Friday - Quicks Hits

So much for the 760. County to get new area code. UT NCTimes

La Mesa city council votes to bury the report on Mayor Art Madrid's drunk driving incident. UT

Effects of world food crisis having an impact among the poor here in San Diego. UT

Water Authority grants approval to increase the size of the San Vicente reservoir. UT

Tri-city looks to reduce the size of bond measure to make it more palatable for voters. UT

Thursday - Quick Hits

Another roadblock for controversial Sunrise Powerlink. UT

If voluntary cutbacks don't work, maybe the county water authority should try mandatory cutbacks. UT

La Mesa council member says mayor Art Madrid should foot bill for police investigation. UT

The Port Commission is moving ahead with lighting project for Coronado Bridge as it seeks submissions from artists. UT

Logan Heights eyed as the next area for redevelopment. VOSD

Wednesday - Quick Hits

Just as long as it is not a Wal-Mart. Developer proposes a 5-story vertical big box development on the edge of downtown. UT

Metropolitan Water District voted to raise water rates by 14.3 percent. UT

County had no voice in the regional meeting during the wildfires to allocation of resources. UT

City attorney candidates lock horns at debate. UT VOSD

Valley Center planning group has say on proposed casino hotel, now public will have their say. UT

City of Vista rolls over and approves expansion of Wal-Mart into a Supercenter. UT NCTimes

Union workers rally in Riverside County administration complex for temp workers to be allowed to organize. UT

Monday - Quick Hits

Maybe his heart just isn't in it. School Board trustee Luis Acle fails to qualify for the ballot. UT

For the next four weeks San Diego and Tijuana will be an hour apart. UT

Future of Balboa Park was the subject of forum held on Saturday. UT

After years of planning, and a half a billion dollars, North County finally has its rail service. UT NCTimes

They should try recycling the water. Escondido has a disposal program for its much waste water. UT

Monday - Quick Hits

Both Democratic and Republican state lawmakers vow to fight Governor's proposed closing of 48 State Parks. UT

Analysis by SDSU professor finds San Diego jury pools lacking in Latinos. UT

Homeowners who invest in new water conservation equipment can receive rebates from county water agencies. UT

City Council is planning on overhauling the HUD block grant program. UT

Homeless Shelter task force doesn't have anyone who works with the homeless on it. UT

Monday - Quick Hits

Citizens qualify a building height initiative in Chula Vista for the June election. UT

Coronado settles suit to woman, accidentally run over by lifeguard truck on beach. UT

La Mesa considers the option of raising sales tax to offset declining revenues. UT

LA Times fires editor after dispute with publisher over newsroom cuts. UT

Emergency water plan moves closer to becoming a reality. NC Times

Hate crimes in San Diego for the last year increase. VOSD

Thursday - Quick Hits

NIMBYism at is finest, proposed Rose Canyon bridge continues to generate controversy. UT

The process to find a permanent homeless shelter downtown, begins this afternoon with city council committee hearing. UT

Chula Vista residents to decided in November on whether city attorney should become an elected office. UT

City of Oceanside advances plans for luxury beach front hotel. UT

Mayors from 10 Southrern California cities meet to discuss water problems, but fail to come to a consensus. NC Times

OC Residents to Drink Treated Sewage

This morning's LA Times has an article regarding the Orange County Water District's $490 million sewage filtration treatment facility that is awaiting final approval from state health officials before it goes online later this month. The facility will purify effluent from a neighboring treatment plant, and then pump it into the groundwater basin that the county's 2.3 million residents draw their water from.[Link]

When the plant is fully operational, it will be able to reclaim 130 million gallons of water that would other wise be release into the ocean.

Officials say the final product is as clean as distilled water and so pure that lime has to be added to it to keep it from leaching minerals out of concrete pipes, thus weakening them.[Link]

It is nice to see that the folks up in the O.C. are willing to invest in the proven technology to augment our dwindling water supplies. Mayor Sanders could learn a thing or two from the folks up in the O.C.

Thursday - Quick Hits

San Diego School Board names an interim superintendent. UT

Move to add parking meters in La Jolla hits a road block. UT

Talks between Palomar College administration and non teaching employees union have soured. NCTimes

Overuse of groundwater to supply grow and golf courses in Palm Springs area has caused ground to sink. NCTimes

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in town yesterday to pimp for his health care reform plan. UT

Housing crisis is starting to have an impact on the commercial real estate sector. VOSD

L.A. Must Dump 600 Million Gallons of Water

Today, the Department of Power and Water, announced that it must drain the Silver Lake and Elysian reservoirs of all its water. In the middle of an ongoing drought this announcement seems crazy but both reservoirs are contaminated due to a chemical reaction.

Officials believe that intense sunlight, bromide in ground water and chlorine combined to produce bromate, a carcinogen that is dangerous through long-term
exposure.[Link]

Officials with DWP claim that the reservoirs amount to 1% of Los Angeles total annual water usage. The water will be drained into the Los Angeles river and will be carried out to sea.[Link]

Tuesday - Quick Hits

UCSD hoax bomber has bail set at $100K. UT

As water crisis worsen, regional officials continue with half-hearted measures. UT

Supporters of new downtown library have riased only $18 million in private donations far short of their $50 million goal for this year. UT

Today is the final day to turn in ballots for Potero recall election. UT

Chula Vista Elementary School District has to pay $1 million to teacher who was dismissed after becoming pregnant. UT

City Fire Chief blasts the county at a hearing on Monday over the lack of fire equipment to deal with wildfires. NCTimes

Increase in human smuggling see off the coast of San Diego. VOSD

Tuesday - Quick Hits

City Council passes one ordinance directed at "Mini-dorms" but doesn't pass a second ordinance aimed at limiting the number of tenants. UT

Gentrification of roadway deemed a success after first day being open. UT

As the only major city in California that doesn't charge single family residences for garbage and recycling pickup, city faces revenue short fall as it implements new recycling ordinances. UT

The I.R.S. may have some money for you. UT

Severe water shortages loom on the horizon. NCTimes

Goal-setting divides school board. VOSD

Lack of Leadership from The Mayor Again!

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders held a press conference today to again voice his opposition to water reuse. Now, I am the first to admit that the cleverly coined "toilet to tap" sounds disgusting, but science consistently shows that highly treated waste water pumped into reservoirs is completely safe. In fact, we are already drinking it from the Colorado River! Apparently, the Mayor doesn't argue with the science, but doesn't like the "yuck" factor. Now that is leadership when we need it. As we face severe water cutbacks, we will stop the smartest, most environmentally sound water source available, because it sounds gross. I might suggest a play date for Mayor Sanders with my two-year old niece. She doesn't care about science either, and she would agree that it just sounds "yucky" .