San Diego, CA
South County Report: Supervisor Race Takes Shape
It’s a new year—and, just like that, an uncertain political future for South San Diego County.
Supervisor Nora Vargas’ abrupt – and, so far, unexplained – resignation last month threw her South County district into political tumult. (Our coverage is here in case you missed it.) As chair of the five-member Board of Supervisors, Vargas was the most powerful elected official in San Diego County and the symbolic political leader of her district, which stretches from downtown San Diego to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Vargas attributed her resignation to unspecified “safety and security” reasons. She had faced an unrelenting barrage of vitriolic personal attacks online and in person from political opponents from the moment she was elected. Rumors are flying about other possible reasons—but rumors aren’t news, and I’m not focusing on them.
Instead, I’m starting my coverage of this race by talking at length with each of the candidates vying to replace Vargas on the Board. So far, four local politicos have jumped in: Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, Chula Vista Councilmember Carolina Chavez, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann and San Diego City Councilmember Vivian Moreno.
I’ll also be digging into what’s at stake in the race and identifying the major interest groups supporting each candidate. My goal is to give voters the information they need to make an educated decision. I need your help. Email me at jim.hinch@voiceofsandiego.org with tips, questions or just to tell me what matters most to you in this race.
One more thing. This race is important. In California government, county supervisors wield immense power. Supervisors in Los Angeles County have been called the “five little kings” because they exert vast influence over wide territories. It’s the same here in San Diego. Every aspect of your life—housing, healthcare, public safety, the environment—is affected by county government. With the board currently split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, South County voters hold the county’s partisan future in their hands. Your vote matters.
Immigration Leaps to Forefront
My first conversation, with Paloma Aguirre, will appear tomorrow. Today, the race to replace Vargas is already making news. Both Aguirre and McCann are out of the gate declaring their opposition to one of Vargas’ final signature policies: A controversial new rule, adopted last month, that limits county cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Both candidates told me this week they consider the law a “mistake” that could compromise public safety by making it harder for federal authorities to deport undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes.
“I do not support mass deportation. I do not support stripping naturalized citizens or asylum seekers from their rights,” Aguirre said. “But I think you also have to be realistic.”
Said McCann: “If you support law enforcement, you want to make sure murderers, rapists and violent criminals are taken out of your community.”
The policy drew national attention and was widely seen as a preemptive response to a possible anti-immigrant crackdown promised by incoming President Donald Trump. That Aguirre, widely considered the most progressive candidate seeking to replace Vargas, is already voicing skepticism suggests the policy’s future may be in doubt. You can read all about it here.
Fast Start for New Councilmembers
Chula Vista’s two new City Councilmembers are wasting no time acting on their campaign promises.
“It’s the honeymoon period,” said Cesar Fernandez, newly elected to represent District 4 in the city’s southwest. “I will be releasing a 100-day plan…this week.”
Fernandez said he expects his initial efforts on the council to focus on “workforce development, a walkable Chula Vista and all of it with constituent engagement behind it.”
He said he plans to meet with local school districts and community college leaders to discuss developing training programs that could position students to land jobs at the new Chula Vista Bayfront project currently under construction in and adjacent to his district.
“I want our constituents in all of Chula Vista to have first access to training and to be able to apply to those jobs and work in the city they live in,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez said he’ll also be seeking to improve streetlighting and sidewalk conditions in his district. And he’s planning a series of community forums that would enable residents to meet with city leaders to ask questions and share concerns.
Fernandez said he’s also gearing up for one of the less pleasant aspects of public service: Facing angry or just opinionated members of the public who lash out at elected officials during public meetings. “As disrespectful as it gets, you’ll find me with a pen in my hand ready to write down a problem that needs to be solved,” Fernandez said.
More Police, Possible New E-Bike Rules
City Councilmember Michael Inzunza, whose District 3 encompasses the city’s southeast corner, said his initial focus would be on what he termed “public safety.”
He said he would seek to boost the number of police officers patrolling Chula Vista’s streets by up to half a dozen officers. “How we do it is yet to be determined,” Inzunza said. “Either by hiring new officers or increasing the number of” officers on patrol.
Inzunza said he spoke with thousands of residents during his campaign, and a top concern for many was crime and police response times. “The idea is to increase police presence citywide from east to west,” he said.
