san diego county board of supervisors

Health, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle, San Diego February 27, 2023

Guess COVID is sorta over per SD County proclamation

With the County’s 3-year-long COVID-19 local emergency proclamation and local health emergency declarations, and weekly County News Center updates coming to an end, the County’s Public Health Officer reiterated a continuing message this week. The County response to the ongoing pandemic—testing, treating and vaccinating—will continue. The virus is still circulating. And people should continue to protect themselves by getting up to date with vaccinations, including…

San Marcos December 5, 2022

Opening the Golden Door for San Marcos open space

The battle to protect nearly 2,000 acres in San Diego’s North County from development appears over. Two years after voters approved ballot Measure B to block construction of the controversial Newland Sierra housing project previously approved by San Diego’s Board of Supervisors, one of the project’s leading opponents, Golden Door spa, has acquired the property to preserve it as open space and wildlife habitat for…

San Diego, San Marcos, Transportation October 12, 2022

SANDAG Audit: Show us the contract money

The San Diego Association of Governments increased vendor contracts by tens of millions of dollars more than their original amounts, internal auditors revealed in a new report this week. As with the regional planning agency’s other spending, the Office of the Independent Performance Auditor found SANDAG’s contract process lacks adequate oversight, proper documentation and sufficient employee training. Auditors found the agency’s 10 vendors with the…

Opinion, Public Policy October 11, 2022

SD County supervisor district boundaries a bit of a twist

The Legislature has created commissions to redraw county supervisor districts in five counties after every census. However, unlike the state redistricting commission, these local bodies are stacked in favor of a county’s dominant political party. California once had a history of epic political and legal battles over redrawing legislative and congressional districts after each decennial census. The Legislature, dominated then as now by Democrats, would…

Agriculture, Business, Valley Center October 5, 2022

Move over avos, ornamental trees-shrubs No. 1 crop now

San Diego County has a new number-one crop for the first time in 12 years, other crops racked up double-digit value increases, and agriculture remained a key industry at $1.75 billion in value in the County’s new Crop Report. However, the report, which covers the 2021 growing season, also showed total crop and commodity values fell for the first time from the previous year since…

Blogs, Columns/Blogs, Media, Opinion, San Diego October 22, 2021

Doug Porter Day and he keeps on trucking along

A few words on my personal situation. I’ve got good news and not-so-good news. Yesterday was “Doug Porter Day” in San Diego according to a proclamation from the County Board of Supervisors. I was recognized for my many years of journalism and activism. It was surreal to be in the Board’s space. Between cancer and covid, I don’t get out a lot these days and…

Blogs, Columns/Blogs, Coronavirus, Opinion, Politics, Public Policy, San Diego May 4, 2021

Maskholes like Jim Desmond want us dead

I’ve reached the breaking point on the ideological crusade built around self-victimization over attempts to slow or stem the coronavirus. Yes, I’m a high risk individual, but that’s not the reason why I’m ranting today. I’m just one part of a much bigger picture, namely the portion of the population certain politicians think is expendable in the name of profit. The nation is in the…

Coronavirus, Editorial, Opinion, Politics, Vista January 4, 2021

Marie Waldron is days late and dollars short

I was outraged when I read a Thanksgiving column by my 2020 election opponent for California’s 75th Assembly District, Marie Waldron, titled “Does California Owe You Money.” It was another reminder for me why I decided to run to bring change to our district.   The article begins: ”The holiday season is fast approaching and many are suffering from severe economic distress resulting from the COVID 19…

North County, Politics, San Diego January 4, 2021

In with the 3 new SD County Supervisors

Three new members of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors were sworn induring a virtual event on Monday Jan. 4. Supervisor Nora Vargas succeeded long-time District 1 Supervisor Greg Cox, who had served on the board since 1995. The district covers Coronado, Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, National City, some communities within the City of San Diego, and unincorporated areas including Bonita, Lincoln Acres and…