County and City of San Diego California

Miramar Landing Transforming San Diego's Landscape: Commercial to Residential Conversion Takes Shape in Mira Mesa By Claude News Service March 28, 2025 In a significant move that signals the future direction of San Diego's urban development, Pacifica Companies has purchased over 10 acres of land on Miramar Road for $30.6 million, embracing the city's vision to transform commercial areas into high-density residential neighborhoods. The January acquisition of the Miramar Landing shopping center and adjacent properties marks one of the first major investments following the December 2022 adoption of the new Mira Mesa Community Plan. This ambitious blueprint aims to reshape one of San Diego's largest neighborhoods from car-dependent suburban sprawl into a network of pedestrian-friendly urban villages. "We're witnessing the beginning of a fundamental shift in how we utilize commercial spaces in San Diego," said urban planning expert Maria Gonzalez. "Th...

Fire Hazard Severity Zones | OSFM osfm.fire.ca.gov The Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps are developed using a science-based and field-tested model that assigns a hazard score based on the factors that influence fire likelihood and fire behavior. Many factors are considered such as fire history, existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation), predicted flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and typical fire weather for the area. There are three levels of hazard in the State Responsibility Areas: moderate, high, and very high.  Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps evaluate “hazard,” not “risk”. They are like flood zone maps, where lands are described in terms of the probability level of a particular area being inundated by floodwaters, and not specifically prescriptive of impacts. “Hazard” is based on the physical conditions that create a likelihood and expected fire be...

General Atomics and UC San Diego Join Forces on Fusion Energy Innovation In a significant development for clean energy research, General Atomics (GA) and the University of California San Diego have announced the establishment of a Fusion Data Science and Digital Engineering Center in San Diego. This collaboration aims to accelerate fusion energy development through advanced digital engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing. "We are proud to join forces with UC San Diego at the interface of fusion and data science in order to take significant steps toward fusion energy," said Raffi Nazikian, director of fusion data science at General Atomics. The initiative will leverage cutting-edge technologies like digital twin simulations to optimize system design and enhance performance while reducing development time. The new center is part of UC San Diego's broader Fusion Engineering Institute, which brings together students, faculty, ...

San Diego City Council Approves Landmark Settlement to Promote Affordable Housing in Affluent Neighborhoods March 19, 2025 In a significant shift to the city's housing policy, the San Diego City Council on Tuesday approved a legal settlement that will require officials to prioritize affordable housing development in more affluent neighborhoods rather than concentrating it in lower-income areas. The 8-0 vote resolves a lawsuit filed in 2019 by seven women from southeastern San Diego who alleged the city had violated fair housing laws by disproportionately locating low-income housing in their communities while keeping it out of wealthier areas. Under the settlement terms, San Diego commits to placing at least 70 percent of new affordable housing units in moderate- and higher-resourced neighborhoods by 2028. The city will also prioritize increased housing density in more affluent areas and promote city-funded affordable housing projects in higher-income communities. "This a...

  Embracing Responsibility and Restoring Faith in Government Dr. Darshana Patel embarks on her journey as the new Assemblymember for San Diego's District 76, bringing a sense of excitement and responsibility to serve the people of California. As she begins her tenure, she acknowledges the high expectations placed upon her to address the pressing issues affecting her community. The people of the 76th Assembly District have entrusted her with a mandate to tackle the economic hardships and challenges they face, making restoring faith in government a top priority. Through her door-to-door campaign, Dr. Patel has gained firsthand knowledge of the communities' concerns, solidifying her resolve to collaborate with colleagues like Speaker Robert Rivas to create meaningful change. Restoring faith in democracy and government will be a crucial aspect of Dr. Patel's tenure, and she believes that working together with her colleagues will enable them to achieve more, reach further...

