Pack the Pantry virtual food drive launches to help local college students facing food insecurity
Source: Cal Coast Credit Union October 2, 2025 (San Diego) – Imagine being a college student, striving for a better future, yet unsure where your next meal will come from. Research shows this is the heartbreaking reality for nearly half of our local college students who face food insecurity every day. Without reliable access to food, many are forced to skip meals, miss classes, or even drop out. To combat this crisis, California Coast Credit Union has joined forces with the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and local community colleges to launch the 7th annual Pack the Pantry virtual food drive. Running through October 31, 2025, this fundraiser will directly support food pantries on community college campuses across San Diego and Imperial counties. Every dollar raised provides two meals, and Cal Coast will match donations up to $5,000, doubling the impact. Cal Coast President & CEO, Todd Lane shared, “With food prices soaring, campus pantries have become a lifeline. Access to a well-stocked pantry can mean the difference between a student staying in school or dropping out. We urge our community to stand with us and help ensure every student has the nourishment they need to thrive. This is our chance to turn compassion into action.” Donate today at https://www.calcoastcu.org/packthepantry.You can even choose which college food pantry your donation supports, making your gift personal and powerful. Dr. Mark Sanchez, President, SDICCCA and Superintendent/President Southwestern College, said, “Many of our community college students balance multiple life priorities—they’re parents, employees, and caregivers, juggling work, family, and school as they strive for a better future. When they face food insecurity on top of everything else, the stress can be overwhelming. Programs like Pack the Pantry help ensure that students don’t have to choose between feeding their families and pursuing their education.” San Diego Food Bank CEO Casey Castillo shared, “The San Diego Food Bank believes that access to nutritious food is a fundamental right—not a privilege. College students are working hard to build their futures, and hunger should never stand in their way. Through Pack the Pantry, we’re proud to partner with Cal Coast and our local colleges to ensure students have the support they need to stay focused, stay healthy, and stay in school.” The San Diego Food Bank is generously donating their services to deliver food to participating community colleges at the end of the fundraiser, ensuring every contribution reaches students in need. About California Coast Credit Union Established by San Diego teachers in 1929, California Coast Credit Union is the longest-serving financial institution based in San Diego County. With more than $3 billion in assets, the credit union serves nearly 200,000 members through its local network of 27 branches, and 30,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide. California Coast is not-for-profit, provides no-cost financial education for adults and youth, and is committed to improving the lives of its members and others in the community. Anyone who lives or works in San Diego or Riverside county can be a member. For more information, visit https://www.calcoastcu.org or call (877) 495-1600. About the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank Founded in 1977, the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. Serving as the region’s food safety net, the organization provides food to people in need, advocates for the hungry and educates the public about hunger-related issues. Through a network of direct service programs and more than 450 nonprofit partners, the Food Bank serves an average of 400,000 people every month. In fiscal year 2025, the organization distributed over 52 million pounds of food — equivalent to more than 43.3 million meals. Learn more at sandiegofoodbank.org and follow us @sdfoodbank. About SDICCCA The San Diego & Imperial Counties Community College Association (SDICCCA) represents six community college districts: Southwestern, San Diego, Grossmont-Cuyamaca, Palomar, MiraCosta, and Imperial Valley. Together, these colleges serve more than 206,000 students and provide the workforce backbone of the region’s $250 billion economy.
