January 2010 La Mesa Blog Posts (17)

A Walk on the Mild Side

HARRY GRIFFEN PARK – The promised event of this Saturday in the park was a community health walk. Turns out it was much more.

The gathering, though lightly attended, began with a world class athlete teaching us how to stretch and was followed by a charming guide who both learned and taught the history of this suburban pocket park even as he led the residents through the woods. All of which was followed by sun-drenched refreshments with residents, community… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 30, 2010 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Tight Money Colors All At Council Meeting

LA MESA – Like the drip, drip, drip of water torture, the fiscal problems hitting government officials throughout California continue to cause a drumbeat of pain to local governments.

Tuesday night’s La Mesa City Council meeting featured council members and the mayor complaining about the state; city police complaining about their salaries and benefits; a representative from a regional government organization campaigning for a voter referendum that would essentially tell the state to… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 26, 2010 at 10:00pm — 2 Comments

Teaching Character One Play at a Time

By Chris Lavin

LA MESA – It is 7:30 a.m. and the first soccer game of the day has already begun on the La Mesa Middle School field just off Parks Avenue.

There was a time, not many years ago, when America associated sports with character development and discipline. That was before frantic specialization; overzealous parents and the quest for scholarships – not to mention professional sports anti-role model proliferation – tainted the games a… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 26, 2010 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Cops, Mayor Exchange Barbs

By Chris Lavin

LA MESA – Representatives of the La Mesa City Police union came to City Hall last night hoping to force a public apology from Mayor Art Madrid for a comment they said he made at a Jan. 12 meeting.

They left after two hours fuming, distributing a letter in which they made reference to the mayor’s past public drunkenness episode and denying that their criticism was really a reaction to recent disappointing contract negotiations with the city.

The exchange left… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 26, 2010 at 7:30pm — 8 Comments

Copper Thief

LA MESA – A homeowner decided to take matters into his own hands and pursue a thief down the street. The result would send you running to the telephone and calling 911.
The incident began early Monday morning. La Mesa Police received a call at 7:21 a.m. from a resident on the 4500 block of Olive Avenue.
Click here to read more.

Added by La Mesa Today on January 25, 2010 at 7:00pm — No Comments

The Times that Try Men's Souls

LA MESA – San Diego does have the country’s best weather. For most of this region’s young, that has meant one thing: they have never had the experience of waking up to an unexpected snowfall that cancels school.

Thursday gave some of La Mesa’s young the next best thing. All night long high winds and rain buffeted La Mesa and as the sun rose, Grossmont High School found itself without power.

Students arriving for what they thought would be one of the final days… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 21, 2010 at 4:47pm — No Comments

Apartment Signs

GROSSMONT – The Pravada and Alterra apartment and commercial development at the Grossmont Trolley Station is about to move into high marketing gear.

The developer last night won permission from the La Mesa Planning Commission for a sign program that will literally change the southern face – the side facing the trolley line -- of the 527-unit development. The commission granted the developer, Fairfield Residential LLC, the right to hang large banners that will cover virtually… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 20, 2010 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Armed Robbery on Murray Drive

LA MESA – The La Mesa Police Department responded to an early morning armed robbery at a gas station just off I-8 at 9600 Murray Drive.

Police said a white male suspect, wearing a ski mask, entered the Arco Station store at about 1:30 a.m. Monday. The suspect brandished a black, semi-automatic handgun and demanded money from the register and a pack of cigarettes.

The clerk gave the suspect an undetermined about of cash and the cigarettes. The suspect fled on foot… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 18, 2010 at 10:00am — No Comments

Dogs and Baseball Don't Mix

LA MESA -- The Little League fields of California towns like this can handle baseball games year round. And many of them, including the one in Rolando, can boast of Major League careers that were launched from its modest dugouts.

And so more than many towns in America, the La Mesa community - its baseball leagues, schools and cities -- has cared for these fields, putting in new walls and fences recently and refurbishing sprinkler systems and manicuring the grass.

Perfect… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 13, 2010 at 7:30pm — No Comments

Witt Named City Manager

LA MESA -- The City Council Tuesday announced that David Witt, a 24-year-veteran of city government, will serve as the city's next city manager.