Inzunza said he would also advocate for a new police substation to be built in his district. And this week he said he planned to ask City Manager Maria Kachadoorian to consider researching possible new rules governing young people’s use of e-bikes.
Inzunza said he had heard concerns from residents about students riding the bikes after school at high speeds on sidewalks and getting into accidents. He said Chula Vista could consider new rules similar to a policy in Poway, where students under age 18 and their parents are required to take an online safety course before receiving permission to bring their e-bikes to school.
“The goal is to educate youth,” Inzunza said. “We want to make sure students are safe.”
Possible Tenant Protections Advance in Imperial Beach
Paloma Aguirre let slip one piece of non-campaign news during my conversation with her on Monday. She said she and Imperial Beach Councilmember Jack Fisher followed through on their promise last month to hold a series of listening sessions about a possible new tenant protection ordinance in the city.
The issue arose after residents of an aging apartment complex packed a City Council meeting to beg for help after a new corporate owner bought the building and threatened to evict tenants to make way for a comprehensive remodeling project. (That story is here in case you missed it.)
Aguirre said she and Fisher had spent much of the Christmas holiday meeting with tenants, landlords and others with a stake in city housing policy. She and Fisher then drafted a new tenant protection ordinance (“right on Christmas Eve, I think,” Aguirre said) and plan to present it to the City Council next week for discussion.
“We had a number of tenants that were suffering and being affected,” Aguire said. “And we had a large number of landlords, small mom and pop landlords, that had concerns as well.” Aguirre declined to give details about the proposed ordinance, citing disclosure rules. But she pointed to similar ordinances in San Diego and Chula Vista, where officials in recent years tightened rules governing evictions in an effort to keep lower income tenants in their homes.
“We need to do a little bit of all of the above,” Aguirre said. “We need to keep people housed and we need to be able to put people in affordable housing.”
San Diego County will be the center of NASCAR nation this weekend, with fans flocking to Naval Base Coronado for three days of events.
This is the first-ever Cup race held in San Diego County and the NASCAR community is also presenting it as its way of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy.
Tickets are completely sold out, but locals can still get in on the fun at various event and activities taking place across the region.
Here’s what to know about this one-of-a-kind weekend in San Diego. Full coverage of NASCAR San Diego Weekend can be found at sandiegouniontribune.com/tag/nascar.
What is NASCAR San Diego Weekend?
The three-day event begins with Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series race, continues with an O’Reilly Auto Parts series race on Saturday and wraps Sunday with the Anduril 250.
Grandstands with a capacity for 40,000 fans have been erected, with another 10,000 spectators expected to occupy standing areas around the grounds.
Here’s a turn-by-turn look at Naval Base Coronado’s race circuit
When is it taking place?
Parking lots, which are on base, open each day at 7 a.m. and gates open at 9 a.m.
The Craftsman Truck Series takes place Friday at 4 p.m. The O’Reilly Auto Parts series race blasts off at 2 p.m. Saturday. The main event, NASCAR Cup Series Race, happens Sunday at 1 p.m.
A race-by-race look at NASCAR’s San Diego Weekend
Each day will also feature entertainment, driver Q&As and other activities.
Where is it?
Naval Base Coronado will host the weekend’s activities. All fans in attendance must carry a valid government-issued photo ID at all times.
Going to this weekend’s NASCAR races in Coronado? Here’s what you need to know
All event parking will be located on Naval Base Coronado. There is no event parking available within the city of Coronado.
Who is racing?
Shane Van Gisbergen, Tyler Reddick, Mike McDowell, Chase Elliott and Ty Gibbs are just a few of the names to expect this weekend. A full lineup can be found at nascarsandiego.com/nascar-san-diego-mission-lineup.
These 13 Cup racers could all win Sunday’s Anduril 250 in Coronado
How to watch on TV:
Craftsman Trucks Series race: 4 p.m. Friday on Fox Sports 1
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race: 2 p.m. Saturday on The CW
NASCAR Cup race: Sunday at 1 p.m. on Prime Video
Local events:
San Diegans have a range of options for getting in on the fun of NASCAR weekend in Coronado, including meet and greets with drivers, watch parties and fan zones.
