing what could have become another regional inferno. Thousands of homes were threatened, but in the end, firefighters held the Highland Fire to 2,457 acres, with seven homes burned. The incident also shows the value of regional coordination; over 1200 firefighters battled the blaze including crews from federal, state, local and tribal governments.
FINANCIAL INVESTIGATIONS
MOTHER GOOSE PARADE AT RISK
Is the Mother Goose Parade cooked after 75 years of delighting children and the young at heart? After organizers cancelled for the fourth straight year, an East County Magazine investigative report revealed troubled finances and a lack of accountability by the El Cajon Valley Mother Goose Parade Association, which refused to answer questions for ECM’S investigative report. The city manager suggests anyone who wants to save the parade for future generations should step forward and consider forming a new organization.
WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN IN FINANCIAL CRISIS
The Water Conservation Garden at the campus of Cuyamaca College is a cherished community resource. But it’s facing a financial crisis, after Friends of the Water Conservation Garden took out massive loans to cover salaries, then the IRS froze federal COVID employe retention loans that the Garden had countedon, leaving the group unable to stay afloat without more money. ECM broke the story in December, also announcing resignation of the garden’s executive director.
BUSINESS AND LABOR
EQUESTRIAN CENTER OPENS IN LAKESIDE
A grand opening of the Dianne Jacob Equestrian Center in Lakeside was held on December 12. Jacob served 28 years as County Supervisor and is an avid equestrian who led efforts to make her dream of a premier equestrian center become a reality. The $16.9 million facility will host livestock shows, equestrian events and more. “It’s one-of-a-kind and it’s going to bring in events from all over the state of California,” said Jacob, as she enthusiastically cut the ribbon to open the facility. “This is going to put Lakeside on the map.”
DE ANZA SPRINGS COVER-UP
East County Magazine was the first media outlet to bare the news that the De Anza Springs resort in Jacumba Hot Springs would no longer be clothing optional, much to the chagrin of long-time residents and guests. New owners of the long-time nudist haven imposed a mandatory cover-up policy this fall, as it transitions to a concert venue. The change leaves naturists with no nudist destination for baring all in San Diego County.
SANTEE DRIVE-IN CLOSES
It's the end of an era in Santee. The last drive-in theater in East County,opened in 1958, plans to close its doors on January 1. We first reported on this in May, based on reliable sources including city contacts. The owners initially denied that the property was being sold to a developer. But in September, Susan Boyd, a member of the Forte Family, said the business “is no longer economically viable.” In a press release, she stated, “We are facing loss of customers, higher costs, equipment obsolescence, competition from streaming services, and the inability to show some of the newly released films. Like movie theaters across the country, we can’t afford to stay open."
LA MESA PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT
In a win for workers, La Mesa City Council voted unanimously in August to become the first city in San Diego County to adopt a Project Labor Agreement with the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council and associated craft unions. The PLA will apply to public construction projects in La Mesa with a construction value of at least $1 million.
KAISER STRIKE
From October 4 to Saturday, October 7, 75,000 Kaiser healthcare workers held an unfair labor practice strike. The actions, led by workers across multiple states and in Washington, D.C., constituted the largest strike of healthcare workers in U.S. history. More than 85,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers reached a historic agreement for a new contract to substantially raise wages, bolster patient safety and make critical investments in the healthcare workforce at hundreds of Kaiser facilities across California and several other states.
PUBLIC SAFETY
NEW EVACUATION WARNING SYSTEM ROLLS OUT
San Diego County’s Sheriff announced roll-out of a new hi-low evacuation warning system on patrol cars for use during wildfires, earthquakes, hazardous waste spills, gas leaks, and other emergencies. This is a vital life-saving addition to our region’s emergency preparedness. When you hear the hi-low signal, heed the warning and evacuate immediately.
LA MESA REJECTS E-BILLBOARDS
After initially voting down legalizing electronic billboards, the La Mesa City Council majority reversed its stance in September and asked staff to prepare a request for proposals. Opponents feared e-billboards would distract motorists and cause accidents. So East County Magazine obtained California Highway Patrol records and reported that a high number of crashes in the vicinity had results in 20 fatalities in recent years. Opposition continued to grow, and in December the Council reversed course again, voting unanimously to reject digital billboards and end the request for proposals.
