Morning Report: Mexicali Farmers Protest Low Water Payouts

This post has been updated.

Farmers in Mexicali took thousands of acres out of production on a promise that they’d be paid for helping save limited Colorado River waters.

Now they claim that the U.S. and Mexico governments are skimping on the bill.

Our MacKenzie Elmer and contributor Vicente Calderón report farmers are protesting because they claim they received millions of dollars less than they were promised. Many have stopped farming and essentially rely on water conservation payments for their livelihoods.

U.S. officials say they have paid about $41 million that’s then been passed along to farmers via the Mexico government.

One awkward detail: It’s not exactly clear how much the U.S. should have paid Mexico so far – or how much Mexico should have paid out either.

Also: The dispute between the U.S., Mexico and Mexicali farmers will only further complicate upcoming water conservation talks between the two countries.

Read the full story here.

Escondido Keeps Controversial ICE Contract

Earlier this week, the Escondido City Council decided against nixing a contract allowing federal immigration agents to use the city’s firing range.

Four Escondido councilmembers rebuffed Councilmember Consuelo Martinez’s attempt to end the contract, despite overwhelming opposition to it.

Our Tigist Layne explained the concerns raised by Martinez and other opponents of the contract. Some worry that agents using the firing range could decide to do more enforcement in Escondido. Mayor Dane White, however, said the Council shouldn’t usurp city managers’ ability to make contracts. Layne also provided some history on immigration enforcement in Escondido, which has seen the largest number of ICE arrests in North County.

Read the full story here. 

In Other News 

• Attorney General Rob Bonta says Del Mar violated state law by keeping a 259-unit project in “administrative limbo” the past few years. (Del Mar Times)

• The Seidler family has reportedly received several “very strong bids” to buy the Padres and insiders expect the sale to go through within the next couple months. (Union-Tribune)

• An advocacy group is rallying for a property tax hike to support Balboa Park – and axe new paid parking there. (Times of San Diego) Related: Starting March 2, city residents can park for free in more Balboa Park lots after registering. (CBS 8)

• The El Cajon City Council decided against allowing four marijuana dispensaries in the city. (Union-Tribune)

• Dozens of license plate readers “hidden in trailers and construction barrels” have popped up in border areas in San Diego and Imperial counties after state-approved permits were granted to federal agencies at the end of the Biden administration. (CalMatters)

Corrections: An earlier version of the Morning Report gave an incorrect date for additional free parking options for San Diego residents. Those become available March 2. It also stated that U.S. officials said they had paid Mexico about $20 million for water conservation so far. After publication, officials said the amount is actually $41.6 million total under both international agreements.

The Morning Report was written by Lisa Halverstadt. It was edited by Will Huntsberry.

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