  University City Residents Fear Growing Sinkhole As heavy rainfall threatens to worsen the situation, residents of University City are growing increasingly concerned about a massive sinkhole that has been expanding near their homes. The sinkhole, caused by deteriorating metal pipes, has been a problem for nearly a year, but its recent expansion has brought the issue to a boiling point. The sinkhole has been steadily growing since its formation in March 2024, with the latest rainfall causing it to nearly swallow the fence put up to protect pedestrians. Residents, including Drew Pinsky, who has lived next to the sinkhole since its formation, have been warning about the dangers of the situation for months, citing concerns about the potential for more damage and the risks of accidents. The city has estimated that repairs will cost $2 million and will begin once the rain passes, but the slow response and lack of progress have left residents feeling frustrated a...

San Diego County BoS can be seen online San Diego County Advances New Tenant Protection Ordinance to Strengthen Renter Rights San Diego, CA – In an effort to address the growing housing crisis and strengthen protections for renters, the County of San Diego has advanced a new tenant protection ordinance that aims to go beyond the safeguards already provided by state law. This measure moved forward after the Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 in favor of the proposal introduced by Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe. A final vote is scheduled for April 8, 2025. Why Is the Ordinance Necessary? While California state law already includes tenant protections under the Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), which limits rent increases and requires just cause for evictions, housing advocates argue that these provisions leave gaps that can still lead to unjust displacement. San Diego’s new ordinance seeks to close these gaps by introducing additional protections that would ensure more security for rente...

California 's 40th State Senate district Current senator   Brian Jones R – Santee Population (2010)  • Voting age  • Citizen voting age 935,055 [ 1 ] 671,129 [ 1 ] 466,879 [ 1 ] Demographics 16.39% White 7.27% Black 62.28% Latino 12.07% Asian 0.57% Native American 0.53% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0.19% other 0.70 [ 1 ] % remainder of multiracial Registered voters 486,524 [ 2 ] Registration 46.49%  Democratic 19.15%  Republican 28.31%  No party preference   Sacramento Report: The Race for the 40th Senate District Is On | Voice of San Diego Brian Jones is currently serving in the California State Senate , which is subject to term limits under Proposition 28 (2012) . Here’s what prevents him from running again for the same seat: Term Limits Under California Law California legislators can serve a maximum of 12 years in the State Legislature (combined between the Assembly and Senate). Jones first served in the State Assembly (2010-2016...

With more than half the train fleet offline or used for parts, and failure rate soaring, NCTD Sprinter Train is in crisis. San Diego's Sprinter Rail Service Faces Critical Crossroads as Aging Fleet Deteriorates San Diego North County Transit District's (NCTD) once-promising Sprinter rail service is facing an uncertain future as maintenance issues have sidelined the majority of its unique European-designed trainsets years ahead of their expected lifespan. Operating between Oceanside and Escondido since 2008, the 22-mile commuter rail line has seen ridership grow to 1.2 million passengers in fiscal 2024—an 8.2% increase from the previous year. However, behind this success story lies a troubling reality: only five of the system's 12 Siemens Desiro diesel multiple-unit (DMU) trainsets remain operational, with the others cannibalized for parts. "There is a grave need to replace that fleet," NCTD CEO Shawn Donaghy recently told the district board. Donaghy described t...

The Rising Tide: America's Trillion-Dollar Urban Flood Control Crisis As increasingly intense rainfall events occur across the United States, cities are grappling with aging stormwater infrastructure that is increasingly unable to handle the volume and intensity of water rushing through urban landscapes. The financial stakes couldn't be higher - with the cost of maintaining these complex systems running into the billions, while the price of neglect has proven catastrophic for communities nationwide. San Diego's recent experience exemplifies this nationwide problem. The city faces $1.6 billion in unfunded stormwater infrastructure needs over the next four years alone, while collecting just 95 cents per month per household in dedicated fees - an amount unchanged since 1996. This funding gap led to neglected maintenance of critical channels, with some sections remaining uncleared for over 14 years. When historic rains hit the city in January 2024, the consequences were deva...