The announcement came during an otherwise quiet meeting that only hinted at possible growing tensions over future city negotiations with its unions.

Witt, a long serving assistant city manager, had worked as interim city manager since the post was vacated last fall. He is known in local circles as an unflappable administrator… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 12, 2010 at 8:00pm — 6 Comments

Checkpoint Results Nab Two for DUI, Reveals More

LA MESA -- The results of a recent checkpoint conducted by the city police offer a telling picture of residents' adherence to DUI and licensing laws.

The seven-hour event snared two alleged drunk drivers but there were a significant number that led police to do at least a secondary analysis.

According to police records, the La Mesa Police Department conducted a DUI and Driver License checkpoint in the 4600 block of 70th Street on Friday, January 8, 2010.

The… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 12, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

More Homes on the Hill

MT. HELIX -- A controversial housing project once rejected as too large and not in keeping with Mt. Helix's rural nature returned this week, pared down and reconfigured, and received a much warmer welcome from county planning officials.

The project won approval, which clears the way for development, though current market conditions may influence the speed and final scope of the project.

See the full story here:… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 9, 2010 at 7:30am — No Comments

Mt. Helix Walk

Thank you to La Mesa Today for coverage of our Mt. Helix Walk. Your reporting captured the essence of this event: the simple pleasures of enjoying our beautiful community and meeting neighbors as a great way to start the new year.

Added by Susan Nichols on January 8, 2010 at 5:21pm — No Comments

Sound but Little Fury at Town Hall Meeting

La Mesa -- The City Council held the first of two annual Town Hall meetings on Thursday night and, for the most part, any fair assessments of the more-than-two hours of comments would suggest there are few divisive issues in this Jewel of the Hills.

After brief words of welcome and thanks from the council members close to 100 residents spent the next two hours raising concerns about minor traffic challenges and seeking more information on city services, most of which it… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 7, 2010 at 9:00pm — 1 Comment

The Future of La Mesa Looms

By Chris Lavin

LA MESA - City officials will turn on the mic Thursday night and sit back and listen.

The topic is officially La Mesa's future - a broad topic to say the least - but as with all public hearings, the pundit (that would be me) is predicting that the latest hot topics will still dominate. Speakers can be expected to rail against the mega-project in its early stages of consideration for downtown La Mesa.

Others may raise green issues, including whether… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 5, 2010 at 8:00pm — 4 Comments

new sheriff's substation

There is a new sheriff's substation in Casa de Oro which will house the deputies, CHP officers, Codes Enforcement, Gang Task Force members and other law enforcement agents. It's in the same parking lot as the Starbucks. Go by and say "thanks for being here!".

Added by Allison Henderson on January 3, 2010 at 11:14pm — No Comments

A Warm Walk with Friends

MT. HELIX - It was a simple invitation - a community walk up Mt. Helix.

The event itself was much more. At 10 a.m. about 100 friends, neighbors and pets left the fire station and chatted and strolled behind the Grossmont-Mt. Helix Improvement Association banner.

Arriving a few minutes later at the stage area near the hill's summit, the walkers were met by food, water and music - a cocktail party drenched in the morning sunlight and lacking only the cocktails. Susan… Continue

Added by La Mesa Today on January 2, 2010 at 12:00pm — 2 Comments

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The Wall Street Journal

Over 50 percent of Americans expect home prices to rise

More than half of Americans now expect the country’s home prices to climb within the next year, illustrating a growing optimism toward the health of the housing industry, according to new data from Fannie Mae. Read the full story.

Los Angeles Times

Some homes are slow to sell even in the hottest markets

With full-fledged sellers’ markets underway in dozens of metropolitan areas around the country, new research has found curious statistical patterns emerging: Even in cities where listings get multiple offers within days or hours, significant numbers of homes are sitting on the market for six months, 12 months, or more with no takers. Among the reasons: Mispricing, excessive restrictions on access to buyers and agents, failure to clean or make repairs, and a variety of other marketing bungles. Read the full story.

The Wall Street Journal
Principal forgiveness could reduce costs for taxpayers
Allowing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to reduce loan balances for borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth could ultimately reduce mortgage defaults and save the government money, according to a report by the Congressional Budget Office. Read the full story.