By Barbara Zaragoza
The Gateway Inn
Rachel — who lives with her nine children at the Gateway Inn, along San Ysidro Boulevard — was served with a lawsuit yesterday. She is being evicted, but has nowhere to go. She is being told by other residents that the manager might turn off the lights and water soon.
You may remember how back in August, residents of the Gateway Inn received 60-day eviction notices. The building, which some have called an “abomination” due to its terrible conditions, had criminal misdemeanor charges filed against it in February 2015. The complaint cited five violations, including failure to keep the property free of waste.
The owner, listed in public documents as Francis Lin, submitted a permit to the City of San Diego to demolish the two-story hotel.
In a new phone interview, Rachel explained that many tenants are still living at the Gateway Inn, despite the eviction notices. She tried to give the managers her rent today, but he refused to take it.
National City:
- Robert “Duke” Valderrama was appointed to his 4th term as National City’s port commissioner. A long-time National City resident, he works to get residents better access to the waterfront. Read more about his vision in the San Diego Union Tribune.
- Beacon Classical Academy, a charter school in the National School District, is struggling — with very few students proficient in English and math. District officials are concerned. (San Diego Union Tribune)
- Mayor Ron Morrison gave his 10th annual State of the City address. Of note, he said the city is at the forefront of affordable housing. (Chula Vista Star News)
The Mysterious Letter From National City About the Run For City Treasurer
About two weeks ago, I received a mysterious bulky letter in the mail. The label was addressed to my home, but had “South Bay Compass” as the addressee. The envelope had no name on it and no return address.
It looks like Voice of San Diego received the same information. Reporter Maya Srikrishnan wrote the story. Basically, Morgan Square Inc. did not provide National City with required financial reports. National City then sued and the company owed $250,000. Ditas Yamane was a bookkeeper for the company and now is running for City Treasurer.
Her opponent, incumbent Mitch Beauchamp, has had his own run-in with the media. A former National City councilmen, in 2009 the San Diego Union Tribune article reported he was suspended from the Sweetwater Authority board of directors “over allegations he was deceitful and disruptive.” Another article reported former San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre representing Beauchamp in the case, saying the board members who accused him may have been violating the Ralph M. Brown Act.
Here’s a copy of the mysterious letter:
Chula Vista:
- Chula Vista held a Ribbons & Shovels Awards that recognized our local businesses and organizations. Winners included: Easton Archery Center of Excellence, Third Avenue Alehouse, and Seven Mile Casino. (San Diego Union Tribune)
- Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez recognized Superintendent of the Chula Vista Elementary School District, Francisco Escobedo at the Latino-Filipino Fiesta. He received the 2016 Latino Leader Award. Escobedo oversees the state’s largest elementary school district. (San Diego Union Tribune)
- The community advocate group Crossroads II informed readers: “Many of you have noticed the very nice RV Park with 237 stalls down on the Chula Vista bayfront that has been there for more than 30 years. Well, we have known for some time that that RV Park will have to move to make room for the large hotel and convention center planned for the bayfront. Those plans are currently in negotiations with RIDA, an owner of hotels headquartered in Texas. The selected developer is expected to provide 237 RV stalls and amenities such as swimming pools, hot tubs, visitor-serving stores, barbecues, fire pits, active common areas, native landscaping, and a fitness center.”
- Oh no! Silver Medalist Sam Willoughby, a BMX athlete who trained at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista and won a silver medal in 2012, suffered a very serious spinal chord injury. His fiancé is Alise Post who took silver in the Rio Olympics. Sam needs extensive physical therapy and the costs are high. This article describes what happened and asks for donations.
Parents Victorious in Attendance Boundary Issue
Chula Vista’s attendance boundary issue has been resolved. Parents in an Eastlake community were upset when they received letters from the Sweetwater Union High School District informing them their children would have to go to Bonita Middle & High rather than Eastlake. They said they moved into the community and paid Mello Roos precisely so their children could attend Eastlake. They wanted their children to remain at Eastlake because the facilities were newer. The District’s trustees agreed with them and now those students can choose either school. (San Diego Reader)
In a follow-up interview with Manny Rubio, the Director of Communications at Sweetwater Union High School District, I asked why Eastlake High School received a brand new amphitheater last year — but Bonita Vista High School did not.
He explained that the amphitheater for Eastlake High School was actually a part of the original plan done for the school about thirty years ago. There was also an observatory planned that still hasn’t been built.
There is an additional round of bond money that slates Bonita for some work to be done starting this year. There’s been talk for a long time about Bonita having their own stadium. Their own athletic field. So the district is looking at putting in lights for Bonita’s athletic field. They’re putting out some information to the community about that.
“Just because one school has one doesn’t mean that everyone gets the same thing. What schools get is really done based on needs assessments that are done and really some work that was done based on input from the community.”
Chula Vista District 3 Elections Get Interesting
KPBS interviewed Steve Padilla (D) and Jason Paguio (R) in their run for CV City Council District 3. Meanwhile, the media has been reporting about — how shall I say? — their warts.
The Chula Vista Star News interviewed Steve Padilla, asking heavy hitting questions about why he hired a body guard while he was Mayor and why he took out payday advances. Then last week, in an interesting twist to the elections, La Prensa San Diego published a long article titled “CV’s Steve Padilla Continues Habit of Running Up Debts.”
The Chula Vista Star News also interviewed Jason Paguio. The article mentioned that he originally stated in his ballot he was an educator but after a challenge to the statement he removed that designation. Back in August, Russ Hall, writing for the Star News told of how Steve Miesen used his 501c3 foundation through email communications to promote his possible selection to the vacant city council seat. (The IRS prohibits 501c3 non-profits from engaging in politics.) Jason Paguio somehow got a copy of the email and sent it along to the council, presumably as a way to cite an infraction. Then, when Jason became an aid to Miesen, nothing was ever heard of the issue against.
Finally, Channel 10 reported this week that the San Diego County Gun Owners sent a mailer with a man taking aim and appearing to shoot. The mailer endorsed Jason Paguio (as well as Mike Diaz who is running in District 4). The news interviewed Southwestern College Governing Board trustee Griselda Delgado who was outraged by the mailer. The 10 news brief also mentioned that Steve Padilla and Rudy Ramirez are gun owners, but support stricter gun laws.
Imperial Beach & The Border:
- There’s been increased traffic along the SR 75, but it’s likely to increase after the construction of the expanded Navy Campus. (Eagle & Times) The San Diego Reader reported even more on the topic.
- Sewage flow may threaten to interfere with Surfrider’s binational surf contest. (San Diego Reader)
- San Diego and Tijuana Fire-Rescue Departments teamed up for training purposes. Some may not know that Tijuana firefighters crossed the border in 2007 to help their San Diego counterparts fight the wildfires. Building these cross-border relationships can help save lives. (San Diego Union Tribune)
- Tijuana Innovadora, the biennial mega-conference starts next week. The event showcases emerging tijuanenses — fashion designers, exceptional chefs. You MUST follow the developments. Find out more from SD Union Tribune’s Sandra Dibble.
- The binational art scene is flourishing. The New York Times this week has a piece on Marcos Ramírez and David Taylor.
- And finally, if you’re in line at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on the Mexican side, check out Stefan Falke’s exhibit: 18 photographs line the fence, hosted by Festival Tijuana Interzona. (San Diego Free Press)