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Guilty Verdict in Case of Man Killed by Home Invasion Robber

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A man with a violent criminal history has been found guilty in the slaying of a San Carlos resident who was shot to death in a home invasion robbery last spring.

Elliot Grizzle, 45, was convicted of first-degree murder Tuesday in a San Diego courtroom for the killing of Brett Adler, 33. Grizzle faces 198 years to life in prison when he’s sentenced next month; he’s due back in court on April 26 – one day after his 46th birthday.

Grizzle – who has a criminal record that includes convictions for assault and manslaughter – was one of several armed intruders who entered a home in the 8500 block of Tommy Drive on May 11, 2016.

The group tied up and robbed two residents, demanding money from them. Adler came home in the middle of the home invasion, and was shot to death outside.

Grizzle and the others fled the scene in a green Ford Expedition SUV.

In an interview with a local media outlet, Adler’s sister said the victim had interrupted the intruders and was killed trying to protect his friends. She said Adler had spent 12 years in prison for an armed robbery he committed as a teenager when he and his friends robbed a smoke shop. She said he had since cleaned up his life and was a “good man and a great brother and uncle.”

Grizzle was arrested in connection with this case on Aug. 3, 2016. In addition to first-degree murder, he was also charged with felony second-degree robbery and first-degree burglary.



Photo Credit: GoFundMe

Bicyclist Injured at Mission Trails, Airlifted Out

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A bicyclist reported to be injured at Mission Trails Park was airlifted out Wednesday evening.

The call came just after 5 p.m. at Jackson Drive and Mission Gorge Road, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD).

Fire officials said the biker was injured after crashing. 

Crews hiked over to his location and then moved him to a place from where he could be airlifted out of the park.

He was taken to a local hospital with broken bones.

No other information was available.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Tillerson Likely to Face Tough Questions at NATO: Experts

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At his first NATO meeting on Friday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will be tasked with reassuring the organization’s member-nations that the United States remains committed to them, NBC News reported.

Tillerson initially planned to skip the summit and has done little to calm fears stirred by President Donald Trump having labeled NATO as “obsolete” and suggesting that the U.S. wouldn't protect its members against Russian aggression unless they increased their military spending.

Members are concerned about whether the Trump administration understands how NATO works, as well as what type of implications could arise if the U.S. doesn’t fulfill its role, said Keir Giles, an associate fellow at the London-based think tank Chatham House.

The U.S. is considered the de facto head of NATO, as it holds the world’s most powerful military. Its members pledge to defend each other in case of an attack, but most countries now spend less than suggested two percent of GDP.



Photo Credit: Getty Images, File

SANDAG to Look at Plans for Coronado Bridge Bikeway 'Tube'

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Imagine the opportunity to bike or walk the San Diego Coronado Bay Bridge.

The idea is as old as the bridge itself but on Thursday, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) will, for the first time, look at plans to build a bikeway-pedestrian tube along the bridge.

NBC 7 got a sneak peek at the plans Wednesday night.

A pedestrian bridge spanning the two-mile Coronado Bay Bridge will cost around $210 million. Plans for the pedestrian tube show a path expected to be 15 feet in diameter, 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide -- large enough for cyclists, runners, and walkers.

"That would be amazing,” Coronado resident Marjorie Lloyd said.

The tube also promises spectacular views, seen at your leisure instead of whizzing by in traffic on the bridge.

“I can't think of how many times somebody has wanted to stop pull over and take a picture because it's such a gorgeous view of the city up there,” Lloyd said.

SANDAG will get a look at the feasibility study and architectural renderings Thursday during a 2 p.m. meeting. The plans include three tube configurations: one aligned with the bridge deck, another the pier cap and the third aligned with the pier archway.

Renderings show an observation deck and entrances and exists on and off SANDAG’s Bayshore Bikeway.

"It's hard to get from here to over there easily,” Coronado cyclist Natalie Leonard said.

With the tube, Leonard said she sees the solution to two problems: finding easy access to Downtown San Diego and a chance to prevent those wanting to jump from the bridge.

"It could be a blockade because that is another thing we are all interested in here,” Leonard said.

But there are issues with the plan, and not everyone is on board.

