Covering stories that matter to the community CALEXICO — A man was struck and killed in a hit-and-run collision some time Thursday morning according to the Calexico Police Department Calexico police patrol officers responded to a report of a man down near the east shoulder of Highway 111 just south of Jasper Road officers located an unresponsive male Hispanic adult pronounced deceased at the scene Preliminary investigation indicates the victim was struck by a vehicle while standing near the east shoulder of the highway near his own parked vehicle The force of the impact caused the victim to come to rest on the east shoulder of Jasper Road.   Police said after the male was struck it appears the involved vehicle fled the scene investigators believe the suspect vehicle is a black Volvo semi-truck which is likely to have moderate to significant damage to its right front bumper and fender area This incident is currently being investigated as a vehicular homicide Authorities are actively seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect vehicle and its driver Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact the Calexico Police Department Investigations Bureau at 760-768-2140 or email police@calexico.ca.gov and anonymity can be maintained upon request and website in this browser for the next time I comment For advertising and submission of legal notices or inquiries email: info@calexicochronicle.com and Heber community is in the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) El Centro and Heber represent an industrial corridor that extends north from the U.S.-Mexico border The community bears a high traffic density burden as well as impacts from agriculture and stationary source emissions El Centro community has an area of 158 square miles with a population of about 98,000 an average of 12,080 passenger vehicles crossed the border into Calexico per day there are two large stationary sources in the community a power generation facility and a cement facility along with warehouses and small industrial operations and animal feedlots are additional sources in this region along with a rail line that runs between the three areas Sensitive receptors in the community include 52 schools The community experiences some of the highest rates of poverty and unemployment in the region and the rate of pediatric asthma-related emergency rooms visits is twice the State average Calexico, El Centro, Heber's AB 617 community boundary files In 2018, the Community was nominated by the District and selected by CARB as a monitoring community. The District published the Imperial County Year 1 Community Air Monitoring Plan for the El Centro-Heber-Calexico Corridor in September 2019 The Community Air Monitoring Plan identifies areas of interest for AB 617 monitoring such as stationary and mobile sources The plan was designed to obtain detailed air pollution levels through the Community determine areas in the community of highest risk quantify sources of air pollution within the community and to position the Community to develop emissions reduction strategies and monitor the effectiveness of those strategies CARB and the District have historically implemented air monitoring which includes regulatory monitoring in Imperial County The AB 617 community air monitoring plan is specifically designed with the community steering committee input to measure and collect localized and elevated air pollution levels data air quality concerns from residents in multiple communities as well as screening tools that combine environmental and socio-economic information to calculate community-wide risk factors in the planning and implementation of community air monitoring Community-level expertise through steering committee meetings and input from a broad range of stakeholders supported the District's development of this plan The collection of comprehensive air quality data is essential to develop emissions reduction plans and strategies. The monitoring data will be provided to CARB once available and can be downloadable on AQView where monitoring data from other AB 617 community air monitoring plans are also included The Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) partnered with Comite Civico del Valle, Inc. (CCV) as co-leads to convene a community steering committee and develop the Imperial County Year 1 Community Emissions Reduction Program Plan for the El Centro-Heber-Calexico Corridor (Plan) Prior to the Board of Supervisors’ approval of the Plan ICAPCD and CCV also hosted two workshops in June 2019 to allow the public to have an opportunity to learn about the requirements and implementation of AB 617 the community steering committee helped identify key community concerns for the Plan to address The Plan focuses on reducing exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and toxic air contaminants (TACs) from these sources and CCV identified 28 emission reduction strategies The current Community Steering Committee charter describes the Calexico Heber Community Steering Committee membership process and how information is made available to its members and the public Annual progress reports are completed by the District Qualitative and quantitative progress assessments as well as status updates from interim milestones identified by the CARB Governing Board are available in the annual progress report and accompanying metric workbooks A detailed update for each strategy can also be found here as it is made available The California Air Resources Board is one of six boards and offices under the umbrella of the California Environmental Protection Agency CALEXICO — “Gustavo Alejandro Ortiz, a 29-year-old convicted felon was taken into custody on multiple charges after allegedly pistol-whipping and strangling his girlfriend When officers initially attempted a traffic stop Ortiz allegedly tried to discard a firearm by throwing it over a rooftop He then led officers on a vehicle pursuit and evaded capture at that time Calexico police detectives coordinated a multiagency operation to apprehend Ortiz The operation led authorities to the city of Brawley where Ortiz was spotted in the area of Main Street and North Eastern Avenue and Ortiz was eventually subdued and taken into custody The Calexico Police Officers Association thanked the Brawley Police Department Border Patrol and all other allied agencies involved for their assistance in bringing the fugitive into custody The Imperial County Board of Supervisors has refused to disclose why they fired the CEO and the Clerk of the Board there are no recent results for popular videos In a report from the Office of California’… Read moreWe applaud Assemblymembers Krell and Gonzalez for standing for sex-trafficated children  A groundbreaking report released yesterda… Read moreNew Study Proves Abortion Pill Harms Women At An Alarming Rate We are protesting the billionaire takeover… Read moreImperial Valley workers join #MayDayStrong to fight billionaire takeover, demand better future It was immigration day at the White House … Read moreImmigration Day at the White House Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: State and Local Officers Who Lost Their Lives in the Line of Duty in the Imperial Valley EL CENTRO — The community came together in a powerful display of unity and remembrance to honor 49 federal state and local officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in the Imperial Valley In commemoration of Imperial Valley Officers Memorial Day as declared by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors the Imperial Valley Law Enforcement Memorial committee held its 17th annual memorial ceremony for these 49 hometown heroes The memorial was held on the steps of the Imperial County Courthouse on Main Street on Friday and was attended by surviving family members members of the community and local leadership The ceremony included a motorcade procession a rifle salute conducted by a multi-agency honor guard and a moving performance of “Taps”/“Amazing Grace” by Officer Pedro Millan of the Calexico Police Department and retired Gunnery Sgt flag-folding ceremony and a riderless horse tribute an ancient Greek tradition symbolizing a fallen warrior The heart of the memorial service was the fallen officer roll call Chief Deputy Warden Ernesto Bustamante of Calipatria State Prison read the name of each fallen officer aloud an active officer from the corresponding agency placed a rose in a vase and stood on the courthouse steps in tribute Heartfelt remarks were delivered by Officer Vincent Salgado of the U.S Chaplain Sean Arvizu of the Brawley Police Department Field Representative Sara Solorzano of the Office of U.S Congressman Raul Ruiz and Chaplain Austin Brewer of the U.S but their legacy lives on,” said Solorzano where we speak their names into our presence but through the lives and the communities that they kept safe and served throughout their career.” The memorial also served as a way to honor the families of those lost Liliana Cañez spoke about the loss of her brother Officer Adrian Castro Cordova of the Calexico Police Department “Adrian was more than just a police officer He was a friend to all and a source of inspiration to many,” she said “His infectious laughter could light up even the darkest of days Whether it was through his playful nicknames for colleagues or the harmless pranks he’d orchestrate at the station Adrian had a unique talent for bringing joy He understood the importance of camaraderie and laughter in a profession often marked by challenges and heartache “Let us honor Adrian by showing up for one another and cherishing the memories of those we love,” Cañez said The evening’s services were concluded with a glow stick-lit moment of silence The IVLEM Committee is also working to establish a permanent memorial wall adjacent to the military memorial at Pioneers’ Museum “The museum will serve as a central place within the county to honor those who have died in the line of duty in Imperial Valley,” Salgado said Deputy Probation Officer Irene Beatrice Rios California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation CALEXICO — A 26-year-old Calexico man was arrested on Sunday after allegedly assaulting his 27-year-old wife and pursuing her through the city as she fled with their children Calexico Police Department officers were dispatched to a reported domestic violence incident at a residence on Villa Grande Street The female victim was able to contact her father and relay that she feared for her safety officers were flagged down by the victim near Birch Street informed officers that her husband was following her Officers conducted a traffic stop and detained the suspect without incident Arrested in the incident was Jesus Ariel Quintero on counts of attempted murder corporal injury on spouse and false imprisonment He was being held in the Imperial County jail on $1 million bail According to statements provided to officers an argument over household chores escalated into a physical altercation The victim alleged that the suspect physically assaulted her by pushing and attempted to suffocate her with a pillow She further reported that the suspect made threats to kill her during the assault which occurred in the presence of their five young children The victim managed to flee the residence with three of the children The suspect then allegedly pursued her by vehicle as she attempted to reach the Calexico Police Department for assistance The victim exhibited signs of emotional distress but declined to request an Emergency Protective Order Officers provided her with information about available domestic violence support services The suspect admitted to a physical altercation and to breaking the victim’s cell phone but denied the allegations of choking and attempted suffocation He was arrested and booked into the Imperial County jail without further incident The Calexico Fire Department responded to the scene and conducted a medical evaluation of the victim This case remains under active investigation Calexico City Council is Considering Hiring Rick Daniels As Interim City Manager at March 5 Meeting the former city manager of both Needles and Desert Hot Springs is poised to take over as interim city manager of Calexico During the upcoming City Council meeting on Wednesday the council will be asked to adopt a resolution appointing Rick Daniels as interim city manager thereby relieving Acting City Manager Juan Contreras who also serves as acting fire chief for the city Daniels retired as the Needles city manager in October 2023 The Needles job appears to be Daniels’ last longterm position he was city manager of Desert Hot Springs from September 2007 to September 2013 Calexico Mayor Diana Nuricumbo said Daniels was brought in by Contreras to lead a strategic workshop the city held on Feb “He was highly recommended by other councils city managers,” Nuricumbo said during an interview on Saturday “We all thought that he was someone who was very knowledgeable is it something that you would consider maybe coming and giving us a hand for possibly … three months until we can get a permanent city manager?’” adding she couldn’t say more because it was a closed session meeting Daniels’ name might be familiar to some in Imperial County after he did a short stint — just over one year April 2006 to September 2007 — as executive director of the Salton Sea Authority.  serving as president/chief executive officer of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership and a planning director in Washington County He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in geography Daniels will take over for Acting City Manager Contreras who had been filling in temporarily since June 2024 when the City Council at the time placed permanent City Manager Esperanza Colio Warren on leave She would later be fired in late September 2024 Nuricumbo said it is likely that Contreras will continue on as acting fire chief although she indicated any personnel changes there could come under Daniels’ scope of authority She added that Contreras’ performance had nothing to do with seeking outside assistance She added he has a lot to deal with in terms of staffing issues at the Fire Department and putting together a mutual aid agreement with American Medical Response ambulance service the city of Calexico has been notorious for its revolving cast of city managers none seemingly staying on board for more than a couple of years at a time.  Colio herself took over from then-Acting City Manager Diego Favila who took over for permanent City Manager Miguel Figueora who left Calexico to become the Imperial County executive officer Figueroa stepped in as Calexico’s top administrator after City Manager David Dale left Daniels will be a stop gap measure while the city continues its search for a permanent city manager the City Council approved raising the city manager’s pay scale by about 21.5 percent with a full year’s salary now coming in at around $325,216.94 City Council Preliminarily Approves No-camping Law That Brings with It Fines and Possible Jail Time CALEXICO — More than a dozen rebukes in person and several more in writing didn’t stop the City Council from approving an ordinance that targets getting the homeless off Calexico’s streets the council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance regulating camping on private and public property in the city an ordinance that if enacted will bring two levels of fines and possible imprisonment and prompting the many young activists attending the council meeting to say the city was inhumanely criminalizing homelessness The next level of approval for the ordinance comes March 19 the ordinance would become effective 30 days later brought three unhoused members of the community into City Hall with her to protest the ordinance “How nice of you to bring this up on Ash Wednesday There is no greater hate than Christian love Padilla held up a photo of Calexico Mayor Diana Nuricumbo feeding the homeless on one of Brown Bag’s daily feedings calling her out on the implied hypocrisy of assisting at one minute and now harassing at another “I’m old enough to remember when Nuricumbo used to feed with Brown Bag Coalition with her family former longtime executive director of Neighborhood House who has helped countless persons in need over his career was the elder statesmen joining the chorus of those against the ordinance.   “I’m here today to oppose the proposed ordinance that would impose fines on individuals experiencing homelessness for camping on sidewalks using public or private property While I understand the concerns about public spaces and safety referring to the ordinance’s fines of $100 for first offense $500 for second offense and up to three months in jail “The ordinance does nothing to address the root causes of homelessness The reality is that most homeless individuals cannot afford fines which means they would not end up with warrants criminal records and even potential jail time all of which makes it harder for them to escape their situation,” Ortega said “Enforcing fines … requires law enforcement and court involvement Instead of wasting funds punishing people who cannot pay I really recommend that we invest in real solutions.” One of the younger individuals commenting on Wednesday night was Giovanni Neri who said he has been “feeding the homeless for over a decade.” “Many of you have opinions on whether to support or oppose this measure but I want everyone to understand what it really means under this ordinance — a homeless person simply sleeping at a public place could receive a $100 fine How do you expect them to pay that when they have no income or resources they could have faced even higher fines of $500 or even end up in jail for three months,” he said “Let me tell you about a person I met during one of my feeds This person wasn’t always on the streets and without family support he ended up sleeping in parks,” Neri said he tried to get back on his feet with odd jobs people like him won’t just lose what little they have they’ll be punished for being poor as if homelessness itself were a crime.” After numerous other comments in person and through letters — with only a couple in support of the ordinance — the council addressed the issue and the need for the ordinance through some vocal chatter among the audience explained that all of the council members campaigned on dealing with the homeless an issue that was on the mind of residents and business owners a fact confirmed by this year’s county’s point-in-time count to capture the true population for a federal homeless census “They (county officials) mentioned to me that if you don’t count the Slabs Calexico is a city in the Valley that has the highest rate of homelessness So it’s clearly an issue that we can no longer ignore,” Nuricumbo said So we said we weren’t going to ignore this We said that in the campaign; it’s nothing hidden “And the way that we approached it is that we contacted the county We had meetings with the Department of Social Services Mayor Pro Tem Victor Legaspi has been in on much of the conversations on homelessness with county officials alongside Nuricumbo Through a member of the audience shouting toward him as he spoke Legaspi was able to make his point about the necessity of the ordinance we’re out there trying to find a solution We’re working with people.” Legaspi said and we have mentioned this at past council meetings that we’re working with the Sheriff’s Department and hopefully we’ll be working with the wellness group Any of you have an agency that you want us to work with Calexico’s version of the no-camping ordinance was drawn from similar recent ordinances around the state according to city Planning Director Michael Coyne Earlier in the discussion on the ordinance Calexico Police Chief Armando Orozco explained “this ordinance isn’t a license to go out and harass the homeless This ordinance is just an extension of what’s already on the books We already have an ordinance that’s for (camping on) public property This would just extend it out to private property.” Orozco then said that there would be social services-type interventions trying to get the homeless assistance rather than just issuing a fine we’re going to deal with the problem is getting them into services getting them help to resolve the problem,” he said CALEXICO — A convicted arsonist was arrested on Saturday after attempting to ignite items with a lighter inside the Calexico Walmart Super Center The man violently resisted arrest before being taken into custody felony assault and felony resisting arrest He was booked into Imperial County jail on $60,000 bail Calexico police were called out to Walmart around 4:50 p.m who has had numerous prior law enforcement contacts had entered the business and attempted to ignite store merchandise using a lighter obtained from the shelves Romero was initially confronted and stopped by an associate within the store before officers arrived Romero assaulted that employee and attempted to stop him from placing an emergency call to authorities.  Additional units were requested as Romero fought with officers and attempted to disarm one of them by reaching for both their Taser and duty firearm Romero was successfully restrained and placed into handcuffs Medical personnel from the Calexico Fire Department responded to provide initial treatment to Romero He was subsequently transported to El Centro Regional Medical Center for medical clearance before being booked into the Imperial County jail.  One Calexico police officer sustained injuries during the altercation The officer is currently receiving treatment and is expected to recover It was further determined that just prior to this incident Romero had been removed from another business located south of Walmart with a prior conviction for setting fire to the former Burger King building in the city of Calexico man was sentenced in federal court on Friday to four months in custody and 180 days home confinement for trafficking six protected baby Mexican spider monkeys through the Calexico West Port of Entry on Aug was also ordered to pay $23,501.70 in restitution for the cost of quarantining three of the monkeys at the San Diego Zoo Dafar coordinated the purchases and smuggling of the monkeys across the border and arranged for their sale on three occasions in June 2022 and August 2023 according to admissions in his plea agreement Fish and Wildlife Service stopped three baby Mexican spider monkeys being smuggled into the United States through the Calexico West Port by Dafar’s coconspirator A search of the co-conspirator’s phone led to evidence that the monkeys were being smuggled for Dafar.  