A tiny community in East County is called Lake Morena Village, so you might assume it does just fine when it comes to water. The lake, after all, is a reservoir.
So why do people who work and live there choose to drink bottled water instead of tap water? As our story shows, it’s because of contamination that’s turned the local water supply into a poster child for the failings of a decade-old state law.
In fact, the local water company advises some people — including the elderly, the very young, the sick and the pregnant — to simply not drink the water.
Claire Trageser, the correspondent who wrote our story, says Lake Morena Village is about five miles down a twisty road from Interstate 8. “Even on a warm Sunday afternoon, the town was extremely quiet. Hardly anyone was out except for a few people at two of the small country markets — buying water, of course.”
In other news:
- Considering what this year’s pro-football playoff games may mean for local municipal coffers, you could call them the San Diego Budget-Chargers (although I wouldn’t recommend it, since that’s about as terrible of a name as the Packers).
- A “love-fest” has broken out at City Hall: as we report, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders says he’s a mighty big fan of City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. (It helps, of course, that Jan Goldsmith is not his predecessor, one Mike Aguirre.)
- It’s time for another in our series of question-and-answer interviews with local movers and/or shakers. Our newest chat is with San Diego Councilman Carl DeMaio, whom columnist Scott Lewis describes this way: “His ambition hits you like strong cologne the moment you meet him. And best, and worst, of all, he has a tendency to say things and make bold, combative statements without thinking through the consequences.”
You can decide for yourself if his statements in the interview fit into that category. DeMaio talks about pension reform, ponders a hypothetical deal with city labor unions, and becomes one of the few interviewees so far to actually be brave (or foolhardy) enough to name the city’s most promising leader.
- The border fence makes an encore appearance in the Photos of the Day, which inspire today’s photo soundtrack, a Kinks song called “Living on a Thin Line.”
Elsewhere:
- A state court ruling spells trouble for San Diego’s water supply, but an appeal is certain, and the drama is far from over. (KPBS)
- Supporters of outsourcing in San Diego are thrilled that “the city would slash the cost of its computer-support services by 55 percent by hiring a private company,” the U-T reports.
- A fire district in East County will pursue billing people responsible for accidents for the costs of emergency assistance, whether they’re residents or not. (U-T)
- Hey everybody, it’s a smackdown! As the Chargers-Jets game looms, New York Magazine bashes San Diego with a barrage of lame zingers, including “you drive your cars too much,” (cuz we have places to go and things to do), “your revamped Gaslamp District seems artificial and hacky” (write clumsy insults much?) and “you’ve never had a single sports franchise ever win a damned thing” (hey, don’t the San Diego Sockers count, sorta?).
- Online commenters from San Diego hit back. My favorites: “you know what San Diegans will be eating with their fish taco combo platters on Monday morning? Refried Jets” (kapow!) and “you play in a stadium THAT IS NAMED AFTER ANOTHER TEAM!!!!!!!!!”
As the kids say these days: Ooo, burn!