SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A South Bay man told ABC 10News he got an email from the Department of Homeland Security saying he had to leave the United States ABC 10News anchor Melissa Mecija sat down with Aldo Martinez Gomez who works with a nonprofit organization and helps people with immigration cases Martinez Gomez said he received an email from DHS instructing him to leave the country last week The email also stated that his parole would terminate seven days after the date of the notice "I believe I received it because I'm an accredited representative and I advocate for immigrants' rights in the court I’ve been doing that for years," he told ABC 10News He thinks the email is an intimidation tactic because I don't want to be an error like so many errors that this administration has made," he said "They have been talking about deporting U.S so it is a concern because that means I'm on their radar." In a statement sent to ABC 10News on Friday morning a senior DHS official said notices may have been sent to "unintended recipients" if a migrant happened to provide an email address of a U.S You can read the full DHS statement below: "CBP has issued notices terminating parole for individuals who do not have lawful status to remain This process is not limited to CBP One users and does not currently apply to those paroled under programs such as U4U and OAW "CBP used the known email addresses of the alien to send notifications If a non-personal email—such as an American citizen contact—was provided by the alien notices may have been sent to unintended recipients CBP is monitoring communications and will address any issues on a case-by-case basis being in the United States is a privilege—not a right We are acting in the best interest of the country and enforcing the law accordingly." Martinez Gomez's seven days just expired on Friday "That’s why I’m trying to speak out because I’m not going to live in fear I’m still going to pass by the ICE offices every time I have to go to court I’m still going to enter detention facilities to represents my clients but it’s all intimidation tactics," he said As part of a new move to tackle low homeownership rates National City officials are considering building between 100 to 200 housing units on public property From the site of a former theater to grassy plots the South Bay city has identified six locations to potentially build a variety of housing units such as townhomes “There are those that are capped at what housing opportunities they can take advantage of,” Carlos Aguirre “So we are trying to figure out how to help out a segment of the population here in National City that really can’t move forward but could possibly do that through these mechanisms.” Sixty percent of National City households make less than the federal average income of roughly $80,000 Officials have previously estimated National City needs an additional 5,500 new housing units by 2029 in National City to meet regional demands Aguirre said “years” have passed since the city last evaluated the properties under consideration for new construction Officials are considering multiple options — a lot at North Highland Avenue and Eta Street could become a mixed-use development with both commercial and residential space Officials selected the locations due to their proximity to public transit options and what are considered low or moderate resource areas According to data from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, between 2018 to 2023 more than half of the completed units in National City were for above moderate-income households Council members stressed the importance of considering rental equity and prioritizing National City residents as the project is developed “The last thing I would want is to further displace people,” Councilmember Luz Molina said if we are going to go through this I would insist that every single opportunity is meant for those folks who truly do deserve a leg up in this economy.” Officials are still studying environmental considerations and zoning to make sure the new developments are possible Aguirre said they expect to have a draft of the request for proposals ready for the council to review in March The city could pick a developer by fall 2025 This story came in part from reporting by Carlos Moyeda, a San Diego Documenter, at a National City Council meeting last month. The Documenters program trains and pays community members to document what happens at public meetings. It’s run by inewsource, a nonpartisan nonprofit newsroom dedicated to investigative and accountability journalism. Read more about the program here and immersive art installations that make you wonder why you ever settled for Netflix While Sessions hopes to host guests someday and serve alcohol on the rooftop cannabis consumption will remain a second-floor privilege Inside, the space feels lush, like the Rainforest Café sans the kitsch. Dim lighting, natural wood accents, and foliage give the lounge a moody, upscale vibe. Sectional seating invites communal vibes while sleek dab rigs and gravity bongs offer state-of-the-art consumption experiences whether they’re looking for a microdose or a full-on sesh “We’ve been in the cannabis industry for years,” Alex