Additional evidence revealed that Dafar had previously arranged to have at least three other baby Mexican spider monkeys smuggled into the United States from Mexico in June 2022 and July 2023 Authorities do not know what happened to those three animals “This crime ripped weeks-old baby monkeys from their mothers and posed significant public health risks,” said U.S “This is not merely an economic crime; it is a severe and lasting injury to both wildlife and public safety Border security is not just about interdicting drugs and preventing illegal entries It also involves protecting the public from dangerous diseases Fish and Wildlife Service contributes to securing our borders and keeping the public safe.” The defendant was ordered to surrender on or before May 29 Baby Mexican spider monkeys continue to nurse throughout their first year and ordinarily are not fully weaned and independent until they turn 2 Most baby Mexican spider monkeys will continue to stay close to their mothers until they are approximately 4 years old Dafar’s Facebook messages show that he intentionally sought baby monkeys to make the smuggling process easier According to the government’s sentencing papers a Facebook user sent Dafar a news article about U.S Border Patrol agents who “found several spider monkeys during a smuggling attempt in Brownsville( He stupid brin(g) to(o) many of them and all adults they make a lot noise and they active Baby’s most be sleeping and small to hide.” Photos that Dafar sent via Facebook show how young the baby monkeys were.  In June 2022 Dafar sent a Facebook message to a potential customer “I have monkey coming in 2 week baby monkey … Is a spider monkey … (I’ll) let you know when it is here because they gonna send it to me from California.” In his message to J.W.M. “Is a spider monkey thos(e) kind go(e)s for 15k and up but I ask 8k.” Along with the message Dafar attached a photo of the baby monkey under a heat lamp in a cage Dafar sent the same customer a photo of two baby Mexican spider monkeys in diapers.  Mexican spider monkey mothers will not voluntarily relinquish their babies and the entire troop of spider monkeys will try to defend the mother and baby from perceived threats poachers will typically have to kill or incapacitate the mother and troop to capture the baby In the case of the three baby Mexican spider monkeys that were interdicted on Aug the San Diego Zoo performed genetic tests and determined that the three babies each had different mothers The three monkeys that Dafar arranged to be smuggled into the United States in June 2022 and July 2023 which is required by law to prevent the spread of disease The regulations are designed to protect the public from zoonotic diseases which are diseases that spread from animals to humans Some of the most dangerous zoonotic diseases are those that transfer from primates to humans the three Mexican spider monkeys that were seized and quarantined by Fish and Wildlife Service in Calexico in August 2023 found a home at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Wildlife Confiscations Network.  In the case of the three monkeys who were interdicted on August 13 Fish and Wildlife Service was able to place and pay for the baby Mexican spider monkeys’ quarantine and care at the San Diego Zoo Five City Councilmembers Take Office on Same Day; Outgoing Mayor Camilo Garcia Gives a Heartfelt Farewell CALEXICO — Thanks to a recall of two members several months back the Calexico City Council saw the uncommon occurrence of five individuals being sworn into office on the same night As City Clerk Veronica Alvarado led them through the oath of office on Wednesday evening new Calexico council persons Diana Nuricumbo Adriana Marquez and Lorenzo “Lencho” Calderon joined re-election winners Victor Legaspi and Lisa Tylenda in raising their right hands repeating the oath and completing the remade council to thunderous applause The recall in April of two council members 5 election to the potential of seeing five new faces three full-term members and two short-term Marquez and Calderon filled out the four-year seats while appointed incumbent Tylenda and Nuricumbo won the two-year seats with outgoing council members reading from emotional statements and some new council members addressing the voters and their families at length What seemed a surprise to some audience members and expected to others was Nuricumbo being installed as the new mayor of Calexico who was seated at the center of the dias in her bright pink jacket Giving a passionate speech from a prepared statement Nuricumbo was a fitting choice given she was often the only campaigning council member — and newly elected one — who continued to show up to meetings and rail against the council in favor of the community “This has been a turning point for our city and although many might see that negatively and maybe even embarrassing my outlook in life has always been to see the good in things a community that will now be expecting results and demanding accountability a community that has become more aware of the consequences of their indifference at the polls one that has now found their democratic voice through the power of the vote,” Nuricumbo said “The people of Calexico are saying no more to compadrasmos no more to irresponsible actions and no more to self-serving representation “Becoming your council member means I look out for your best interest becoming your mayor means I look out for your best interest It means we move forward as a team with the will of the majority we allow for opportunities to succeed as a community,” she said “When we have a city that looks out and listens to its community it creates a potential for advanced advancement those who campaigned with her and the voters She also took time to address Calexico’s city employees promising them fair working conditions and that they would get what they “need” to do their jobs not necessarily what they “want.” “A good council will give staff what they need and will give citizens what they want,” she said “I look forward to serving my city the Marine Corps way Nuricumbo’s mayor pro tem for coming year will be Legaspi We’ve already opened up communications dialog with school districts and we’re going to continue with this team Each remaining council member took their turn thanking the electorate and previewing their style of governance for the balance of their terms and I am truly and deeply honored by the trust you the citizens of Calexico have placed in me to serve as your elected official,” Tylenda said “Calexico is my home town where I’m raising my family and where my heart belongs I am committed to working timelessly and tirelessly to bring in the changes we need and deserve more prosperous future for our community.” Marquez led in votes among the 12-person field and often had the most polished visual messaging she has been making the rounds on social media with a plan called “Visit Calexico,” which looks to bring tourism back to the city “I am aware that with this trust comes huge responsibility a challenge to put a past to an end and start working for the future of our beloved city of Calexico It’s time to make Calexico move forward as a city no more leaving Calexico behind,” Marquez said “We need to offer opportunities for our businesses so we all can feel proud of living in the city.” Calderon comes to the City Council as the most experienced of the legislators having served a decade on the Calexico Unified School District Board of Trustees Calling it a “real statement,” Calderon said and that is a promise to everyone in Calexico.” and this is something that my dad always told you he told me you’re as good as your word that you citizens of Calexico will see a change immediately in Calexico Preceding the swearing in of the City Council plaques changed hands as then-council member Javier Moreno presented mounted gavels to Camilo Garcia and Gloria Romo to celebrate their time as mayor But it was Garcia who was the man of the hour for the first part of the meeting with several residents using the public comment portion to thank him for his service He went with a wide-ranging six-plus-minute farewell address where he seemed close to tears at times a little bit of sadness for this is my final meeting as a member of the Calexico City Council It has truly been an honor to serve this incredible community that I have loved so much,” he said “I also want to express my deep appreciation for the citizens of Calexico each of you who have trusted me with your responsibility your concerns and your hopes for our future you have guided me in many ways that I could have never imagined,” Garcia said “I’m proud to have worked alongside my colleagues here on this council because it was always with the goal of building a stronger After addressing ideas that he was “soft” in his time as mayor Garcia said: “The true strength of Calexico lay in our ability to find peace in the middle of the storm I worked to bring tranquility during times of anguish as often happens in these types of positions the work of rebuilding peace is rarely remembered or acknowledged the friendships I made throughout all this time but I have no doubt that Calexico’s best days are yet to come,” he added and for being a place that I will always hold a special place in my heart.” Angel Esparza Developed His Own Chai Blend During COVID and Recently Opened A “Third Space” Focused on Community has seen Angel Esparza embody the concept that an entrepreneur is someone who is willing to “jump off a cliff and build an airplane on the way down.” that the man with a background in marketing video production and graphic design threw his energies into developing his own formulation of the ancient Southeast Asian staple mastermind behind the lifestyle social media handle opened his first brick-and-mortar location called Magic Chai a new space in Calexico for people to drink chai have a place to intentionally build mind and spirit Esparza has built the business one step at a time it’s a soft opening where we’re figuring it out,” Esparza said of his Feb but it’s just kind of flying on its own and I’m still needing to build the controls to be able to fly it appropriately I’m looking for all those components.” Magic Chai is a 700-square-foot location at 2451 Rockwood Ave. has several configurations of comfortable seating and features a calming design and decor — and a custom counter and cabinets — all with Esparza involved in every step of formation.  “In 2016 I knew I wanted to open up a space like this; it was going to be like a coffee shop slash bar or something like that just like a space where the community could come together And so I knew that I wanted to sell chai in that place,” Esparza explained “It was just a seed that was planted about nine years ago and then when the pandemic started in 2020 and I used that time to develop my own chai.” It was then that Esparza knew there could be a market for such a product He refined his flavors and began selling Magic Chai as a standalone product on his personal social media page His first batch for sale of 48 “sold out in less than a day So obviously there was a demand at some level,” he said Esparza was mindful of creating an intentional “third space” in his hometown The concept that our lives exist in three spaces — home being one communal public space — Esparza wanted Magic Chai to embody the calm and mindfulness he had come to practice in his own life Mondays through Fridays would be that calm with Saturdays serving as something more intentional where creatives and those seeking to enrich themselves can come for workshops.  “The two main areas that our workshops are going to focus on is creativity and mindfulness we’re going to do workshops on photography adding he has friends on both sides of the border who have asked to facilitate such workshops I’ve done a bunch of breathing workshops and I also learned it myself,” he said in indicating what sessions he could lead The plan is also for the Magic Chai brand to expand out of the storefront increasing production and using the shop as a base of Esparza’s mail order operations of his original Magic Chai and a second formula I’m transitioning out of my normal day job because I do want to grow the brand to a degree where it’s not just like a chai house in Calexico We have the pouches that we make in house that we can sell and ship like anywhere in the U.S.,” he said.  “I’m so glad that people are resonating with it whether it’s the space and intention or the beverages so if people were really loving it … honestly the comment that I’ve heard the most was like and there’s nothing like this in the Valley.” Project’s Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Report is Approved by Council HOLTVILLE — The Alamo River Trail Trestle Bridge project took a major step forward during the Holtville City Council meeting on Monday The project aims to rehabilitate the Trestle Bridge which endured significant damage from a nearby fire in 2009 It will create a safe non-motorized crossing for pedestrian bicycle and equestrian users over the Alamo River benches and signage will also be installed along the newly renovated pathway leading up to the bridge Holtville City Council adopted resolution no 25-11 which certified the Trestle Bridge project’s final initial study/mitigated negative declaration (IS/MND) report a critical step in moving the project ahead Because the Trestle Bridge project was awarded funding by the Recreational Trails and Gateway Grant Program administered by the California Natural Resources Agency it must comply with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act CEQA requires the submission of the IS/MND report to ensure any potential impacts to the environment are identified and addressed the city submitted the IS/MND report to the county and state receiving comment letters from the California Department of Transportation the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife The comments received on the initial report included advice about transportation permits reminders about minimizing pollution during construction recommendations for contracting onsite biologists and updating environmental surveys who presented an overview of the final IS/MND report during the City Council meeting “All the recommended mitigation measures will be put into practice most likely prior to or during construction,” Amarillas said Councilmember Mike Pacheco motioned to approve the resolution following a few questions from council members and no comments from the public With the final IS/MND report now certified city staff will prepare and submit a notice of determination to the State Clearinghouse which deals with CEQA and CEQA-related matters Upon approval of the certified IS/MND report from the state including carrying out reimbursements for the planning phase and entering the bidding and construction phases Construction for the project is anticipated to begin July 2025 and will be completed July 2026 City Manager Nick Wells presented two projects underway which aim to receive funds from the Southern California Association of Governments under the Federal Highway Administration Surface Transportation Block and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant programs Cedar Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets was truncated during the last bridge support project on Orchid Avenue would address this section for improvement would add sidewalks to the eastside of Melon Avenue between Eighth and Ninth streets The city will submit these projects to SCAG for consideration by May 16 The motion to continue moving forward with these projects was approved by councilmember Munger and seconded by councilmember Vanessa Ramirez.  State and Federal Officials Celebrate the Imperial County Transportation Commission’s New Intermodal Transportation Center on Third Street  CALEXICO — The Imperial County Transportation Commission and supporting members within the community broke ground Friday on what will become Calexico’s new Intermodal Transportation Center on Third Street occupying the block between Rockwood and Heffernan avenues “The Calexico ITC (Intermodal Transportation Center) aims to be one of our greatest achievements as it will be the Imperial County’s largest and most robust transit center,” said David Aguirre executive director of the Imperial County Transit Commission which is in downtown Calexico and only a few minutes away from the West Port of Entry transportation services to exist conveniently in one place as an upgrade from the existing transportation center the ITC will include: onsite customer service EV charging stations and improvements to nearby sidewalks and crossings that make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act “Anyone that has worked in government understands that projects of this magnitude take vision dedication and partnership,” Aguirre explained going on to thank the commission members as well as Imperial County Transportation Center staff past and present for facilitating the Intermodal Transportation Center project Additional organizations in collaboration with the ICTC on the development of the new center include CalTrans Federal Transit Commission and the Southern California Association of Governments In terms of how the Calexico ITC will enhance public transportation for residents of Imperial County and those who use the services “the facility will provide a centralized location for multimodal transportation opportunities and private regional transportation services.” The priorities when designing the ITC included enhancing customer service and security for transportation users thus “helping passengers reach their destinations safely and efficiently.” there is a high demand for effective public transportation executive director of the Southern California Association of Governments observed from the planning and feasibility studies that occurred at the start of this project that Imperial Valley is similar to Los Angeles County due to it being across the border from a metropolitan city.  “When we think of the Imperial County and we think of the small population we cannot discount that it’s part of a metropolitan area — international but part of a metropolitan area — and that economic vibrance that comes from that is what this project represents,” Ajise noted “The reason that it’s one of the busiest bus stops is because we have a population across the border that engages on this side and we cannot discount that — that’s part of our regional economy.” CalTrans District 11 Director Ann Fox affirmed the importance in supporting U.S “We see that we know that one of the goals with CalTrans is to facilitate this cross-border traffic as it is a key economic driver and economic generator for our region This center will play a big part in that effort The center will provide a safer and secure experience for those traveling between Imperial County and Mexico while strengthening our cross-border connectivity,” said Fox “Our team is eager to see and get this construction work underway.” much of the project was made possible thanks to “critical infrastructure funding programs and the dedication of ICTC staff to pursue the numerous funding sources.” With an approximate one-year length of time for building the facility it took many more years to plan and recruit funding sources for the new transportation center “This is not just a bricks-and-mortar infrastructure project,” stated Congressman Raul Ruiz “It’s about constructing a brighter future for our constituents — a future where transportation is no longer a barrier.” The Transportation Center project has been in the works since 2014 and now comes together with the help of multiple grants which over the years has included obtaining federal equity grants most of which are not as accessible to obtain today “Equity means putting the resources where the resources are needed,” said Ruiz who went on to describe how the Trump Administration has put a freeze on many equity grants if we start to think of that word (equity) as a wasteful word then we’re going to not get our fair share We’re not going to be able to get the resources that we need here in Imperial Valley,” Ruiz explained I urge everybody to be vigilant and to pay attention to what’s happening because it affects us here in projects like these that we can get done in the future.” expressed her excitement about the project and the congestion it will decrease within other areas of the city “As part of our vision to beautify our city and our historic downtown the initiation of this project couldn’t have come at a better time General Services Administration) is close to starting the construction efforts of our pedestrian Port of Entry,” Nuricumbo stated Taxi cabs and other forms of transportation tend to congregate around First Street we will soon have a hub where all our public transportation will be centralized and it will help us decrease some of our traffic hot spots.” The project supports those engaging with the city With much gratitude for the center’s addition to Calexico “We hope that this is the first of many essential and beautiful projects that will enhance connectivity between our cities and be part of our desire to grow economically throughout our Imperial Valley.” City Partners — Again — with Developer on Homeless Housing Grant and Council Hears from GSA CALEXICO — The at-times frosty relationship between the Calexico City Council and the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Calexico is entering a new thawing period with an agreement to temporarily house the rebuilding organization in City Hall which went dormant with the onset of COVID in 2020 and tried to re-establish itself a few years later with a rebrand this time with the support of the city of Calexico in the form of a memorandum of understanding that provides office space for the chamber in City Hall for up to six months “We’re trying to make an effort to get the Chamber of Commerce going again,” said chamber Director Daniel Romero who has been a constant figure with the organization since its 2020 demise Romero was present at the City Council meeting on Wednesday with councilmember Adriana Marquez voting against Past councils in the last half decade have gone back and forth on their level of support for the chamber’s efforts with the chamber at times receiving tens of thousands of dollars annually in city financial support This latest MOU comes with no monetary support.  Resident Victor Rocha referenced the past monies paid out to the chamber when he spoke in public comment opposing the use of City Hall office space “Don’t enter into agreements that will have long-term effects,” said Rocha adding that the city used to contribute $60,000 a year to the chamber Mayor Diana Nuricumbo reminded those present that the city of Calexico owned the now-shuttered chamber building on Highway 111 and Highway 98 with the chamber using that building for years Romero stressed that the MOU stipulates all of this temporary and that use of City Hall is contingent on proof of insurance The agreement also calls for the chamber to pay for cleaning services the MOU calls for the chamber to be actively involved in the business and economic interests of the city including engaging with the city’s Business Improvement District and taking a role in the Design Review Committee At least two council members — Mayor Pro Tem Victor Legaspi and Lisa Tylenda — gave their full-throated support for the new MOU and renewed relationship The chamber has been “going strong for at least eight months,” Legaspi said who has often posted himself on social media meeting with chamber officials in brainstorming sessions “I certainly think this is a great idea,” Tylenda said “Fantastic idea to streamline business locally.” She added that at a recent conference she saw cities like Rancho Cordova providing space in the city hall for chamber business Taking up an issue that started with the city in 2019 and 2020 the City Council reluctantly approved a joint application to the state Homekey grant program on an existing homeless housing project at the former Hollie’s Hotel If the council did not approve the resolution joining with Riverwalk Imperial LP in participation on Homekey the city was told it would lose future eligibility for grants through the state Housing and Community Development Department He didn’t explain why the city’s eligibility was at stake.  