Newsletter: 🎉 Friendship Park is turning 55
Plus, a chance to learn about your rights when dealing with immigration operations.
Friendship Park is celebrating its 55-year anniversary this weekend. In 1971, then-First Lady Pat Nixon envisioned the binational park, situated at the edge of Border Field State Park where the border wall runs into the ocean. She called for the fence that existed even then to be torn down.
This year's festivities take place on Friday in downtown San Diego and Saturday on the Tijuana side of the park itself and include a celebration of John Fanestil, who has organized to protect the park with the group Friends of Friendship Park since 2008 and is retiring.
Fanestil and the park's other friends have documented and protested border wall construction in the area and advocated for the park to open again to the public so that people who can't cross the border can visit with family there. Fanestil and friends have aimed to remind San Diegans that we are part of a border region and that we are stronger when we unite with our neighbors to the south.
— Kate Morrissey
Southeast San Diego and National City residents met together at Southcrest Park last week to give feedback on plans to redesign dozens of acres of freeway interchange land nearly 60 years after the San Diego Black Federation successfully protested the construction of State Route 252, which would have displaced hundreds.
— Rami Alarian
The American Civil Liberties Union is offering four, free virtual sessions for San Diegans to learn about their rights when it comes to immigration enforcement, interactions with officers, and the detention and deportation system. The first session begins tonight at 6 p.m.
— Kate Morrissey
The United States has deported hundreds of Mexican children who crossed the border without their families on flights to southern Mexico, where many have gotten stuck without the resources to go home safely. Some may have died trying.
— Story by Kate Morrissey, Capital & Main
Two people died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, both with medical conditions that family members say weren't being addressed. The University of California San Diego is cutting ties with Operation Stonegarden, a federal program that paid campus police to assist Border Patrol.The Department of Homeland Security used court orders to subject at least 10 hunger strikers in detention to force-feeding. Here's what happened last week in immigration news.
— Rami Alarian
This week San Diegans can learn about native marshes and wetlands, attend a teach-in on the Attica Prison Uprising, watch a compilation of the best internet cat videos and make new friends at a speed friending event.
— Rami Alarian
Other news
The county released its report on the public health inspection of Otay Mesa Detention Center on Monday, inewsource reported. The inspector found that the facility failed to communicate promptly with the county about tuberculosis cases, that it needed to improve vaccine offerings for people in custody and that it had failed to provide medical devices in a timely manner to some detainees.
The San Diego Museum of Art laid off nearly a dozen employees even as it continues to pursue an expansion of its west wing, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
The Chula Vista police chief, who is a White woman, is suing four City Council members who are Latino, alleging racial discrimination and ageism, KPBS reported. The outlet interviewed independent experts who said they found little evidence for the chief's claims in the court documents filed.
California has a new privacy website called DROP that you can use to request that data brokers remove your information from their systems, L.A. Taco reported. (Kate tried going through the process, and it only took a few minutes, but it did take a little digging through her phone to find the mobile advertising ID.)
The city of San Diego is inviting residents to weigh in on its draft Mid-City Communities Plan by submitting comments online. The plan affects City Heights, El Cerrito Heights, Rolando, Rolando Park, Redwood Village, Oak Park, Webster, Kensington-Talmadge and Normal Heights.
Alicia Keys made a surprise appearance at the opening night of “Hell's Kitchen” in San Diego.