Harmony Grove Village South development approved by Board of Supervisors despite controversy
By Paul Levikow Photo, left: Brenda Wright October 2, 2025 (San Diego) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Wednesday unanimously approved a housing development in the North County community of Harmony Grove, despite objections by several residents who expressed concerns about the lack of a second evacuation route during wildfires. The Harmony Grove Village South development will be located west of Interstate 15, south of State Route 78, and south of the Harmony Grove Village community. The site is about one-third of a mile west of Escondido, just south and east of San Marcos, and north of the Del Dios Highlands Preserve. The new community will encompass 111 acres in the Harmony Grove-Elfin Forest Subarea of the San Dieguito Community Plan Area and include 453 single family and multi-family units, 5,000 square feet of commercial and civic uses, four acres of private and public parks, approximately two miles of public multi-use trails and pathways, and about 35 acres of biological open space. The project will also have an affordable housing component that will include 10% of the homes as affordable housing, consisting of 5% reserved as affordable for low-income households and 5% reserved as affordable for moderate income households Photo, right: Rick Bannister The vote came after more than three-and-a-half hours of public comment were made in person and on the phone by more than 100 speakers, mostly in opposition of the development. Many of the speakers were bused in from North County wearing red T-shirts that said “Don’t Burn US” across the front. More than 180 written comments were submitted by residents in opposition. The 5-0 vote followed the county Planning Commission’s unanimous approval in August and recommendation by the county’s Land Use and Development. Rick Bannister is on the board of the Harmony Grove Village Homeowners Association. “The problem is, this subdivision is the worst possible place in San Diego County that you could put it,” Bannister said. “We have a fire trap there.” David Kovach, managing partner of Harmony Grove Village South, was part of a presentation to the Board of Supervisors. “The opinion of a handful of private individuals who’ve opposed this project from the beginning, is not remotely equivalent to the 11 government reviews that have occurred from 2018 to today.” Photo, left: David Kovach Ruben Grijalva is a former Director of the California Department of Forestry and fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and California State Fire Marshal. He said more than 50 years working in public safety gives him a unique perspective. “Wildfires in California are inevitable. With the right planning, construction and community design, we can safely live in fire-prone areas. We aren’t saying don’t build. We’re saying build smarter,” Grijalva said. “The HGVS project not only meets code, it exceeds requirements in several key areas. This is a community that is better, safer and more resilient because of its design. The path forward is not to stop building in wildfire-prone areas, it is to continue building smarter, stronger and safer.” The HGVS project was originally approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2018. After challenges based on environmental concerns, other legal actions, and revisions to the project plans, it finally made it back before the Board Wednesday. “This project doesn’t reflect the reality that we live in today, it’s based on outdated assumptions and ignores the hard truth,” Brenda Wright, of Eden Valley, said. “When the next wildfire hits us, and it will, we will likely have to shelter in place when the extra thousand-plus cars are trying to evacuate. That’s not safety. That’s surrender.” For the most part, opponents based their objections on fire safety and environmental concerns, while proponents touted the affordable housing, the county’s housing shortage and the jobs the project will produce. Photo, right: Chief Dave McQuead Board Chairwoman Tara Lawson-Remer, who represents the district where the community will be built, said she has received thousands and thousands of comments over the past year or more, hundreds of letters and a petition with 1,300 signatures against the project. “It is without a doubt, one of the most beautiful parts of San Diego County,” she said. “It is gorgeous, it is special.” Much of the discussion centered around having a second evacuation route. Photo, left: Tara Lawson-Remer “Based on the current and expected fire behavior, if we were to have an incident in the location and what those impacts are going to be, we would utilize what we call Genasys evac, which is our new system that allows us to systematically evacuate residents from any area that this fire would be impacting,” Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District Chief Dave McQuead said. “Eight individual options that could have been used for secondary egress were infeasible.” Photo, right: Ruben Grijalva
Why has the federal government been shut down and what is affected?
Democrats take stand to protect healthcare coverage as Republicans adjourn with negotiating By G. A. McNeeley October 1, 2025 — The Democratic and Republican proposals that would’ve funded the government beyond Tuesday, September 30, failed within The Senate during the eleventh hour, which effectively shut the government down at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1. The federal government ran out of money after a Democratic-backed spending bill that would’ve extended health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act and reversed cuts to Medicaid failed. The Republican-backed stopgap funding measure that would’ve funded the government for seven weeks also failed. Democrats have refused to back a Republican bill that will make it harder for Americans to afford healthcare. They’re calling for an extension of the tax credits (which are set to expire) that have made health insurance cheaper for millions of Americans, and for a reversal of cuts to Medicaid that were made by President Donald Trump. Republicans have acccused Democrats of trying to provide healthcare benefits for undocumented immigrants, which the Washington Post reports is a false claim. Illegal immigrants have never been eligible for the healthcare tax credits. Democrats also oppose spending cuts to government health agencies, according to The BBC. What Has Everyone Been Saying About The Shutdown? Following the two failed votes on Tuesday, September 30, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought told federal agencies they “should now execute their plans for an orderly shutdown,” according to ABC News. