Latest news with #SanDiegans
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Voting begins in runoff race for District 1 seat on Board of Supervisors
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Voting is officially underway in the runoff special election for the vacant District 1 seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. The Registrar of Voters mailed ballots to all registered voters in the South County district on Monday, giving residents just shy of a month to cast a vote in the race between Chula Vista Mayor John McCann and Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre. Completed ballots can either be returned through the U.S. Postal Service or by placing them in one of the more the two dozen drop boxes set to open up in the lead up to race day. To keep tabs on the ballot as it makes its way to the registrar for tabulation, voters can sign up for the county's 'Where's My Ballot?' tool. D1 Special Election: What to know | The Candidates | How to vote | More Stories District 1 residents who want to vote in person will be able to do so beginning on Saturday, June 21, when the first crop of seven vote centers opens. Just over a dozen additional polling places will be up and running on the final day of voting on Tuesday, July 1. Maps of all the vote centers and drop box locations across South County available to collect completed ballots can be found on the Registrar of Voters' website. The runoff between McCann and Aguirre will decide the successor to former Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas following her abrupt resignation from public office in November of last year — just weeks after winning a second term. The race narrowed from a field of seven candidates to a South Bay mayoral showdown after no one secured more than 50% of the vote — the threshold for an outright win — in the special election's first round back in March. Whoever wins in the runoff will serve out the remainder of the term Vargas vacated, which runs through January 2029. Since the race is at a district level, only residents who live within its boundaries will be eligible to cast a vote in the race. This includes neighborhoods in south San Diego, such as Barrio Logan, Chollas View, East Village and Golden Hill, as well as the whole of Chula Vista, Imperial Beach and National City. San Diegans can look up their supervisorial district on the Registrar of Voters website. All residents who are already signed up to vote in the district will be able to participate in the election, but the Registrar of Voters' office encourages people to check their voter status before the registration deadline passes on Monday, June 16. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
California ICE Agents Surrounded by Protesters Chanting 'Shame'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were surrounded on Friday by protesters who chanted "shame" after carrying out operations at two restaurants in San Diego. Newsweek reached out to ICE for comment via email outside of office hours. Why It Matters The Trump administration is enacting plans for large-scale deportations as part of a key campaign pledge to remove millions of immigrants without legal status. California, which is considered to be a sanctuary state, has resisted efforts by federal immigration authorities to collaborate with local law enforcement, setting the stage for clashes over ICE's expanded authority. What To Know Federal agents conducted a work site enforcement operation Friday evening at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta, two Italian restaurants located on Beech Street in San Diego's South Park neighborhood. The manager stated that at least two employees were detained during the enforcement operation, NBC 7 San Diego reported. The enforcement action drew a visible response from community members, some of whom gathered outside the restaurant and voiced opposition to the presence of federal agents. Witnesses at Enoteca Buona Forchetta reported seeing Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents enter the restaurant during an enforcement action. Flashbang devices were deployed to disperse a crowd that had gathered around the agents' vehicles, footage shows. One protester was seen appearing to throw trash at ICE agents. Some individuals shouted "Shame, shame, shame" as the agents retreated to their vehicles. One protester was heard calling federal agents "f****** Nazis." JUST IN: San Diego residents fume, with one appearing to throw trash at ICE, as they conduct a worksite enforcement operation in South Park. The incident happened at the best Italian restaurant in America, Buona Forchetta. 'U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can confirm… — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 31, 2025 As a result of the operation, Buona Forchetta did not open for dinner service that evening, according to NBC 7. Buona Forchetta Family, the company behind the restaurants, also owns and operates Matteo For a Cause, a nonprofit restaurant in South Park. Matteo For a Cause donates all profits, after deducting operating expenses, to local charities that support education and early childhood development. What People Are Saying San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, in a statement shared with Newsweek: "Like many San Diegans, I was deeply upset by Friday night's immigration enforcement operation at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta in South Park. Federal actions like these are billed as a public safety measure, but it had the complete opposite effect. "What we saw undermines trust and creates fear in our community. I raised these concerns and my strong objections directly with Homeland Security Investigations leadership this morning. I will continue to advocate for the respect, dignity, rights, and security of everyone in our city." ICE, in a statement: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can confirm that ICE San Diego conducted two worksite enforcement operations at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta Restaurants in San Diego." Buona Forchetta, in a statement on its Instagram page: "Buona Forchetta has always been at its core, a family. We have built our spaces on trust, dignity, and care for one another. We stand together, now and always. We are still processing the deep pain and confusion caused by this situation." What Happens Next State leaders, including the mayor and a congressional delegation, will hold a press conference to address the incident at 10 a.m. PT on Monday.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
San Diego mayor releases statement on smoky ICE raid in South Park
