By Barbara Zaragoza / South Bay Compass
And then there were border tunnels.
Chula Vista made the news over and over again with a continued spotlight on their residential developments. Meanwhile, the border continued its age-old reports about crimes by federal agents and drug smuggling.
- The Chula Vista Star News reported on a topic that is increasingly hitting national outlets:obesity in the Latino population. Robert Moreno wrote that a running group Latinas A Correr has been created by Chula Vista resident Arlene Gonzalez to address the issue of Latina health. The U.S. Depart of Health and Human Services, says “Latinas also have high rates of some factors that increase the risk of developing heart disease, such as diabetes, overweight and obesity and, physical inactivity.”
- Chula Vista has been nationally recognized as Tree City USA for over 23 years. Now, a grant provided by the California State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) will provide funding for 900 new trees in Chula Vista.
- The Voice of San Diego gives a detailed report on Chula Vista’s on-going search for a University.
- Community Members in Eastlake are petitioning Merlone Geirer Partners to open a grocery store at San Miguel Ranch. San Miguel Ranch is an outside mall and ever since the recession, most of the leased properties have remained empty. The Albertson’s also went bankrupt. The warehouse space remains shuttered and residents are frustrated. The community is now signing a petition asking the owner of the space to get a retailer to fill the space ASAP.
- Elizabeth Salaam at the San Diego Reader wrote about the drama of a homeowners association at Eastlake Vistas. Her title already says a lot: The HOA tricks, lies, and deceives… and residents still don’t care.
- The community group Crossroads II reported that the City of Chula Vista received a letter from the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) that said they would like to turn the Olympic Training Center (OTC) over to Chula Vista. It has been costing the USOC $8 million a year to operate the OTC. Crossroads II weighed in: “The City and the USOC drew up a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) about what the basic agreement would be. To make a long story short, the MOU makes it clear that the OTC must remain a training site for for the Olympics. The USOC will continue to control certain of the facilities, including the gift shop, but most importantly, the City will not be able to make any significant changes without the approval of the USOC. However — while the USOC will contribute $3 million, the City is responsible for all the rest of the financing and management of the rest of the OTC site — BUT, it must be maintained as a training site for elite athletes.
- The Times of San Diego reported that a former government official who oversaw operations and maintenance at the Otay Mesa, San Ysidro and Tecate ports of entry was sentenced Friday to 16 months in federal prison for carrying out a nearly decade-long conspiracy to solicit bribes and steal federal property.
- Federal agents and Mexican authorities shut down the longest and most sophisticated smuggling tunnels ever discovered along the U.S.-Mexico border, seizing 12 tons of marijuana and arresting 22 suspects.
- The San Diego Union Tribune reported that a search of a Border Patrol agent’s home as part of an investigation into alleged civil rights violations turned up a cache of illegal guns and other government property that prosecutors say appeared to have been pilfered for his personal use.
- The surface streets near the Otay Mesa Border are known for their congested truck traffic. Construction began this week on a project that will link State Route 905 to to northbound State Route 125. KPBS reports that last year, more than 800,000 northbound trucks and $39 billion in goods passed through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
Barbara Zaragoza is a freelance writer who covers the South Bay, San Diego. She recently published a photographic history of San Ysidro and the Tijuana River Valley and also writes about arts, culture & activism at SouthBayCompass.com. Barbara is a multiple award winner of the Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego chapter, 2016 Journalism Awards.
It seems like the USOC wants Chula Vista to pay most of the freight while they call all the shots. Doesn’t seem like a workable solution.
Absolutely great for the USOC; a $5MILLION hole for CV.
Run, do not walk, away from this proposal.
Good review.