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Republicans to come to the negotiating table after The Senate failed to pass a measure to avert this government shutdown. “We want to sit down and negotiate, but the Republicans can’t do it in their partisan way, where they just say.’It’s our way or the highway,’” Schumer said at a news conference following Senate votes Tuesday night, according to ABC News. Trump and a bipartisan group of congressional leaders met at The White House on Monday, September 29, to attempt to avoid this shutdown. Vice President JD Vance said, “I think we’re headed to a shutdown because the Democrats won’t do the right thing,” following that meeting, according to ABC News. Republicans control both chambers of Congress, but they’re short of the 60 votes they needed to pass that spending bill within The Senate, which means Democrats have some leverage, BBC reports . Republicans adjourned the Senate until Friday, meaning the government will stay shut down at least until then. How Have Federal Employee Salaries Been Affected By The Shutdown? Federal workers and active-duty military service members won’t receive a paycheck during this government shutdown. The White House also threatened mass layoffs of federal employees, in addition to furlough notices, before the shutdown happened, according to NPR. The only salaries the federal government will continue to pay during this shutdown will be to members of Congress and the president, according to the Constitution. Elected officials can request that their paychecks be deferred while the shutdown is ongoing, but federal employees and military members will get paid once the shutdown is over. How Have Benefit Programs Been Affected By The Shutdown? Social Security and other benefits will continue, but there could be some service delays, such as the processing of applications. During the shutdown, the first to feel the pinch might be the mothers and young children who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food program. Georgia Machell, President and CEO of the National WIC Association says, “the timing of this shutdown threat at the start of the fiscal year puts WIC at risk of rapidly running out of funds,” according to NPR. “A prolonged federal government shutdown of more than one week puts WIC families at risk.” Whether WIC could continue during a prolonged shutdown would vary depending on whether states could access other contingency funds. Additionally, The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will last longer, but could also run out if this shutdown dragged on. How Has The Education Department Been Affected By The Shutdown? The Department of Education will continue to disburse student aid through Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans that goes to nearly 10 million students at 5,400 schools, according to the department itself. They added that borrowers still need to make their loan payments during the shutdown, according to NBC News. In the first week of this government shutdown, the Education Department will furlough about 95% of staff who don’t work on federal student aid, according to their memo. The department will also halt new grant-making activities during a lapse in funding. How Has The Health Department Been Affected By The Shutdown? The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said in its contingency plan that it expects more than 32,000 of its nearly 80,000 workers to be furloughed during the shutdown, according to NBC News. The HHS said “excepted activities” will continue, such as responses to pandemic, flu and hurricanes. The HHS also said it won’t process Freedom of Information Act requests during a shutdown. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will continue research and clinical services necessary to protect human life and government property. However, research contracts and grants to external organizations, such as universities, will freeze, and the NIH won’t admit new patients to its research hospital unless medically necessary, according to NBC News. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) contingency plan said it will continue to monitor and respond to disease outbreaks, but it will be hampered in providing the public with health-related information. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will continue exempt activities, such as drug and medical device reviews and recalls, monitoring and responding to foodborne illnesses and the flu, pursuing some investigations when the agency believes the public is at risk, and screening food and medical products imported to the U.S., according to NBC News. The FDA won’t process new drug applications and medical device submissions. The agency warned it won’t support staff that
Labor Council hosts protest today over ICE raids, shutdown impacts and “escalating attacks on the working class”
East County News Service October 2, 2025 (San Diego) – With the Trump administration shutting down the federal government and thus critical services for the working class, the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO will host its weekly “ICE Out of San Diego” rally—this time, bringing together workers, immigrants, and allies to condemn the Trump administration’s escalating attacks on the working class. The rally at 10 a.m. today will be at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 880 Front Street, San Diego, CA 92101 From hotel workers arrested in parking lots after their shifts to restaurant employees targeted in militarized South Park raids”, ICE is terrorizing San Diegans while the Supreme Court greenlights racial profiling. These actions are part of a broader strategy to divide the working class, silence dissent, and dismantle unions while billionaires pocket trillions in tax cuts,” a press release from the Labor Council states. “Human rights are worker rights, and worker rights are human rights,” said Brigette Browning, President of the SDICLC. “When ICE detains a hotel worker or a street vendor, they’re attacking all of us. We won’t stand by while our neighbors are scapegoated so Trump and his allies can steal power and wealth from the working class.” The action will highlight how mass deportation fuels “profiteering: over $100 billion flows to ICE and private prisons that pay detainees slave wages and charge exorbitant fees—all while Trump guts healthcare, education, housing, food assistance, job programs, and more to fund tax breaks for the wealthy,” according to the release. ICE Out of San Diego gathers every Thursday at 10 a.m. to build a movement rooted in solidarity, dignity, and the belief that no one is free until we are all free. “An Injury to One is an Injury to All,” according to the coalition’s press statement. The organizing coalition includes San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO (the local union of unions), SEIU 221 (San Diego & Imperial County and municipal workers), SDEA (San Diego Unified Educators), SEIU-USWW (janitors and security guards), UCSD Labor Center, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Unión del Barrio, Universidad Popular, Singleton Schreiber (injury attorneys), Change Begins With Me (Indivisible), Indivisible 49, Democratic Club of Carlsbad Oceanside (DEMCCO), San Diego County Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre The San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council represents more than 200,000 union member and union families united to improve the lives of all workers and communities through strength in solidarity.