NATIVE AMERICANS
T
RIBAL MEMBERS COMPLETE CROSS COUNTRY RUN
Local Native Americans completed the longest indigenous prayer run in U.S. history in June. Lakeside resident Bobby Wallace, a member of the Barona Band of Mission Indians established the cross-country “Run with the Sun” from Maine to San Diego in hopes of protecting waters across America from pollution. In an interview with ECM, he, ““It’s been awesome making changes in people’s minds about water everywhere.” The effort, which began a year earlier, was supported by the Barona, Sycuan and Viejas tribes in San Diego’s East County, as well as participants from other tribes across the U.S.
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
EL CAJON STRUGGLES WITH HOMELESS CHALLENGES
Homelessness remains a crisis across our region. El Cajon has felt the brunt of county efforts to temporarily house homeless people in motels. The City objected to the county’s inclusion of convicted felons, after numerous crimes linked to the homeless motel voucher recipients occurred, including sexual assaults by homeless sex offenders. The City held a hearing to weigh options and hosted townhalls to get residents’ input. But when the City sent warning notices to motels exceeding city limits for voucher recipients, the state’s attorney general ordered the city to rescind those notices, claiming they violated fair housing laws. The City later restricted homeless encampments and ended funding for the East County Homeless Task force. Councilmembers, two of whom were once homeless, continued to fund the East County Transitional Living Center and the Mayor organized a benefit concert for the ECTLC, which helps homeless people transition off the streets provided they agree to stay clean and sober. Council also approved providing shelter space and veterinary care for dogs of homeless people. Sleeping cabins approved by El Cajon are now a model the County hopes to replicate elsewhere. In November, HomeStart held a rally for homeless youths in El Cajon. Just over the city limits in unincorporated El Cajon, a safe parking area for homeless people opened by the County on the site of a former homeless camp. Over 100 people have been served onsite, with 30% being seniors. Nearly half have exited the program into stable housing, the County reports.
HOUSING SHORTAGE
Lack of affordable housing is a key factor behind both homelessness and people leaving our state. The city of San Diego this year was named the most expensive housing market in the nation by U.S. News and World Reports. Local leaders took several steps to alleviate this problem in 2023. In January, La Mesa broke ground on an affordable housing project on the site of its former police station. approved apartments on the site of the Randall Lamb building that burned down in the 2020 riot. In May, County Supervisors approved 22 actions to deliver different types of housing faster by reducing and guaranteeing review times for housing plans and permits. This will provide builders with certainty during the development process for both market-rate developments as well as affordable housing projects. The Governor signed AB 1287, creating density bonuses for middle income apartments and condominiums.
JULIAN VACATION RENTAL FIRE SPARKS CONCERNS
An unauthorized campfire at a vacation rental home in Julian’s Pine Hills community sparked a brush fire that threatened neighbors. At a community planning group meeting in November, concerned residents spoke out. A robust debate ensued, with some seeking limits to vacation rentals, which restrict availability of affordable housing for residents, while others touted the tax benefits that vacation rental homes bring to the area. Research presented at the hearing revealed how rampant the problem has become countywide, extending far beyond Julian. While planning group members seek information from Supervisors, owners of the site where the fire occurred informed neighbors that they would end camping on their property.
RURAL REPRESENTATION
UNINCORPRATED AREAS GET A SEAT ON SANDAG
East County’s community planning groups have long lacked a voice on the San Diego Regional Association of Governments, where decisions on issues such as big energy projects and a proposed mileage tax have long failed to represent the interests of rural residents. ECM first reported in February on a Ramona planner’s proposal to add an advisory member to SANDAG chosen by chairs of community planning and sponsor groups in the unincorporated areas. In May, Supervisors unanimously supported the proposal.. The Association of Planning Groups-San Diego County was formed, and December, SANDAG approved adding an advisory member to assure that unincorporated areas have a voice through representation—though still without a vote.
“BACKCOUNTRY WARRIOR” DONNA TISDALE RETIRES
For more than two decades, Donna Tisdale has been a champion for residents in San Diego’s backcountry, leading battles against massive energy projects and a dump. She started a nonprofit, Backcountry Against Dumps and chaired the Boulevard Planning since 1991. She’s filed countless lawsuits against an array of Goliath-scale projects and organized community opposition after San Diego’s East County was declared an energy corridor by the federal government. Former Supervisor Dianne Jacob hailed Tisdale as a “backcountry warrior.” But on April 12, she announced her retirement, soon after moving to Oklahoma. Ending an era of community activism, she shared one final victory in August, when the Federal Aviation Administration blocked the Campo Wind project over concerns previously raised by Tisdale over risks to airplanes.