says, referring to his and Pearl’s 15-year-long history running dispensaries through the medical era into adult-use legalization “But Sessions is about more than selling products it’s about creating a space that reflects San Diego’s creativity and community.” His menu includes an 18-ingredient ahi tuna crudo on crispy rice waffles, brioche French toast stuffed with peanut butter and jelly, and salads featuring herbs grown in the lounge’s onsite garden. They’ll even have high-end mocktails which you have the choice to drink straight or infuse with low-dose THC drink additives A dumbwaiter shuttles food from Kimball Coastal Eatery’s second kitchen directly to the lounge It’s a seamless operation designed to impress cannabis novices and seasoned users alike “This isn’t stoner food,” Bendesky emphasizes Sessions by the Bay is also a historical moment for California’s cannabis industry, thanks to AB 1775 the legislation permits cannabis lounges to serve freshly prepared food and beverages—a game-changer in an industry long restricted to prepackaged snacks The bill also comes with strict requirements for air filtration which Sessions meets with a system that keeps the air fresh and odor-free Prop 64 may have legalized recreational cannabis sales the law only allows legal cannabis consumption inside someone’s home—that’s good news for homeowners but most rental agreements disallow smoking of any kind stigma-free environment for public consumption it’s more than a lounge; it’s a space designed to normalize cannabis use while educating guests about safe consumption practices “We wanted to create a place where everyone feels welcome,” Alex says or someone who’s been part of this culture for decades Sessions is stocked with state-of-the-art consumption devices They also have a variety of microdosed products designed for people who are newer to using cannabis or who prefer either a muted high or none at all and other cannabis consumables will be available for purchase both on the ground-floor dispensary and in the lounge Then there’s the art. Sessions features a 12-room immersive exhibit that takes guests through cannabis history—from its medicinal ancient roots to the War on Drugs to today’s complex regulatory landscape Alex says each room is designed to provoke thought and inspire wonder “Instagram-worthy” bathrooms and a hidden installation exploring cannabis’ complicated legal past and present round out the experience The goal is “unreasonable hospitality,” says assistant lounge manager Steph Diaz who has also long been active in the San Diego cannabis community Sessions by the Bay will be more than just the region’s first cannabis lounge It will symbolize how far the industry has come and also how far it still has to go Whether you’re here for the ahi tuna waffles one thing is clear: Sessions will set the new standard for cannabis hospitality in San Diego Jackie is San Diego Magazine's and Studios' content strategist she was a long-time freelance journalist covering cannabis Her work has been selected twice for Best American Travel Writing and she has won a variety of national and local awards for her writing and reporting By clicking subscribe you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions Email: [email protected] By clicking Subscribe you’re confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions Email: [email protected] © Copyright 2023 San Diego Magazine 1230 Columbia Street National City voters will decide whether the city should establish a parcel tax on some property owners It would generate funds to be used exclusively for repairing streets and alleys and improving aging parks The rate of taxation would be based on the character of a property $365 for commercial and industrial and up to $500 for multifamily units There are a number of property types that would be exempt from the tax including religious institutions and nonprofit organizations An advisory citizens committee would be established to ensure funds are spent properly The committee would be appointed by the City Council and would consist only of residents subject to the parcel tax This measure was placed on the ballot as a result of a citizen initiative where a sufficient number of signatures were gathered to place it on the November ballot The National City City Council placed the measure on the ballot because the Registrar of Voters declared that it qualified for the ballot National City Councilmember Jose Rodriguez and a number of National City residents led the effort to get the measure on the ballot They say it’s needed for "urgent improvements to city streets infrastructure and parks that will make life better for residents now and for years to come.” Based on a county inventory of parcel values proponents say the tax would generate about $1.7 million The vast majority of the funds would be spent on improving streets sidewalks and alleys and the addition of street lighting and building new parks would come next in the order of priority The San Diego County Taxpayers Association says the measure engages in "ballot box budgeting" — which the Association says is a dangerous practice for the provision of any public good or service The Association also says it has concerns regarding what it calls a "discriminatory tax structure without a clear analytical basis regarding the impact on the economy or property owners." We teamed up with Ballot Ready to offer in-depth information about what's on your ballot with this interactive guide A former elementary school "teacher of the year" who was accused of grooming two boys has pleaded guilty to sex crime charges the San Diego County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday a former teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary School who was named the county's highest teacher award admitted to four sexual misconduct charges including sexual intercourse with a minor and possession of obscene materials involving a minor Ma could face 30 years to life in prison when she is sentenced on May 9 a substantially shorter sentence than the 165 years to life she could have spent in state prison if convicted of all 19 felony charges The change of plea on Wednesday also avoided a trial the superintendent of the National School District sent out a statement to families regarding Ma's guilty plea Get top local San Diego stories delivered to you every morning with our News Headlines newsletter when we learned of the allegations of inappropriate physical activity between this former educator and a minor "Although she was immediately placed on unpaid status and has been detained ever since I want to assure our school community that with this guilty plea we are now able to formally move to terminate her employment with the district." The South Bay educator was first arrested in March 2023 after a concerned parent suspected her child was possibly having an inappropriate relationship with his former teacher She was released on bail but quickly re-arrested after evidence of child pornography came to light National City police Detective Colleen Stanich testified during a preliminary hearing that in March John Doe 1's mother told police she found messages on a tablet between her son and Ma in which Ma directed the boy to delete some of the messages or to communicate with her in "vanish mode" so the messages would eventually disappear The detective said she later spoke with Ma about her connection to the boy and Ma allegedly told her "It's complicated and I may have blurred the lines." A subsequent search of Ma's cell phone turned up numerous text messages within a hidden application Many of those messages were read in court and described sex acts between Ma and the boy while others included explicit photographs of John Doe 1 Ma described being in love with John Doe 1 and being saddened that their relationship would not last and he would eventually start dating girls his own age Ma was initially charged solely in connection with John Doe 1 prosecutors added additional charges regarding a second boy prosecutors alleged Ma exchanged a series of sexually charged text messages with John Doe 2 starting when he was 11 John Doe 2 allegedly told police that he and Ma had devised a "plan" for him to meet with her in her classroom Ma allegedly took off her shirt and "tried to get close to him," but the boy left the classroom because he was afraid Stanich testified that Ma groomed both boys by buying them gifts including clothes and gaming-related items While its name seems like it could exist anywhere, National City has a distinctly San Diego personality, from its connection to the historic transcontinental railroad to its flair for great tacos. Located just south of downtown, National City also offers a convenient and affordable home base for classic San Diego County adventures experimenting with growing the fruit called an “alligator pear,” and now known as an avocado You can still spot Victorian homes scattered around the town. A short drive from Heritage Square, Stein Family Farm features an 1880s farmhouse-turned-museum, a barn full of antique farm equipment, and friendly barnyard animals and barn cats. Nearby Olivewood Gardens is a seven-acre educational garden located around a grand older home that hosts a weekly produce stand and stand-alone classes on cooking or gardening For a retro dining thrill, head to Cafe La Maze Steakhouse, which opened in National City in 1941 as the sister property of a Hollywood steakhouse and offered an easy detour for movie stars and other fans going to a racetrack that used to be in Tijuana Today the old-school steakhouse has red-leather booths which you can have topped with bleu cheese For contemporary cuisine, head to the Market on 8th, a food hall with cross-border synergy: Options include Baja-style style tacos at Kiko’s Place, burgers with a Tijuana-inspired sauce at Poppy’s & Cream, and Mexican–Chinese-fusion at Xi-Cali. Don’t miss Niederfrank’s Ice Cream next door a family-owned business that has been in National City since 1948 The all-natural ice cream maker offers dozens of flavors—from classic chocolate chip to the more eclectic blueberry sorbet As you plan your trip, check out more ways to play in San Diego, as well as amazing local taco shops and best bike trails and paths I never should have had to write this Comic Con will stay in San Diego for two more years Why I Resigned from the SDSU Antisemitism Task Force San Diego unveils first-ever cannabis lounge in National City for 4/20 weekend