San Diego, CA
Opinion: Yes on Proposition 4 now or pay more later
Changing climate conditions are affecting our health, lives and economy. Just consider what San Diegans endured over the last year.
In recent weeks, a prolonged heat wave kept temperatures in the three-digit range, toxic smoke migrating from wildfires up north prompted air quality alerts, and area hillsides thick with dry brush caught fire. In January, nearly 1,200 people were displaced from flooding after 150 billion gallons of rain fell in six hours.
Natural disasters like these are expected to increase, putting this region at risk. Fortunately, many are working hard on proven solutions to these challenges along with rising sea levels and shrinking drinking water supplies.
Proposition 4 gives us a chance to invest in solutions now to prevent paying more when disaster strikes. This is why, as a scientist and a career firefighter, we urge you to support Proposition 4 on the November ballot.
To prevent wildfires and toxic smoke, Proposition 4 provides $1.5 billion to create fire breaks near communities, improve forest health, harden homes from wildfire, support specialized firefighting equipment, and deploy early detection and response systems. This is critical, considering four of the state’s top 20 deadliest wildfires occurred in San Diego County — destroying thousands of homes and filling the sky with smoke and ash.
To protect access to safe drinking water, Proposition 4 provides $3.8 billion to filter contaminants, recharge aquifers, rebuild crumbling water infrastructure and protect watersheds. California is the fifth largest economy in the world and it’s shameful nearly 3.3 million of us live without clean drinking water, where water systems might fail or could potentially fail. More than 36,000 are your neighbors here in San Diego.
Furthermore, Proposition 4 provides $1.2 billion to help communities confront rising seas and eroding beaches. San Diego’s coasts are projected to annually experience 20 days of high tide flooding by 2043 and at least 50 days by 2057. Investment in coastal habitat remains one of the most cost-effective ways to enhance storm protection and handle flood waters. San Diegans have pioneered natural protections, exemplified by the dune restoration at Cardiff State Beach and the wetland restoration at San Dieguito Lagoon. With many local beaches eroding 1 to 3 meters a year, more investments now can help shore up our communities and livelihoods that depend on the coastline.
Many local priorities are funded in Proposition 4, including $170 million for the Salton Sea Management Program, $73 million for the San Diego River Conservancy for watershed and wildfire resilience programs, and $50 million for watershed and water quality projects on the Tijuana and New rivers.
The longer we wait to take action on climate, the greater the consequences and costs.
A new era of megafires has begun. Nineteen of California’s top 20 largest wildfires occurred since 2000. Most burned since 2017, incinerating an area considerably larger than our major cities: equivalent to 17 Los Angeles, or 25 San Diegos, or 183 San Franciscos. From 2017 to 2021, wildfires caused over $100 billion in damages each year and $5 billion in costs to the state.
Wildfires don’t just threaten our communities. Our ability to breathe clean air is at stake. While a quarter of California has a very high or extreme fire threat and more than 25 percent of us live in these areas, wildfire risks impact us all because smoke travels great distances. A recent study found wildfire smoke exposure in California caused more than 50,000 deaths and $400 billion in economic damages between 2008-2018.
Our access to clean drinking water is also at stake. Water supplies are contaminated when watersheds are damaged by wildfire and migrating ash. In a jolt to 27 million Californians, state water officials announced advancing climate change could cause the State Water Project to reduce water deliveries by nearly a quarter over the next 20 years.
The good news is California knows how to tackle big challenges and we have the solutions to stop these conditions from spreading. Through Proposition 4, we can invest in them at scale to protect communities and local economies while keeping costs down for taxpayers and families.
For these reasons, we urge your support for Proposition 4. Let’s protect California and what makes it so special.
Engeman is an oceanography researcher and a member of the San Diego Sea-level Rise Working Group. She lives in San Diego. Anthony is a registered professional forester and former chief deputy director at CAL FIRE now working as a strategic wildfire consultant, and lives in South Lake Tahoe.
RAMONA (CNS) – Four rare western spotted skunks were released back in the wild after weeks of rehabilitation and socialization at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, officials announced Wednesday.
The successful release marks a major milestone for a species rarely seen in wildlife rehabilitation. The group included one orphaned skunk that was flown more than 400 miles by Flying Tails Animal Rescue from Sierra Wildlife Rescue in Northern California to join an orphaned group in Ramona, according to the SDHS.
The four skunks were returned to a carefully selected, remote habitat in Valley Center after reaching the necessary weight and developmental milestones to thrive on their own.
Western spotted skunks are a rare sight for the Humane Society’s Project Wildlife team. While the wildlife center typically handles hundreds of striped skunks each year, admitting six spotted skunks from different litters in one season is unusual. Spotted skunks are generally found in remote forested areas and are not as common in urban neighborhoods, officials said.
“We have never seen this many western spotted skunks in a single season before,” said Autumn Welch, wildlife operations manager at the Ramona Wildlife Center. “Because they are more reclusive than striped skunks, they require very specific care and even more secluded release sites to ensure they can stay wild.”