REDEVELO
PMENT
CAMPO ROAD REVITALIZATION
After five years of community discussion, county supervisors in January approved an ambitious plan to revitalize the Campo Road corridor in Spring Valley’s Casa de Oro community and make the 60-acre business district a destination. The Campo Road Corridor Revitalization Specific Plan calls for better access by public transit, walking and bicycles with roundabouts, wider sidewalks, on-street parking and protected bike lanes, as well as mixed use residential and commercial. Supervisors have applied for grants to fund these future improvements.
PARKS AND RECREATION
LEMON GROVE TO UPDATE PARKS
In December, Lemon Grove’s City Council approved a major gift to families in the community. The city’s two parks will receive upgrades including new play equipment, shade structures and ADA access, funded primarily by a state grant through Proposition 68 capital improvement funds.
TRANSGENDER RIGHTS
YMCA LOCKER ROOM CONTROVERSY
A teen girl’s claim to have seen a naked man in a YMCA women’s locker room in Santee prompted an outcry from parents, a rally that drew 500 people, and temporary closure of the facility over fears of violence. The individual in the locker room, however, was actually a transgender woman who had undergone gender-change surgery. At a Santee City Council meeting, a packed crowd including both concerned parents and supporters of transgender rights; Times of San Diego dubbed the incident a “naked display of transgender animus.” The city declined requests to end its contract with the YMCA and the Y added privacy options in its dressing areas. In June, a Santee Pride Walk drew hundreds of participants, including Mayor John Minto, who told critics his job was to represent all of the people.
COURTHOUSE NEWS
DAVID ARAMBULA TRIAL
East County Magazine was the only media outlet present to cover the trial of David Arambula, who was accused while serving on the Lemon Grove City Council of assaulting a dispensary applicant after a night of drinking and partying at his home. Witnesses included the mayor and city manager—clearly a matter of public interest. Arambula beat the rap, when the jury returned a not guilty verdict.
LA MESA PAYS HEFTY PRICE FOR PROTESTER INJURED BY POLICE
The City of La Mesa in March reached a settlement in a civil case filed by Leslie Furcron, a 59-year-old great-grandmother left partially blind after she was struck in the head by a beanbag projectile fired by a La Mesa Police officer. She protesting during a racial justice demonstration that ended in a riot on May 30, 2020 when she tossed a soda can and an officer fired a beanbag, striking her in the forehead. The City will pay $10 million to Furcron, one of the largest officer use-of-force settlements in the San Diego region, according to Furcron’s attorney. The City has since implemented reforms in its police department under leadership of a new police chief, closing the book on the city’s most turbulent time.
KALASHOS HELD IN CONTEMPT, DEFY COURT ORDER
Former El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho and his wife, Jessica, were ordered by a judge in September to return to San Diego and serve a jail sentence for contempt of court. The order came after the couple lost a defamation suit filed by attorney Lina Charry but repeatedly refused to answer questions about their finances so that she could be paid the judgment. Kalasho has been working as a chef in North Carolina, according to his social media accounts. But the couple defied the order, failing to return to San Diego, and thus far, have evaded accountability.
NATIONAL POLITICS
TRUMP CRIMINAL AND CIVIL TRIALS
For the first time in history, a former president was indicted on criminal charges – in four jurisdictions, with a total of 91 counts. ECM published the indictment documents, key facts, and quotes from constitutional experts to educate our readers. In March, Donald Trump was arraigned on alleged payments of hush money to a porn star. He pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in New York in April. Then in June, he was indicted under the Espionage Act for felony violations of national security laws and obstruction of justice related to classified documents he refused to return and shared with unauthorized persons. We shared how international media covered this news. Later, fake electors in several states faced probes and charges. In July, Trump was charged for destroying surveillance videos. By August, a Grand Jury had indicted him for attempting to overturn the 2020 election and his involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Georgia then charged him under racketeering laws for a conspiracy to overturn the election. Trump also faces loss of his businesses after being found guilty in a New York civil fraud case. Yet he still leads polls among Republican voters as the 2026 presidential primary approaches.