Such an addition would change the look of an iconic bridge, which is about to reach historical status. The bridge also includes specific vertical clearance that is necessary for military and other large ships.

With the price tag so high, for some, it is yacht luxury in a community with a dinghy budget and greater needs.

"A bigger improvement would be putting a better way of managing traffic here on the island," Coronado resident Julio Gutierrez said.

The blue prints for a pedestrian tube that connects these two most desirable places may come from great thinkers but could likely end up a pipe dream.

Tolls for bridge users paid for the original structure, could a toll for tube users cover the cost?

That possibility hasn't yet been calculated.

Padres Roster Could Look Quite ... Interesting

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Want to know what the Padres roster is going to look like on Opening Day they play the Dodgers in Los Angeles?

Hang on. This will take a while.

As of Wednesday, March 29, 2017 the Padres are kicking around the idea of having what would be, hands down, the most unique roster in all of Major League Baseball.

“It’s an interesting roster composition that we’re flirting with at this point in time,” said Manager Andy Green. He is in no way exaggerating.

“The possibility still exists that technically in the world’s eyes you’re carrying possibly four catchers if you carry Christian Bethancourt, Hector Sanchez, Luis Torrens and Austin Hedges,” said Green.

That’s right, four catchers. However, as is the case with a lot of stuff these days where the Padres are concerned, that number comes with a caveat.

“Now Bethancourt, if we keep him in that scenario we’re looking at him more as an 8th reliever rather than a true catcher. His predominant role will be in the bullpen.”

I know you’ve all heard about the Bethancourt to the bullpen thing plenty of times already but as Spring Training has played out he truly has become the guy around which the Padres roster will be built.

“He changes the whole complexion of the roster,” said Green. “There’s a lot of intrigue in his arm. He’s been up to 97 MPH at times. There are times he’s flashed plus plus plus-stuff. We don’t have the opportunity to send him down to let him develop as a pitcher. We have to allow that to happen at the Major League level and we think there’s long-term value in him.”

If they do end up keeping Bethancourt as well as the other three catchers it minimizes what the Friars can do in the field because they’d have have 16 roster spots spoken for, leaving only nine more for the infield and outfield.

The likely breakdown there is five infielders and four outfielders, and if you think you know who those guys will be trust me, you don’t. The Padres might keep as many and three Rule 5 draftees on the roster this year.

“When you’re looking at Luis Torrens and Allen Cordoba, possibly keeping them on the Major League roster … everyone has a positive and everyone has a drawback,” said Green.

The positive is a crazy level of talent. The drawback is a serious lack of experience.

Torrens is a catcher. Cordoba is an infielder. The other guy is Miguel Diaz, a right-handed reliever. All have enough upside to keep them around for a while even though they are being asked to make a ridiculous leap in competition.

Cordoba was taken out of the Cardinals organization. He’s 21 years old and has never played a game above the Rookie Ball-level Appalachian League, where last year he hit .362 with more walks than strikeouts.

Torrens was one of the top prospects in the Yankees organization before shoulder issues set him back. But he’s still just 20 years old and got a clean bill of health after off-season surgery a year ago. He has only played 40 games of advanced A-ball.

Diaz is 21 years old and has never pitched above short-season A-ball with the Brewers organization but much like Luis Perdomo last year his stuff is too good to ignore. He’s only allowed three hits in 8.0 innings with the Padres during Cactus League games.

The Padres are seriously considering keeping all three guys.

“Those are real discussions going on right now and I think they’ll persist for the next couple of days because there’s a tradeoff with every one of them,” said Green.

If all three youngsters do stick they’ll have to stay on the big league roster for the duration of the season (like Perdomo) or offer them back to their original teams (like outfielder Jabari Blash, who ultimately ended up staying in the organization after a trade with the Mariners).

If that happens there are tough decisions to make. On the infield, who do you knock out to keep Cordoba? You know Wil Myers, Erick Aybar and Yangervis Solarte are on the team. That leaves Cory Spangenberg, Ryan Schimpf and Luis Sardinas and the Padres can only keep one.

