Author: dailycastsocal
California: Los Angeles, Joshua Tree, & Palm Springs // November 2021
California: Los Angeles, Joshua Tree, and Palm Springs November 2021 https://ciaofabello.com/blog/2021/10/california-usa … source
Amtrak southwest chief chicago to los angeles 🚂 🇺🇸 | 40+ hours alone | solo train travel vlog
Let’s take a 40-hour train ride! Open for more info y’all! When I was planning a summer train trip around the country I knew I … source
Balboa Park San Diego, California Travel Tips and Tricks
Hi, #FellowTravelers! If you’re considering visiting Balboa Park in San Diego, California, here are a few things to know before … source
Ballast Point | Long Beach, California
What started in 1996 as a small group of homebrewers who simply wanted to make great beer evolved into the team of … source
Man Who Drowned In Reseda Park Lake Identified
TARZANA, CA On Monday, the medical examiner’s office identified a 57-year-old man who was retrieved unresponsive from a lake at Reseda Park in Tarzana and was pronounced dead at the location. Firefighters were dispatched to the 6300 block of North Etiwanda Avenue around 1:10 p.m. Friday following reports of an individual in the lake, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. Stewart stated that multiple bystanders witnessed the man entering the lake and did not see him resurface. He was named as Santiago Gutierrez from Reseda. The cause of death has been marked as deferred. City News Service Source link
Morning Report: San Diego Unified’s Next Big Housing Leap
Those who are paying close attention understand that San Diego Unified is making significant strides in housing, particularly in the realm of affordable housing for its staff. Last year, district officials signed an MOU with the teachers’ union, committing to develop a plan for housing at least 10 percent of district employees by June. They even designated $206 million from the $3.2 billion bond approved by voters in 2022 for workforce housing initiatives. Some initiatives have already begun. The district has partnered with a developer for the 260-unit Livia project in Scripps Ranch, which features affordable housing units available first to district employees. In April, the board also sanctioned the initiation of discussions with a developer for constructing affordable housing on the now-empty Central Elementary site – which has been a controversial proposed location for a safe parking area that we have covered extensively. Tomorrow night’s board meeting signifies an even more substantial advancement: Trustees are set to vote on three items related to workforce housing. One item reaffirms the objective of establishing housing for 10 percent of staff on district property over the coming decade while outlining development priorities such as maintaining ownership, maximizing affordability, and fostering “sustainable communities.” The second entails issuing a request for proposals from developers for five sites across the district, including the district headquarters at the Eugene Brucker Education Center in University Heights. Officials anticipate the potential to construct 1,500 units of affordable workforce housing at these locations, thereby meeting the goal of providing housing for 10 percent of its staff. The final item is an agreement to create a regional housing finance authority in collaboration with the San Diego Community College District. This housing authority is a new initiative under a 2024 law, SB 440, which grants authority members greater flexibility in securing and allocating funds for affordable housing projects and, importantly, exempts them from certain requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, which can often pose significant financial and procedural obstacles to new development. The specific implications for both districts remain unclear as this would be the inaugural housing authority established under this new legislation. “A society that prices teachers out of the communities where they teach has lost its way,” Board President Cody Petterson remarked during a press conference on Monday, previewing the plans. “We are dedicating ourselves not only to housing at least 10 percent of our certificated and classified staff within the next five years but also to leading our region in the development of community-guided, job-adjacent, transit-supportive, mixed-income affordable housing.” Regarding the San Diego Trash Fee A side-loader truck from the city of San Diego collects trash in a residential area in North Park on Dec. 23, 2021. / Photo by Adriana Heldiz If you own a home in San Diego, prepare to adjust your budget for a new fee: waste collection. City officials are still working through the specifics, but anticipate a fee of $53 per month, or $636 annually, to be included on your property tax bill. How we arrived at this point: In 2022, San Diego voters approved a measure allowing the city to explore and implement a fee for trash collection. Initially, the ballot projects estimated the fee would fall between $23 and $29 per month per customer, but it has now increased. In the latest episode of Why it Matters, Scott Lewis discusses the implications for San Diegans and compares the proposed fee to those in other cities. Additionally, this proposed fee comes with new services for homeowners, such as free container replacements and curbside bulky item pickups. The city is organizing open house meetings through April to inform residents about the proposed fees. The next meeting is scheduled for today at 5:30 p.m. at the Linda Vista Library. More meeting details can be found here. Read more about it here. Oceanside Police Exploring ‘First Responder’ Drones A drone rests on the rooftop of the Chula Vista Police headquarters. / Photo by Adriana Heldiz The Oceanside Police Department is