California Faculty Association challenges CSU’s OpenAI partnership as a breach of contract The 4/20 holiday was historic for San Diegans this year welcomed customers to its highly anticipated grand opening in National City Sessions’ first-floor dispensary opened on April 7 and the lounge space on the second floor opened on April 18 accompanied by live musical performances and brand promotions The weed lounge opening signals a shift in public perception and provides pot enthusiasts with a safe space to consume “I think it’s a really good move for National City to bring in Sessions,” Karen Azhocar McManus chairwoman of the National City Chamber of Commerce I think what it’s going to do is elevate and lift the perception of cannabis so I’m very thrilled that it’s going to be here in National City.”  Sessions prides itself on being unlike any other weed lounge The 16,000-square-foot building is home to a variety of art by local artists “I think this is something that has never been done but in California and the world,” Brittany Wallis dispensary general manager of Sessions by the Bay “We’ve been to multiple lounges and dispensaries Sessions’ founders Alex and Pearl Ayon prioritized the guest experience when creating their lounge From weed-infused mocktails to sweet chili confit duck wings the cafe provides a one-of-a-kind experience “You’ve got to be thinking about the environment people are sitting in to draw them here You’ve got to think about entertainment You’ve got to keep them fed and quenched,” Alex Ayon said “So we’ve kind of thought of all that.”  Visitors new to cannabis can feel at ease thanks to the knowledgeable staff Every lounge employee is trained to help guests using Sessions’ in-house Cannabible – a guide to their wide array of rentable smoking devices “We did a lot of training with both the dispensary staff and the lounge staff,” Wallis said “We have staff that just do our device technicalities and device cleaning and they’re experts in their fields.”  but tourism is expected to help support the business long term Sessions sits just eight miles from the San Diego International Airport and less than three miles from the new Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center will host the largest hotel on the West Coast “I feel like we’ll see a lot of tourists because tourists don’t have a legal place to consume can’t consume at their hotel,” Alex Ayon said “A lot of tourists come here and want to have a little bit of weed while they’re out here.” the brewery scene blew up in San Diego and is now synonymous with the region Those involved with Sessions foresee a similar future for cannabis cafes there were a lot of folks that were against that,” McManus said we don’t want to have all this alcohol consumption Look at how it has changed our communities but safety and abiding by the local laws are the priority National City Ordinance No. 2021-2487 states that consumption may not be visible outside the lounge no alcohol or tobacco is allowed and guests cannot bring in their weed from outside the cafe To enter the cafe and dispensary at 700 Bay Marina Drive Sessions is ready to serve as a model and pioneer for the local weed community we have the Gaslamp and we have the Padres Why not add cannabis to that?” Wallis said that’s what we’re known for: San Diego (KGTV) – A National City Police sergeant escaped serious injury after crashing his SUV during Thursday’s rainy conditions Police said the sergeant was heading northbound in the 300 block of National City Boulevard at around 5 a.m when he lost control of his SUV and hit a parked car and an electrical box was checked out by paramedics and was determined to be OK voted 3-2 to censure of Councilmember Jose Rodriguez Rodriguez, who was just reelected in November, spoke out before a City Council meeting about an agenda itemdirectly targeting him is a political hit piece that we are so used to in National City,” Rodriguez said "Only in National City can a councilmember can a council colleague be discussed to have a censure by distributing turkeys and giving away food that is publically funded." National City Mayor Ron Morrison brought forward the item against Rodriguez for possible censure Morrison's memo to the National City Council in a PDF for Tuesday’s agenda items accused Rodriguez of violating the City Council Policy regarding conduct and the code of fair campaign practices “The following issues have been raised; 1) Use of public resources in the course of actions of his office; giveaways and use of city funded resources on political campaign media sites of the use of City contractors and City hired staff under his direct control for the use of campaigning 3) The use of media to cause a hostile environment within the community in the form of bullying and non inclusive intimidation that has cause members of the community including a City Commissioner to feel that they and their families are threatened 4) The appearance of hiring people that have been involved in his campaign as his City Staff 5) The continuing media attention concerning his character and actions which reflect upon the City's reputation as well 6) A total lack of remorse or change in actions when concerns of his character and actions are brought to his