Photo: County Awarded More State Funds to Help People Living in Encampments

By Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 1, 2023 (San Diego) -- More state funds are heading to San Diego County to help people experiencing homelessness along the region’s riverbeds.   

By Branda Gorgies

Photos by Eric Brehm and Ivan Bandura on Unsplash and Creative Commons via Bing

August 16, 2023 (California) – The “Justice for Renters” Act is officially on the November 2024 ballot. If approved by voters, it would repeal a law that bans rent control statewide on most housing, allowing local governments to enact ordinances to limit rent hikes.

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

August 14, 2023 (San Diego) --Starting next year, low and middle-income families in California are expected to be able to apply for up to $14,000 in grants and rebates to make their home more energy-efficient. The U.S. Department of Energy has just released guidelines that allow California to receive $582-million from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.

East County News Service

July 20, 2023 (Alpine) – Alpine resident and realtor Steven Sladek was recently honored with the Realtor of the Year award from the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), one of San Diego County’s largest real estate trade organizations for San Diego-area realtors.

e-Check is fast & free at sdttc.com; payment deadline is June 30 

Source: Dan McAllister, Treasurer-Tax Collector of San Diego County

Image by Nattanan Kanchanaprat on Pixabay

June 11, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister reminded San Diego property owners that the deadline to pay their property taxes is quickly approaching. The deadline to pay without incurring additional penalties is June 30, 2023. 

Experience the captivating blend of art and nature at Ilan-Lael Foundation's Spring Tours, exploring visionary creations of founder James Hubbell in Santa Ysabel

Story courtesy of Ilan-Lael Foundation

Photos, left by Kristin Kjaero and Miriam Raftery

June 7, 2023 (Santa Ysabel) - Immerse yourself in the enchanting and fantastical world of renowned artist and architect James Hubbell, founder of the Ilan-Lael Foundation at the 2023 Spring Tours. The world-famous compound will open its doors to visitors every Monday, Friday, and Saturday until June 17 with tours running at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Located in the stunning hills of Santa Ysabel, California, Ilan-Lael offers a unique and captivating experience for art and nature enthusiasts alike. Built “from the earth up” as living and working spaces for himself and his family, Hubbell spent over two decades creating the awe-inspiring structures. Despite losing four of the Ilan-Lael buildings in the 2003 Cedar Fire, Hubbell, his family, and team came back stronger and rebuilt with the help of the community. Their Spring Tours provide a rare opportunity to explore this extraordinary space, where Hubbell’s vision can be seen and felt.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

May 24, 2023 (San Diego) - County Supervisors approved setting aside $32 million in state and County funds Tuesday to help quickly create housing for people experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk of homelessness and $4.6 million a year in services to support them.

Source:  Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Laura

May 12, 2023 (Los Angeles) - Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced that an insurance company offering home warranties will refund Californians deceived by a misleading mailer sent to hundreds of thousands of consumers. An investigation by the California Department of Insurance found that Response Indemnity Company of California worked with an unlicensed marketing company that mailed a “final notice” to consumers falsely warning that their home warranty was expiring. Because of the Department’s action, Response Indemnity will allow consumers to cancel the home warranty and receive a refund if the consumer purchased the warranty because of the mailer.

East County News Service

April 11, 2023 (Mt. Helix) – Atkinson Plumeria Farm in La Mesa will be hosting a plumeria cutting and tropical plant sale this weekend, April 15-16.

Eleven vendors will be selling hundreds of cultivars,  thousands of cuttings and rooted plants from small to large in a many different colors; some as low as $5.These are water-wise plants.

Plus there will be other tropicals such as hibiscus, air plants, hoyas, heliconia, ginger, and more.

Paying by e-check is free, quick and secure

Pay by April 10 to avoid penalties

East County News Service

April 7, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister reminded property owners Thursday that they have twelve days left to pay the second installment of their 2022-2023 property taxes before they are charged a late penalty. 

Taxpayers can quickly and easily pay their bills online at sdttc.com. They will not be charged a convenience fee if they pay by e-check, or electronic check.  

“So far, 47.90% of taxpayers have paid $1.9 billion in second installment payments,” said McAllister.  “Property tax bills are due on April 10. To avoid a 10% penalty plus $10 fee we encourage property owners to go online and pay their second installment before the deadline.” 

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

March 14, 2023 (San Diego) - County officials want San Diegans to help turn a house―or rather, the County’s draft housing blueprint―into a “home” by filling it with their opinions and advice.

“Cohousing is about living the good life while using less of the earth’s resources, and having a good time doing it.” --Charles Durrett

East County News Service

March 9, 2023 (Ramona, CA) -- Charles Durrett, a leading architect in the field of sustainable community and cohousing, will be hosting a free public presentation on the future of this innovative housing concept, with a focus on the potential for a new cohousing community in Ramona.

The event is open to the public and will take place on March 16 at 6 p.m. in the Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane in Ramona. You’re invited to come and be part of planning a sustainable community and cohousing in Ramona.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: CC-NC-SA via Bing

February 16, 2023 (Washington D.C.) - To help homeowners during this time of rising interest rates, the FHA has announced that its programs to help homeowners impacted by COVID-19 has been extended to help ALL eligible borrowers who are struggling to avoid foreclosure, regardless of the reason for their hardship. These tools will be available for at least the next 18 months.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, over 2 million homeowners were able to stay in their homes thanks to programs that allowed them to obtain loan modications or forbearances.

“Although the pandemic has ended, the economic effects will remain a challenge for the foreseeable future,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “These impactful and effective foreclosure prevention tools will help struggling borrowers find the right option to help them get back on their feet and keep them in their homes. These tools have been so successful already, which is why FHA worked to enhance them further and include more borrowers.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photo and artwork credits: City of La Mesa and La Mesa Chamber of Comemrce.

February 3, 2023 (La Mesa) – The site of La Mesa’s former police station will soon be home to 147 affordable apartment homes. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site at 8181 Allison Avenue on January 24.