Tunnel Tangles

SANDAG, our regional government agency, made a February City Council presentation on train tunnel relocation summarizing the input that they have been receiving from a variety of citizen outreach efforts. Their graphic on possible routes demonstrates they have been listening to community concerns and suggestions. Laid out like spaghetti strands depicted on a map, at least a dozen sites have been identified, including one under the fairgrounds and one under the San Dieguito lagoon.  

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News Updates

Phil Blair Named to 22nd DAA Board

March 6, 2024

Governor Newsom has appointed Del Mar resident Phil Blair to the Fair Board (formally the 22nd District Agricultural Association Board of Directors).

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Editorial: Whose Town Hall?

What qualifies as a Del Mar non-profit organization and why does it matter? This question came before the City Council at its January 22nd meeting, but resolution was deferred for further review by a council subcommittee (Gaasterland and Worden).

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Flatten the Curve

If humanity has a shot at reversing climate change, it will depend on scientific and social efforts that the Keeling Curve Foundation promotes. The Foundation website states its mission: “To recognize, inspire, and promote accurate long-term observations of the

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Roving Teen Reporter: Senior Assassins

You may have recently seen high schoolers crouching behind cars in your neighborhood with a water gun in hand. Or maybe you’ve noticed teens sporting swim floaties while nowhere near a pool. These unusual displays are a part of

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Covid Update: Infection Inflection

While many of us had mild symptoms associated with COVID-19 infections in the past 2 months, data for hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID suggest that serious illness has been less common than in prior years.   Hospitalizations due

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AI: Utopia or Dystopia?

Since the late 2022 public launch of Chat GPT, AI is now a big part of this decade’s zeitgeist, along side the pandemic, Taylor Swift, Jan 6 and Oct 7. AI has ushered in a thrilling world of productivity

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Fixed Fee Fighters

The saga of the income-graduated electricity fee continues. Thanks go to our California Representatives Assembly Member Tasha Boerner and Senator Catherine Blakespear, along with 18 of their colleagues, for co-authoring a bill, AB 1999, that would repeal the income-based

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Re-Fur Your Fur

Project Wildlife, a wild animal rescue and rehabilitation program with the San Diego Humane Society, is in need of fur coats.  Fur coats are used as bedding – an ideal material to comfort an injured or orphaned animal –

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DMF: The Impact of DMF’s Grants

A key responsibility of DMF board members is identifying grant opportunities that correlate with our mission and will have a positive impact on our community. Following are a few recent examples that have done exactly that.   Last year,

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Del Mar Community Connections

Caring for family caregivers Build a Support System with people who share the same situation. DMCC has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association to provide a support group for caregivers beginning March 14th.  This support group Facilitated by Jeanie Grischy,

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March 2024

Print Edition

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Click for MAR 2024 print issue in PDF format

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In Brief

Affordable Housing at the Fairgrounds

The Fairgrounds (“DAA”) Board released a proposed “Exclusive Negotiating Rights Agreement” for possible use of Fairgrounds property by the City for affordable housing, for Board action at its Feb. 20 meeting. The Agreement requires the DAA to provide the City with prospective sites by Dec. 31, 2024 but does not obligate the DAA to enter into a lease agreement for a site. The City’s Housing Element requires the City to “secure a binding agreement to allow for development of at least 54 lower income units at a specific location on the Fairgrounds property” by April 15, 2024. It is unclear whether the proposed Agreement would fulfill that requirement. As of press time, the DAA Board meeting had not yet taken place, nor had the City placed it on a Council agenda. Updates will be posted online: delmarsandpiper.org/fairgrounds-housing.

 


Sea Cliff Park: Hidden Gem Renewed

Just above the Tot Lot at Powerhouse Park is the small special Sea Cliff Park. The area has been cleared out and new trees planted sponsored by the Del Mar Foundation. Enjoy the serene setting with a walking loop and benches.

Photo by Julie Maxie-Allison

Construction at former Bully’s site continues. Photo by Julie Maxey-Allison

Cleaner Energy for Del Mar

The state review of energy sources for electricity providers showed that CEA’s electricity generation was 70% cleaner than San Diego Gas & Electric. CEA is the default electricity provider for 94% of Del Mar residents. Greg Wade, former City Manager in Solana Beach, has assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) as of Feb. 1st. Del Mar Mayor David Druker was elected for a second term as Chair of the CEA Board. Councilmember Dwight Worden has termed out as Chair of the CEA Citizen Advisory Committee.

 


Crime Decline

Our Sheriff Captain reports overall crime rates in Del Mar down 29% from 2022 to 2023.

  • Arrests down from 87 to 71
  • Calls for service down from 1676 to 1607
  • Property crime rates down 42%
  • 648 traffic citations
  • 20 DUI arrests
  • Crimes against persons up 34% (mainly at fairgrounds)

Special Delivery: Trees to P.O.

The Garden Club’s Mary Friestedt in front of the Del Mar Post Office on 15th Street where the Garden Club volunteers planted eight new trees sponsored by the Del Mar Foundation. The newly planted trees include Melaleuca elliptica – Granite Bottlebrush, Hymenosporum flavum –  Sweetshade, Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’ – Arabian Lilac and Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii – Catalina Cherry. See if you can find all eight and watch them grow. 

Photo by Julie Maxey-Allison