attention,” the document stated "The work that we do in the community; having workshops actively reaching out to the community in times of need I see this as part of my job,” Rodriguez said before the City Council meeting Some spoke out about an instance of alleged bullying by Rodriguez I feel like he's trying to fearmonger my family and I,” Liliana Armenta Armenta is also on the National City's planning commission She said an email flyer against Trump supporters being involved in decisions for National City was sent out by Rodriguez to the community "My home is adorn with Trump flags,” Armenta said Armenta told ABC 10News the flyer had a photo of her home and that her home or what's on it doesn't impact her decision-making on the commission "Probably 99% of the community will not know if I'm Republican or Democrat because I don't act on a political stance I make my decisions based on facts from the city and what's best for our city,” Armenta said The punishment for these alleged violations according to the policy code written in the City Council memo Rodriguez said it's time to move past the pettiness and work for the people who call National City home "It's time we put some of these vendettas on the side and we continue to do the work in National City because our community deserves it,” Rodriguez said (KGTV) – Loved ones are grieving the loss of 11-year-old Nicole Grande who died after a battle with bacterial meningitis said the 5th grader at Valencia Park Elementary first started feeling unwell two Thursdays ago She complained of stiffness in her body and pain in her head telling her family she had just slept funny and the stiff neck and shoulders grew worse and she would flinch and cry very loudly that it hurt," Nadia Huerta said her family brought her to the emergency room She soon became unresponsive and had to be intubated she was diagnosed with streptococcal meningitis a bacterial infection that causes swelling of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord Doctors are unsure where Nicole contracted the bacteria Her sisters said it could have been from "a sneeze Family members say Nicole had received the meningitis vaccine A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help with funeral expenses the family received an emotional call right after our interview learning that Nicole's donated organs had been transplanted into five recipients including a 12-year-old child who received her heart “I know she would be happy… We know her life is being carried on by others,” said Lezly Huerta "I'm glad another family gets to be happy and not go through the grief we did." (KGTV) — A pickup truck hit and killed a person who was walking on state Route 54 late Monday night in the National City area The deadly collision occurred just after 11 p.m on the eastbound lanes near Highland Avenue Police said the unidentified victim was walking on the freeway for unknown reasons when a Toyota truck struck them First responders found the person lying on the road unconscious ABC 10News learned the California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident (KGTV) — A new cannabis dispensary has opened in National City but it's the space above that is truly elevating the customer experience Following a highly anticipated grand opening Sessions by the Bay welcomed customers on Sunday we haven't been anywhere like this before,” customer Jay Pulsinelli said The dispensary occupies the first floor of a 16,000-square-foot building but the real excitement begins on the second floor where customers can consume cannabis on-site “That’s the wonderful thing about our space here you couldn't really consume anywhere comfortably,” owner Alex Ayon said So having a space like this has a lot of benefits for public health and safety as well as for our community and our culture.” Sessions by the Bay is the first of its kind in San Diego providing customers the opportunity to enjoy cannabis in a comfortable setting while also indulging in food and mocktails Customer Angela D’Amico shared her enthusiasm “We are taking our time looking through everything be able to smoke it and eat all at the same time.” The success of the grand opening is a significant milestone for Ayon who noted the lounge has always been a dream “A lounge has always been like a dream or a goal of ours and it just took a lot of work and energy to do it,” he said This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy was shot and killed at an abandoned house party in National City in November few witnesses have come forward and police still have made no arrests As grieving family and friends laid Elijah to rest on Thursday at Funeraria Del Angel in Chula Vista ABC 10News checked back in with National City Police Department's Detective Mark Segal Segal said the investigation is still ongoing and there are no named suspects or arrests made yet Segal said the investigation has been challenging because of the age demographic the department is dealing with in Elijah's case which mainly consists of teenagers and young adults "We have identified people anywhere from 12 years old to their early twenties [who were at that party] so you have a wide swath of individuals that are coming from a wide variety of neighborhoods all over