EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

January 10, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) -- 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

• Delays, cancelations at San Diego airport after Alaska Airlines door plug incident grounds some jets (NBC 7)
• Six San Diego synagogues targeted in bogus bomb threats (CBS 8)
• Lemon Grove City Council member was absent or late to half of meetings in 2023 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Potential tuberculosis exposure at Mission Valley YMCA (10 News)
• Caltrans opens third truck lane at Otay Mesa border crossing facility (KPBS)
• New California law would allow separate sales of ADUs — if cities and counties opt in (KPBS)
• Major I-8 construction in El Cajon starts Friday  (CBS 8)
• San Diego County awards $42 million to 9 affordable housing developments  (KPBS)
• San Diego’s Most Polluted Beaches in Three Charts (Voice of San Diego)

STATE 

• California Gov. Newsom wants reserves and cuts to fix nearly $38B deficit, mostly sparing schools (10 News)
• How Newsom plans to fix California’s projected $37.9-billion budget deficit(Los Angeles Times
  
  The State Is Serious About Forcing Housing Production in Small Cities (Voice of San Diego)
• California law banning carrying concealed firearms in many public places is once again blocked (CNN)
• California exports the risk from its hazardous waste. One neighborhood in Mexico shows the consequences  (KPBS)
• The State Is Serious About Forcing Housing Production in Small Cities (Voice of San Diego)

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

LOCAL

Delays, cancelations at San Diego airport after Alaska Airlines door plug incident grounds some jets (NBC 7)

Some airlines are canceling flights, causing a ripple effect of delays and cancelations

Six San Diego synagogues targeted in bogus bomb threats (CBS 8)

Between December 13 and New Year’s Day, more than 700 anti-Semitic incidents were reported nationwide.  Six San Diego area synagogues are among those targeted. The threats were emailed Tuesday, disrupting operations at many of the centers….  A total of 91 synagogues across California were sent false bomb threats. [Heidi Gantwerk, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Federation of San Diego County says ... “There's been an incredible uptick since October 7.

Lemon Grove City Council member was absent or late to half of meetings in 2023 (San Diego Union-Tribune)

,,, Liana LeBaron was absent six times and tardy seven times, more than any other member of the council, records show. On two occasions — a special meeting on April 10 and a regular meeting on May 16 — she was more than an hour late.

Potential tuberculosis exposure at Mission Valley YMCA (10 News)

Health officials today announced that members who used one of the 14 YMCA branches in San Diego County may be exposed to tuberculosis. Most exposures occurred from 9-11 am. between March 5 and Oct. 30, 2023, at the Mission Valley YMCA at 5505 Friars Road, according to the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.

Caltrans opens third truck lane at Otay Mesa border crossing facility (KPBS)

The new lane is intended to improve efficiency and reduce wait times and related emissions for cross-border freight.

New California law would allow separate sales of ADUs — if cities and counties opt in (KPBS)

A new state law would allow property owners to sell their accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, separate from the main house….However, the law requires individual counties and cities to adopt the rules…. ADU construction is booming in San Diego…. If a property owner builds an ADU and reserves it for lower-income renters, then the city allows the owner to build an additional ADU and rent it at market rate. In so-called “transit priority areas,” there are technically no limits to the number of bonus ADUs someone can build.

Major I-8 construction in El Cajon starts Friday  (CBS 8)

Closures for construction on I-8 in El Cajon will begin Friday, Jan.5.  The construction will begin after 9 p.m. Friday and is expected until 5 a.m. Jan. 9. Crews will close up to three of four westbound lanes in El Cajon at I-8 and El Cajon Boulevard. / The dates and times are subject to change as weather permits. If heavy rain delays construction, work and road closures will move to Jan. 12.

San Diego County awards $42 million to 9 affordable housing developments  (KPBS)

San Diego County has awarded $42 million to nine affordable housing developments intended to provide 872 new homes, it was announced on Tuesday. According to a county statement, of the nine developments, three will be on county excess land and two on publicly owned land belonging to the MTS. The remainder are on private property….  The developments approved include…Spring Street Trolley Station: 4250 Spring St., La Mesa. Total of 150 units, 33 for extremely low income. The developer is Affirmed Housing Group and the project was awarded $2 million

San Diego’s Most Polluted Beaches in Three Charts (Voice of San Diego)

Data we collected shows that while beach water is polluted and fails safety tests more often, the beaches are closing less often.

STATE 

California Gov. Newsom wants reserves and cuts to fix nearly $38B deficit, mostly sparing schools (10 News)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced $291 billion state spending plan Wednesday with an estimated $37.9 billion deficit. That’s a significantly smaller budget hole than the Legislative Analyst’s Office predicted in December. It estimated the state would face a $68 billion deficit.

How Newsom plans to fix California’s projected $37.9-billion budget deficit(Los Angeles Times

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday asked California lawmakers to dip into the state’s rainy-day reserves and signaled his desire to potentially delay a minimum wage increase for healthcare workers as part of his plan to offset an expected $37.9-billion deficit.

The State Is Serious About Forcing Housing Production in Small Cities (Voice of San Diego)

Warnings and lawsuits from the state’s top officials are pressuring some of California’s small cities to fulfill their housing responsibilities.

California law banning carrying concealed firearms in many public places is once again blocked (CNN)

A new California gun law banning the concealed carry of firearms in “sensitive places” – including places of worship, public libraries, amusement parks, zoos and sporting events – is once again blocked after a decision Saturday by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

California exports the risk from its hazardous waste. One neighborhood in Mexico shows the consequences  (KPBS)

As an ongoing CalMatters investigation has shown, California companies and government agencies have found it easier and far less expensive to avoid the Golden State’s strict environmental regulations by shipping the waste across state borders.

The State Is Serious About Forcing Housing Production in Small Cities (Voice of San Diego)

Warnings and lawsuits from the state’s top officials are pressuring some of California’s small cities.