Imperial Beach Stories
The notices to vacate keep coming for tenants of Hawaiian Gardens and Sussex Gardens, neighboring apartment groups on Imperial Beach Boulevard.Over 100 low-income, elderly and disabled tenants are facing eviction, …
The Tijuana River Valley is a large estuary complex that drains the watershed area from the east and the urban runoff of Tijuana from the south, sending both flowing out …
Since last month, concerns over air toxins sparked chaos across San Diego County. Schools abruptly canceled physical education classes in the southern part of the county after a "chemicals of …
San Diego County’s oceanfront beaches have long been showered with praise by everyone from local tourism officials and travel writers to hotels, travel agencies, and even universities. Platitudes about our …
Imperial Beach Stories
I’m at the bus stop. The one right outside the Bullpen bar in IB. Problem: last bus heading north to Coronado is gone. It’s after midnight. I’m broke. No way up the Silver Strand. And …
Before 1 pm on May 22, a tragic incident unfolded in South San Diego when a person was struck and killed by an MTS trolley, according to 619newsmedia.San Diego MTS tweeted in part that Wednesday, …
When San Diegans don't have parking spaces on our city streets — many, out of desperation, resort to playing games and being sneaky. Street parking spaces throughout San Diego County were already scarce. But now, after …
On March 19, Cristbel Adams was shaken to see a sea lion lying motionless in the sand by the Imperial Beach Pier. Since the December and January countywide floods, animals near the Tijuana River Valley …
A street known for accidents is being redesigned to make it safer, while also being eyed as the new path for the rapid bus between Otay Mesa and Imperial Beach.City officials see the five-month-old rapid …
The new rapid electric buses seem to check all the boxes when it comes to transit: no long wait times to get a ride, limited stops, lots of elbow room.But to many Imperial Beach inhabitants, …
An Imperial Beach kid who some say deliberately ran into the car was the topic of recent discussions on the beachfront neighborhood streets and online forums.On September 30, Imperial Beach locals posted and reposted a …
“Arrogant Bastard!” I say.“Arrogant what?” asks Diane, my newly-minted sweetheart.I look at the bubbling brown elixir that is my AB, then up at Diane’s sparkling chocolate eyes flecked with green, and sigh. “Most beautiful lamps …
In the last couple of months, over a dozen San Diego County teenagers reportedly partook in the harassment and assaults of much older people. The most recent assault was the attack by three 14-year-old females from …
Imperial Beach is ground zero in San Diego County for changes being made to the United States Postal Service delivery network, and the city plans to fight back.On August 16th, the city plans to adopt …
In San Diego and Tijuana, dozens of crimes happened on #GoSkateDay, June 21. The perps and victims were skateboarders. Between 4-5 pm, an unidentified "dog walker" lay on the cement of Balboa Park with blood …
On July 4 at 9 pm, Imperial Beach will showcase a traditional fireworks show by their pier — the dazzling kind of show that whizzes and bursts, sparkles, and smokes within the U.S./Mexico border airspace. …
Over a dozen Imperial Beach locals have found and heard errant golf balls land in their yards and hit their roofs. The closest golf course to the beachfront city is about nine miles north in …
The heavy rains and windy roads on SR-76 leading into Fallbrook added to the adventure of my January 15 visit to the Country Wine Dancing shindig at Monserate Winery. As I pulled up around 6 …
Imperial Beach has fought oil companies, cross border pollution, the San Diego Association of Governments – who's afraid of a mobile home park? "We've gone out on a limb before," said Councilmember Ed Spriggs last …
Local fishermen recently spotted and photographed the red tide near Imperial Beach, according to an August 27 619newsmedia report. Besides the red tide's picturesque neon blue-colored waves at nighttime, the red-orange-tinged water affects beachgoers, boaters, …
In 2022, there were 5417 traffic signal reports made on San Diego's GID (Get It Done) app; over a dozen of those reports were made on August 20-21 about a particular set of Peñasquitos traffic …
The monarch butterfly was added to the IUCN Red List as "now endangered" last month — for many reasons. The insect is eaten as an egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, or bright orange and black colored butterfly. …
To help fund city services, Imperial Beach voters approved a one percent sales tax increase last year. This November, they'll vote on raising the hotel tax, too. The city council on August 3 unanimously passed …
“What time is it?” “Six-thirty in the am.” “Where are we?” “Don’t even look, pappy. We’re in the Philippines. Can’t you smell the food?” I can. Vinegar, fish, BBQ. Ria, my beloved stepkid who’s no …
Drummer Val Trainor and bassist Barney Firks have been backing Imperial Beach-by-way-of-England guitarist Taz Taylor since 2010. These days, the Taz Taylor Band (TTB) splits their time between playing instrumental gigs and shows with vocalists. …
