Friday: Listen to the East County Magazine Show on KNSJ 89.1 FM at 5 p.m. to hear our interview with Stephen Bartholow, editor of Santee Patch, who has been tracking this story.
July 25, 2013 (Santee) – By a unanimous vote, Santee City Council ignored pleas from residents and authorized the city to seize and force sale of four properties, as well as obtain easements for nearly a hundred more. The declaration of eminent domain was done to allow the Prospect Avenue street widening project, which impacts properties on nine streets.
“We don’t want to leave,” Gloria Duff testified, Santee Patch reported. Duff, whose family has lived in their home for 50 years, said the family took out a second mortgage for remodeling recently and fears they won’t get enough money.
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San Diego Planning Commission to weigh changing zoning to allow project at April 26 meeting; Opponents plan march today in Santee
March 31, 2012 (Santee) – Santee Mayor Randy Voepel didn’t mince words. “This is a declaration of war,” he said at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, where Councilmembers voted unanimously to oppose the gas-fired Quail Brush power plant.
The 100 megawatt (MW) “peaker” power plant is proposed on 10 acres adjacent to Mission Trails Regional Park, close to West Hills High School and homes.
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By Anne Tolch, Vice Chairperson, Sustainability Alliance of Southern California
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Voepel's beliefs share much in common with Flat Earth Society views
By Miriam Raftery
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“This issue has received band-aid approaches to fix it when it needs a tourniquet.” – La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid
“We look at them as a resource… they are the eyes and ears of the community… they certainly know when something is going on.” – El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis, on the homeless in his town
"I do not feel there needs to be a regional center for the homeless in East County." -- Lemon Grove Mayor Mary Sessom
"I am not in the homeless business." - Santee Mayor Randy Voepel
April 26, 2011 – Four East County mayors shared their reactions on a new study on the many homeless in our region. Their views differed dramatically on how to address the homeless problem. In addition, three of the four mayors questioned the study findings and voiced doubts on the numbers of homeless people listed in their cities.
According to the 2011 Point-In-Time Count by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, East County is now home to 8.9% of San Diego County’s homeless population, with El Cajon staking claim to the highest number of homeless people. However, the majority of El Cajon's homeless are in shelters--while in other East County communities, the homeless are living on the streets, in cars, or camped along riverbeds.
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Community leaders testify on Viejas’ behalf, ask Padre’s water board to find alternative solution;
Viejas to ask judge on Friday to extend injunction
By Miriam Raftery
June 24, 2010 (Santee) – Improper. Disrespectful. Inappropriate. Embarassing. Those were some of the terms community leaders used at yesterday’s Padre Dam Municipal Water Board hearing to describe the Board’s refusal to halt construction at a planned reservoir and pipeline site near Lake Jennings.
“I’ve just come from the site,” Leon Thompson testified, drawing an audible gasp from the crow when he added that he shot video showing “desecration continuing” of areas near a circle of rocks marking grave sites. View video here.
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April 1, 2010 (Santee) – The San Diego Chargers have received an offer from the City of Santee to construct a new Chargers stadium in the East County community.
“This will be a win-win for the Chargers and East County,” said Santee Mayor Randy Voepel, wearing a sporty bolts blazer. With the upcoming completion of Highway 52, Santee will be easily accessible from all parts of San Diego. Having an NFL team in Santee will not only be good for Charger fans, but will also boost revenues for our city.”
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Mayor Randy Voepel, Vice Mayor Brian Jones and Councilman Hal Ryan voted in favor, Council members Jack Dale and John Minto voted against controversial project
By Miriam Raftery
October 29, 2009 (Santee) – By a 3-2 vote, the Santee City Council voted last night to approve a major use permit for Sudweeks Development to construct a cable ski and wakeboarding facility at Santee Lakes. The project, previously approved by Padre Dam Municipal Water District, will operate seven days a week and also include a restaurant serving alcohol until 11 p.m.
The measure was approved despite strenuous and, at times, tearful objections from dozens of Santee residents and environmentalists.The developer and less than a half dozen supporters argued that the project will increase recreational opportunities in Santee, also boosting revenues for Padre Municipal Water District.
“I have an attorney. We are not done fighting this,” Santee resident Julie Naggar told East County Magazine, hinting that a class action lawsuit may be an option.
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August 13, 2009 (Santee) -- The Santee City Council held a town hall meeting on Wednesday, August 12th to discuss a proposed cable ski park at Santee Lakes.
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San Diego Planning Commission to weigh changing zoning to allow project at April 26 meeting; Opponents plan march today in Santee
By E.Z. Pickens
August 13, 2009 (Santee) -- The Santee City Council held a town hall meeting on Wednesday, August 12th to discuss a proposed cable ski park at Santee Lakes.
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