Executing the application was approved 3-1-1 with councilmember Lorenzo Calderon voting no and councilmember Marquez abstaining possibly because she said she had sought housing information there for a family member The apartment complex in question is at 801 Imperial Ave and now has 58 units filled with those who were considered homeless or at risk of homelessness The ownership involves three entities under the Riverwalk Imperial banner and the state demanded the new and correct ownership be established on the application for the grant and the documents Ray Roben went before the council representing Riverwalk and tried to answer several questions from the hesitant council the main being what type of housing this was and whether wraparound services were available Mayor Nuricumbo was under the impression the units were for transitional housing of people moving off homelessness and into permanent situations while councilmember Marquez believed mental health and other wraparound social services were being offered at the complex.  Roben said no services are offered and that was never part of the grant; rather the grant was to provide high-quality housing he said there is a lot more paperwork involved in transitional housing and the apartments are strictly for permanent residents coming off homelessness He also mentioned the intention to add several more units by partitioning and rehabilitating what used to be a restaurant in Hollie’s Hotel which is an issue to come to the city at a later date The housing project was initially undertaken in 2020 with a $5.84 million grant through Housing and Community Development’s Homekey program The applicant on that project was Mirka Investments LLC The City Council unanimously approved granting an exclusive easement to the Government Services Administration for the construction of a temporary pedestrian processing facility at First Street and Heffernan Avenue several yards from the U.S.-Mexico border fence and next to the historic Customs building and water tower The building will reroute pedestrian traffic east while the GSA constructs the larger new 32,000-square-foot crossing facility on the footprint of the current facility An official from GSA was on hand Wednesday night to explain this to council members and take their questions.  He informed the council that the temporary building would be finished by December be 8,500 square feet and include eight pedestrian lanes It will be in place through the construction of the permanent facility Some residents were critical of the rerouting of border crossers concerned a longer journey east to the temporary building would be dangerous given the high summer heat and the fact that the line is outdoors While the GSA official did not say air conditioning would be installed he did say the GSA would work to look out for the interest of the crossing public all five Calexico City Council seats are up for election at the same time with all five incumbent council members seeking re-election Three full-term seats and two short-term seats are on the ballot for Nov The full-term (four years) candidates are incumbents Camilo Garcia and Javier Moreno and appointed incumbent Victor Legaspi The challengers are Lorenzo “Lencho” Calderon The short-term (two years) candidates are appointed incumbent Lisa Tylenda Four of the 14 candidates who were contacted to take part in these candidates biographies responded as of Oct Family: Married to Hortencia Armendariz and is the proud father of three children — Cesar He is also a dedicated grandfather to his granddaughters and enjoys the company of his daughters-in-law Current employment/Employment history: Employed for 23 years as a program and compliance manager for the Imperial County Workforce and Economic Development Office I have served as a City Council member for the city of Calexico I have held the position of Mayor Pro Tem and I’m currently the Mayor I am also the current President of the League of Cities Imperial County Division having previously served as First Vice President I am the Imperial County Transportation Commissioner and a member of the SCAG Community Economic & Human Development Committee Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: Casa del Retiro board member and member of the Calexico Rotary Club Reasons for running and top issues: Running for reelection to the Calexico City Council is driven by a deep commitment to enhancing our community’s quality of life through focused economic development inadequate infrastructure and rising homelessness all of which require immediate attention and collaborative solutions By fostering a more engaged civic environment safe and sustainable community that meets the needs of all residents Age: None stated               two daughters-in-law with four grandchildren Current employment: Entrepreneur and 43 years in business including seven years in current business I served two and half years as a school board member of Calexico Unified School District Four years as a City Council member and one year as Calexico city mayor.  As a council member I found budget overspending discrepancies for the years 2012-2013 I requested a state audit by letter and personal visit to the State Controller’s Office The outcome of the audit proved I was right by questioning the validity of the budget I was able to correct the budget and avoid the city going into bankruptcy I was recognized for questioning the budget validation Other affiliations/Memberships/Board positions:   Imperial County Children and Families First Commission member (current) CEO of Seedeconomy to bring up to 30,000 jobs in the city of Calexico/Imperial County.  Education: Bachelor Degree in Electronics and Multiple Communication Tech I am a proud resident and businessperson of Calexico who deeply cares for our community I’ve served on the Calexico school board; I am a member of the Imperial County Family First Commission and a previous member of the Calexico City Council I continue to speak for the residents of Calexico and obtaining state and federal funds to beautify our parks and upgrade our water facilities and lower rates Immediate action is needed to prevent the current city council from increasing water rates I promise to fight against any water rate increases we deserve a functional city council that works for all of us Joong Kim can secure funding to upgrade our water and sewage plant and ensure our streets and sidewalks are safe the budget overspending and ongoing administrative deficiencies have been occurring which limits the ability to serve the public I am going to take corrective actions to fix the budget problems like I did in the past to better serve the citizens of Calexico.  Joong Kim for the government of the people by the people for the people Current employment/Employment history: Retired Calexico Interim Police Chief Political experience: I was recently appointed as a council member in 2024 Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: I am currently a member of the Calexico Rotary Club and Knights of Columbus I received the Lava Lamp Award and the IV Press’ Monday Mover recognition for working with youth throughout my law enforcement career I later received numerous recognition awards and plaques from various organizations and the Imperial County Board of Supervisors for my extraordinary career in law enforcement Education: I obtained a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from the University of Phoenix.  Reasons for running and top issues:  What inspired me to run for City Council is that during my later years at the Police Department I became aware of our city’s numerous challenges and there was a lack of focus on the safety of our residents the debate over whether police officers should continue carrying rifles highlighted the disconnect between our department and the community needs Key leadership positions within the city remained unfilled because attracting qualified candidates was challenging in a town with turmoil and unprofessionalism with non-essential projects taking precedence over the needs of our citizens Given my extensive experience and deep understanding of the city’s dynamics I felt strongly that I could contribute to meaningful change and help refocus our efforts on the community we serve I am asking for the peoples vote because Calexico is my hometown eventually working for the city’s police department for 34 years I’ve actively engaged with volunteers to clean our downtown area We are nearly finished facilitating the bringing in of the Chamber of Commerce I have assisted in creating a business-friendly environment by directing the city manager to collaborate with the planning department to streamline the new businesses wanting to come in I’ve instructed the city manager to partner with the police chief to increase our police force Family: Husband; Max Marquez; children; Sinead Marquez Experience: Union Representative 2017-2022 campaign field volunteer for the Honorable Superior Court Judge of Imperial County Ruth Montenegro Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: Associated Calexico Teachers Education: BA from San Diego State University Special Education Teaching Credential from San Diego State University Graduate Certificate in Transition from San Diego State University Reasons for running and top issues: I am running to bring positive change and growth to the city of Calexico There have been systematic failures that have caused the city to fall into a state of disrepair.  Elected officials have failed to listen to the citizens and their needs and have used their positions to seek personal agendas instead of working together for the benefit of the city I will be focusing on revitalizing the downtown area of Calexico to its glory days Work on building a safer city by incrementing both fire and police departments Expand and develop the parks and recreation systems for senior citizens and youth programs Rebuilding the Chamber of Commerce of the city of Calexico Current employment/Employment history: Businesswoman Political experience: First time running for political office Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: U.S Education: Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business from San Diego State University Reasons for running and top issues: If elected I’ll work tirelessly to revitalize our local economy; I will support growth and public infrastructure; I will work on making Calexico a business-friendly city and streamline its permitting process to advance new commercial and housing development; I will ensure the people’s money is spent responsibly and allocated to the needs of our community; I will work to preserve our historic downtown and promote a clean and safe Calexico for the well-being of our families and our visitors I am a person of faith and will provide selfless service for my community in a responsible we will create a brighter future for Calexico More Accessible Care for Calexico Residents Reducing Reliance on Hospitals in El Centro and Brawley CALEXICO — The long-awaited opening of All Valley Urgent Care in Calexico was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday bringing healthcare services back to the city healthcare leaders and community members gathered to recognize the importance of the new facility and its potential impact on Calexico residents president of the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomed attendees and spoke on the broader significance of the occasion not just for the team behind this incredible healthcare facility but for the entire community,” Cowie said Elected officials and representatives from various agencies were in attendance including Calexico Mayor Pro-Tem Victor Legaspi Calexico City Councilmember Lorenzo Calderon Imperial council member and Imperial Valley Healthcare District board President Katie Burnworth and representatives from the offices of Congressman Raul Ruiz and state Sen “All Valley Urgent Care was founded in 2018 in the city of El Centro based on the premise that there was a critical need for top-quality accessible healthcare for the residents of Imperial County,” Cowie said saw an opportunity to provide urgent-care services that are both compassionate and convenient.” The facility offers a range of medical services Cowie highlighted the center’s community involvement “All Valley Urgent Care is a proud supporter of our local youth fair activities and clinical rotations for aspiring nurse practitioners and medical assistants,” Cowie said She closed her remarks by officially welcoming the urgent care to Calexico “On behalf of the Imperial Valley Chamber of Commerce we are thrilled to welcome and celebrate All Valley Urgent Care to the City of Calexico,” she said and we look forward to seeing you grow and serve our community for many years to come.” noted the urgent care’s role in keeping healthcare local and reducing the need for residents to travel to hospitals in other cities many patients requiring urgent medical attention must travel more than 10 miles north to El Centro or nearly 25 miles to Brawley for emergency care “I think it’s really important because earlier today there was an example with a patient where fire personnel responded to a call for a patient request and it wasn’t urgent enough for them,” Legaspi said “They could have been transported to the hospital He pointed to the potential impact on emergency response times first responders often have to transport non-emergency patients long distances “I remember as a retired police officer especially when you’re low on staff,” he said Legaspi credited the Tyson family for bringing much-needed healthcare services back to Calexico “I thank the Tyson family for bringing this here and I think it’s going to assist,” he said “I think it’s going to alleviate a lot of people heading towards either El Centro or Brawley hospital They’ll come in here and obtain excellent care.”  The opening of All Valley Urgent Care in Calexico marked the end of a long journey acknowledged the challenges of bringing the facility to completion and the patience of the community “We’ve been waiting a while for this The building itself was originally a project of the now-dissolved Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District which had envisioned a facility that could provide Calexico with essential medical services after the closure of the city’s hospital The transition of the project to the Imperial Valley Healthcare District ensured its completion and Tyson credited Heffernan’s role in making the urgent care a reality “We thank the Heffernan District especially for giving us the opportunity to provide the level of care that the city of Calexico deserves,” Tyson said With Calexico relying on ambulance transport to El Centro or Brawley for hospital care the addition of an urgent-care facility is expected to relieve some of the burden on emergency services “Speaking with the fire captain and the fire department across the street it makes it very hard for 911 calls,” Tyson said “Because if you’ve got two ambulances gone and somebody needs emergency services He pointed to cases like the one mentioned by Legaspi as an example of how the urgent care would help preserve emergency resources for the most critical situations “I think if we can do that continuously but safely that’s going to help those two emergencies,” Tyson said “So when that heart attack does happen you have your ambulance service here ready to go.” With the Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District now dissolved the Imperial Valley Healthcare District has stepped in to oversee healthcare services in Calexico president of the Imperial Valley Healthcare District spoke about the transition and the significance of opening the urgent care “This is a project that was spearheaded and started by the Heffernan Memorial Health Care District,” Burnworth said “They were still in the process of completing it when Imperial Valley Healthcare absorbed Heffernan so I really can’t take a lot of credit for IVHD because and they really did all the heavy lifting.” Burnworth described the facility as an important step but just the beginning of the healthcare district’s work in the city “I’m excited to give back to the city of Calexico now that Imperial Valley Healthcare District is here and in Calexico to provide services,” she said “And this is a big thing but also just a small step in the right direction to the great things that Imperial Valley Healthcare District is going to do to provide more services “Eventually our goal is to have this urgent care be your first stop of defense for somebody getting care,” Burnworth said “Say somebody comes in here and it’s like you need a higher level of care that you can get in the emergency room and then we can just transfer the patient over there Tyson also looked ahead to the next phase of development for the facility outlining plans to expand its capabilities “The plan is still to have the CT machine and maybe even some primary care,” he said A key part of the expansion includes making prescription access more convenient for patients “The pharmacy that you guys see right here is still in the process of working on something with El Centro or Pioneers to be able to provide pharmacy services here as well,” Tyson said By adding diagnostic tools and pharmacy services the facility aims to provide more comprehensive healthcare for Calexico residents “So it truly will be kind of a one-stop shop,” Tyson said and be able to go home without having to travel all over the place.” CALEXICO — Following a public interview process Michael Castillo and Kevin Arellano have been appointed to fill two open seats on the Calexico Unified School District Board of Trustees Castillo and Arellano were among four finalists who introduced themselves and answered questions from the three seated school board members looking to fill vacancies left by the election of Lorenzo “Lencho” Calderon to the Calexico City Council and Lewis Pacheco to the Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors Reportedly 13 applications had been received for the two board positions Daniel Romero and Jose Garcia making the final cut for interviews and selection on Thursday evening who has twice before been elected to the Calexico Unified board is a senior director in charge of early child education at the Imperial County Office of Education “I think I’m interested in being visible at school site meetings making some site visits … to get to become familiar with the school sites collaborating and working with different groups,” he said of his new go-round with the board.  Commenting that the board as a whole is young in experience Castillo suggested the idea of a retreat in order to learn the best ways to work together To establish “what our priorities are,” he added is juvenile division manager for the Imperial County Probation Department and an occasional substitute teacher in the Calexico district “I strongly believe that we have the best teachers If it wasn’t for some of the teachers that we have in the district I wouldn’t be here … I’m looking around the room and I’m looking forward to working with every single one of you in this room so we can provide the best education for our students,” Arellano said Immediately following the interview of all four candidates the members of the Calexico Unified board had some limited discussion of the candidates with Trustee and board Vice President Alex Aviña showing his hand early on who he preferred to fill the seats “My point of view as a teacher for years in Calexico currently a principal in a different district an academic piece is so important because that’s our purpose in this district just giving our teachers what the tools they need so they can do a great job … I heard that very loud and clear coming from Mr she said she was tuned into the candidates who most exemplified giving back to the Calexico Unified School District and volunteering their time and asking nothing in return implying that all four showed some level of that board President Carlos Contreras motioned appointing former Calexico City Council member Daniel Romero as a trustee A unanimous vote was required for election No one from the public addressed the selection But at the outset of Thursday’s meeting Associated Calexico Teachers President Xavier Rodriguez spoke to the board on the task of choosing two new trustees.  “Just one of the really important things to keep in mind is the importance of the decisions that you guys are going to make today as our elected board members You know you represent the citizens … you represent the staff and we always want to make sure that their best interests are taken in mind when you guys are conducting your votes,” Rodriguez said “And I truly believe that that is what you believe and what you intend to do when you do this These two open positions are incredibly important because they will help shape the future at least for the next two years for the students here and everything that affects those students.” Police Chief Tells City Council That Establishing A “Meter Zone” Is Key to Setting Future Policy CALEXICO — The first step in what appears to be several that will address parking in downtown Calexico was preliminarily approved by the City Council on Wednesday night The first reading or an ordinance establishing a downtown parking zone or “meter zone,” was unanimously given the go-ahead by council setting a zone that extends to the railroad tracks on the west Fifth Street on the north and the U.S.-Mexico border on the south Next up is a second reading and then 30 days to follow before it becomes part of the municipal code Wednesday’s approval comes on the heels of a March 12 town hall on the subject put on by the Calexico Police Department and Chief Armando Orozco where those in attendance were informed of some of what to expect with regards to parking changes Orozco also presented to the City Council on March 19 We can’t do anything without establishing the actual meter zone,” Orozco said in foreshadowing parking-related decisions to come.  “This is the first step to start adjusting the downtown parking to what we envision it to be,” he said the next step is going to be to approve the actual meters itself and then the next step is to establish an amended ordinance to establish the actual prices and the hours to be metered.” In addition to defining the parking meter zone there were several amendments to a parking ordinance first established in 1953 Among the charges were definitions for what constitutes “overtime parking” and a more modernized definition of “parking meter” to include the latest equipment; updates on payment methods such as via mobile app; fines and penalties schedules; and exemptions City Councilmember Lorenzo Calderon wanted to know about parking meters and revenue Orozco explained if the city goes with the current company being eyed that relationship comes with a 10 percent revenues share meaning the city pays 10 percent of total receipts to the company that owns the meters Orozco said that would likely factor out to $125,000 through five years after which the city would have the option to purchase the meters for $1 a piece City Councilmember Lisa Tylenda was forceful in her questioning of Orozco to ensure that the city was going “over and above” to reach out to citizens for minimum feedback it’s crucial for me that we go that extra step but this is a point where we go above and beyond because from my public outreach that I conducted on my own so I think it’s important that they’re notified of every single step even if it’s just to introduce the ordinance and I hope that’s the expectation of the rest of the council is that they’re (downtown merchants) notified and it’s circulated because they’re impacted,” Tylenda added Calexico Mayor Diana Nuricumbo concurred that the city should do its best to reach out to the downtown community but she also said expediency is important because revenue is being lost every day because the city is losing money the downtown area needs to have,” the mayor said “We can’t keep bearing the cost of the traffic controllers and what’s going on downtown without receiving this money Parking meter revenue was supposed to be a major source of revenue to fund the traffic controllers needed in the city during peak hours of vehicles crossing the border Ending a Development Agreement for 111 Calexico Place Could Open North End of City to Future Construction CALEXICO — Plans for an off-reservation casino and hotel by the Manzanita and Viejas bands of Kumeyaay Indians in north Calexico have long since fizzled out for the southwestern corner of Jasper Road and Highway 111 is to soon be undone in an action requested of the Calexico City Council What was a planned development of 232 acres — 60.8 acres of which was to be held in trust by the Manzanita tribe for a 459,621-square-foot casino facility — by Hallwood Calexico Investments LLC called 111 Calexico Place has sat undisturbed and undeveloped for years sold off in pieces as three separate parcels still bound by the initial settlement agreement that is at least 15 years old After the project was officially declared dead in 2018 by city officials the principle investors of Calexico Investments LLC are now asking to be released from the development agreement by the city of Calexico two years short of the agreement’s expiration in 2026 Acting Calexico City Manager Juan Contreras said during an interview Monday The main developer on record for Calexico Investments LLC has “fallen ill … herself and her team has kind of asked if it’s possible to move forward with the release of the agreement that we’ve had because the project never came into fruition that whole area they would hate for something to happen and then (the property be) stuck there for a while until we get this thing resolved,” Contreras said Contreras sees the early release as a win for Calexico making room for new developments connected to the larger city that could bring commercial and residential growth to the community at a time when conditions are right “It’s going to increase the likelihood of it bringing investors to come in We have had meetings with other investors who want to come in to do (projects) on Cole Road the Spud Moreno area (La Jolla Palms housing subdivision) as well as north of the Ashley Furniture which is right across the street from the Jasper property,” the acting city manager said of the issue that was on the council agenda for Wednesday night (The item was pulled from the agenda at the start of Wednesday’s meeting.) The early release issue came before the City Council in August but council member Lisa Tylenda sought more information on the agreements Contreras will bring to the council more than 800 pages of staff reporting including past resolutions certifying the environmental impact report on the project site an ordinance approving a special plan overlay for the project and a zone change The area is now owned by up to three separate entities with the last noted ownership change in 2016 Contreras said there does not appear to be any activity on the three lots at the moment but they are zoned for agricultural use now and it appears something is being grown Contreras can imagine single-family housing being developed on the acreage in addition to other uses but he said he nor anyone else at the city has been in any contact with potential developers of late.  Contreras would like to see the area free of its development agreement for the benefit of the city which is ready for some new growth for many reasons including the now-reasonable costs to develop projects and the potential availability of power for projects that was not always there the Calexico Unified School District has significantly lowered what it costs to build single-family housing costs that used to place the school district among the highest in the state for fees Contreras said the lower Mello-Roos taxes — the fees tacked on top of building costs to help construct new schools for the new anticipated students — makes building in Calexico more attractive according to past reporting by this newspaper housing development was nearly stifled in Calexico by the high cost required by the district to build the city and the Imperial Irrigation District have had discussions about the possibility of IID building a new power substation near the new FedEx freight and shipment center just southwest of the Jasper and 111 property City officials in the past had expressed concern about the availability of power for projects in the northern reach of Calexico because of limited capacity due to a lack of power infrastructure the city is preparing for the future use of the parcels most notably by going out to bid on a roads project for Scaroni Road between Jasper and Cole Road Scaroni runs north-south along the Jasper property between the land and 111 The project is funded by a $942,000 California Department of Transportation grant — $471,000 coming from the state along with a 50 percent local match from the city The City Council is expected to award a construction bid in January “This whole project is supposed to get repaved for potential investors to come in to start looking into these areas that we’ve had like surplus land or whatever,” the acting city manager said Much work was done to make the off-reservation casino a reality in the early years of the agreement and it’s difficult to tell what exactly conspired to kill it with only a handful of off-reservation casinos approved in the United State at the time the Manzanita project got started What is known is that at the time the effort was collapsing — around 2010 to 2016 — the temperature had cooled in California for off-reservation designations which could go through the federal process with the Bureau of Indian Affairs but still had to be signed off by the governor California still has the largest presence of Native American gaming in the country with total revenues of $9 billion annually There are 76 Indian gaming casinos owned by 73 of the state’s 109 tribes.  the Viejas Band — the Manzanita tribe’s partner in the process and the operators of a successful venture east of Alpine in San Diego County — had gone as far as to circulate a study on the tribes’ migratory paths that took them through Calexico evidence to bolster the argument for an off-reservation designation.The Manzanita Band which is centered just east of Boulevard in San Diego County and its investors had big plans for Calexico some 93,880 square feet was to be dedicated to gaming and was to include 63,000 square feet of food/beverage and retail components a 38,660-square-foot entertainment venue and 218,081 square feet of other operational facilities there were plans for a 46,000-square-foot banquet/meeting hall and 200-room hotel and swimming pool The casino was to have 2,000 slot machines and 45 gaming tables CALEXICO — The Calexico Fire Department has been awarded $45,989 from T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants program The funding will be used to equip the department with advanced fire hose technology allowing firefighters to deliver more water with less resistance T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants program provides financial support for local projects aimed at revitalizing small towns and rural areas the program has awarded more than $16 million to 375 communities nationwide Calexico fire invited the public to Station No In attendance was most of the Fire Department city officials like the mayor and City Council members and T-Mobile representatives The Calexico Fire Department was one of 25 communities selected for this round of Hometown Grants “When we started Hometown Grants nearly four years ago we knew T-Mobile could make a real difference in small towns across the country but the impact has exceeded all expectations,” according to Jon Freier president of T-Mobile’s Consumer Group Freier emphasized that the grants will enable communities to fund important projects such as Calexico’s new fire hose technology that create lasting improvements for local residents Juan Contreras welcomed all who attended the event Tuesday “This is an exciting moment for our community … we are eternally grateful (for the grant).” Contreras went on to say that the grant award wasn’t simply funding but presented the improvement of the quality of life in Calexico through a better-equipped department thanking the community for its role in securing the grant “None of this could have happened without community involvement,” he said adding that the community reached out on behalf of the Fire Department: “This doesn’t happen without you.” a representative from the manufacturing company that produces the fire hose technology because they want to make sure it’s going to be right for the department … it’s an investment for long-term.” continues to provide crucial funding for rural communities across the nation The grants help local leaders invest in meaningful projects that improve quality of life and create lasting economic and social benefits.  The Calexico Fire Department’s new fire hose technology will enable firefighters to respond more effectively to emergencies The department’s upgrade is a testament to the impact of T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants program in supporting local communities and driving positive change Ordinance That Singles Out Homeless Persons Gets Final Approval and Words of Disapproval from Local ACLU CALEXICO — A legal challenge could be brewing over the city of Calexico’s ban on camping in public and private spaces an ordinance that essentially singles out the community’s homeless population March 19 — that the Calexico City Council approved the second and final reading on the ordinance the American Civil Liberties Union-San Diego and Imperial Counties issued a letter all but threatening to sue rife with language warning of potential liability against the city “The ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties has serious concerns about the city’s proposed ordinance to prohibit individuals from camping on public and private property occupying a vehicle or other temporary shelter after sunset and before sunrise being in possession of items used to sleep and leaving such items unattended,” the letter starts.  would impose hefty fines on and even imprisonment of individuals who already cannot afford housing and would criminalize the very existence of unhoused people within Calexico’s city limits,” the ACLU continues “We urge you to vote no on the second reading of the proposed ordinance … and urge you to carefully consider the potential impacts — including exposing the city to legal liability and creating devastating humanitarian conditions — of this and any future similar proposals.   The letter goes on to state that the city could be subject to liability for violating the California Constitution Constitution and other state and federal laws Supreme Court’s recent ruling in City of Grants Pass Johnson as the basis for Calexico’s camping ban that protections under the California Constitution remain unchanged by the federal decision what the city is doing is “cruel and contravenes best practices.” The ACLU writes: “In addition to the legal problems with the proposed ordinance deploying code enforcement officials and police as first responders to unhoused encampments is costly and cruel Effective outreach instead requires the development of rapport and trust as well as a trauma-informed approach that is lowbarrier Calexico City Attorney Carlos Campos did address the letter briefly “We did receive a letter from the ACLU today and we are following up on the letter to the extent council decided to move on the consent calendar with the second reading of the ordinance to the extent we needed to make any changes to that we would bring those back to the City Council.” Significantly short of the upward of 40 comments of protest against the ban during the March 5 City Council meeting several community members returned to weigh in again for the second reading executive organizer with Imperial Valley Equity and Justice Coalition but also identified herself as a member of the ACLU-San Diego and Imperial Counties Board of Directors “You have my word that (if) you make the inhumane decision today you bet that I will use all the energy that I have and all the advocacy that I can do within the institution to make sure that they take you all to court if you all pass this,” Flores said and I am not speaking on behalf of the board Among those who spoke out against the ban was Ricardo Ortega former executive director of Calexico Neighborhood House which does provide limited services to the homeless population in Calexico “While I recognize the city’s concerns regarding public health this ordinance takes a punitive … approach to homelessness rather than offering meaningful solutions,” Ortegas said “Instead of addressing the root causes of homelessness infringes on individual rights and may expose the city to significant legal and financial consequences.” delivered the organization’s letter to the city In addition to reiterating parts of the letter “In the city’s analysis of the ordinance the city cites unsanitary conditions as one of the leading reasons for this action Many groups in the past have been advocating for public restrooms not only for the people who are experiencing homelessness but for the residents and visitors of the city The city could actively work towards meaningful solutions by providing access to public restrooms we ask that you work on real solutions and invest in effective housing first policies which is the state’s official policy to get people off the streets and into their own affordable permanent housing.” Calexico resident Jesus Solano did speak in favor of the ordinance warning the council to not be “intimidated” by those against the camping ban No members of the City Council spoke before the unanimous roll call vote.  the ordinance now takes 30 days to be enacted ACLU should go after California realtors and investors who keep raising prices on homes Few people can afford the astronomical housing prices in California killing the American dream of home ownership Realtors and investors do not raise the price of homes Coordinated “Hands Off 2025” Aimed at Dissatisfaction with President Trump’s Policies and Rhetoric  EL CENTRO — On a sunbaked Saturday afternoon in different spots around Imperial County ready to chant and with fierce determination to proclaim: “Hands off our rights.” part of the nationwide “Hands Off 2025” protest movement on Saturday brought together people from all walks of life — educators organizers — unified by a growing fear that their most basic liberties and services are under threat Imperial County’s protest was just one of more than 1,000 events held across the United States and internationally The protests aimed at pushing back against policies and rhetoric from the Trump campaign and its supporters At the core of the movement was a simple plea: stop stripping away the programs protections and freedoms that millions depend on spent decades of his life as a librarian — first in Humboldt County and later as a director in Imperial County he says he still sees the impact of government decisions on local libraries and public institutions That’s what brought him out to protest on Saturday “He eliminated the Institute of Museum and Library Services,” Zazueta said referring to cuts made so far under the Trump administration “That’s the federal mechanism that funds libraries across the country He sees disturbing echoes of history in Trump’s reliance on executive orders and emergency declarations — what he described as “bypassing the Legislature in a way that’s very reminiscent of how authoritarian regimes consolidate power.” “I read a book about how Hitler passed something called the Enabling Act,” he said “It let him bypass the Legislature completely That’s where Trump is going with all his executive orders reflecting on a photo he saw recently — a sobering image from Nazi Germany “It said one-third of people supported what was happening the protest wasn’t just political — it was deeply personal attended in fear that same-sex marriage protections could be rolled back in a second Trump term “I think they’re going to overturn gay marriage,” Gonzalez said said the rise in hate speech has been palpable “I’ve seen a lot of the hate that was simmering in 2011 just get amplified with this administration,” they said They also pointed to a broader trend of rights being eroded across communities — including benefits being stripped from veterans and working-class families One friend in particular came to mind: Adam Rosenberg a disabled Iraq War veteran whose support services have been slashed “We should be taking care of people like that.” It’s about what kind of country they’re going to live in — and whether it’s one that still values diversity “We used to fight against fascists in World War II,” they said has seen firsthand how national policies ripple through the most vulnerable populations in the Imperial Valley “This is not just a local protest,” she said “There are over 1,000 Hands Off events happening across the U.S Close to half a million people are standing up today.” listed off the agencies and services under attack: Medicare Nonprofits like Catholic Community Services which recently laid off 29 employees and may be forced to shut down entirely is especially heavy among seniors and disabled residents Many rely on phone lines to access Social Security and medical care — services that are being quietly cut or undermined “And that’s exactly what this administration wants The Hands Off 2025 movement isn’t tied to any single political party though its primary concerns revolve around the potential consequences of a second Trump term its mission is to resist “the dismantling of democracy safety nets and civil rights protections in the United States.” that means pushing back against policies that disproportionately affect low-income communities and people of color with its high poverty rate and significant immigrant population has long depended on the very programs now being targeted for defunding The demonstration on Saturday included speeches chants and opportunities for civic engagement — from voter registration booths to informational handouts Organizers emphasized that protesting is just one part of the work the crowd began to disperse yet a sense of urgency remained “We still have freedom of speech,” Beope said Zazueta echoed the same call to action: “We need to elect officials who will stand up to Trump This next election matters more than ever.” “I’m scared of not being able to marry who I love,” Nangayan said Three of Four Candidates Are in Attendance at Calexico Woman’s Improvement Club to Face Off Ahead of Nov CALEXICO — The Calexico Unified School District board candidate forum put on by the Associated Calexico Teachers was marked by heated discussion and passionate appeals inside the Woman’s Improvement Club on Wednesday evening was left to face off with challengers Alex Aviña and Fabiola Calderón Incumbent Trustee Margarita Magallanes a no-show at the forum The tensions in the air began to rise near the latter half of the forum as members of the audience — many of whom were teachers’ union members — were noticeably annoyed at some of the answers coming from the incumbent which was moderated by longtime Calexico High teacher and former Imperial Irrigation District Director Norma Sierra Galindo included the district’s career-technical education programs a 25-year Calexico school district educator and principal highlighted her commitment to giving back to the community.  While the district’s innovative CTE initiatives have garnered national attention recent course cancellations due to budget constraints have raised concerns Candidates debated the need for increased funding to support these programs.  