… Humpback Whale Washes Ashore and Latinos Have a ‘Rage Deficit’
By Barbara Zaragoza / SouthBay Compass
Attendance Boundaries Change In Chula Vista And Parents Are Upset
(Updated 3/11/2016 9:39 a.m. in italics)
As Chula Vista expands, an East-West divide has developed along the I-805. In the West, elementary and high schools tend to be old and under-enrolled. In the East, where homes are newer, elementary and high schools tend to be state-of-the-art. Those newer schools are also bursting with too many students. Back in January, the Sweetwater Union High School District addressed the issue by approving new attendance boundaries.
The attendance boundaries created what some are calling an “East-West Divide along the I-125”. Last week, some parents received emails explaining that their children might go to a different school than the one they had expected.
Although parents say they moved into the area precisely so that their children could attend the newer facilities of Eastlake Middle School (built in 2003) and Eastlake High School (built in 1992)–which are impacted–families who live West of the I-125 will now have to send their children to the older facilities at Bonita Vista Middle School (built in 1968) and Bonita Vista Senior High School (built in 1966). Greatschools.org gives both Eastlake Middle & High a rating of #8. Bonita Vista Middle & High also have a school rating of #8. Joe Little at Channel 10 reported.
The Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) held community meetings throughout October and November 2015 to receive input about where bond money should be spent and how to change attendance boundaries. However, parents have children in the Chula Vista Elementary School District say they didn’t know about it. Upset parents also say they paid Mello Roos that helped build the Eastlake schools, but now they can’t attend. Joe Little even talked to a real estate agent who maintained that home values may decrease in the areas where children go to an older-facility school.
Similar boundary adjustments will take place for Otay Ranch and Chula Vista High Schools where enrollment will decrease, while the significantly under-enrolled Castlake Park and Hilltop High Schools will see student enrollment increase. San Ysidro and Olympian High Schools enrollment will decrease, while Southwest and Montgomery High School enrollments will increase.
Read the full report to see if you’re child will be affected.
And weigh in! What do you think about attendance boundary shifts?
New Land Uses For Chula Vista & National City, and the Homeless Crisis
The South Bay has embarked upon a vast expansion plan that includes an influx of more than 60,000 people over the next decade or so. I’ll be covering this topic within the next few weeks, but first up:
- If you’re not watching developments in Chula Vista, you should be. In particular, the Bayfront is set to become another tourist hot-spot. What uses will the land have? Check out this Union Tribune article for starters.
- The Chula Vista Star News reported that the Port of San Diego wants to move forward with a potential redevelopment of the National City Marina District. The 60-acres that currently include Pepper Park and Pier 32 will expand to have more public facilities.
- Chula Vista has a homeless crisis. According to a San Diego Reader article, “the homeless population count in Chula Vista was 498 — 177 of those are sheltered, 103 live in vehicles, 35 in structures/tents, and the remaining 183 in streets, doorways, parks, or canyon encampments.” A plan for creating a homeless shelter during the winter was discussed.
A Humpback Whale Washed Ashore
A dead humpback whale washed on the shores of Silver Strand State Beach this week. His carcass was hauled away to the Otay landfill. The whale suffered traumatic injuries, likely from a collision with a ship.
IB’s High Tides, Palm Avenue Revitalization and ‘Dine With Pride’
- Rains brought high tides to IB that got very close to flooding beachfront homes. According to Dig Imperial Beach, “Large storm surf worked with a high tide to wipe away $28,000,000 of sand. We lost about 4 feet.”
- Plans continue for the revitalization of Palm Avenue. The long range blueprint includes an elevated bicycle lane that will connect with the Bayshore Bikeway.
- SEA180 Coastal Tavern will raise money for South Bay Pride at a “Dine With Pride” event on March 28th. They’ll have a silent auction and great food overlooking the IB Pier.
Border Patrol Under Scrutiny, San Ysidro Pedicabs and PedWest
- KPBS reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin reviewing the death of a Mexican immigrant in 2010 who was killed in a confrontation involving over a dozen Border Patrol officers.
- The Hill reports that body cameras on Border Patrol agents could save lives.
- The San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce explained in their newsletter that the Vice Department of San Diego Police Department took over operational control of permitting for PediCabs and decided they were prohibited. Since the beginning of 2016, Vice has been denying permits to pedicabs with motor-assist, even though this is a major form of transportation for people crossing the SY POE. The SY Chamber explains, “In San Ysidro, motor-assist is required due to the degree of inclination of the Camino de la Plaza Bridge – a bridge crossed by 80% of pedicab users. No motor-assist in San Ysidro means no pedicabs in San Ysidro – an inexpensive, ecologically sound mode of transportation at the World’s Busiest Land Border Crossing.”
- The Chamber also reports that the General Services Administration (GSA) still plans to open the new Virginia Avenue pedestrian crossing by mid-June, located right next to the Las Americas Mall. Also known as PedWest, there will be 10-12 northbound pedestrian lanes.
Latinos Have A Rage Deficit
The New York Times carried an op-ed piece asking: Why do Latinos in the U.S. seem to have a “rage deficit”? Writer Héctor Tobar says: “We hear the voice of our mothers saying, ‘Mijos, you only demean yourself if you lash back at an insult.’” Instead of marching in the streets, many young Latinos are going to school, working full time and looking for political candidates who support immigration reform.
Going to school, working and looking for candidates in favor of immigration reform – sounds like a very positive lifestyle to me. They are setting a good example for everyone. More power to them.