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria is speaking out against a federal immigration enforcement operation that took place Friday afternoon at two well-known eateries in the South Park neighborhood. Federal agents carried out the raid at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta, prompting swift backlash from local leaders and community members. In a statement issued Saturday, Mayor Gloria criticized the timing, nature and impact of the operation. Severe geomagnetic storm could spark auroras, disrupt communications next week 'Like many San Diegans, I was deeply upset by Friday night's immigration enforcement operation at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta in South Park,' Gloria said. 'Federal actions like these are billed as a public safety measure, but it had the complete opposite effect.' The mayor described the raid as damaging to public trust and counterproductive to community safety, emphasizing that it stoked fear rather than security. 'What we saw undermines trust and creates fear in our community,' he said. Gloria added that he personally raised his concerns with Homeland Security Investigations leadership on Saturday morning. He vowed to continue advocating for policies that prioritize 'respect, dignity, rights, and security' for all San Diegans. Loyal customers lined up at the restaurants on Saturday to show their support, many of them expressing outage regarding the incident. As it stands, officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement say an investigation into the controversial operation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
San Diego councilmember rallies to keep lakes fully open as budget deadline looms
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Public support is growing to keep San Diego's city lakes fully accessible as officials consider cutting hours to help close the city's roughly quarter-of-a-billion-dollar budget gap. In his final budget proposal, Mayor Todd Gloria restored funding for some services. The lakes program was not one of them, but District 5 Councilmember Marni von Wilpert said it's not too late to save it from cuts. 'With the cost of living being so punishing in San Diego, we have to make sure we preserve these open, freely accessible spaces for our citizens to use,' said von Wilpert. She's pushing back against reduced hours at lakes and reservoirs citywide. 'Live at the Lake' concert series returns this summer in San Marcos By doing so, the mayor is looking to save roughly $622,000 next fiscal year. Lake Miramar and Lake Murray would see the biggest change—only open Saturdays and Sundays if the proposed budget is passed as is. 'To close it down would really, I think, kind of change people's lives,' said Alma Magadal, a local resident who frequents Lake Murray. Magadal said she and her husband visit Lake Murray every day. She said, 'Right now, during everything that's happening in the world, I think people need a place to just go and walk and get their thoughts together.' A petition launched at the beginning of the month to keep Lake Murray open seven days a week has nearly 6,000 signatures. 'I just signed it last week,' said local resident Marty Winger, who also frequents Lake Murray. Winger is hoping his name makes a difference but worries at the same time. He said, 'People will still come here. They'll just park in the neighborhoods and then it becomes a nuisance for the neighbors because when they close like one Tuesday a month there are still a lot of people that come.' With reduced hours, parking lots and restrooms would be inaccessible on closed days, although porta potties would stay unlocked. Councilmember von Wilpert acknowledged the city could've reconsidered past investments. 'I voted against purchasing the 101 Ash building for example, and I'm very glad we've made changes to the way we do real estate negotiations. So there are things we could've done better,' she stated. She also believes there are other ways to address the budget gap. 'Duplicative contracts for homeless outreach for example,' said von Wilpert. The councilmember is urging San Diegans who care about the lakes to speak up. 'I can elevate our voices, but I need your voices to be heard,' she said. For now, residents will wait to see if their push succeeds. 'I just hope they keep this open,' said Winger. Public comment is welcome at the next Budget Review Committee meeting on Friday, June 6 beginning at 9 a.m. A final budget will be adopted on June 10. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Father Joe's repurposing old skydiving center for 164 units of affordable housing
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Father Joe's Villages is set to transform the old skydiving center in San Diego's East Village neighborhood into 164 affordable housing units, marking a significant development in addressing homelessness in the area. The beleaguered building at 1401 Imperial Ave. — once a failed business venture — was purchased by the city for $7 million following the Hepatitis A outbreak in 2017 that claimed the lives of 20 unhoused San Diegans. Since then, Father Joe's has used the building as a resource center for those experiencing homelessness under an agreement with the San Diego Housing Commission. County to use $4M for tiny cabins, housing vouchers after RV project halted After seven years, the nonprofit is pressing forward with a plan to transform it into affordable housing, after the San Diego City Council unanimously greenlit the project earlier this week. 'This project, and the many other affordable housing units Father Joe's Villages has built, is critical to helping people exit homelessness,' said Deacon Jim Vargas, CEO of Father Joe's. 'We must deploy creative solutions to meet the ever growing need, and this site is just one such example.' When the building was acquired under Mayor Kevin Faulconer, the city planned to transform it into housing — a vision that went unrealized until now. As opposed to demolishing the existing structure, Vargas says Father Joe's plans to adaptively reuse it, building it up from three stories to 15. All 164 units added with the extra floors will be deed-restricted for low-income households. The space will also continue to house services aimed to help residents achieve and maintain self-sufficiency, such as physical and behavioral health care, social supports and employment services. Homelessness down 7% in San Diego County, point-in-time count finds According to Vargas, Father Joe's Villages hopes to break ground on the housing project in mid-2026 with the goal of welcoming its first residents by 2028. This is not the first time Father Joe's Villages has ventured into the administration of long-term affordable housing. It also operates the 14-story Saint Teresa of Calcutta complex, located right across the street. 'We've had many people, not only locally but from the state and federal government who have come and visited. It's a great model that we look to replicate in our other buildings,' Vargas said. 'It's building a sense of community.' Outside the downtown complex, Father Joe's has two other affordable housing developments in the works, aiming to expand the number of units it operates to 2,000 in the next decade. KUSI's Dan Plante contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