The district has implemented various measures a proposed security building project has been delayed due to rising costs Aviña expressed deep concerns about the district’s current safety measures and advocated for additional steps to protect students Student retention was also a significant topic Candidates acknowledged the district’s challenges in retaining both students and teachers Aviña emphasized the need for strategic budgeting and a focus on student success A particularly contentious issue that emerged during the forum was the perceived overreach of the district’s human resources department there have been growing concerns about the department’s role in areas that were traditionally handled by other administrative staff These concerns include directives related to student discipline When asked about the potential of shifting all administrative responsibilities to HR making the superintendent and other administrators subordinate to the HR director Calderón responded with a quote from the Spanish proverb su zapatero,” which translates to “Each shoemaker should stick to his last.” Calderón expressed her belief that HR personnel should primarily focus on disciplinary matters and recruitment arguing against expanding their authority into areas outside their expertise asserting that the department is acting within its intended scope He emphasized the importance of HR in ensuring fair and equitable practices throughout the district both candidates acknowledged concerns about the lack of teacher input in decision-making processes emphasized the importance of teachers’ perspectives in shaping policies and practices He used the analogy of building a fence to illustrate the point: “When people have helped you build a fence they’re less likely to help take it down.” Calderón also recognized the need for improved communication and collaboration between teachers She highlighted the lack of dialogue as a significant issue that needs to be addressed Another pressing concern raised during the forum was the district’s perceived passivity in addressing disciplinary and academic issues Concerns were expressed about the district’s lack of enforcement of disciplinary and academic consequences which has led to a situation where students feel empowered to disregard rules and expectations Aviña emphasized the importance of parental involvement in addressing student behavior and academic performance He suggested that parents consider taking parenting classes to better support their children’s education Calderón further emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to addressing student behavior and safety issues She argued that the district must work closely with parents and staff to prevent and address these problems She stressed that poor student behavior not only jeopardizes the safety and well-being of other students but also places additional burdens on teachers and administrators the forum addressed the district’s relationship with the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program CUSD currently pays IVROP more than $150,000 annually for training services despite the CTE department’s opposition to this agreement The department believes that the services provided by IVROP are already embedded in the district’s CTE curriculum and that the funds could be better utilized to support the CTE coordinator and other departmental expenses Alvarado indicated that he is open to reviewing the agreement and exploring potential alternatives He emphasized the importance of collecting data on the effectiveness of IVROP’s services and evaluating their value to CUSD students Calderón expressed her support for the CTE department’s position on the IVROP agreement She believes that the district can provide the necessary training and support to students through its own CTE programs saving money and ensuring that resources are allocated effectively It’s important to note that Calexico Unified School District currently represents more than 450 union members This significant union membership plays a crucial role in shaping the district’s policies and practices Calderón has been a dedicated attendee of CUSD board meetings since 2016 missing only two meetings during this time Her consistent presence demonstrates her commitment to the district and her willingness to actively participate in its governance the forum provided a platform for candidates to present their visions for the future of CUSD The outcome will likely have a profound impact on the district’s educational landscape with the perceived overreach of the human resources department the lack of enforcement of disciplinary and academic consequences and the district’s relationship with IVROP emerging as key concerns among voters in response to a question about his overall assessment of the forum Alvarado told a reporter that there is room for improvement and areas of opportunity he also highlighted the significant progress that has been made during his tenure and expressed his optimism for the future of CUSD Alvarado encouraged voters to look beyond the challenges and focus on the positive changes that have taken place under his leadership Violent Organization Linked to Beltran Leyva Cartel of Sinaloa EL CENTRO — Twenty-two alleged members of a sophisticated transnational drug trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa-based Beltran Leyva Cartel were indicted by a federal grand jury for importing and distributing more than a ton of methamphetamine fentanyl and cocaine into the United States and attempting to export firearms from the United States into Mexico In a coordinated takedown on March 20 in California and local law enforcement officials arrested 10 defendants and executed six search warrants in Imperial County Including seizures on March 20 and throughout this long-term investigation authorities have confiscated more than 1,000 kilograms (about 2,204 pounds) of drugs cocaine and over 750 kilograms (about 1,653 pounds) of fentanyl and more than $250,000 in narcotics proceeds “We have literally seized a ton of drugs that were destined to hit our streets and harm our community,” said Acting U.S we are preventing the devastation and violence it brings.” “Today’s enforcement action marks the culmination of a complex demonstrating the strong collaboration between federal state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide,” said Shawn Gibson “Our local communities are undoubtedly safer today and we remain committed to aggressively pursuing criminal organizations that threaten our country.” Mexico- and Imperial County-based transnational criminal organization that operated as a distribution cell for the Beltrán Leyva Cartel specifically associated with Fausto Isidro Meza Flores aka “El Chapo” Isidro Using undercover operations and multiple rounds of wiretaps agents conducted numerous controlled purchases traffic stops of personal vehicles and tractor trailers and searches of houses and stash locations leading to large seizures of narcotics an Imperial County-based narcotics subdistributor was shot multiple times in Mexicali and died several months thereafter Investigators believe that the subdistributor was lured from the United States to Mexico and shot by a co-conspirator in relation to their drug trafficking and money laundering activities authorities seized approximately 1.4 million fentanyl pills after intercepting phone conversations about moving fentanyl pills in a semi-truck Federal agents watched the transaction from afar then conducted a traffic stop on the drug-laden tractor-trailer Law enforcement officials located eight duffel bags containing approximately 148.53 kilograms (327.45 pounds) in the trailer of the truck authorities seized approximately 483,000 fentanyl pills after intercepting phone conversations about moving narcotics in a semi-truck Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on the drug-laden tractor-trailer and located bags containing approximately 48.30 kilograms (106.48 pounds) of fentanyl pills in the truck authorities seized approximately 480,000 fentanyl pills and a loaded 9mm handgun with a 10-round magazine inserted and a round in the chamber After intercepting phone conversations about coordinating the movement of narcotics in a semi-truck federal agents surveilled the narcotics being loaded into the tractor-trailer Law enforcement officials located six duffel bags containing approximately 72.29 kilograms (159.37 pounds) of methamphetamine and 48.6 kilograms (107.14 pounds) of fentanyl in the trailer of the truck investigators seized approximately 139,000 fentanyl pills and 36.66 kilograms (80.82 pounds) of methamphetamine following federal agents’ surveillance of defendants unloading and transporting the narcotics after a traffic stop conducted by a Brawley police officer law enforcement seized approximately 59.48 kilograms (131.13 pounds) of methamphetamine Federal agents also seized firearms and ammunition during the investigation including two gold plated AR-15 semi-automatic rifles hidden inside a 55-gallon barbecue grill on Aug and seven magazines destined for Mexicali-based drug traffickers five of the charged defendants are tied to alien smuggling activity having been either arrested and/or previously prosecuted for immigration-related crimes This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Case Number 24cr2399                                Irving Alberto Lopez Valdes; Age: 36; Mexicali Raul Salome Valdez-Orduno; Age: 46; Mexicali Jesus Damian Lizarraga Sanchez; Age: 28; Mexicali Ricardo Miramontes Nava; Age: 35; Calexico Alain Alejandro Robles-Murrieta; Age: 19; Mexicali Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances – Title 21 Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and a $500,000 fine Attempted Transfer of a Firearm for Use in a Drug Trafficking Crime – Title 18 Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison and a $250,000 fine Calexico – Imperial Valley Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (IV-BEST) United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Imperial County District Attorney’s Office The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty City Council Deals with a Number of Personnel-related Issues Including Grants Manager and City Manager Pay (UPDATED: This story was updated on Wednesday with additional information on the ambulance issue.) CALEXICO — Due to a lack of paramedic personnel to operate Calexico’s ambulance service in the near future the city and American Medical Response have been in negotiations over a mutual aid contract.  Calexico’s mayor said not all is as bad as it seemed last week Acting City Manager Juan Contreras informed the City Council and the public there was the possibility of losing the Calexico Fire Department’s ambulance service the only city fire department-run ambulance service in Imperial County “We have to come up with a solution and plan some sort of agreement within the next two weeks I did get two resignation letters … we’re losing four paramedics four paramedics that we can’t afford to lose,” Contreras said on Feb While Contreras did not return messages for an undate of the situation said the situation has changed for the better “I have received information that we might not be losing four paramedics after all and we have a firefighter/paramedic that can fill in when needed so that would bring us down to one paramedic short,” Nuricumbo wrote in an email No other information has been made available We’re losing them to other local agencies and (one) went to San Diego County,” Contreras said then A mutual aid contract has been drafted and city staff apparently started contract talks with AMR on Thursday over temporary ambulance coverage for the city AMR is the private contractor that provides coverage for all Imperial County and its incorporated cities “If we don’t have personnel to man the ambulance we’re not going to be able to provide that service And if we lose these 201 rights that we’ve had for quite some time Calexico operates an ambulance service under “Section 201” of the Emergency Medical Services Act that allows certain cities and fire districts to continue providing ambulance services within their boundaries if they were already doing so before a specific date essentially “grandfathering” their ability to operate ambulance services without needing to fully comply with all new EMS regulations Contreras said Calexico Fire Department has provided ambulance service since 1972 There is also a financial hit to the city with calling in AMR to provide backup Contreras said about $1.5 million in revenue to the city will be lost But we really need to think (about) what we want to do with the ambulance we don’t have a public ambulance to serve The hospital on wheels for the community,” Contreras said The matter was only delivered as information and no discussion took place among council members on Wednesday night In a populous city with no hospital and limited after-hours medical services Calexico fire’s ambulance service is a lifeline for the residents and is also in high demand from the U.S Border Patrol and Customs for medical incidents at the international border Calexico Mayor Diana Nuricumbo revealed that she had only seen four qualified applications for the permanent city manager position in the last few months In an effort to widen the pool of applicants the City Council approved raising the pay scale by about 21.5 percent the pro-rated salary increase is expected to cost the city a total of $16,642.60 for the remainder of the fiscal year Nuricumbo made the point that Calexico has to remain competitive considering that the cities of El Centro and Brawley are each seeking permanent city managers as well concluding that Calexico is competing for candidates “We can’t just hire someone just to hire And since this position has been open for eight months — I know it’s a lot of money it really hurts me — but the reason why this is even considered is because we believe that the reason why we haven’t received that top tier applicant talented CEO-level applicants that we need is because we have our neighboring city paying a lot more,” Nuricumbo said the mayor was informed by City Manager Contreras that there are about 10 applicants being vetted for qualifications It was repeated by City Councilmember Lisa Tylenda that one of the reasons the city can’t get out from under the thumb of the state and be qualified for grant funding once again former council member and current District 1 Imperial County Supervisor Jesus Escobar expressed the importance of hiring the right city manager “This is the most important decision you will make because even though you are the elected officials He needs to earn the respect of each and every department head He is a cushion between city elected officials and department heads It’s one of the toughest jobs I’ve ever known,” Escobar said The 4-1 vote saw Lorenzo “Lencho” Calderon once again playing spoiler for the second time that evening.  “The financial status of this city is still unknown None of us know whether we’re in the red or where we’re at and we’re not selecting a city manager today What I’m opposed to is that we’re paying almost $45,000 (more) and ultimately it’s going to cost us $320,000 and benefits that are going to have an impact on our general fund Resurrecting a position the city had created some years ago the council allocating funding to a grants manager a position that will cost the city some $167,863.62 for the 2026 fiscal year Much discussion was had about the city’s inability to obtain state Community Development Block Grants and state Community and Housing Development grants due to mishandling in the past The idea is that a grants manager could untangle the problems three city employees are being pulled from their jobs on occasion to work on the issue A strong advocate for the grants manager position councilmember Tylenda repeatedly referred to being on the state’s “naughty list.” She said of what the city is missing: “We can’t even use the (grant) money there’s actually a lot of noncompetitive grants that this city has not applied for because of lack of staff All you have to do is submit an application and you get the money and it’s for certain departments that don’t have that capacity.” Mayor Pro Tem Victor Legaspi abstained and councilmember Calderon voted against the allocation “Our budget can’t sustain this position it’s gonna be paid for itself; not all grants will pay for administration this city has had two grant writers in the past a federal administration that might be cutting off federal funding.” An official website of the United States government Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists (CBPAS) assigned to the Calexico cargo facility intercepted a rare pest while conducting an examination of a cargo shipment a shipment containing red and green leaf lettuce arrived at the Calexico cargo facility During an initial inspection of the shipment a CBP officer referred the driver and cargo for an intensive agriculture inspection a CBP agriculture specialist discovered an unusual insect within the lettuce leaves The pest was submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for further identification CBPASs then returned the shipment and driver to Mexico a final identification of the pest was made as Campiglossa peregrina which is part of the fruit fly family This species has not been recorded in the USDA pest identification database qualifying this discovery as a first across all ports in the nation This find demonstrates CBP’s efforts to prevent invasive species from entering the United States “Discovering a first-of-its-kind pest in our nation is a remarkable achievement Our agriculture specialists’ role will continue to aid in safeguarding our environment and agriculture.” stated Roque Caza Port Director for the Area Port of Calexico Travelers and industries who wish to import flowers, plant materials, and other agricultural items should visit the Bringing Agricultural Products into the United States section of CBP’s website for ways to prevent conveyance contamination CBP encourages travelers to declare all agricultural items to a CBP officer upon arrival Follow the Director of CBP’s San Diego Field Office on X at @DFOSanDiegoCA for breaking news Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity We enhance the nation's security through innovation View a complete list of local and regional CBP social media accounts CALEXICO — Two pedestrians sustained what police called serious injuries when they were hit by a vehicle while crossing Andrade Avenue near Santa Fe Drive on Monday afternoon officers from the Calexico Police Department responded to the traffic collision to find a 42-year-old male and a 76-year-old female by a 71-year-old male motorist Both pedestrians were transported to separate hospitals one via REACH air ambulane and the other by Calexico Fire Department ambulance Preliminary findings indicated the pedestrians were crossing Andrade Avenue outside of a marked crosswalk at the time of the collision and impairment does not appear to be a factor A traffic collision report has been completed CALEXICO — The Calexico Unified School District held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its McKinney-Vento Program Academic and Wellness Center at 641 Rockwood Avenue The initiative marks the launch of a vital support hub dedicated to students and families experiencing housing instability With the support of the CUSD school board and staff the McKinney-Vento Academic and Wellness Center (MVP Center) aims to eliminate barriers to education through comprehensive academic assistance basic needs support and family empowerment resources “We are excited to open this program at Calexico Unified School District and hope that it becomes a beacon of hope for our students parents and community,” said Arturo Jimenez “This initiative embodies our mission of transforming challenges into opportunities — one student and one family at a time — and marks a new chapter in equitable education and wellness support for Calexico’s most vulnerable youth and families,” said Alejandra Limon “The Family Resource Center team has dedicated countless hours to help furnish organize and operate the McKinney-Vento Academic and Wellness Center Their passion and hard work have brought this vision to life and we are incredibly proud to open a space that will truly make a difference,” Limon added in the statement The MVP Center will serve students in grades 6-12 foster youths and families experiencing housing instability The services include individualized academic plans transportation support and job training for parents In addition to Calexico Unified board and staff members of the Calexico City Council were in attendance to celebrate the opening of the MVP Center The name McKinney-Vento is derived from the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act which is a federal law that ensures homeless children and youths have access to public education including immediate enrollment and the right to participate fully in school regardless of documentation or missed deadlines It also provides funding to states to support programs serving homeless students While Miguel Figueroa and Blanca Acosta Are Investigated Rebecca Terrazas Baxter Will Run Daily Operations EL CENTRO — Imperial County Executive Office Miguel Figueroa has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation and following a special meeting of the Imperial County Board of Supervisors on Friday Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Blanca Acosta was also placed on paid administrative leave Supervisors Chairperson John Hawk made an announcement regarding the situation to the county’s more than 1,000 employees on Monday morning “Miguel Figueroa and Blanca Acosta are on leave and Rebecca Terrazas Baxter continues to be the assistant county executive officer assuming the duties and responsibilities of the CEO and authorized to serve as the CEO in his absence,” Hawk said.  “More information may be forthcoming in the coming weeks but the county is continuing to operate with existing As these absences will not affect your operations please continue your excellent department head leadership and feel free to address Becky with any of your operational needs,” Hawk told the staff.  Hawk wouldn’t speak any further on the reasons for Figueroa and Acosta being placed on leave but said the investigation into the situation could wrap up in three to five weeks Hawk acknowledged the timing of the announcement is not ideal with the State of the County Address scheduled for Thursday “We feel very confident that everything will go on (as planned),” he added.  Figueroa was hired by the county to replace Tony Rouhotas Jr Supervisors Ryan Kelley and Ray Castillo voted against both Figueroa’s hiring and his contract Figueroa received a five-year contract extension with the county Figueroa came to the county after two years as Calexico’s city manager a position he was given following the departure of David Dale Figueroa served as Dale’s assistant city manager Acosta has been clerk of the board for several years The normally unnoticed position became a lightning rod for pay issues in the county when the Board of Supervisors in 2023 authorized a 36 percent salary increase CALEXICO — The Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC) announced the start of construction on Tuesday on the Calexico Intermodal Transportation Center Project located on Third Street between Rockwood and Heffernan Avenues The new intermodal transportation center in downtown Calexico will provide multiple transportation services in one place with new amenities including onsite customer service shade-producing canopies and waiting areas The project is located three blocks from the Calexico West Port of Entry Pedestrian Crossing Facility ICTC is excited to begin the next phase of a decade long effort the construction of the Calexico Intermodal Transportation Center The Calexico ITC demonstrates the Imperial County’s commitment towards providing an equitable healthier and more efficient transportation experience for the residents of the Imperial County,” said ICTC Chairperson Robert Amparano The new ITC will create more transportation choices and greater access to daily destinations by bringing together multiple modes of public and private transportation services to create greater connectivity in the local transportation network The project contributes to regional planning goals by making more trips possible on transit “The Calexico ITC project demonstrates the effectiveness of regional collaboration and the future of transportation We are pleased to join various stakeholders to support this critical mobility hub project which brings innovations and options to enhance the economy and lives of the people of this community,” said Kome Ajise which awarded funds to ICTC for the project The Calexico ITC project has been in development since 2014 when the planning and feasibility study was adopted ICTC was awarded funding from multiple sources for this project including a federal 2023 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant a Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending grant a Regional Early Action Planning (REAP 2.0) County Transportation Commissions Partnership grant and an Active Transportation Program (ATP) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) component grant.  “I am proud to join the Imperial County Transportation Commission in celebrating the groundbreaking of the Calexico Intermodal Transportation Center This project will serve as a critical transportation hub for our community The center will be a testament to our commitment to sustainable infrastructure and enhancing connectivity for the people of Calexico and beyond,” said Congressman Dr “Caltrans is excited to have collaborated with ICTC on this project since it’s development in 2014 and funding through California’s Active Transportation Program,” said Caltrans District 11 Director Ann Fox “The Intermodal Transportation Center will provide a safer and secure transportation experience for all who travel through Imperial County strengthening our cross-border connectivity and binational relationship.” Changes to Commission Ordinance Also Adds New Bodies and Augments How Commissioners Are Chosen CALEXICO — The Calexico City Council took the first step in “eliminating” its Planning Commission and establishing itself as the city’s final planning authority this week The changes come as part of a first reading of several modifications to the existing municipal ordinance on city commissions whether they are paid and the creation of one new commission The council approved the first reading by a 4-1 vote on Wednesday night with a second reading vote scheduled for the next council meeting in two weeks and 30 days to become part of the city code thereafter Councilmember Lorenzo “Lencho” Calderon voted against the changes Several council members agreed with doing away with a layer of approval by assuming Planning Commission duties mostly as a way to speed up the approval process to take advantage of potential development.  You elected us,” Mayor Pro Tem Victor Legaspi said of taking on the function of the Planning Commission took 15 months to make it through the planning process and he doesn’t want to see other businesses like Chick-fil-A face those same hurdles Mayor Diana Nuricumbo drilled down on that idea saying that the city needs to take advantage of a limited window it has of lowered Mello-Roos fees imposed by the Calexico Unified School District Some of the highest fees in the state for home builders Calexico Unified has lowered its fees for a year to see if it affects development in the city “‘Let’s see what you guys can do,’ and that’s what it’s all about,” Nuricumbo said of not squandering this chance “We want to take advantage that those fees are down we also did something on our end to push for development and that’s how we start working together again and that’s how we make our city grow.” new Planning and Building Director Michael Coyne explained how the elimination of a layer of the planning process will affect the city and council Coyne said that with so much limited staffing in his department the traditional Planning Commission structure takes staff time to prepare “It’s not that there’s no value to a planning commission There’s definitely value to having citizen planners But in the current situation and with our current logistical situation to take on that role for the time being,” Coyne told the council He had previously worked as a planner for the city of Santee where the council there takes on the function of the commission While Planning Commission discussion was the primary driver of the conversation at Wednesday’s meeting the changes in the ordinance affected other areas Some areas included the creation of a Community Facilities District Commission to address ongoing issues at the housing subdivisions in Calexico with CFDs Traffic was added to the responsibility of the police commission now known as the Community Police Advisory the frequency of meetings was increased from quarterly to twice a month and the process to choose commissioners would now include interviews with the council members there was criticism over doing away with the Planning Commission as a strike against transparency None of you are specialists in planning commissions Because we were getting sick and tired of persons sitting up here trying to function as dictators So all of a sudden now you decide what’s good and what’s bad for Calexico; you’re excluding the community to participate,” Calexico resident Jesus Solano said Calexico resident Victor Rocha supported the idea in principle but he warned the council about the time it would add to their jobs and the length it would add to the meetings in general a former planning director for the city of Calexico was fully behind the decision to take on planning responsibilities addressing the issues of transparency straight on She argued it was clear that those meetings were not transparent and it appeared some commissioners might have been operating on their own agenda “You can’t get more transparent than having the council act as a planning commission,” Tylenda said referring to the streaming and recording of each meeting who was the lone vote against the ordinance said he was against taking over as the Planning Commission “We don’t have the time to meet with investors … We need to concentrate on the budget “Taking this on will prolong the meetings and could be a conflict of interest.” Tijuana’s industrial market has witnessed remarkable growth in the past decade driven largely by nearshoring trends and a shift of investor interest In addition to institutional capital that was already present in Tijuana investors who had historically funded and developed office buildings and multifamily projects in Mexico City shifted their interest toward warehouse and logistics space in Tijuana to capture heightened industrial demand in the wake of Mexico City’s vertical construction moratoriums Overseas manufacturers aiming to streamline operations and better serve North American markets have fueled the demand for manufacturing and assembly space the total industrial space in Tijuana has expanded by over 20.6% climbing from 96.1 million square feet (msf) to 118.4 msf by 2024 a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% the market's vacancy rate remains low at 4.6% Class A buildings are particularly sought after showcasing the growing preference for state-of-the-art industrial facilities Tijuana also leads Mexico in Class A industrial rental rate appreciation which has averaged 12.6% annual growth from 2020 to 2023 This has since tapered to a more sustainable 1.3% growth rate from 2023 to 2024 The city’s industrial real estate continues to achieve lower cap rates compared to any other Mexican market solidifying its position as an attractive hub for tenants and investors alike.  The industrial market in Otay Mesa has also expanded significantly over the past five years fueled by its proximity to Tijuana and similar nearshoring trends Inventory in Otay Mesa increased from 15.8 msf in 2019 to 24.4 msf in 2024 rising by over 32% to 78,000 square feet per property A critical driver of these markets’ transformations lies in the dynamics of land value appreciation Tijuana and Otay Mesa have already set a precedent with rapid increases in land prices as industrial demand rose Mexicali and Calexico are now witnessing similar trends Rising demand for industrial land in Mexicali signals the market’s evolution into a key nearshoring destination while Calexico offers a prime manufacturing and warehousing location to complement this growth.  Master-Planned Communities: Lower Risk, Higher Reward? Imperial Valley Agricultural Land: A Comprehensive Analysis of Values Unlocking Alternatives: Investing Beyond the Major CRE Asset Types Potential Grant Funding Would Be Used for a Park in Calipatria; Supervisors Also Approved Grants for Veterans' Services and more EL CENTRO — The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved the ratification of a resolution to submit an application to the California Energy Commission’s Geothermal Grant and Loan Program seeking funding for a geothermal-themed outdoor park in Calipatria Deputy County Executive Officer of Natural Resources Bari Bean presented the proposal at the board’s Jan aimed at connecting residents and visitors to geothermal energy and lithium resources in the region “As you can see from the visuals on the screen one-of-a-kind initiative that we’ve created here at the county,” Bean said “It’s truly an opportunity for our residents and visitors alike to take a journey to the core of the earth.” Bean explained that the county previously applied for funding under the same grant program for a different project — the Legacy Initiative an educational program — but was eligible to apply for multiple categories The geothermal park application falls under Category K “This loan is designed to really support a lot of different categories and to support communities that have geothermal as well as advancing things like socioeconomic impact which is new in the last two years within this program,” Bean said Renderings shown during the presentation depicted a colorful interactive park with a rubberized surface displaying geological layers and educational features highlighting geothermal and lithium technologies Bean emphasized that these were concept images rather than final designs These are ideas of what it could look like,” she said “The final design has not yet been completed.” The project is planned as an extension of Calipatria’s ongoing Community Park Initiative which was partially funded by the California Department of Parks and is being developed with contractor GAFCON the geothermal-themed portion would be integrated into the existing plans “We’re really pleased to be collaborating with the city of Calipat and their letter of commitment to help support the funding of this park if this grant is awarded,” Bean said the ownership of this park would be transferred to the city of Calipat and they would have ownership of this park moving forward as well as all maintenance and any liability associated with it.” The initiative has received support from local legislators the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers the North End Alliance and Geothermal Rising a national geothermal advocacy group that has committed to providing educational resources with community advocate William Cooper strongly opposing it executive director of The Becoming Project in Calipatria “And none of those meetings have I ever heard one community member say we need a monument to geothermal in Calipatria.” Cooper argued that while Calipatria needs shaded spaces those needs could be met within existing parks rather than through a specialized geothermal-themed space “What you do hear is that they can’t use a geothermal museum but they can use some actual training for geothermal drive “Things like these are just going to give the community more information about geothermal The community of Calipatria has information about geothermal Cooper also connected his opposition to broader concerns about the county’s relationship with the geothermal industry arguing that local governments have prioritized the industry’s interests over community needs “When you hear about things like the Good Neighbor Program the Board of Supervisors have been good neighbors to the industry The city of Calipatria has been good neighbors to the industry,” he said “The industry hasn’t been good neighbors to Calipat.” board Chair John Hawk referenced the lawsuit Comite Civico del Valle filed against Imperial County regarding the development of Lithium Valley Cooper explained why community organizations sometimes resort to legal action because we don’t have any other recourse,” he said Supervisor Martha Cardenas-Singh asked whether the community of Calipatria had been consulted about the park’s design “Have we had an opportunity just to have this kind of discussion or conversation where we can get feedback from the community in regards to what this park would look like?” she asked Bean responded that while Calipatria had gathered input for its overall Community Park Initiative discussions specifically about the geothermal-themed portion had not yet occurred “As it pertains to this geothermal park initiative those conversations have not happened yet because the design is not at the point yet where those could be shared,” she said She also clarified that the grant program is restricted to geothermal-related projects “This particular grant is from the California Energy Commission and it is a geothermal grant and loan program meaning that it does have to fund the development and implementation of geothermal energy projects or those associated with it,” Bean said Supervisor Ryan Kelley addressed Cooper’s broader criticisms stating that the county’s application was bound by the funding’s requirements and that unrelated community needs could not be addressed through this grant “This is a distinctive allocation to be used in this manner,” Kelley said “The issues that you (William Cooper) brought up about Calpatria’s needs for their own infrastructure and their own service area are outside of what this funding could be used for.” Kelley also responded to Cooper’s remarks about the Comite Civico lawsuit defending the county’s position and criticizing the legal challenge it is based off of very dubious information and then it is dismissed and denied by the court,” Kelley said “That caused a significant delay in what we’re trying to do Board Chair Hawk acknowledged the differing perspectives but expressed appreciation for the discussion “I think we have a lot of clarity here,” Hawk said and the issue is we all want the prosperity of Calipat and the surrounding areas.” The board ultimately approved the ratification with Supervisor Jesus Escobar commending Bean’s efforts “I just want to thank Bari for her hard work in this and everything lithium related,” Escobar said The board approved the application unanimously Alongside the geothermal park grant ratification the Board of Supervisors approved three other funding measures at its Jan including grants for veterans’ services and Imperial High School’s Future Farmers of America program The board unanimously authorized the signing of the California Department of Veterans Affairs Medi-Cal Certificate of Compliance and the Subvention Certificate of Compliance for fiscal 2024-2025 Imperial County’s veterans services officer explained that his office acts as a liaison between local veterans and federal benefits educational waivers and health care access “We were able to see and put claims in for 1,757 veterans and that was an award of $2.2 million new dollars given out to our veteran community and their dependents,” Hernandez said “We also did 257 waivers … over $2 million given out to the dependents of veterans and veterans themselves.” The county board also approved a $150,000 Agricultural Benefit Program grant to the Imperial County Farm Bureau to support the “Burn a Bale a program aimed at preventing arson-related agricultural fires funded entirely by mainly the farming and the local community.” the board approved $120,000 in funding for Imperial High School’s FFA program The funds will be used to upgrade equipment purchase tools and vehicles and improve safety measures “With our growing community and our growing program hopefully (this funding will) benefit our community and our kids as well,” said Lindsey Stiff an agriculture teacher at Imperial High School All three funding items were approved unanimously Residents and One Councilmember-elect Called for Critical Issues to Be Taken Up By Incoming Members CALEXICO — A day after the results for the Nov several Calexico residents and one incoming City Councilmember called for the current council to stand down on a handful of critical issues until a newly elected majority could be sworn in a council composed of three members due to vacate office in the coming days were being asked to decide on two major department head positions with longterm contracts and a massive cost change on a huge roads project.  “I just want to say that there’s an issue being that the majority of the council is getting ready to change,” Diana Nuricumbo said during public comment on one of the hiring issues Nuricumbo is expected to be sworn in as a City Council member at a meeting next week after winning one of the short-term (two-year) seats in the Nov All five council seats were up for re-election And while current council appointees Victor Legaspi and Lisa Tylenda won re-election a majority consisting of Mayor Camilo Garcia and councilmembers Javier Moreno and Gloria Romo are set to be replaced by Nuricumbo and full-term winners Adriana Marquez and Lorenzo “Lencho” Calderon “Who’s gonna be accountable if it doesn’t work out because the acting city manager that’s here now he’s not gonna be here,” Nuricumbo said of Acting City Manager Juan Contreras “Three of the council members that are here now Calexico residents Victor Rocha and Leticia Cota said much the same I have nothing against them on a personal basis,” Rocha said of the personnel positions on the agenda “But I think it should be prudent of you to allow for the next council members to make that selection They are the ones that need to assure themselves that the money is there to pay them and not put them in jeopardy because you’re going to offer them (a position) you’re going to find out you don’t have the funds like you did on the (Christmas) parade.” Added Cota: “The community has spoken; we’re going to have new people everywhere and I’m looking forward to working with the new elected council.” The personnel items appeared on the consent agenda submitting public comments pertaining to offers of a three-year contract to Karla Chaparro for the position of finance director and a two-year contract for Michael Coyne for the position of planning and building director who earned the least votes among all 12 candidates in the election with 1,847 sided with the Calexico residents present at the meeting motioning to table the hiring items.   “I represent the city of Calexico citizens I want to make sure that is spent wisely,” Moreno said “I think I’ll make a motion to table item eight and nine for a couple more weeks until the new City Council can make those decisions and also address those concerns that you have.”  The council voted 4-0 to push the hires back with councilmember Tylenda absent from the meeting in introducing the potential approval of Coyne and Chaparro’s contracts explained the positions were critical for the city and both candidates had come recommended from other entities Calexico has been without a finance director and a planning and building head for well over a year Calexico native Coyne is being offered $10,506.74 a month Both positions are subject to cost-of-living adjustments and merit increases and are “at will” appointments of the city Payouts are included if either are fired without cause The Calexico residents who spoke up during the meeting had multiple issues one of the biggest being the length of the contracts Councilmember-elect Nuricumbo had one of the harshest rebukes: “I believe it’s only fair to the new city manager that will be coming in (to decide these positions) because these are department head positions I believe it’s only fair for the council members who are going to come in because we have a platform and we have a plan you’re wanting to bring on board two very important positions for a very long time And I feel really bad for the two individuals because I’m sure they … it’s not their fault but it’s the fault of whoever made the decision or whoever made the negotiation for the amount of years or term,” Nuricumbo said Rocha said earlier in the meeting: “Why are you making contracts for three years give them the option to renew on a year-to-year basis.” Coyne appeared to be in the audience at the council meeting After the council approved pushing back a decision Mayor Garcia apologized for the delay and indicated it would come at a later meeting The other large issue pushed back for the incoming council was the approval of a $631,514 change order for a road rehabilitation project for Cole Boulevard between M.L Bid at $2,398,458 by Rove Engineering Inc. the added cost of the change order constitutes a 26.3 percent increase in the cost of the project but “within budget,” according to Public Works Manager Liliana Falomir was found during coring samples of the asphalt and pavement on the roadway to assess the severity of damage An area of the northbound west lane of Cole needed additional work Nuricumbo immediately attacked the change order calling it “like deja vu” and comparing it to the escalating costs associated with the rehab of Calexico Fire Station No At the detriment to the timing on the project approval of the change order was pushed back by default when the four-person council deadlocked 2-2 on the issue The Cole Boulevard project was the recipient of a federal grant through the California Department of Transportation of $1.414 million with a local match covered by the city’s portion of Measure D sales tax fund at $1,746,779 ($1,615,972 through Rove’s low bid).  the city had not scheduled a swearing-in ceremony for its new council members CALEXICO — Calexico police detectives are appealing to the public for assistance in providing information that could help identify the individuals involved in the vehicular manslaughter of Steven Keller at the intersection of Highway 98 and Highway 111 Keller was discovered motionless on Highway 111 about 2:05 a.m Detectives are unsure what Keller was doing in the area Based on the evidence collected during the investigation there is a possibility that two separate vehicles struck Keller authorities have been unable to confirm the identities of those responsible for the incident “We are reaching out to the public for any information that could help our detectives piece together the events leading to Mr “If you were in the area of State Route 111 and State Route 98 around the time of the incident or have any information about the vehicles involved “Even the smallest detail could prove to be critical in solving this case,” he said Police know there was another witness driving a burgundy minivan and police are reaching out to that person for a statement.  