EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

June 5, 2023  (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• Poll finds large majority of San Diego County officeholders received political threats (KPBS)
• The Padres Spent Big on Players—Then Lost the TV Deal That Helps Pay for Them (Wall Street Journal)
• La Mesa rejects 950-unit apartment complex amid affordable housing concerns (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• 13 Point Brewing to close (San Diego Beer  News)
• San Diego Native American Tribe is Second in Nation to Own Part of Professional Sports Franchise (NBC San Diego)
• After a girl is shot, El Cajon increases oversight on a motel. The business thinks there’s more to the story (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• It’s ‘not glamorous,’ but El Cajon is leaning toward using its surplus to pay down pension debts (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• What will it take to end the Teamsters bus driver strike in San Diego? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• NPR investigation reveals coverup of a deadly friendly fire accident in the Iraq War  (NPR)
• Escondido’s Mayor Used to Live on the Street Behind a 7-Eleven (Voice of San Diego)
• Land around the U.S. is sinking. Here are some of the fastest areas. (Washington Post)

STATE 

• State Farm halts new property insurance policies in California (OC Register)
• A startup is helping California remove carbon from the air to meet climate goals (NPR)
• This law should reveal who’s paying for California legislators’ travel. It’s only been used twice  (KPBS)
• Colorado River deal: What does it mean for California?  (KPBS)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

LOCAL

Poll finds large majority of San Diego County officeholders received political threats (KPBS)

San Diego is not immune to the political harassment, threats and violent rhetoric that have become commonplace in the United States, a new poll of local elected officials has found.  Seventy-five percent of local officeholders say they have received political threats…The survey also found that 82% percent of women who hold office reported being threatened, compared with 66% of men.

The Padres Spent Big on Players—Then Lost the TV Deal That Helps Pay for Them (Wall Street Journal)

San Diego has a huge player payroll of $250 million. This week, the regional sports network that pays some of the bill stopped paying, leaving the team in a bind.

La Mesa rejects 950-unit apartment complex amid affordable housing concerns (San Diego Union-Tribune)

La Mesa leaders have rejected a sprawling apartment complex in the western part of the city after critics raised concerns about the size of the structure and its lack of affordable housing. The Alvarado Specific Plan would have included up to 950 units throughout four buildings….The council voted 4-1 to reject an appeal …The lone vote in favor of moving forward was from Colin Parent, who tried unsuccessfully to give city staffers more time to negotiate design changes.

13 Point Brewing to close (San Diego Beer  News)

Following its building's sale, Lemon Grove’s first and only brewery is set to shutter.

San Diego Native American Tribe is Second in Nation to Own Part of Professional Sports Franchise (NBC San Diego)

The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation is now part owner of San Diego's future Major League Soccer franchise

After a girl is shot, El Cajon increases oversight on a motel. The business thinks there’s more to the story (San Diego Union-Tribune)

The El Cajon Inn & Suites had previously been threatened with fines for housing high numbers of homeless people

It’s ‘not glamorous,’ but El Cajon is leaning toward using its surplus to pay down pension debts (San Diego Union-Tribune)

A feared recession hasn’t yet hit. Inflation only seems to be helping revenue. Amid a surprisingly strong financial picture, leaders of East County’s largest city have millions of extra dollars — and they appear largely unified on how to spend part of that surplus.

What will it take to end the Teamsters bus driver strike in San Diego? (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Hundreds of bus drivers have vowed to continue a weeks-long strike, picketing around the clock in Chula Vista and Kearny Mesa. The labor dispute is largely about access to clean restrooms, forced unpaid breaks and required overtime. With negotiations seemingly at an impasse, scores of bus routes and paratransit services for people with disabilities could remain out of service into the foreseeable future.

NPR investigation reveals coverup of a deadly friendly fire accident in the Iraq War  (NPR)

Details of a deadly incident during the Iraq War were buried by the Marine Corps for years, including links to a powerful politician (Rep. Duncan D. Hunter).

Escondido’s Mayor Used to Live on the Street Behind a 7-Eleven (Voice of San Diego)

Dane White used to be homeless and severely addicted to drugs, now he’s Escondido’s youngest ever mayor. He wants to use his experiences to help shape Escondido’s approach to homelessness.

Land around the U.S. is sinking. Here are some of the fastest areas. (Washington Post)

Scientists are especially concerned for sinking locations near the coast, which are at a higher risk for flooding as sea levels rise in a warming world…. Overall, data along the western coast show rates are mostly below 3 millimeters per year, except near areas like San Diego, which has experienced large amounts of human-induced sinking.

STATE 

State Farm halts new property insurance policies in California (OC Register)

The company cited rising construction costs and its “rapidly growing catastrophe exposure.”

A startup is helping California remove carbon from the air to meet climate goals (NPR)

California will need to remove about 100 million tons of heat-trapping gasses each year to meet its ambitious climate goals. A new startup stepped in and is attracting millions to support the effort.

This law should reveal who’s paying for California legislators’ travel. It’s only been used twice  (KPBS)

A 2015 law to bring more transparency to paid trips for California legislators has led to only two disclosure forms being filed by the sponsoring groups. The law’s author says it is being wrongly ignored.

Colorado River deal: What does it mean for California?  (KPBS)

Here’s what you need to know about the new plan, how it will affect California and whether it will bring relief to the West’s vital water supply system….