Or maybe they can keep two if the team thinks Cordoba can handle the outfield, which he has done admirably during Spring Training. The outfield is going to have Hunter Renfroe, Travis Jankowski and Manuel Margot (as long as his knee is healthy) in it. Alex Dickerson won’t be ready for Opening Day. Might the Friars think Cordoba offers a better opportunity than Blash or Collin Cowgill?

That is a serious possibility and for a progressive-thinking manager like Green it offers a world of possibilities.

“We have the potential to use some of our pieces in unique fashions and up-down concepts that cover some of our inexperience on the bench. We’ve got a lot of things we like in a lot of guys.”

Yup. They definitely have some tough decisions to make.

Kidney Dialysis Regulations Bill Moves Forward

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In California, 63,000 patients rely on kidney dialysis, a life-sustaining medical procedure but critics say there is a gap in this life-saving care in San Diego and across the state.

A major problem in California, according to health professionals, is that the dialysis centers aren’t inspected as often as facilities like nursing homes and hospitals.

Wednesday, in Sacramento, the Dialysis Patient Safety Act (SB349), an attempt by lawmakers to address the problems, passed its first hurdle. The bill, sponsored by State Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell) would require annual inspections of the clinics and according to Lara would “set safe staffing levels.”

The bill would also mandate a ratio of one technician for every three patients, one nurse to every eight patients and one social worker for every 75 patients.

San Diegan Roberta Mikles supports the bill.

“I am an RN and I researched thoroughly the CDC (Center for Disease Control) requirements” for kidney dialysis patient care, she said. Her father Mickey was on dialysis for five years before he died.

“Three days a week I sat with him through the entire treatment,” Mikles said. She said she would sit with him three and a half, sometimes four hours depending on how much blood needed to be cleaned. Over time, she said, she began to form a critical opinion on how her father was treated.

“There were a lot of things that were very very disturbing,” she said.

In California, kidney dialysis clinics are only inspected on average once every six years, California Senator Lara said. In comparison, hospitals are required to be inspected every two years, nursing homes once a year.

Kidney dialysis clinics must adhere to federal guidelines but without consistent annual inspections, there is no way to know if the clinics are performing up to standards.

According to the CDC, recertification surveys based on inspection reports, are supposed to be completed every three years but state records show that’s not happening in California. In 2015, according to the California Department of Public Health, state inspectors visited 148 centers across California. There are 372 dialysis centers in Southern California alone.

Mikles said she believes this lack of oversight created a culture in the clinics that included ignoring complaints of patients or their family and sloppy and improper infection control practices. She told NBC 7 Investigates that throughout the years there were several instances where she caught staff “inserting the needle the wrong way.”

NBC 7 Investigates obtained inspection records of several San Diego area dialysis clinics. The inspections support Mikels claims of “infection control” issues, indications of an overworked staff demonstrated by required tests not being done or care plans for patients not followed.

“As far as I am concerned, they do a cookie cutter treatment,” she said.

Mikles spoke before lawmakers Wednesday in support of the latest bill. She told the Senate Health committee, “we need to stand up for our family members who depend on dialysis, these are the brothers, sisters, mothers and in my case, my father. This is a life-sustaining treatment and we need reform now.”

This is isn’t the first time she took her concerns to Sacramento though. After her father died, Mikles said she was so disturbed by what she had witnessed, she worked to help create legislation intended to increase state oversight of dialysis centers. That bill never made it out of committee.

“I went up against the dialysis companies and the lobbyists,” she said.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the dialysis business is “enormously profitable.” The two leading dialysis companies, according to the Journal, are Fresenius Medical Care and DaVita Healthcare Partners, which combined control 70 percent of the kidney dialysis market in the United States.

Wednesday at the hearing in Sacramento, Dr. Brian Wong, a medical director at both a DaVita and Fresenius clinic, opposed the bill. He said he thinks the concerns laid out by the bill’s proponents are not as dire as stated. He added the industry is already heavily regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

California State Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) is on the committee and during the hearing said she’d spoken to a number of dialysis clinic employees about staffing levels.

“I heard story after story of someone who called in sick and there seemed to be no backup plan,” she said. “I heard too many stories of not having adequate staff” and concluded that it affects the employee's morale and the quality of care for patients.