Locals? No, Bobby is from Boston and Zach is from Indiana. How Long have you been surfing? Bobby: 3-4 years Zach: A couple of weeks, Bobby is teaching me. Bobby: Not really, we are learning …
On May 24, a person snuck into Hotel Del Coronado and stole their "Safety & Security" golf cart. The navy blue electric cart had custom wheels and a unique red-colored old-school pinstripe design on its …
“So long, Huey.” It’s a biker muttering this. He ain’t old enough to have picked up that Vietnam moniker for the sun, but he says it anyway. Because yes, that last moment’s coming. People have …
A few years ago, residents of Siesta RV park in Imperial Beach caught a lucky break when plans to sell the land to a developer fell through. Now, after a surprise change of ownership in …
On April 16, van lifers from around the U.S. trekked into San Diego County as National Park Week kicked off a weeklong, presidentially proclaimed event. For the following seven days, 400 national parks throughout the …
As Pamela Sophia exited the Home Depot on Saturn Boulevard in the morning of March 10, she noticed people in the parking lot gazing up at the sky behind the home improvement store. She then …
Local? Yes, I’m from Bonita. I live in Chula Vista now. My commute [to this beach] is only about 10 minutes. When did you take up surfing? About 9 years ago. I started after high …
On the morning of January 15, Carol Niotta and her Yorkie, Pebbles, walked out on their La Jolla home's balcony to check if the tsunami emergency alert at 7:03 am, affected the surf scene below. …
Love surprises! Neighbor Kevin and I are coming out of the ocean after a lunchtime swim. Was it cold? You betcha, for the first minute. But once you’re body surfing, all you’re thinking about is …
As a small crowded coastal town, Imperial Beach is short on both parking and affordable housing. Some fear the state's new laws that make it easier to build granny flats will make it worse. Families …
When did you begin surfing? I started when I was around six or seven. My childhood memories of surfing were either between the jetties or down at the end of Seacoast. I have lived in …
As restaurants resume indoor dining, more people are wanting to take back the outdoor space the businesses were allowed to occupy during the pandemic. On the Imperial Beach pier, it's 50 feet of fishing habitat …
My favorite comfort food? This is my favorite comfort food. A soup that is making beads of sweat pop from my brow, that sends peppery shafts radiating out into my gills. Then the flavor that …
At about sunset, I spotted AF at the end of Date Avenue in IB loading his 7’8″ Electric Duck surfboard into his van. “It’s shaped by Mike Richardson,” he said. “That board works real good …
Chula Vista native Zachary O’Hara, an 18-year-old surf instructor at the San Diego Surf School, talks about nearby Ocean Beach as well as his local break in Imperial Beach. While his go to spot since …
Last October, when Chula Vista beer-maker Novo Brazil Brewing Co. took over the Ocean Beach taproom previously operated by Culture Brewing Co., it had a branding decision to make. The company has been brewing beer …
Here’s a surprising add to the list of things I never expected to do: agree to pay $18 for a cheeseburger, in Imperial Beach. Moments later, another: add a $10 side of fries. And, no, …
In the last two weeks, some Imperial Beach inhabitants warned their neighbors of bobcats lurking in their southwesternmost city of the United States. "I was not surprised, as I have seen bobcats in the river …
At about New Year’s Eve, a south San Diego woman posted a Facebook meme warning her neighbors of a thief, or thieves, that stole nearly $8,000 worth of Milwaukee tools from her boyfriend’s truck, which …
“I’ve got a hundred bucks that says we celebrate!” I say. “Uh huh,” says Annie. “Now, on this braw, bricht, moonlicht nicht?” It’s like five o’clock. Dark already. We’re just starting out along the Imperial …
The South San Diego Boll Weevil is the latest casualty among San Diego original restaurants closing this month. "We had to take the condiment trays away once Covid hit," explained Alisha Russell. "To me, it …
On December 3, over 30 homes reportedly burned down in the Cumbres del Rubí neighborhood of Tijuana. M. García reportedly died attempting to rescue her cats. "She was a really nice lady," Ana Wooten said …
“Hey,” says Kim. “How come they can serve meals inside here? They grandfathered in?” “Make that ‘great-grandfathered,’” I say. I happen to know. This place has been in business since 1886, not that I was …
On Thanksgiving, Carolyn Flores saw a photo of fruits and vegetables strewn along the beach just south of the Imperial Beach Pier. "I was outraged to see that somebody can throw away food when there …
A SKATEPARK CLOSED meme was posted by the City of Imperial Beach Government’s Facebook moderator on September 18. “The skate park is closed because someone broke the security cameras there,” said Cristbel Adams. “Also, I …
Beach fire rings are a beloved beach tradition for families and youth groups to roast marshmallows and tell stories. Or are they an attractive nuisance drawing in transient drunks who fight and make late night …
At midnight on August 2, some locals in Imperial Beach woke up to blaring foghorns. “I live two miles away from the beach and the horns [sounded] like the ship was next to my house, …