Detectives are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who: A number of leads have already been explored Ppolice ask anyone who may have witnessed anything or have relevant information to contact the Calexico Investigations Bureau at 760-768-2140 You can also submit anonymous tips via police@calexico.ca.gov “We are committed to ensuring justice for Steven Keller and his family,” added Lt so we can continue to pursue leads and identify those responsible.” to Raise Funds for Calexico Arts Council; Also in Town for 55th High School Reunion CALEXICO — John Moreno remembers the big impression his childhood neighbor and musician Dan Navarro left on him when a performance by Navarro had “people grooving in pews” to a rendition of “Get Together” by The Youngbloods who at age 64 is Calexico High School’s principal and a former mayor was only 9 or 10 years old when he witnessed Navarro perform the song at a Catholic Mass — an incredibly progressive move someone who is not afraid to push boundaries and go beyond for his craft a neighbor of Navarro’s in the early 1970s also recalls the profound impact the musician had on him Moreno was eight years younger than Navarro and thought Dan Navarro will return to his hometown this weekend with a twofold purpose: In addition to attending his 55th Calexico High School class reunion Navarro will also perform a fundraising concert on Friday in the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center in Calexico.  Tickets are $20 and available at the venue All proceeds from the concert will benefit the Calexico Arts Council.  During a recent phone conversation while Navarro was in El Paso for a performance and songwriting sessions the 72-year-old acknowledged the small size of the Imperial Valley community and emphasized that it did not limit his aspirations he believed that his hometown upbringing provided him with a unique perspective and a solid foundation for making a broader impact You never know what’s going to happen,” said Navarro whose passion for music and his belief in the transformative power of creativity have fueled his journey It’s the idea of chance that brought Navarro his first acclaim after working as a music manager at Tower Records he spent a year in London followed by a year in Los Angeles Navarro had his first breakthrough as co-writer of the hit Pat Benatar song “We Belong,” with his eventual partner of many years Describing the way the song came about as “weird and remarkable,” Navarro said “We Belong” has sold more than 3 million copies has been played millions of times and was recently featured in the popular films like “Deadpool 2” and “Pitch Perfect.”  “It happened when I wasn’t trying,” Navarro recalls of the unexpected circumstances surrounding the song’s creation Despite his initial reluctance to attend a writing session with Lowen they were not on speaking terms which led to a burst of creativity that resulted in “We Belong” within 90 minutes of starting the session.  Navarro’s decision to return to the Imperial Valley for the benefit concert is rooted in a combination of personal and professional reasons the namesake of the cultural arts center and a dear friend is one of the primary motivations behind his involvement Navarro recognizes the opportunity to make a positive impact on the community.  He hopes to inspire others to look beyond their surroundings and embrace the possibilities Navarro attributes much of his success to the supportive and creative environment he grew up in have instilled in him a strong appreciation for the arts.  has been a driving force in his own career Feeling fortunate for the encouragement and support he received from his family Navarro emphasizes the importance of dreaming big He recalls family gatherings as always being filled with fun and creativity Navarro’s perspective on life is grounded in a belief in a higher purpose He emphasizes that “there is no reward for spending one’s life doing something one hates,” he said Navarro embarked on a music education journey at University of California spending five years honing his craft in music education Navarro’s passion for songwriting led him to dive into that world.  After writing “We Belong,” his musical journey continued in the late 1980s with songwriting credits for the Bangles in 1987 and 1989 embarking on a 34-year collaborative partnership under the moniker Lowen & Navarro The duo toured extensively throughout the early 1990s and 2000s achieving notable success with a major label signing in the early 1990s.  he established his own independent record company A successful Kickstarter campaign raised $100,000 funding the recording of three albums in 2004 a personal tragedy struck in 2009 when Navarro’s partner a debilitating disease that gradually limited mobility Navarro has focused on performing shows primarily in the Midwest and East Coast regions where he maintains a strong fan base.  Navarro remains actively involved in advocating for music and artists He is a member of the Artist Guild and has also made a significant contribution to the world of Spanish-language jingles Navarro’s distinctive voice and bilingual abilities has been featured in numerous animated films including “Puss in Boots,” “Coco,” “Encanto,” “Happy Feet” and has done voice dubs in the film “Cada Minuto Cuenta.” Navarro emphasizes the importance of perseverance: “I kept going,” he said “I never stopped; I never gave up.” This resilience has been the driving force behind his accomplishments “Nothing I valued in my life would have happened if I would have said no!” he asserted Navarro’s journey took him far from his hometown roots After his parents moved away in 1973 and his sister followed in 1978 Navarro found himself without any immediate family connections in the Imperial Valley Navarro shares a family connection with Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Dave Navarro — they are first cousins Navarro highlights the unexpected nature of his career-defining moment “I didn’t want to do the session.” He never intended to attend the songwriting session that changed his life a testament to the unpredictable nature of opportunities.  A 45-day Moratorium on New Smoke Shops Passed Unanimously Amid Concerns Over Crime EL CENTRO — Citing concerns over public health an interim urgency ordinance halting the expansion of tobacco retailers in El Centro city limits was unanimously approved by the City Council on Tuesday “The item before you is an urgency ordinance produced by staff regarding tobacco retail shops in the city of El Centro,” Community Development Director Angel Hernandez said at the start of the presentation “There’s been concern from staff and residents regarding the over-concentration and proliferation of tobacco shops Particularly the concentration of those in our downtown area and some of the apparent connections that they have with general deterioration of the neighborhood and drug use.” Hernandez outlined specific problems reported in the vicinity of tobacco retailers and what he described as “a general decline of community character.” “The findings in support of the ordinance are that tobacco retail shops constitute an immediate threat to public health “The approval of new tobacco retail shops and relocation or physical expansion of existing tobacco retail shops and renewal or issuance of any new business licenses for tobacco retail shops within the city will further threaten the public health and welfare and the adoption of the urgency ordinance is therefore necessary for the immediate protection of public health City Attorney Elizabeth Martyn clarified that the ordinance is temporary and serves to maintain the current situation while city staff explore long-term zoning solutions “This is a 45-day interim urgency ordinance,” Martyn said you’d be presented with another ordinance that was more tailored perhaps than this one The goal being to develop a specific zoning ordinance to deal with these within the city.” a point reiterated by council member Marty Ellet “This is not about shutting any shops down,” Ellet said “This is simply preventing new ones from springing up The discussion drew public comment from Robert Rodriguez who expressed concern that his business — which he described as “100 percent tobacco free” — might be unfairly grouped with smoke shops that do sell tobacco and drug paraphernalia “I own and operate Deluxe Vapes and I’ve been in business for 12 years that being at the current location on Main Street which is on the corner of Seventh and Main,” Rodriguez said “We pride ourselves in being 100 percent tobacco free and do not carry what a typical smoke shop does Rodriguez described Deluxe Vapes as a long-standing compliant business with a proactive approach to public safety “We’ve been fully licensed and never had a citation or complaint from the state or local in 12 years,” he said “We currently have eight cameras recording 24/7 and cooperate with local law enforcement when footage is requested … and leave lights on overnight to help with crime prevention and street illumination.” He asked the council not to group Deluxe Vapes with other stores that may contribute to downtown issues “I hope that what I’ve shared with you today is taken into consideration and that Deluxe is not grouped together with other businesses that may not share the same missions as we do,” Rodriguez said “I’ve put my heart and soul into the business for over 12 years now and it’s how I make a living for my family Council members did not respond directly to Rodriguez’s comments but Martyn noted that future iterations of the ordinance could take into account concerns raised by the public “To the extent you wish to respond to his remarks it could be done at the time of looking at the year-long ordinance,” she said “So sometimes you begin with a broad brush City Council Will Be Brought A First Reading of An Ordinance Revising Its System of Commissions at Next Meeting CALEXICO — The city of Calexico’s commissions are about to get an overhaul with plans underway to explore cutting the Planning Commission altogether as a way to speed developments through the city’s project queue Commissions in Calexico have been problematic for some years with problems among the eight boards ranging from infrequent meeting times to frequent absenteeism “We understand that our current commissions and the way that the city ordinance (is set up) They’re not functioning,” Calexico Mayor Diana Nuricumbo said in introducing what she called a “brainstorming session” on how to attempt to repair the commission system With no action taken as part of the discussion the City Council instead has asked the acting city manager and city attorney to come back with the first reading on an ordinance revising the commission system at the council’s next regular meeting in January Nuricumbo suggested that council members consider what commissions should go away and what commissions have yet to be created asking for the addition of a Communities Facilities District Commission to oversee expenditures and activities contained within the three housing developments with CFD including the Hearthstone and La Jolla subdivisions She imagined a situation that if a park was to be legislated over in a CFD the decision making would be taken away from the Community Services Commission and turn it over to the CFD Commission.   The most striking suggestion was to eliminate the Planning Commission which seems to be roundly approved by most of the council members It was a suggestion that came from incoming Planning Director Michael Coyne Nuricumbo said Santee is now one of the fastest-growing cities in the state Although such a move would “remove red tape,” she said no other steps would be eliminated in the approval process lower-level — and speedier — approvals would go through Coyne’s office and final approvals would come before the City Council “It doesn’t mean you bypass any planning,” she added thought eliminating the Planning Commission was a good idea “We have a lot of businesses that want to come in and integrate … (they are) waiting for the Planning Commission to get together So I think that is such a great idea to make that change.” City Attorney Carlos Campos called eliminating the Planning Commission a little more complicated than revising the ordinance and said that part of the council’s plan would take a bit more time A planning commission acts as an advisory body primarily responsible for reviewing and recommending land use policies empowered to take action for the City Council Mayor Pro Tem Victor Legaspi mentioned that the Community Services Commission — the de facto parks commission — is the one commission that seems to be meeting regularly and doing the most work for the city He added that rather than just appointing future commissioners to boards the city needs a short interview process to ensure the right people are in place who in a previous discussion called for a traffic commission to deal with parking and other issues suggested as part of the discussion to fold those powers into the Police Advisory Board asking Police Chief Armando Orozco whether that could happen The council also recommended eliminating the $50 per meeting stipend being paid to some commissions with Nuricumbo saying people she serve “for the love of the city.” All of these suggestions (with the exception of the Planning Commission cut) are expected to be brought back in an ordinance to be acted upon at the next regularly scheduled meeting of Jan The council was split 3-2 in approving a mural created by Calexico resident Mia Salinas called “Daydream” to be painted on a storage trailer outside Camarena Memorial Library The design is a child’s bedroom transitioning into a fantasyland clearly inspired by the magic contained within stories and books Council members Lorenzo “Lencho” Calderon and Adriana Marquez voted against the mural likely not due to any content but due to the opinion the money could be best spent elsewhere Calderon said he wanted to see the funding put directly into improving problem areas at parks and playgrounds but as Recreation Manager Norma Gerardo explained the funding comes from development impact fees and not the city’s General Fund budget Some $2,500 of the $5,950 goes to artist fees Salinas’ design was one of 11 submitted to the city some for Crummett Park and one for a nonspecific location Salinas’ piece was recommended by the Community Services Commission but the council took a break during the meeting to see illustrations of all the proposed murals set up in the lobby The mural has to be in place no later than April 30 Salinas’ prior work can be seen on the inside wall of the Calexico business 2Go Salads CALEXICO — Calexico High School’s girls flag football team will be forced to forfeit its participation in the CIF-San Diego Section playoffs after two players participated in a non school-sanctioned flag football tournament in violation of CIF guidelines The announcement came from Calexico Unified School District Superintendent Arturo Jimenez in a statement on Tuesday sportsmanship and adherence to CIF regulations,” according to the statement read which said the school became aware of the violation on Monday morning “In keeping with our commitment to transparency and ethical conduct we promptly investigated the matter and then immediately reported our findings to CIF-San Diego Section officials,” Jimenez stated our flag football team will unfortunately forfeit its participation in the CIF playoffs this season it reflects our unwavering dedication to upholding the values that define our school and athletic programs and community members who share in the disappointment of this news and continuing to foster a culture of excellence both on and off the field,” Jimenez added The Lady Bulldogs went 11-9 overall this season and finished 9-3 in the Imperial Valley League earning a first round bye and playing the Imperial High Tigers on Thursday “We thank our community for their understanding and ongoing support of our student-athletes we remain proud of the achievements of our team and are committed to moving forward stronger than ever,” Jimenez stated KECY) - The City of Calexico is marking a major milestone this week: 117 years since it was officially incorporated city leaders invited the community to City Hall where there was a proclamation to mark its 117th anniversary such as the Calexico Women's Improvement Club also showed up to celebrate and show their continued support for the city "We have a community that's concerned about what's going on and we want to be here to assist with the improvement of the community," said Rosalind Guerrero with the Calexico Women's Improvement Club City officials reflected on the city's history that helped shape it into what it is today KYMA KECY is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | FCC Applications | Jobs/Internships | Do Not Sell My Personal Information Border Patrol posted photos on social media of illegal guns meant to go to Mexico that are now off the streets Federal officers seized the weapons at the Calexico port of entry before they could get into Mexico "Looks like someone's export business hit a snag!" News Channel 3 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines KESQ-TV FCC Public File | KPSP-TV FCC Public File | KDFX-TV FCC Public File | EEO Report | FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information Imperial County Election Department Has Until Dec 5 Presidential Election turnout has reached 39.2 percent or 35,927 ballots cast from Imperial County’s 90,486 registered voters as of the Nov There are likely thousands of outstanding mail ballots and “challenge ballots” — mail-in ballots with incorrect signatures or other missing information — left to be counted The Imperial County Election Department has until Dec (Names in bold are leading their contest.) The only race to see a major change from Election Night has been Lewis Pacheco overtaking Imperial Irrigation District Division 4 incumbent Javier Gonzalez Pacheco now has 51.83 percent of the vote (2,969 votes) to Gonzalez’s 48.17 percent of the vote (2,759 votes) Imperial County Board of Supervisors District 2 Runoff Imperial Irrigation District Division 4 Runoff City Officials to Speak with State Parks and Rec Over Modifying Designs for $8.5 Million Grant the city of Calexico scored a windfall maximum allocation of $8.5 million in state Parks and Recreation grant funding meant to breathe new life into an older Heber Park the entire project hinges on upcoming meetings with city staff and state Parks and Rec Department officials over whether Calexico can scale back designs and costs on the project while abiding by the rules of the grant The state “awarded the city an $8.5 million grant which is a competitive grant through Proposition 68 it’s really difficult to redesign the scope of work and even the location,” Calexico Community Services Commission Chairperson Pat Ureña told the City Council on Nov A retired longtime El Centro Parks and Rec supervisor Ureña is familiar with state processes and has been in conversation with state staffers who preside over grant funding She told the council a deputy director from state Parks and Rec is due to visit the area in mid-December At issue is that the city expended $741,000 on design work through Jeff Katz Architecture of San Diego to envision a massive indoor gymnasium and multiple improvements at the park itself but when those final designs came back about a year ago they arrived with a price tag of $12.5 million due to inflation and increased construction costs which have likely increased in the time since those plans were presented the Calexico City Council had three choices — build the gym only The council voted to construct the indoor gym which would feature basketball courts and other amenities that decision was essentially rendered null and void with the city not allowed to change the “scope of work.” The city is now trying a different approach and it isn’t yet known whether the new path will be accepted “The way that it was explained to us is more like now we’re going to just put up three benches That type of thing,” Calexico Mayor Camilo Garcia told the Calexico Chronicle “But the component is still going to be there That’s not really changing the scope of work.” public works and recreation will be addressing the issue with the state in the coming week the project would need to be either redesigned or tailored to accommodate the $7.755 million left on the grant the city received in February 2020 the Jeff Katz Architecture design expands the footprint of Heber Park from the present 2.35 acres to 4.7 acres with the inclusion of the city-owned former armory lot to the south.  With the delays and nonaction on the grant some residents have questioned where the money for Heber Park went There has been a lingering perception that the funding might have been misused or misallocated explaining the Heber Park grant is a reimbursement grant.  “It’s not like we have the money sitting in an account It’s not that you’re going to go and say I’m going to take this money for other projects or use it for other needs.’ You can’t do that,” Garcia said He added that the work is paid for up front by the city and the state would reimburse those costs As for the idea of misappropriating those dollars he likened it to the $2 million the city of Calexico received from the state last year to use for the migrant surge that was happening The council asked whether those dollars could be used on something like parks and recreation is in the mid-size range of the city’s 15-plus parks system tucked among a neighborhood of a dozen-plus older homes and several dozen commercial businesses Closer to Highway 98 and Imperial and Emerson avenues the square-shaped park is a single city block bordered by Ollie and Harold avenues and Roosevelt Street and the now-closed Sheridan Street CALEXICO — Homicide suspect Agustine Baca III who was wanted in connection with the shooting death of a woman on Sept was apparently arrested in Yuma on Tuesday Calexico authorities were contacted by the Yuma Police Department that they had located the 47-year-old Calexico suspect The apprehension of the suspect was a collaborative effort between several agencies across state lines “We thank the Yuma Police Department and the FBI for their cooperation and swift actions in helping bring this suspect into custody to face justice,” according to the Calexico police press release Baca eluded police following a multi-agency standoff at his residence a situation that began with reports that he shot a woman in the face in a domestic dispute in the 2200 block of Estrada Boulevard the evening of Sept Witnesses reported seeing a domestic dispute between the suspect and the victim shortly before the shooting took place A single Calexico police officer discovered bloody drag marks leading to a dirt lot was found in need of immediate medical attention Baca was seen by the officer fleeing the scene on foot Border Patrol and the Imperial County Sheriff’s Department While officers were securing the secondary crime scene at the suspect’s residence “Due to limited visibility and thick brush officers were unable to return fire or apprehend the suspect no injuries were sustained,” according to police Baca someone made it past all the law enforcement personnel Those who might have interacted with Baca in the past seven days are encouraged to come forward with any information that could aid the investigation Please reference Case Number 24-009157 when contacting Calexico police can be reported to the Calexico Police Department by calling 760-768-2140 CALEXICO — Mayor Diana Nuricumbo recognized six Calexico Police Department personnel with commendations at the City Council meeting on Wednesday what appears to be an ongoing effort to introduce the community to its cops since Chief Armando Orozco took the reins Oscar Ruiz and Shaun Sundahl — and three officers — Alexander Hernandez Nicholas Monninger and Yamilet Venegas — were honored Officer Miryam Vega received a commendation Miguel Carbajal was commended for “his exemplary leadership and professionalism during a drive-by shooting investigation on Oct … Demonstrating exceptional initiative and resourcefulness Carbajal conducted thorough interviews with witnesses securing critical information that identified four suspects involved in the shooting,” Nuricumbo read on Wednesday “Collaborating with Special Agent Oscar Ruiz from the Imperial County Narcotic Task Force he secured and executed three search warrants in Calexico leading to the arrest of three armed and dangerous suspects the fourth suspect was apprehended within a week in Mexicali Carbajal’s investigative abilities earned him recognition as a “Gang Expert” during judicial proceedings “His leadership and tenacity in managing this complex case from field operations to courtroom testimony exemplify the highest standards of law enforcement professionalism,” according to the commendation Oscar Ruiz was honored for his service during his tenure with the Imperial County Narcotic Task Force as a special agent since October 2023.  Ruiz played a critical role in two major incidents: a gang-related shooting at 932 Nosotros St and a homicide investigation on Estrada Boulevard he collaborated with Sergeant Miguel Carbajal … to draft and execute three search warrants targeting four armed felony suspects Ruiz ensured the simultaneous execution of the warrants resulting in the arrest of three suspects on the same day The fourth was captured a week later in Mexicali.” In the Estrada Boulevard homicide case on Sept leveraging prior knowledge from his Narcotic Task Force work Coordinating with the FBI and Yuma Police Department Ruiz facilitated the suspect’s extradition and secured a full confession and commitment to justice have significantly enhanced public safety in Calexico His ability to excel in specialized assignments demonstrates exceptional character and dedication to service.” the mayor read Shaun Sundahl was commended for his dedication and leadership He has served as a patrol squad supervisor and has taken on numerous additional responsibilities including serving as range master supervisor and leading SWAT training with former or current Navy SEAL personnel His development of a multi-agency active shooter training program has enhanced readiness and collaboration across Imperial County Sundahl authored 14 POST-certified training courses covering critical law enforcement tactics such as Active Shooter Response His certification in bicycle patrol has further improved crime prevention efforts downtown and commitment to public safety exemplify the highest standards of the Calexico Police Department making him highly deserving of this commendation,” Nuricumbo said Sundahl was not available for the Wednesday meeting Sean Acuña accepted the commendation for him Officer Alexander Hernandez was commended for his actions during an officer-involved shooting on Feb “Responding to an occupied residential burglary in progress he swiftly confronted a suspect armed with a metal pry bar preventing serious harm to a fellow officer and ensuring public safety His ability to assess the situation under extreme pressure reflects his exceptional training sound judgment and fearless dedication to duty,” the commendation read “His professionalism and commitment to protecting both his colleagues and the community exemplify the highest standards of law enforcement this commendation will be placed in his personnel file as a permanent record of his exemplary service Officer Hernandez’s heroism serves as an inspiration to all and upholds the department’s mission of service and protection,” the mayor read Officer Nicholas Monninger was commended for his DUI enforcement making more than 26 drunken-driving arrests in the past year “His proactive approach and keen observational skills have significantly contributed to reducing accidents and ensuring public safety Each arrest reflects his commitment to upholding the law and exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism and judgment,” according to the commendation Officer Yamilet Venegas was commended for her dedication to DUI enforcement making more than 35 drunken-driving arrests in the past year “Her proactive efforts have significantly enhanced public safety and a steadfast commitment to upholding the law Each arrest represents a potential life saved and a step toward preventing dangerous accidents in the community,” the commendation states Honored during an earlier meeting was Officer Miryam Vega recognized for organizing the Kids and Badges events that have “profoundly impacted the youth of our community Collaborating with county probation and Management & Training Corp. she brought these initiatives to life with outstanding success Her ability to secure sponsorships from numerous businesses and private entities has been a crucial factor in ensuring the events’ success,” her commendation read Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition and Muralist Takito Introduce “Arts Moving Forward” Initiative Unveiling New Mural Celebrating Important Chicano Figures CALEXICO — A new mural in Calexico brings the past vividly into the present sacrifice and empowerment that define the farmworker movement and Chicano identity in the Imperial Valley The Farmworker and The Organizer” — was unveiled on Monday The new mural is located at the corner of Second Street and Imperial Avenue an intersection containing two smaller murals already dedicated to the farmworker community Presented by Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition it marks the official launch of “Arts Moving Forward,” a new initiative designed to blend public art with social justice education “This mural is dedicated to the workers of the Imperial Valley,” Daniela Flores co-founder and executive organizer of IV Equity but when we see the air quality and we’re driving and it bothers us I always think of you because you go to work whether it’s cool or not.” known as “Takito,” the mural portrays Gloria Anzaldúa Rufino Contreras and Dolores Huerta — figures whose legacies represent the intellectual physical and organizational dimensions of the ongoing struggle for justice in the borderlands “The idea is to go to the different areas of Imperial Valley where we haven’t gone to to raise more awareness about these issues but also introduce ourselves into these communities,” Ojeda said.  The mural is the first of several planned works around the Valley and serves to bring the history of these three figures into the spotlight for the people of Calexico “We want to integrate a bio so that people cannot just look at it they can read more about this,” Ojeda said a queer Chicana poet and feminist theorist smiles brightly from the left side of the mural Known for her work “Borderlands/La Frontera,” Anzaldúa contributed significantly to understanding Chicano identity and she coined the term ‘borderlands,’” Ojeda explained She was making it clear that we are from both sides and we should embrace the complexity of our lives here in the borderlands.” An informational flyer distributed at the event gave brief biographies of each figure Anzaldúa is referred to as “The Voice of the Borderlands.” Including her in the mural “honors the intellectual and spiritual fight for decolonizing our minds embracing our culture and reclaiming our narratives,” the flyer said whose image commemorates his sacrifice as a martyr in the farmworker movement Contreras was killed in the Imperial Valley during a strike at a Holtville-area farm owned by Mario Saikhon in 1979 stings the most is that we don’t know about this,” Ojeda said of Contreras’ death I only know because my team went to a retreat and talked to Cesar Chavez’s son and grandson and they came back with this knowledge specifically from first-hand sources “More than 15 people asked if this was Pablo Escobar because of how he looks that’s the importance of raising awareness on what happened so that people can know,” Ojeda said “Because what I read is that more than 5,000 people came to his funeral just a few blocks away.”According to the United Farm Workers Contreras led a group of strikers onto a lettuce field to talk with hired scabs about the strike Three company foremen opened fire on the strikers and later the charges were dismissed by Imperial County Superior Court Judge William Lenhardt on the grounds that it could not be proven which of the three men fired the lethal bullet The UFW reports that thousands of farmworkers flooded the streets of Calexico holding candlelight vigils for Contreras during the following days Cesar Chavez eulogized Contreras.“What is the worth of a man What is the worth of a farmworker?” Chavez asked the gathered mourners his father and brother together gave the company 20 years of their labor They were faithful workers who helped build up the wealth of their boss “What was their reward for their service and their sacrifice When they petitioned for a more just share of what they themselves produced when they spoke out against the injustice they endured the company answered them with bullets; the company sent hired guns to quiet Rufino Contreras.” IV Equity’s Flores emphasized the importance of recognizing Contreras’s legacy “There’s a fountain in the resting sites of Cesar Chavez and they have five martyrs and he’s one of them,” Flores said “Growing up here you absolutely are embedded in the community of farmworkers people should be shocked to learn about Rufino who was murdered so young simply for existing and expressing his rights to protest.” the harsh conditions just get normalized as that’s just part of life here,” Flores continued “I hope that we’re able to remind ourselves and think of the farmworkers All the conditions that we suffer while we’re walking to school or whatever — these folks suffer through it while they’re working.  “So I do hope that (people will be) shocked into action Shocked into wanting to go to their city councils advocating for farmworkers And for all the other issues that the Arts Moving Forward campaign is going to show.” Contreras is flanked on his other side by Dolores Huerta the legendary labor activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers union “We wanted to raise awareness on her work,” Ojeda said how she organized the community.”Huerta is probably best known by Valley residents for coining the phrase “Sí Se Puede,” an empowering chant used by activists to this day Flores reflected on the inspiration Huerta has provided her “She’s 94 and I talked to her,” Flores said “And she’s still thinking critically and is so active She inspired me to want to live a long life because I’m like Huerta was the driving force behind the nationwide table grape boycotts in the late 1960s that led to a successful union contract by 1970 According to the event’s flyer: “Her place in the mural symbolizes empowerment — especially for women who have always been at the forefront of movements but often erased from history.” Ojeda described the intention behind featuring these specific historical figures and we have the organizer,” Ojeda explained “And these three aspects come together to do something very powerful and that’s something that we are continuing now.” He also shared his personal connections to the project “Coming from a family who has a majority of farmworkers … I worked it for two weeks and I was like “People shouldn’t be working in those conditions It just goes to show the responsibility that we have as a people to just want to thrive and want to get better and want to provide for our families.” the Arts Moving Forward initiative intersects with activism by connecting the community with its roots They acknowledge that historical activist movements often coincided with creative and artistic movements and so they wish to pay homage to those that came before through expression healing and wellness that comes from art and creativity.  The mural’s unveiling on Cesar Chavez Day was intentional I think in the last 10 years it got established,” Flores said “I really do hope that even though it’s a new holiday people are getting used to it was really important to be intentional.“I want to see people active (on Cesar Chavez Day) I want to see them doing something for a farmworker I want to see them donating to UFW that day Something to make sure that it’s not just another day off for people Ojeda hopes that this mural and the Arts Moving Forward program highlights the potential for community transformation through public art.“We want to make sure that people know that even if it’s in Calexico — it doesn’t have to be LA,” Ojeda said 45th Annual Renewal Saw Over 2,500 Provided a Hot Meal Before A Hard Day’s Work CALEXICO — For the 45th annual Farmworkers Appreciation Breakfast in Calexico more than 2,500 farmworkers made a line for warm tamales and pan dulce lively music and empowering labor rights information Organized by the Employment Development Department in collaboration with the Center for Employment Training and many others to begin setting up at 11:00 p.m The annual event is dedicated to support the agricultural workforce of the Imperial Valley and farmworkers such as Beatriz Mendoza felt the event was well organized and made them feel supported and seen.  She also explained how the support from the numerous organizaitons have helped farmworkers like herself to stay educated of her rights in order to fight for them.  Unfortunately us farmworkers are not paid the best We also have a lot of legal support to help us there’s a lot of resources,” explained Mendoza director of the Center for Employment Training explained how the event hosted 45 agencies all dedicated to providing resources and assistance from legal assistance to medical care and flu vaccines to the farmworkers “It is the most special event for me every year it brings me a lot of joy that we are able to reach and help every person that comes and enjoys today’s breakfast,” said Anaya “I have a great appreciation for every single one of the farmworkers the hard work they put to give us the food we have at our tables the people we really don’t see doing all the hard work so this event is dedicated to give back to them.” There is no overstating the hardwork that farmworkers in our Imperial Valley put to provide for not only their families These essential workers are the reason California leads in production of agricultural products 59 percent of vegetables and 61 percent of fruits and nuts harvested in the United States come from California California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) chief emphasized the rights available to the farmworkers and Cal/OSHA’s priority to help the workers first and foremost.  your immigration status is totally irrelevant we are here to protect workers and educate them on their rights to provide them with information and get them in contact with us,” said Lee I left emotionally and wanting to do more for the farmworkers I hope by us being here they recognize we are here for them and want to hear from them we need to go to their communities and learn how to improve our services for the farmworkers.” Lee added that people are encouraged to apply to job openings with Cal/OSHA to diversify and include everyone in order to educate people on the mission of Cal/OSHA such as the American Civil Liberties Union aided in giving out “Know Your Rights” pamphlets to farmworkers about their rights when encountering police as well as giving fuzzy socks for the winter season and help keep the farmworkers warm felt his time volunteering was eye-opening “I didn’t know there was this many farmworkers and its really eye-opening to see the fact we really do rely on them and they are integral to our community and we need to appreciate them I’m really grateful to be part of this event,” said Gonzalez The Mexican Consulate in Calexico showed its continued support as a partner to the EDD for the farmworker appreciation event Cónsul Ricardo Hernández Lecanda explained how many of the farmworkers in the Imperial Valley are also Mexican citizens with many residing in Mexicali and working in Imperial County “All the resources of the Mexican government that are made available through the Mexican Consulate in Calexico are to help the agricultural workers to better their state of life and to keep this region such a productive area for agriculture,” said Hernández Lecanda.  Oliva has been volunteering for the farmworkers breakfast event since 2016 and is one he looks forward to the most for people that aren’t usually up at this hour we begin to understand the hard work that they do but a farmworker’s day is going to be a lot tougher they are showing up without dragging their feet and many of them do it with a smile on their face “It is beautiful to see our community come together and recognize our farmworkers and to understand in what people may assume is going to be a difficult political time when it comes to immigration and our relationship with Mexico that at least here locally we love our neighbors to the south,” said Oliva City Council is Expected to Approve a Notice of Completion at its Nov 2 were to be officially completed late this week with final inspections done and the last — it is believed — of 16 project change orders over The Calexico City Council — the current makeup of which has been critical of the unforeseen expenses and what it has called poor planning by past administrators and council members — is expected to sign off on a notice of completion at its Nov The final inspection was scheduled to take place on Thursday two days after a special council meeting in which change orders No 15 and 16 were approved by the council in a 4-1 vote; Gloria Romo with the first adding up to $11,980 for irrigation conduit and converting a fuel pump generator to electrical and the second order of $12,976 for an overhaul of the existing generator All change orders are to project contractor As the American Rescue Plan Act-funded project has seen its costs spiral out of control this latest approval saw the city siphon previously allocated ARPA funds from a parking lot pavement project at the Calexico community center The only public comment on the issue came from former City Council member and current candidate who was concerned about the parking lot improvements going undone He asked that the council find another way to pay for it or risk someone falling and getting hurt Acting City Manager Juan Contreras assured the council and audience that the parking lot will be completed The funding issue set off a small war of words between Romo and Mayor Camilo Garcia Romo criticized that all of the change orders and unforeseen costs had resulted in ARPA funds being moved off of other projects and into the fire station you participated in this allocation of monies that’s just not true … It’s just a fraction,” Garcia said.  You know that is unfair to (say) now that we are wasting this money; the money has not been wasted it was because those were the priorities that were set by previous council members,” he said before calling for the vote A&N Quality Builders’ original bid on the fire station rehab was $966,000 in March that tab has ballooned past $610,000 in added costs A portion of that is to be paid by state Community Development Block Grant funding which city Public Works Manager Liliana Falomir said during Tuesday’s meeting she would be applying for those reimbursements An additional $10,170 was allocated by the council on Tuesday for storage lockers and a new washer and dryer for the station Council member Lisa Tylenda added about the project overruns and drama during the process: It shouldn’t have had 16 change orders but the prior council approved it that way and it’s been awful to have to inherit something like that and then have individuals come up here and ask why we have to repurpose money that was approved for other projects,” she said because they decided to approve a project without any plans and allow this Frankenstein to move forward,” Tylenda added.   It wasn’t immediately available when fire crews would move into the refurbished facility or when the city would plan any type of celebration who is a member of the Imperial County Transportation Commission took to his Facebook page this week to thank the commission acting as the Local Transportation Authority for approving $250,000 for traffic control measures in Calexico and additional funding for a traffic study aimed at “mitigating congestion in our community.” The decision came at the LTA’s meeting on Wednesday “This funding will allow the city to analyze current traffic conditions and implement effective strategies to improve safety and traffic flow for residents and visitors alike,” Garcia wrote in his post “This initiative is a crucial step in enhancing the overall transportation experience in Calexico “The traffic study will begin in the next few weeks and updates will be shared with the community to ensure transparency and collaboration throughout the process,” he continued The $250,000 is coming by way of the Measure D 5 percent highway set-aside allocations for fiscal 2024-2025 Measure D is the countywide sales tax add-on that goes to transportation projects the LTA had funded three years of assistance to Calexico in the amount of $150,000 per year the city has been paying some $600,000 a year in traffic control measures for the congestion that accumulates on Highway 111/Imperial Avenue In a process that started in early September the City Council voted 4-1 to move around funding allocations for the purposes of categorizing an on-staff attorney a position the city is already actively advertising for the city’s advertisement for the position of in-house counsel states the pay range is $9,780 to $11,887 per month The city currently contracts with Best Best & Krieger LLP with partner Carlos Campos now serving primarily as Calexico’s city attorney In answering whether the move in-house will save money we would cut down the cost of having a firm with what we’re paying out currently — $500,000 to $600,00 a year.” Contreras did recommend to the council that BBK and an in-house attorney overlap briefly “until we can fully transition.”