Next, the bill will be in front of the Senate Labor Committee which will focus on the proposed staffing levels the bill suggests.

In preparing for the hearing, NBC 7 Investigates reviewed donations to all members of the Senate Health Committee from Fresenius Medical Care and DaVita Healthcare Partners. The analysis showed, only Senator Atkins received any significant amount of funds.

According to the California Secretary of State, Atkins received a total of $7,000 from Davita for the period between August 2013 and April 2015. During the hearing, Wednesday Atkins voted in support of the bill.



Photo Credit: Monica Garske

Microsoft Exec to Lead Analytics Team at San Diego Co.

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A distinguished scientist and former director at Microsoft is joining San Diego’s health intelligence company, Human Longevity, as chief data scientist.

The new recruit, Dr. David Heckerman, will lead an advanced analytics team at Human Longevity’s Mountain View office, tackling challenges in the analysis of big swaths of medical and genomic data.

Before Human Longevity, Heckerman worked at Microsoft for nearly 25 years as a scientist and director of Microsoft’s genomics arm. According to Human Longevity, Heckerman led Microsoft’s first research team to focus on machine learning, and produced the company’s first content-based spam filter. Later, he led the first research team to focus on computational biology, designing a vaccine for HIV as well as other algorithms for biology and health. For the last several years, Heckerman has led the Microsoft Genomics team, advancing research in genomics and computational biology and supporting Microsoft cloud services for genomics.

Heckerman’s background is a perfect fit for Human Longevity, which says it's building the world’s largest database of clinical, biological, and behavioral information.

The company says it is hiring more experts in computational biology, quantitative genomics, biostatistics, bioinformatics, natural language processing, and machine learning. These positions will work on Human Longevity’s genomics-powered software and other tools.

Heckerman will report to Human Longevity’s co-founder and executive chairman, J. Craig Venter.



Photo Credit: David Heckerman
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Sherman Heights Mom Concerned About Lead Poisoning

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A Sherman Height's mom said she's concerned a lack of understanding about childhood lead poisoning - even by doctors - may be a factor in high rates in her neighborhood.

Malorie DeWitt is a young mother of three children who are not yet school-age. Her 2-year-old son recently tested abnormally high for lead in his blood system.

The DeWitt's live in Sherman Heights, in a zip code with the highest rate of children with lead poisoning in San Diego County.

Experts say that rate could be even higher than what is reported to the state because only a fraction of children are tested, and even those the state mandates for screening can end up slipping through the cracks.

A blood test found Malorie’s son Merritt had unsafe levels of lead in his system. But Malorie said the doctor’s office who called her told her the elevated level above five micrograms per deciliter was not a concern. Twice.

Malorie said she did her own research and informed her pediatrician’s office that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has lowered the lead level limit in children to five micrograms per deciliter.

“Then they called me back and said ‘Oh you are right and this is a high concern,’” DeWitt told NBC 7 in an exclusive interview.

Lead is a dangerous neurotoxin and recent studies have shown the damage is permanent.

DeWitt said her son is now scheduled to receive treatment at Rady’s Childrens.

She said at one point her child’s doctor’s office attributed the high lead results to possibly being caused by “Mexican candy.”

“We don’t eat Mexican candy and my children have never been to Mexico so that’s not something I’ve ever been concerned about or even heard of,” DeWitt said.

“Mexican candy” is not identified by the CDC as a risk factor for lead exposure in children. Old paint and lead in water are risk factors, with the higher risk factor being water, an expert told NBC 7 on Wednesday.

Malorie says she’s concerned other families in her neighborhood may not know about the issue or advocate as strongly as she did for their child’s health.

“My husband and I are really sad to think that there are other children struggling silently with lead poisoning or even possibly that there is an epidemic in our community that no one is talking about or doing anything about,” DeWitt said. “It’s very concerning and it’s very sad.”


San Diegans React to $52 Billion California Road Plan

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A plan to fix California's roads by raising the state's gas tax, raising registration fees and adding a $100 charge on emission-free vehicles did not sit well with some San Diegan drivers, who had harsh words about a possible tax increase. 