Supervisors greenlight pilot program for El Capitan Reservoir, promising expanded access
San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve pilot program for El Capitan Reservoir. Photo courtesy Friends of San Diego Lakes via Instagram By Karen Pearlman Oct. 1, 2025 (San Diego County) — In a move hailed by East County residents and recreation advocates, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a pilot program that could dramatically expand public access and recreational opportunities at El Capitan Reservoir in Lakeside. Championed by Supervisor Joel Anderson of District 2 and Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe of District 4, by a 5-0 vote, the Supervisors approved a recommendation to allocate up to $2.4 million over four years to allow the County’s Department of Parks and Recreation to oversee maintenance and operation of the reservoir’s recreational activities. The goal is to establish a consistent, year-round operation model similar to the successful long-term partnership currently in place at Lake Morena. “I can say we are so encouraged by the collaboration with the city and county,” said El Cajon resident Rob Magargal, an avid outdoorsman. “Being major stakeholders in El Capitan we are extremely encouraged by this and we look forward to pending negotiations. We feel this as being something great for all of San Diego.” Residents like Magargal have long voiced concerns over the inconsistent and limited access to city of San Diego-owned reservoirs, several of which are located in unincorporated communities. The new proposal is directly inspired by the enduring success of Lake Morena, the city of San Diego-owned reservoir that has been leased, operated and maintained by County DPR since 1970. The Lake Morena model has been praised for providing year-round, consistent and affordable recreation while safeguarding water quality and relieving the city of San Diego of operating expenses. An earlier 2022 memorandum to the Board highlighted DPR’s successful improvements to campsites, restrooms, and trails at Lake Morena. In a clear demonstration of the model’s affordability, a December 2024 analysis by San Diego County Local Agency Formation Commission found Lake Morena’s public fee structure to be significantly more affordable than privately managed sites like El Capitan. El Capitan Reservoir has been managed by a private concessionaire and has faced ongoing challenges, including frequent monthly closures, limited operating hours and inconsistent services. This lack of access has disproportionately affected residents in East County who have fewer public recreational alternatives than those closer to the Pacific Ocean. The Board’s action Wednesday seeks to correct this imbalance. The pilot initiative will not only address long-standing community concerns about access to the reservoir, “but also ensure that one of the County’s most treasured natural assets is available to all San Diegans,” the board agenda item stated. The project has strong public backing, with over 6,000 residents signing petitions opposing prior closure proposals. The pilot project will fund up to $600,000 annually starting in Fiscal Year 2026-27 for staffing, expanded hours and day-to-day maintenance. The City of San Diego would maintain its responsibility for dam operations and water quality monitoring. The annual net cost to the County is projected to be approximately $500,000, with annual revenues from recreational activities estimated at up to $65,000. In the short term, the Board also approved a one-time allocation of $75,000 for the current fiscal year 2025-26). This funding will backfill recent city of San Diego funding reductions, ensuring uninterrupted access through the end of the fiscal year, and fund a necessary facility condition assessment. County staff has been directed to explore the viability of a formal agreement with the city of San Diego and is expected to report back to the county within 120 days. If a partnership is finalized, the County’s management is expected to support small business growth in the surrounding communities of Lakeside by increasing foot traffic and tourism for local restaurants and bait and tackle shops. The unanimous vote ensures that the County moves forward to enhance equitable access to high-quality, sustainable outdoor recreation for all its residents. After the vote, Anderson and Montgomery Steppe shared their thoughts on the enhancement of the reservoir, with Anderson thanking Montgomery Steppe, members of the Friends of the San Diego Lakes group, members of the San Diego Council of Bass Clubs, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employee Local 127. “We are excited to continue working with the City to enhance recreation access at the El Capitan Reservoir and come to an agreement that is a win-win for everyone while protecting the jobs of current staff who do an incredible job maintaining our treasured reservoirs,” Andersn said. Montgomery Steppe thanked Anderson and said that avoiding closures “underscores the importance of parks and recreation resources for County residents.” “We all agree that keeping El Capitan Reservoir and its recreational programming open as much as possible is a priority,” she said. “I look forward to seeing how the County and the City can work together to achieve this shared goal.” Previously, Anderson worked with the Friends of San Diego Lakes, the San Diego Council of Bass Clubs, the County of San Diego, and the City of San Diego on a solution to a proposed cut to the City of San Diego’s Lakes Recreation Program. Anderson successfully advocated for $59,000 in the County of San Diego’s budget to prevent both El Capitan Reservoir and Hodges Reservoir from closing an additional month and to keep Sutherland Reservoir from closing an additional day each week.