San Diego, CA
All Peoples Church sues San Diego over rejection of Del Cerro project
On March 25, All Peoples Church filed a complaint against the City of San Diego alleging that the city council’s rejection of the church’s large-scale project for a new 900-seat sanctuary on a vacant, 6-acre lot in Del Cerro violates federal protections provided to churches by the Religious Land Use And Institutionalized Persons Act.
The suit further claims that the city is in violation of the church’s free speech and assembly and the free exercise of religious rights outlined in the First Amendment.
All Peoples Church purchased the property, located near the College Avenue off-ramp, in 2017.
In addition to the 900-seat sanctuary, the church group sought to construct a building with “staff offices, Sunday School classrooms and a multi-purpose room.” The latter of which is intended to serve as a youth room, fellowship hall and a basketball court, according to the lawsuit.
Since the lot’s purchase, the All Peoples Church has undergone the process of amending the Navajo Community Plan to allow church use on land zoned for residential use.
The church, which was started in 2008 by Pastor Robert Herber, has a congregation of 900-1,000 individuals, according to Save Del Cerro, a movement backed by concerned community members that have remained outspoken against the project.
All Peoples Church currently operates out of a facility located at 5555 University Ave., with a lease set to expire in June and is required to vacate the premises on Dec. 31, 2024.
In September 2023 the San Diego Planning Commission voted unanimously in the project’s favor upon reviewing the plan’s required documents: a general plan amendment, community plan amendment, site development permit and certification of the project’s environmental impact report.
However, just four months later, San Diego City Council voted 6 to 2 to deny the plan.
Councilmember Raul Campillo, who represents Del Cerro, was the dominant voice of opposition. He stated that the church’s application was legally flawed and that the church project’s environmental impact report and subsequent traffic study undercount daily car trips to the planned multi-purpose room.
The lawsuit outlined that it anticipates that church staff will use the multi-purpose room Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (The hours Pastors are present.)
However, civil engineering and traffic experts both explained during the January City Council meeting that the project would not cause transportation impacts based on years of time-consuming and costly reviews, such as the environmental impact report and traffic studies pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
The complaint specifically details that “the [environmental impact report] found the [project] to be consistent with the Navajo Community Plan and did not identify inconsistencies with any applicable [city] land use policies.”
As a result of Councilmember Campillo’s opposition to the project, the lawsuit calls into question his motives. Specifically, Councilmember Campillo’s place of living, allegedly located a half-mile away from the project site.
When asked to comment on the matter, Councilmember Campillo said, “I will let my 30-minute presentation from the day of the hearing speak for itself. That said, I must point out that the litigant’s assertion that my home is within a half-mile of the project is flat out wrong.”
The Office of the City Attorney declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Moreover, the project has been branded as a “megachurch” by Save Del Cerro which, according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, refers to any Protestant Christian congregation with a sustained weekly average of 2,000 attendants for its worship services.
“We are reviewing the court filing and fully support the City’s Land Use decision to deny the application for the proposed church and its related activities,” said Save Del Cerro Spokesperson Michael Livingston.
Dan Dalton, of Dalton & Tomich, PLC, is All Peoples Church’s lead attorney. Dalton previously represented Our Lady of Peace Academy, which sued the city on similar grounds for blocking its campus expansion plan. The lawsuit was settled in the academy’s favor in 2014.
Dalton did not respond directly to a request for comment before publication. However, Worship Pastor Stephen Gulley provided the following statement on Dalton’s behalf via All Peoples Church’s press release:
“The City has a long history of discrimination against religious institutions,” said Dalton. “They’ve made it nearly impossible to [cite] them, and when the land use laws of the City allows, they change the rules to deny access. That is wrong, federal law doesn’t allow it, and we believe the Court will ultimately find their decision inappropriate and overturn.”
The press release includes Herber’s sentiments, as well.
“The personal attacks and accusations used to foment opposition were unfortunate, but as Christians we forgive and bless those who come against us,” Herber said. “Nevertheless, the Council’s decision to side with the opposition was wrong, which is why we’ve decided to protect our rights by seeking legal redress.”
Additionally, as detailed in the filed complaint, “The Church believes it is called by God to own and build a permanent home large enough to accommodate its growing congregation, its anticipated growth and its various ministries.”
Photo credit: savedelcerro.org/.
San Diego, CA
UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance
UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)
San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.
The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.
The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.
San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.
Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
San Diego, CA
Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.
The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.
Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.
Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.
The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.
As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.
The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.
Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”
Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
San Diego, CA
SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Less than 3 weeks after the San Diego Unified School District finalized a new contract with teachers, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with layoff notices for other district employees.
The layoffs affect classified employees — workers who are employed by the district but are not teachers and are not certified. That includes bus drivers, custodians, special education and teacher aides, and cafeteria workers.
The district says it is eliminating 221 positions — 133 that are currently filled and 88 that are vacant — to save $19 million and help address a projected $47 million deficit for the next fiscal year.
Preliminary layoff notices will go out on March 15, with final notices by May 15.
The district estimates about 200 classified employees will receive preliminary notices, but of them, about 70 are expected to lose their jobs based on union-negotiated bumping rules.
Bumping allows employees with more seniority to move into another position in the same classification, thereby “bumping” a less senior employee out of that role.
Lupe Murray, an early childhood special education parafacilitator with the district, said the news came as a shock after the teacher strike was called off.
“When the strike was called off, I’m like, ‘Yes!’ So then when I got the email from the Superintendent, I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So, I think everyone was shocked,” Murray said.
The district says it sends out annual layoff notices, as all districts in the state do.
Before Tuesday’s board meeting, classified employees rallied outside, made up of CSEA (California School Employees Association) Chapters OTBS 788, Paraeducators 759, and OSS 724. They were joined by parents, students, and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Miguel Arellano, a paraeducator independence facilitator with San Diego Unified and a representative of San Diego Paraeducators Cahpter 759.
“What do we want? No layoffs! When do we want it? Now!” the crowd chanted.
Arellano said he felt compelled to act when he learned about the potential layoffs.
“The first thing that went through my mind was that I need to speak up. I need to protect these people,” Arellano said.
Inside the meeting, the board heard emotional, at times tearful testimony from classified employees before voting unanimously to move forward with the layoff schedule.
Superintendent Fabi Bagula said the district has tried to protect classrooms from the cuts.
“We have tried our best to only, I mean, to not touch the school. Or the classroom. But now it’s at the point where it’s getting a little bit harder,” Bagula said. “What I’m still hoping, or what I’m still working toward, because we’re still in negotiations, is that we’re able to actually come to a win-win, where there’s positions and availability and maybe even promotions for folks that are impacted.”
Arellano warned the layoffs could have a direct impact on students.
“We are already spread thin, so, with more of a case load, it’s going to be impossible to be able to service all the students that we need to have,” Arellano said.
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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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