"We're already paying highest tax in the nation," said Charles Langley, Executive Director of Public Watchdogs. "Now we're going to make it higher. What guarantee do we have these taxes are going to be used wisely?"

The 10-year plan, first reported on Wednesday, would boost gasoline excise taxes by 12 cents a gallon -- a 43 percent increase.

The plan also includes a sliding fee on vehicles, with owners of cheaper vehicles paying less. For the first time, owners of zero emission vehicles would pay a $100 annual fee, since they use public roads but don't pay gasoline taxes.

But some San Diegan drivers were hesitant. 

"What have we been paying for in years past?" asked Shaunti Richardson, a driver.

Richardson was upset to learn of the plan because she has not seen improvements in years past, despite paying taxes. 

"I don't see any improvement," said Richardson. "So where's that money going? Look at streets now."

In a news release about the plan, Gov. Jerry Brown's office called it "a landmark road repair and transportation investment package" that would fix roads, freeways and bridges, with other money spent on mass transit.

Assemblymember Todd Gloria, who serves the City's 78th District, said he supports the bill because it would bring down the cost for local drivers to maintain their vehicles.

"It's too much for too many of our working families to have to pay for flat tires and broken axles caused by the poor conditions of our roads and potholes in all our communities," Gloria said. "What we're doing today is a down payment to try and fix roads that will cost taxpayers less money because we're fixing our roads correctly as opposed to letting them deteriorate."

According to Gloria's office, San Diego County could expect to receive between $70 million to $80 million.

At the same time, the City of San Diego is pushing to fix a thousand miles of streets over five years.

A 2016 study found that conditions have improved in recent years; the study gave city roads a grade of 72 percent, beating out cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. However, the study found there was still much work to be done. Learn more about that study here.



Photo Credit: Consumer Bob Hansen

Crash Snarls Morning Traffic on I-805

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A crash involving two tractor-trailers on southbound Interstate 805 early Thursday left one victim trapped and snarled traffic along the busy freeway amid the morning commute.

The collision happened just before 6 a.m. on I-805 at Mira Mesa Boulevard and Sorrento Valley Road. Authorities issued a traffic alert, as the wreck blocked the two right lanes of the freeway.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) Officials said one person was trapped inside a vehicle; firefighters were able to rescue that victim quickly.

A traffic alert was issued. About 30 minutes after the crash, drivers began slowly moving down the interstate. California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the duration of the traffic alert is unknown.

At this point, there is no word on injuries. No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this breaking story. Details may change as more information becomes available.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

PICS: Panic! at the Disco

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Try to stay calm: Panic! at the Disco rocked more than Mona Lisa ballads at SDSU's Viejas Arena on March 26 -- Saint Motel opened the show.

Photo Credit: Connie Bolger

White House Officials Aided Nunes in Getting Intel: Report

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Two White House official were involved in giving House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes access to intelligence reports that seemed to show that President Donald Trump and his associates were incidentally included in surveillance efforts, the New York Times reported Thursday.

Nunes went on to tell reporters that the president was surveilled in some capacity. He later went to the White House to brief them on his findings, ushering in a wave of criticism from Democrats, including Rep. Adam Schiff, the party's ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee.

The New York Times, citing several American officials, named Ezra Cohen-Watnick, the senior director for intelligence at the National Security Council, and Michael Ellis, a lawyer who works on national security issues at the White House Counsel's Office, as the officials involved in liaising with Nunes.

NBC News has not independently confirmed the report in the New York Times.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

University City Closures for Trolley Expansion Construction

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Several stretches of busy roads will be closed in the coming weeks as construction crews begin the process of demolishing the Genesee Avenue pedestrian bridge at Executive Square. 

The work is part of a five-year construction plan to extend trolley service from Old Town to UC San Diego and University City. The $2.1 billion project will add nine new stations to the line. 

This weekend, crews will install and restrip the temporary pedestrian crossing signals. 

The weekend of April 7, the pedestrian bridge will be demolished.Pedestrians should use the crosswalks at La Jolla Village Drive or Executive Drive in place.

In addition, crews will conduct street excavations for utility relocation.  

