Newsletter: Chula Vista establishes Kumeyaay People's Day
Plus, U.S. citizen siblings arrested by ICE while parked in a Mission Bay lot
Starting this year, the second Sunday in November will be recognized as Kumeyaay People's Day in Chula Vista following a proclamation by Mayor John McCann last week.
McCann presented the proclamation during a ceremony in Kumeyaay Park Friday, where a crowd of Kumeyaay and other Indigenous community members gathered to celebrate the news.
“Today's moment is important, both in honoring the past and committing ourselves to respect, recognition and partnership moving forward,” he said.
The morning included the burning of sage and an opening blessing from Jesse Pinto, a tribal elder from the Jamul Indian Village. A group of bird singers — Blue Eagle Vigil from the Viejas Band of the Kumeyaay Indians, Jamie LaBrake from the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and Dakota Jacome from the Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Indians — also sang a series of bird songs during the ceremony.
Discussions to establish the city holiday started when Bobby Wallace from the Barona Band of Mission Indians mentioned the idea to McCann.
The proclamation to establish the holiday in Chula Vista comes after a years-long battle to change the name of Discovery Park and remove a statue of Christopher Columbus that was once on display in it.
The city pulled down the statue in June 2020, and less than a year later, the Chula Vista City Council voted 4-1 to permanently remove it, establish a task force to decide on a new name for the park and change Christopher Columbus Day to Indigenous’ Peoples’ Day. In 2022, the council voted unanimously to rename the location to Kumeyaay Park.
“It's been a progression of just people doing things over the years,” Wallace said of the lead up to an annual holiday being established.
While no city in San Diego County recognizes an annual holiday in honor of one specific tribe, there are several cities across the country that recognize their local tribal communities in tandem with Indigenous Peoples’ Day in October.
“This could help others seek recognition that we were here first, and we've always been here,” Wallace said. “Maybe [it will] lead to bigger and better things, because we all have trauma from the colonization process.”
Pinto — former Jamul chairman and father of the current chairwoman — said that the establishment of a Kumeyaay People's Day is especially meaningful to him given how much positive change has happened in his community during his lifetime.
Before the tribe was federally recognized in 1981, Pinto said homes in his community lacked electricity and running water. Now, he hopes recognition like the new annual holiday in Chula Vista will give his grandchildren and great-grandchildren something to be proud of.
“It never entered my mind back in those days that we would be recognized in this manner,” the 73-year-old tribal elder said. “For us to be recognized, it's a privilege. It's an honor.”
— Lauren J. Mapp
Young activists stand against ICE aggression
Several youth organizations collectively denounced Immigration and Customs Enforcement violence outside the County Administration Building lastTuesday as the Board of Supervisors voted on an ordinance that would further restrict county interaction with federal immigration officials. The students called for city and county officials to take more actions to support immigrant rights.
— Brittany Cruz-Fejeran
Immigration officials arrested U.S. citizen siblings while they were parked in a Mission Bay lot. The brother said officials threw him to the ground and kneeled on him. The sister said she was similarly put on the ground after she got out of the car to help her brother.
— Kate Morrissey
Activists push San Diego mayor to stand up to ICE
A coalition of San Diego activists are demanding that city leaders immediately take a stance to protect residents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, warning that more protection against federal officers is needed to keep residents safe. The demands came leading up to and during Mayor Todd Gloria’s State of the City Address on Thursday, where five activists were escorted out in handcuffs for disrupting his speech.
— Lauren J. Mapp and Sam Barney-Gibbs
ICE arrested several Native people in Minnesota, four people died in immigration custody already in 2026 and a whistleblower leaked the information of thousands of ICE and Border Patrol employees. Here's what happened in immigration news this week.
— Kate Morrissey
How last year compares to Project 2025
In the past year, videos of masked agents violently arresting people of color in cities across the U.S. have become a common sight on social media. The Trump administration promised to dramatically reshape the immigration system when it returned to office. After its first year back, the administration has already significantly altered the system, changing rules related to immigration custody and visas and sowing an intense fear in immigrant communities across the country.