contemplating the use of drones to rapidly locate and assess potential crimes, accidents, or other emergency situations. The department has received a state grant to conduct a 13-month trial of the “first responder” drones, which can autonomously fly to a scene within seconds of a 911 call. This is a shift from the department’s current drones, which require an officer to be on-site before they can be deployed. Several cities in California already operate first responder drone systems, including Chula Vista, noted as one of the pioneers in launching a similar program. Previously, Voice of San Diego reported that numerous cities do not consistently disclose how their police drones are utilized and what information they gather. Oceanside’s police officials informed the Union-Tribune that they have established a written policy detailing who can view or disseminate the data collected by the drones. In Other News At least one ICE agent visited a downtown homeless shelter in San Diego last week with a warrant for a specific individual, who was subsequently taken into ICE custody. This visit follows the recent distribution of guidelines for how homeless shelters should interact with immigration officials. (Union-Tribune) Extraneous funding from independent committees is significantly influencing the special election for a new District 1 county supervisor. Independent committees have currently raised over five times the amount of funds compared to those controlled directly by the candidates. (Axios San Diego) Students and faculty at Cal State San Marcosorganized a walkout and protest on Monday aimed at ensuring all California State University campuses become sanctuaries from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alongside protecting Ethnic Studies and DEI initiatives. (KPBS) The Morning Report was written by Jakob McWhinney, Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, and Tigist Layne, and edited by Andrea Lopez-Villafaña. Source link
Two Indio Middle Schools Earn Prestigious Recognition on California’s Schools to Watch List
In a remarkable achievement for the Indio community, both John Glenn Middle School and Indio Middle School have re-earned spots on the prestigious California Department of Education’s “Schools to Watch” list. This recognition highlights the schools’ exceptional academic performance and, more importantly, their commitment to fostering a positive, supportive school culture that nurtures students’ growth. The “Schools to Watch” program honors middle schools that excel in academic excellence, but it also emphasizes the importance of creating a positive school climate. Scott Steele, the State Director of the Schools to Watch program, explained that achieving this recognition is not solely based on academic test scores. “A positive school culture is just as important, if not more so, than high test scores,” Steele said. “It’s about creating a space where students feel supported, safe, and ready to learn.” Both John Glenn and Indio Middle Schools have excelled in this area. John Glenn Middle School has been re-established on the list seven times since 2004, a testament to its ongoing commitment to improvement. Principal Todd Biggert emphasizes that the school views its re-entry onto the list not as a checkbox, but as an opportunity to continue refining their practices. “We can’t afford to become complacent,” Biggert said. “Each year brings new challenges, and we strive to get better each time, adapting to the unique needs of our students.” Indio Middle School, under the leadership of Principal Robert Cullinan, shares a similar philosophy. Cullinan highlights the dedication of the entire school community—staff, students, and families—in creating a culture of excellence. “Being recognized as a Schools to Watch honoree reflects the relentless dedication of everyone at Indio Middle School,” he said. “It’s about making our school a place where every student has the opportunity to succeed.” An additional benefit for schools on the list is the opportunity to be part of the Schools to Watch committee. This allows them to visit and observe other schools that are applying for recognition, sharing best practices and learning from each other. For more information tune into NBC Palm Springs. Source link
Two Killed in Long Beach Motorcycle Collision
Long Beach, CA – Collision Investigation detectives are investigating a fatal traffic collision that occurred Sunday, at the intersection of Wardlow Road and Woodruff Avenue. At approximately 7:35 p.m., LBPD officers responded to reports of an injury traffic collision involving a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle. Upon arrival, Long Beach Fire personnel were already on the scene, providing medical aid. The driver of the passenger vehicle was transported to a local hospital, while the motorcyclist and a passenger in the vehicle succumbed to their injuries at the scene. According to the preliminary investigation, a 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1 motorcycle was traveling northbound on Woodruff Avenue when it collided with a 2006 Toyota Highlander. The Toyota Highlander was making a left turn from southbound Woodruff Avenue onto eastbound Wardlow Road at the time of the crash. The motorcyclist has been identified as 28-year-old Austin Patrick Fett, a resident of Lakewood. The identity of the Toyota Highlander’s passenger is being withheld pending notification of next of kin by the Los Angeles County Office of the Medical Examiner. Police say impaired driving is not being investigated as a factor in the crash. “At this time, other contributing factors are under investigation,” police said. The Long Beach Police Department asks witnesses or anyone with more information to contact detectives at 562-570-7355. Related Source link