In order to complete the work, authorities have issued these road closures:

  • 9 p.m. on Friday, March 31, through 5 a.m. on Monday, April 3
  • 9 p.m. on Friday, April 7, through 5 a.m. on Monday, April 10

San Diego's Unsolved Cold Cases

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Years, or even decades, may have passed, but police continue to search for leads in unsolved local cases that have grown cold. Here's a look at those compelling cases waiting to be cracked. If you have any information on any of these cases, contact the SDPD at (619) 531-2293 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.

Photo Credit: Barrios Family Photo

3-Year-Old Child Hit by Car in Spring Valley

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A 3-year-old boy was struck by a vehicle Thursday afternoon in Spring Valley, Cal Fire confirmed.

The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on the 2900 block of Central Avenue near Troy Street.

At this point, it is unknown what led up to the crash or the extent of injuries.

The toddler was taken to Rady Children's Hospital.

NBC 7 spoke to a neighbor who said the mother of the 3-year-old was sitting on her front porch when he crossed the driveway of another neighbor's home.

The driver did not see the toddler in the driveway and ran him over, the neighbor said.

No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this breaking story. Details may change as more information becomes available.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/File

Special Election Sought To Fund Convention Center Expansion

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Are San Diegans finally ready to hike the city's hotel tax to get a bigger convention center?

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has now filed a request with the City Council for a special election in November.

Three previous hotel tax hike measures failed to win the required voter majorities of two-thirds – a tough hurdle to clear.

And there are other big obstacles to expanding the Convention Center.

The project's pricetag has jumped from $520 million in 2013 to a high of $685 million, an average of nearly $4 million a month.

So the city's experts say it's essential to get a tax measure on the ballot "as soon as possible".

Tourism officials are concerned about the convention center's relatively small size keeping larger meetings and events from booking there.

They don't want to see "Comic-Con" pull up stakes for other cities with bigger venues.

As it is, city auditors have discovered that the center has an eight-year funding gap of $12.6 million for capital improvement needs.

Under the ballot measure, room taxes at hotels in the downtown area would go up 3 cents on the dollar, to 15 and a half percent.

An early timeline for the project sets a mid-2019 construction start, and completion by mid-2023.

The logistics in the meantime could complicate the convention center’s activities and experience for guests.

“There are a lot of people who’ve brought up that there could be significant economic costs to the disruption that the construction will require,” says Scott Lewis, editor of the Voice of San Diego.

“Are they really going to be able to host all these conventions while they make this expansion possible?”

A major stumbling block for the city right now is that the land needed for the project is leased by developers proposing a $300 million hotel on it.

Their lease with the Port District extends to 2024, and they’re challenging the expansion plans.

The money generated by the higher hotel taxes also would go to road repairs and homeless initiatives.

If the measure passes, $150 million dollars is projected for each of those causes over the next ten years.

But given the fate of three previous hotel tax hikes put before the voters, passage seems a tall order.

"A lot of things happening there. There's a two-thirds requirement. The land's not there. Small election,” Lewis said in an interview Thursday.

“If they pull it off it would be a feat of civic accomplishment I've never seen around here."

The special election would cost city taxpayers about $5 million.

Man Flees Police During Search Warrant in Chula Vista

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Officers surrounded a neighborhood near a high school in Chula Vista Thursday morning in search of a fugitive who ran from police as they served a search warrant on a home.

The Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) said Alex Astorga, 29 – who is wanted on felony charges – fled when CVPD crimes of violence detectives served a search warrant at around 7 a.m. in the 100 block of East Rienstra Street.

Detectives detained one suspect at the location but Astorga fled on foot. Officers searched the neighborhood for him – including near Castle Park High School on Hilltop Drive – but couldn’t find the fugitive.

The CVPD believes Astorga left the area altogether, but the investigation is ongoing. He may be armed with a gun, police said. Anyone who spots him should call 911 or police at (619) 691-5151; do not approach him, police warned.

Castle Park High School is currently on spring break, so no students or staffers were impacted by the police activity in the neighborhood.



Photo Credit: Alex Astorga
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Hot Prowl Suspect Spotted Near Carmel Valley Homes

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Police officers were called to a neighborhood in Carmel Valley Wednesday night after an unknown man allegedly entered a woman’s home using a hidden spare key, only to walk out after the woman repeatedly yelled at him. 