Upcoming Events
Aug 14
Jungle Album Playback Event: Jungle is celebrating the release of its new album "Sunshine" with free playback events at select record stores nationwide. The events include prizes and giveaways. 4 - 6 p.m., Track City Records, 105 W. Grand Ave., Escondido, CA 92025 and 5 p.m., M-Theory Music, 827 W. Washington St., San Diego, CA 92103
International Friendship Park 55th Anniversary: Friends of International Friendship Park is marking the 55th anniversary of the park. The event also honors the life and work of John Fanestil, who is retiring as executive director of the organization. 4 - 7 p.m., University of California San Diego Park and Market, 1100 Market St., San Diego, CA 92101
Native Seed Library Paint Party: San Diego Bird Alliance is celebrating the opening of its newest Native Seed Library, inviting volunteers to paint the structure and pack seeds to give the Otay Mesa community free access to native plant species. Registration is available online. 10 a.m., Otay Mesa-Nestor Public Library, 3003 Coronado Ave., San Diego, CA 92154
Nothing Over $20 Flea Market: Manic Pixie Dream Market is hosting a budget-friendly flea market with vintage clothing, jewelry and collectibles, all priced under $20. 5 - 10 p.m., 3366 Adams Ave., San Diego, CA 92116
Summerween Block Party: Ratstar is hosting a spooky Summerween celebration with local art, vinyl DJs, vintage clothing sellers and live music. 5 - 10 p.m., Carillo Pottery, 309 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054
Earlybirds Club San Diego: The San Diego chapter of Earlybirds Club is hosting a dance party for women and gender-expansive people at Music Box featuring DJ Jenny Pocket spinning hits from the ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s. Susie Lee Legacy Fund, which supports nonprofits that uplift women and gender-expansive people, will receive 10% of the profits. Tickets are available online starting at $40. 6 - 10 p.m., Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego, CA 92101
Aug 15
Beach Cleanup: COOLA is partnering with Surfrider San Diego to host a beach cleanup with free sunscreen for participants. Registration is available online. 9 - 11 a.m., Moonlight Beach, 400 B St., Encinitas, CA 92024
Growing & Glowing: Foodshed Cooperative is hosting a free, hands-on cooking class series for pregnant and new parents. Babies are welcome. Each family that attends will receive a $15 voucher to the Saturday farmers market at City Heights Food FARMacy. RSVP online. Held every other Saturday through Dec. 19. 9 - 10 a.m., Teaching Kitchen, 4061 Fairmount Ave., San Diego, CA 92105
San Diego Made Endless Summer Market: San Diego Made is hosting a two-day outdoor festival celebrating the region's creative community and small businesses with more than 120 local vendors, live music, food and drinks, crafts and photo ops. Attendees can grab a scavenger hunt card at the entrance to earn a free handmade gift after three qualifying purchases. Tickets are available online for $5, children 10 and under free; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Aug. 15 - 16, Ingram Plaza, Liberty Station, 2751 Dewey Road, San Diego, CA 92106
Piel Canela Workshops: Uprise Theatre is hosting teaching artist Iran Ortiz for a free workshop exploring the relationship we have with our bodies through tattooing and linocut carving. 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Unico Coffee, 2602 National Ave., San Diego, CA 92113
Lemon Festival: Downtown Chula Vista is hosting its 29th annual Lemon Festival, celebrating the city's history as the former "Lemon Capital of the World" with two stages of live music, photo opportunities, a kids zone, arts and crafts vendors and food. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Third Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Teach-In: The Attica Prison Uprising: The Party for Socialism and Liberation San Diego is hosting a community teach-in exploring the Attica Prison Uprising, examining its historical roots, human rights demands and lasting lessons. 11:30 a.m., The Mental Bar, 6325 Imperial Ave., San Diego, CA 92114
DJ Qbert & DJ Shortkut: Soul Side Vinyl is hosting Invisibl Skratch Piklz members DJ Qbert and DJ Shortkut with support from a lineup of local DJs. The event will also include food, drinks, DJ and breaking cyphers, raffles and a street art gallery. Tickets are available for $20 in advance online, $25 at the door. 6 p.m. - midnight, Queen Bee's Art and Cultural Center, 3925 Ohio St., San Diego, CA 92104
National City Night Market: NC Flea is hosting National City Night Market, bringing together local artists, DJs, food vendors and vintage curators for an evening of shopping, live music and community games at Old Schoolhouse Square. 6 - 10 p.m., Old Schoolhouse Square, 600 E. 8th St., National City, CA 91950
Aug 16
W8sted Heart Market: Casa Casillas Gallery & Artist Space is hosting a vintage and handmade goods market. Noon - 4 p.m., Casa Casillas Gallery & Artist Space, 50 Fourth Ave., Chula Vista, CA 91910
Queer Salsa Sunsets at the Park: Queer Latin Dance SD is hosting a potluck, free beginner salsa lesson and social dancing in Balboa Park, welcoming dancers of all experience levels. Reservations are available online. The event is free and donation-based; 5 - 7 p.m., RSVP for exact location, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101
