Swimming in 57-degree water isn’t everyone’s idea of a great way to celebrate New Year’s Day, but for an intrepid group of ocean-goers in La Jolla, it was just right.

The La Jolla Cove Swim Club welcomed people to dive into the chilly Pacific during the Polar Bear Plunge at La Jolla Shores the morning of Jan. 1.

Participants could take a dip and then warm up with a potluck and coffee. ♦

It’s nearing two years since Grecia Figueroa accused former county supervisor and MTS board chair Nathan Fletcher of sexual assault — now she’s dropping that claim.

Fletcher said their relationship, while a terrible mistake, was consensual. Figueroa is is still suing Fletcher, for sexual harassment, among other things.

Fletcher’s political career ended sometime ago, as well as his time in San Diego. But in 2025 , he’ll be back in the courtroom, as his accuser Figueroa moves forward with her civil lawsuit claims of sexual harassment, emotional distress and job disruption.

The former MTS employee says she was fired from her job to protect his run for higher office.

Figueroa sent the following statement to NBC 7:

“I am focusing on the long-term sexual harassment claims, which still stand, and I am ready for a jury trial.”

Much of the publicly available evidence in this case included flirtacious text and Instagram messages between the two.

In recently filed court paperwork she reiterates how on several occasions, Fletcher requested meetings with her, forcibly kissed her and touched her intimately. At one point, she describes him showing her a firearm strapped to his leg. She goes on to state that because of her job duties and his position of power, she felt she had to give into his advances.

One of Fletcher’s attorneys, Sam Sherman responded to the claims on Friday.

“The reality is the only reason she knew about that gun is because she was rubbing his legs, you know, lower leg where his gun was hiding in his boot,” Sherman said.

Sherman commented about text messages between Figueroa and a friend describing the specific incident.

“And when she texts Ms. Radin about him having that gun, Ms. Radin’s response was, that’s so hot,” said Sherman.

In response to the November-filed declaration by Figueroa, Sherman said that her decision to drop some of her claims including gender violence, battery and discrimination shows that her team was not ready to make a case for them.

He also points to text messages she sent to friends about the encounters proves she consented.

“So this effort that they’re now having to try to twist this into some fearful exchange is completely inconsistent with the clear facts of this case, which is that she was bragging about it. And they were talking about how sexy it was,” said Sherman.

Fletcher’s legal team has filed a motion requesting the civil charges against him be thrown out. A judge is scheduled to weigh that motion at a Jan. 10 hearing.

Figueroa says the text messages to her friends were sarcastic and not serious. Her attorneys can also reintroduce the sexual assault charge in the future.

Meanwhile, Fletcher’s camp has an ongoing defamation lawsuit against Figueroa.

EL SEGUNDO — When they began to survey the roster and all that went haywire before their arrival, general manager Joe Hortiz, coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter decided the Chargers’ defense could be and should be upgraded for the 2024 season.

Small changes were made, minor tweaks that got little notice around the known football universe. Mostly, though, there was a buy-in from the players that Hortiz, Harbaugh and Minter noticed from the first days of practice in the spring. Matters could be improved by leaps and bounds without major changes.

Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, two veteran outside linebackers and cornerstones of the defense, agreed in the offseason to take pay cuts so Hortiz could make the moves he made and still remain under the salary cap. According to Minter, it “set an unbelievable tone” for what was to follow.

Poona Ford strengthened the defensive line. Denzel Perryman did the same with the inside linebackers. Bud Dupree added depth to the already fearsome outside linebacker corps. Defensive back Elijah Molden was the latest addition, acquired after training camp, and he was an impact player.

In no time at all, it became evident that the Chargers had created something special. By midseason, they were firmly entrenched as the NFL’s stingiest defense, with a chance to give up the fewest points in the league in a season for the first time since they were the AFL champions way back in 1963.

Going into their regular-season finale against the Raiders (4-12) on Sunday in Las Vegas, the Chargers (10-6) have given up 17.6 points per game, the fewest in the NFL. They’re coming off a playoff-clinching victory over the New England Patriots in which they gave up only a touchdown and an extra point.

“What we found, and I don’t know if (Harbaugh) has said this, but there was an unbelievable thing going on here,” Minter said. “For whatever reason. It wasn’t like you had to change a bunch of guys’ attitudes and work ethic. It was unbelievable from the second we walked in the door, and I think it’s gone both ways.”

Now, finishing the regular season with the NFL’s best defense is a pride thing.

“It’s cool, man,” Mack said. “It’s a cool goal, something we probably didn’t think we could accomplish early in the season. To have that opportunity, that capability, is dope. Carrying that into the postseason (next week) and getting better is the ultimate process for us right now.”

Mack and safety Derwin James Jr. were named Thursday to the Pro Bowl for the ninth time and fourth time, respectively, in their careers. They were honored, but it wasn’t as if they were the only standouts in a defense that has set a high standard for success in the new regime’s first season.

“It would mean a lot because that was our ultimate goal,” James said of the possibility of having the league’s top defense after Sunday’s game against the Raiders. “Every day we break it down to be the best. That’s our mindset. That’s our goal. We take the field to do that every day.

“It’s coming out strong, starting fast. You’ve got to start the game fast, and I feel like we’ve been starting out fast on defense all year long. We’ve also finished games good, too. So, we just want to continue to build on that. Every guy is working toward that. We’re definitely getting better as a team.”

INJURY REPORT

The Chargers ruled out running back Gus Edwards (ankle) and wide receiver Joshua Palmer (foot) for Sunday’s game, but their status for the wild-card playoff game next weekend was uncertain. Linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin) was doubtful to play Sunday and safety Alohi Gilman (hamstring) was questionable. Gilman has been sidelined since he was hurt in a game Nov. 25 against the Baltimore Ravens.