— Kate Morrissey, Capital & Main
Grandfather died after feeling ill for weeks in ICE custody
Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz is one of six people to die in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody less than three weeks into 2026. Now his family is raising concerns over the medical care he received.
— Kate Morrissey, Capital & Main
In a time when the majority of young people report struggling with mental health challenges, their attempts to access care are often thwarted by insurance companies. But there’s some movement in the state legislature to force insurers to publicly disclose how often they deny care — and to face fines if their denials are overturned too often upon appeal.
— Story by Mark Kreidler, Capital & Main
From opportunities to participate in a community group discussion or 2026 vision boarding to packaging books for those incarcerated and an open mic night, here’s what’s happening in San Diego this week.
— Maya Srikrishnan
Other news
Students at Lincoln High School joined a nationwide walkout Tuesday in protest against the Trump administration on the anniversary of his second inauguration into office, KPBS reported. Organizers said they were fighting back against how President Donald Trump’s policies — especially those related to immigration issues — have impacted communities across the country.
Rady Children’s Hospital will discontinue all gender-affirming procedures, prescriptions and medical care as of Feb. 6, CBS8 reported. The decision — which was made in response to the possibility of losing federal funding — is estimated to impact about 1,000 patients who receive medical support at the Center for Gender Affirming Care.
San Diego is set to receive $4 million from the federal government to fund four stormwater infrastructure projects, City News Service and KPBS reported. The projects are centered around reducing flood risk, including at Besta Street in Southcrest, which experienced several recent floods.
Central Elementary in Imperial Beach is set to be the first of three South Bay Union School District campuses to close, according to inewsource. Community members worry the closure will impact students in other ways, including limiting access to after-school programs.
Two San Diego chefs — Animae’s Tara Monsod and Lilo’s Eric Bost — are nominated as 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists for the Best Chef: California category, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. They’re joined by Realm of the 52 Remedies in the Convoy District, which is nominated for Outstanding Bar.
Upcoming Events
Jan. 22
Paint and Sip with Maira Meza : The San Diego History Center is partnering with Gossip Grill to host a Paint & Sip evening with Meira Meza. The guided painting experience will be inspired by San Diego's downtown waterfront. No experience needed and painting materials will be provided. Buy tickets here. 6-9 p.m., Gossip Grill, 1220 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Jan. 24
Move 4 Palestine 5K: San Diegans are invited to walk, run, cheer or move how they choose in efforts to support and raise money for children in Palestine. Check-in starts at 7 a.m., and general admission costs $35. 8 a.m., 200 Marina Park Way, San Diego, CA 92101
Dreams to Action: City of San Diego Parks & Recreation is hosting its 16th annual community parade and celebration to honor the life and work of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. at MLK Community Park on Skyline Drive. The day kicks off with a parade at 9 a.m. and includes performances, speakers, live music, food and small business vendors, community resources and a kids zone with face painting, games and crafts. Free. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., MLK Community Park, 6401 Skyline Dr., San Diego, CA 92114
Rady’s Center Gender Affirming Care Closure Protest: The Alliance for TransYouth Rights and TransFamily Support Services are leading a protest Saturday against the closure of Rady’s Center for Gender Affirming Care. 11 a.m., Rady Children’s Hospital, 3020 Children’s Way, San Diego, CA 92123
Books Thru Bars Book Packaging: Groundwork Books hosts regular meetings to provide a space to respond to letters from incarcerated folks nationwide along with packaging two to three books to send to them. 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 9330 Eucalyptus Grove Lane, La Jolla, CA 92093
Jan. 25
SURJ San Diego Chapter Meeting : Showing up for Racial Justice San Diego is holding its chapter meeting with a potluck and a teach-in focused on nonviolent strategies. Location will be announced closer to the date. RSVP online. 2 - 4 p.m., Church of the Brethren, 3850 Westgate Place, San Diego, CA 92105
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