JOE BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AND HUNTER BIDEN PROBE
With a government shutdown set to cripple the economy just days away in September, House Republicans focused their efforts on opening an impeachment inquiring hearing. GOP leaders said the hearing aimed to investigate claims of corruption or bribery involving President Joe Biden, but even expert witnesses called by the Republicans testified that so far, there has been no solid evidence presented to support those claims. On Dec. 14, The House voted to formally authorize its ongoing impeachment inquiry despite lack of evidence of criminal actions by the President, though it’s unknown what the probe may yet find. Rep. Darrell Issa of East County was part of the 221-212 party line vote to approve the probe, which is examining whether Biden improperly benefited from his 53-year-old son Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings. While there is no evidence to date that the President violated any laws, a special prosecutor was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate the actions of Hunter Biden, the President’s son, who has already been charged with tax frauds and illegal ownership of a handgun and may face more allegations.
THREATS TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
Constitutional experts have begun sounding the alarm over Trump’s threats to democracy including his pledges to arrest critics, terminate constitutional protections, eliminate free speech rights, end independence of the Justice Dept. and FBI, and install autocratic rule, as well as his past refusal to accept the outcome of an election that he lost. These warnings have come from prominent Republicans as well as Democrats, including a former Republican National Committee Chair. The conservative Lincoln Club warns that America is in a “fight for democracy,” stating in an ad, “The fate of your country, your family and your freedom are on the line” in the 2024 election. “We’re not liberals. We’re not progressives. We’re former Republicans who put country over party. We’re Americans who know that unless we stop Trump, he will end this democracy we cherish.” President Joe Biden criticized Trump for saying the Constitution gave him to the right to do whatever he wished, guided by “vengeance and vindictiveness.” Biden concluded in a September speech, “"There’s something dangerous happening in America right now," adding that American democracy is "still at risk."
RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HAS IMPACTS LOCALLY
The brutal attack by Hamas terrorists on October 7 included the brutal slaughter of over 1,300 Israelis including children, as well as missile attacks, rapes and kidnapping of civilians, many still held hostage. Israel’s prime minister promptly declared war. Victims of the Hamas attacks included the mayor of San Diego’s sister city; San Diego’s Jewish Federation launched a drive to help Israeli families. Israel launched devastating missile attacks on Gaza, killing more than 12,000 people as it has sought to destroy Hamas. President Biden pledged humanitarian aid for displaced Gazans. Locally, students held rallies in support of both Israel and Palestine. As the Mideast crisis deepened, Biden announced restrictions on Hamas funding sources including Iran, while local Congressman Darrell Issa introduced a bill to further restrict Iranian funds. All five San Diego representatives voted in support of a resolution backing Israel on Nov. 5, though by Nov. 20, Jewish Congresswoman Sara Jacobs called for a bilateral cease fire to allow release of hostages and humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
ANTI-SEMITISM
Anti-Semitism was on the rise even before the Israel-Hamas war. In March, county Supervisors approved a resolution denouncing anti-Semitic rhetoric and hate crimes after numerous local incidents .In July, an Orthodox rabbi was assaulted near San Diego State University. After anti-Semitic flyers were disseminated in several local neighborhoods, La Mesa hosted a hate crimes forum in December, along with the District Attorney’s office. During Chanukah in December, Chabad House at SDSU hosted a gathering to commemorate Israeli lives lost and erected a 20-foot tall steel Menorah to replace one destroyed by vandalism at SDSU.
CHALDEAN CROSS RISES IN JAMUL
The largest cross in San Diego County was raised atop Rancho San Diego Hill on 80 acres of private land in Jamul on December 15. . It was made possible by Samad (“Sam”) Attisha, son of Iraqi immigrants, and his wife, Evone. The 36-foot tall Chaldean Catholic cross, which weighs nearly 20,000 pounds, serves as a memorial for persecuted Christians in throughout the Middle East including the Attisha family’s homeland in Iraq, where ISIS massacred Christian people.
UKRAINIAN CHURCH APPROVED IN SANTEE
As the war in Ukraine fueled by Russia’s invasion continues to rage, displaced Ukrainian immigrants in East County received some positive news in November. The Santee City Council unanimously approved a proposal to build a Ukrainian Church, helping Ukrainian-Americans put down roots in their new homeland.
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 25th 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
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 25th 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.”