According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the hot prowl suspect apparently used a key hidden under the door mat to open the door to the victim’s home on Quarter Mile Drive at around 8:40 p.m., while she was inside.

The woman saw the man standing at her door, looking inside, and yelled at him to go away. The suspect mentioned something about selling something, police said. The woman yelled at him again and he walked away. 

Officers searched the area but could not find the suspect immediately following the incident. The man, in his 20s, is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall to 6 feet tall. He weighs approximately 160 to 170 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen dressed in a button down shirt with a collar, a tie and dark pants. 

SDPD Officer Billy Hernandez said a few other residents in the area reported similar incidents at their homes around this time Wednesday. Those cases -- in the 13100 block of Kellam Court; 400 block of Bonain Street; 900 block of Thomas Street -- were reportedly linked to aggressive solicitors, Hernandez said. It is unknown if all incidents are related.

NBC 7 spoke with Carmel Valley residents about the case, including a neighbor who said officers had scoured the area by ground and via helicopter.

Another resident said someone had been knocking aggressively on doors, acting as a solicitor. When one resident didn’t open the door, the suspect grew frustrated.

The search for the suspect continued Thursday. SDPD's Northern Western Division is investigating. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Renovated Motels, Empty Lots to Become Housing for Homeless

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San Diego’s homeless population could soon see new housing options across the County. 

A new plan unveiled Thursday by Father Joe’s Villages would transform unused lots and overlooked buildings – like old motels – into apartments.

The project, dubbed “Turning the Key: Unlocking a Brighter San Diego”, would add 2,000 units of affordable housing for people overcoming homelessness.

“With over 1,000 people sleeping on the streets of downtown on any given night, now is the time to forge bold solutions,” said Father Joe’s Villages President and CEO Deacon Jim Vargas in a statement. “San Diego currently has the lowest rental vacancy rate in the country, and the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is over $1,700. Our homelessness crisis will not be resolved until we create more housing that people can afford. We see how transforming underused lots and disregarded motels into thousands of housing units across the county can be that foundation for change.”

Vargas said the units will be built between now and the next five years.

Approximately two-thirds of the units for the project would be outside of Downtown San Diego. Motel renovations in areas outside of Downtown San Diego would provide 1,240 total units; locations will be announced at a later date. Lots at 5th and Ash, 14th and Commercial, 17th and Commercial and the Bishop Maher Center at 15th and Commercial will provide hundreds of additional new units.

Once all units are built, more than 2,500 people overcoming homelessness would have housing.

The new apartments will also help seniors, veterans, families, transition-age youth, people with disabilities and people with limited income, as well.

Laura Morgan has benefited from similar affordable housing programs. She lives in an apartment right next door to Father Joe’s Villages.

Morgan says a move like this is a step in the right direction, but added that sadly, many more still need help.

“So many of my friends are still out there right now,” Morgan said. “But I always believe that once you get the housing then everything will kind of fall into place.”

An important part of the project, Vargas said, will be making sure each place comes with tailored services to help individuals maintain housing stability.

"Sleeping on the street is often the final leg of an otherwise complicated path of unpredictable circumstances,” Vargas said in a statement. “Turning the Key makes easily accessible supportive services a core component to tackling these underlying issues and creates lasting self-sufficiency for each individual."

Father Joe’s Villages plans to start renovating some motel properties this year. They plan to break ground on new buildings in 2018.

The organization anticipates that some renovated motel units will be ready for move-in as soon as mid-2018.



Photo Credit: Father Joe's Villages

Paraglider Found Crashed in Lakeside in Critical Condition

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A paraglider who crashed into the side of a Lakeside hill is being taken to the hospital in critical condition, Heartland Fire officials said. 

The crash was first reported around 2:36 p.m. Thursday when a caller reported seeing a paraglider fly into the hillside near El Monte Road, north of Interstate 8. The exact location of the crash in unclear at this point. 

The victim will be taken to a local hospital in a medical chopper. 

No other information was available.

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Photo Credit: Getty Images/File
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