South County," Segal said Segal said several parents initially brought their children to the police department to share tips but he believes there are more who know what happened to Elijah because there were more than 200 people at the house party the night Elijah died Segal said he believes the witnesses are just scared to talk to the police "There's probably fear of retribution for attending that party and we're having a hard time with young people coming forward to share what they know," Segal said "They're just hesitant about being labeled a snitch or rat or going against their friends or their group and potentially being the one that helps police." Segal said there's a combination of challenges the department is running into dealing with young adults who could know something about the gunman which are all reasons why witnesses are holding back Segal also said there are possible witnesses with prior run-ins with the law or family members with priors who don't want any more trouble with the police Segal said he's hopeful that Elijah's case will be solved and the department is planning to bring in more resources to help find the gunman To submit an anonymous tip, visit: https://p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=409# A peaceful protest quickly growing in size as Highland Avenue was swarmed with people “I see a lot of youth which I'm happy to see here that are out here supporting I see a lot of older people as well,” said Violet “We're here to speak for the people who cannot speak and we're here to stand up for their rights,” said Violet And some breaking out into a fight on Highland Avenue and East 14th street since President Trump's federal immigration policy threatened to deport undocumented immigrants living in the United States Trump’s border czar saying that those who are undocumented are at risk of deportation even if they do not have a criminal record we spent almost every day this week crying we have to have a lot of faith,” said Janeth Manriquez Trump's border czar also said it's all a part of the administration's plan to send a clear message These protesters say the message was received Throughout the evening there were fireworks Towards the end of the night the protest was declared unlawful by police Despite the escalations on highland avenue “Do you think it's going to make a difference?” I asked they pay attention and they see how many people are not ok with what they're doing right now,” said Manriquez Short term rentals are illegal in National City but at any given time the city estimates there are at least 125-200 in operation officials have been fielding complaints about parking and loud parties while police last week told the city council the rentals have brought crimes ranging from minor to violent felonies A mass shooting three weeks ago at a party of over 100 teens in a vacant house — while not a short term rental — stoked fears of public safety at properties where owners are absent 4 injured in large National City party at abandoned house," said NBC 7 San Diego gave a report that highlighted how an ordinance could generate revenue by collecting transient occupancy tax from the rentals while addressing community concerns and ensuring compliance City councilmember Luz Molina said she felt "a little bit caught off guard" about creating policy for short-term rentals The one-page staff report had none of the information she was now hearing she heard the city attorney say these are currently illegal in the city "I don't understand why we are considering this if they're not permitted?"  Molina asked if there was active enforcement; what revenue the city hoped to gain; and could there be a location breakdown of the rentals by council district Vice mayor Ditas Yamane agreed with the idea of showing the breakdown by district "It looks like chicken pox," she said of the 200 STRs shown strewn around the city Reeder said the city has a permissive land use code so it's not expressly stated in the code But initial searches of AirBnB and Vrbo have come up with as many as 200 cases "If we're going to prosecute 200 cases that's going to take a lot of staff power." The city would risk rewarding bad behavior by issuing permits "but this will allow us to start with a clean slate to be sure the city is getting benefit from the money." Vacation rentals are a topic the city has batted around "ever since the AirBnB craze 5-6 years ago," Reeder said Chula Vista and San Diego have already passed their own short term rental ordinances are some of the rules in place in Chula Vista — a similar sized city — like a requirement for parking Most of National City is in high transit areas and under new state laws most new development doesn't require parking which could put a burden on neighborhoods with party houses Putting an economic hardship on bad actors will help The application fee for Chula Vista is around $100 A phased approach to implementing the rules would begin with getting an ordinance The city has already gotten proposals from three different vendors to manage and enforce its program City staff will now gather more data on the location and number of short-term rentals in the city and draft an ordinance for review in March and draft an ordinance for review in March.