Your guide to fan events during NASCAR San Diego Weekend
More coverage:
CORONADO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Final preparations are underway for NASCAR’s historic race weekend at Naval Base Coronado, where stock cars will compete on an active military installation for the first time in the sport’s history.
Crews, race teams, military personnel, first responders and event staff spent Thursday putting the finishing touches on the temporary road course as thousands of fans prepare to descend on the base for the inaugural event.
“The countdown is on,” as organizers work to transform portions of the installation into a race venue unlike any NASCAR has hosted before.
“It’s a very proud moment for NASCAR and myself and my company for being part of it,” said Jordan Litchko, a NASCAR production partner with ignition production. “It’s the America 250, so what a year to celebrate and be here on the naval base.”
Officials say the event marks the first time a NASCAR national series race has been held on a military base, bringing one of America’s most recognizable motorsports directly onto a working military installation.
Unlike traditional oval tracks, competitors will tackle a temporary road course built specifically for the event.
“It’s a road course race, which adds way more excitement, so it’s going to be ultra challenging,” Litchko said.
Thursday’s preparations included long lines of team members, vendors, staff and emergency personnel picking up credentials and completing security and base access requirements ahead of race weekend.
Meanwhile, drivers and crews got their first close look at the unique layout, which winds through portions of the base and presents a challenge far different from a conventional speedway.
With large crowds expected throughout the weekend, organizers are encouraging fans to plan ahead and allow extra travel time. Traffic delays are anticipated around Naval Base Coronado and nearby access points as spectators arrive for the event.
After months of planning and construction, the wait is nearly over.
On Friday, engines will roar to life aboard Naval Base Coronado, marking a milestone moment for NASCAR and creating a new chapter in the sport’s history. By the weekend’s end, fans will witness a race unlike any ever held before — stock cars competing on a military base in the heart of San Diego.
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The City of San Diego is beginning to install 286 metered parking spaces this week in downtown San Ysidro in an effort to increase parking turnover, it was announced Thursday.
To develop the plan, city leaders worked with the San Ysidro business community. Revenue collected from the meters is reserved for transportation, parking and safety improvements in San Ysidro.
“Feeding parking meters feeds neighborhood repairs, and we can’t wait to get to work for the San Ysidro community,” said Naomi Chavez, interim director of the city’s Transportation Department. “This new parking zone will bring long overdue change that will help support local business activity and generate revenue that will be reinvested directly into improving neighborhood quality of life in San Ysidro.”
Crews began preparing the bases for the meters last week and installation work is expected to last through June. According to the city, these will be multi-space meter kiosks and drivers should be aware that they will need to go to the nearest kiosk to pay for parking since there won’t be a meter at each space.
Metered parking goes into effect on July 1 and will be enforced 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays. The parking rate is $2.50 an hour, with a maximum time limit of four hours.
City-led parking studies determined vehicles were parking on the streets of the neighborhood for hours or days at a time, making street parking for the area’s businesses scarce.
Drivers who customarily use free street parking when traveling across the border to Mexico are encouraged to use “one of the many paid off-street parking lots in the area,” a city statement read.
“The findings [of the parking study] clearly demonstrate the need for action. High parking occupancy on unregulated segments, along with data showing that 37% of vehicles exceed the existing two-hour limit and an average parking duration of over five hours, indicate that current conditions reduce turnover and limit access for local businesses and visitors,” wrote Alfredo Ripa, president of the San Ysidro Community Economic Development Corporation. “The proposed introduction of approximately 286 metered spaces, along with better signage, clearer designations and continued enforcement, represents a thoughtful and data-driven approach to improving parking availability and supporting economic activity in the community.”
Areas where the meter kiosks will be installed include:
— East San Ysidro Boulevard between Border Village Road to Camino De La Plaza (both sides);
— Border Village Road between East San Ysidro Boulevard (north) to East San Ysidro Boulevard (south), (both sides);
— Front Street between Border Village Road to end of cul-de-sac (south side);
— Bolton Hall Road between East San Ysidro Boulevard to Border Village Road (south side);
— Louisiana Avenue between East San Ysidro Boulevard to end of cul-de- sac (south side);
— Virginia Avenue between East San Ysidro Boulevard to Border Village Road (both sides); and
— East San Ysidro Boulevard between Willow Road and East Park Avenue (south side).
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