Socialization is critical for orphaned spotted skunks. During their stay at the Ramona Wildlife Center, the group became a bonded unit — exploring, digging and sleeping together, according to SDHS officials. Experts say these social cues prevent habituation to humans and teach the orphans natural skunk behaviors.
While four members of the group have returned to the wild, two spotted skunks remain in care at the facility. The smallest skunk was moved to an outside pre-release habitat and introduced to a slightly older skunk in late June.
Wildlife officials said by keeping the pair together, the wildlife team ensures the younger skunk will have a companion to learn from until they are both ready to be released, likely within the next month or two.
Anyone who finds an injured, sick or orphaned wild animal is encouraged to visit sdhumane.org/wildlifehelp or call 619-299-7012.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A 33-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to 325 years to life in prison for sexually abusing two 6-year-old girls, in addition to a slew of other felony sex abuse charges, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
Christopher T. Gardner was convicted of 15 felony sex abuse charges, which included molesting the two girls, who were relatives of his, over a five-year period.
The abuse reportedly first came to light when one of the victims told a friend in confidence during a sleepover that she had been touched inappropriately. The friend then told her mother, who contacted law enforcement.
After Gardner was arrested, a third victim came forward, who was also a relative. Now a young adult, the victim said that when she was 7-8 years old, Gardner sexually assaulted her.
During the nine-day trial, the first two victims reportedly testified to multiple vulgar acts of sexual abuse by Gardner.
“Predators who rob children of their innocence and inflict lifelong trauma do not belong in our communities,” DA Summer Stephan said. “This sentence sends an unmistakable message to abusers: you will be held accountable. I am deeply grateful to our specialized sexual abuse prosecution team for their dedication in bringing a measure of justice to the survivors.”
Thursday, July 9
• La Jolla Town Council: 6 p.m., La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. lajollatowncouncil.org
Friday, July 10
• La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club: 6:45 a.m., UC San Diego Faculty Club, 270 Muir Lane. lajollagtrotary.org
• Kiwanis Club of La Jolla: noon, La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. kiwanisclublajolla.org
Sunday, July 12
• La Jolla Open Aire Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Girard Avenue at Genter Street. (858) 454-1699. lajollamarket.com
Monday, July 13
• La Jolla Library Book Club: 1:30 p.m., Community Room, La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The July book is “Fresh Water for Flowers” by Valérie Perrin. sandiego.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=316631
• La Jolla Planned District Ordinance Committee: (pending items to review), 4 p.m., La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. Email info@lajollacpa.org.
• Laughmasters Toastmasters: 6:30 p.m., online. Email jrmmt@cox.net.
Tuesday, July 14
• San Diego Blood Bank blood drive: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Hensel Phelps Construction Co., 9404 Genesee Ave. Donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in good health. Photo identification is required. (619) 400-8251. sandiegobloodbank.org
• Rotary Club of La Jolla: noon, La Valencia Hotel, 1132 Prospect St. rotarycluboflajolla.org
• Co-op Toastmasters Club: noon, online at bit.ly/46W13bx (meeting ID: 849 4320 0407, passcode: cccu2020). (669) 900-6833. toastmasters.org/find-a-club/00001125-coop-club
• La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee: (pending items to review), 4 p.m., online. Email info@lajollacpa.org.
Wednesday, July 15
• Torrey Pines (La Jolla) Rotary Club: noon, online. torreypinesrotary.org
• La Jolla Shores Association: 6 p.m., Martin Johnson House, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 8840 Biological Grade. lajollashoresassociation.org
Thursday, July 16
• La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club: 6:58 a.m., La Jolla Shores Hotel, 8110 Camino del Oro. Call Cheryl Collins at (760) 936-3272 or Steve Cross at (619) 992-9449.
• San Diego Blood Bank blood drive: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sanford Burnham Prebys (patio outside Buildings 6 and 7), 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road. Donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in good health. Photo identification is required. (619) 400-8251. sandiegobloodbank.org
• La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee: (pending items to review), 4 p.m., online. Email info@lajollacpa.org.
Friday, July 17
• La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club: 6:45 a.m., UC San Diego Faculty Club, 270 Muir Lane. lajollagtrotary.org
Did we miss listing your community event? Email calendar information to Noah Lyons at noah.lyons@lajollalight.com by noon Thursday for publication in the following week’s edition. ♦
-
Lifestyle39 minutes agoWe unpack the 2026 Emmy nominations : Pop Culture Happy Hour
-
Technology47 minutes agoGet a $30 credit when you reserve Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy phones
-
World54 minutes agoCritics say Turkey’s verbal attacks on Israel have crossed into antisemitism
-
Politics57 minutes agoWATCH: Dana White drops 2028 hints while raving about his favorite Trump cabinet secretary
-
Health1 hour agoKatie Couric couldn’t remember the year or the president during frightening brain episode
-
Sports1 hour agoJustin Verlander announces he will retire after this season: ‘I’ve realized that time has come’
-
Technology1 hour agoApple AI security update proves hackers move fast
-
Business1 hour agoFire-damaged Pacific Palisades shopping center sets reopening date
