EL CAJON
El Cajon has the second-highest number of homeless people in San Diego County, so it’s not surprising that it is among the top concerns of residents and businesses.
Last week, El Cajon City Manager Graham Mitchell provided an update to the City Council about the steps the city has taken to help those living on the streets 784, according to the Point-in-Time Count coordinated by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless in January 2020 as well as keep the city safe and clean. The city of San Diego had the most, with 4,887 homeless people.
El Cajon funded or operated nine homeless-related programs in calendar year 2020, Mitchell said, providing $1.5 million. A report shared by staff said those funds include $1.2 million for homeless assistance/housing programs and nearly $278,000 on neighborhood cleanup efforts related to homeless issues.
El Cajon has a new Planning Commissioner.
Elizabeth A. Valles was chosen by a 4-1 vote of the City Council to fill a vacant seat on the five-member group that advises the council on land matters.
Valles is an East County native born at Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa and raised in Lemon Grove. She earned an associate’s degree in cardiovascular technology and an associate of science in nursing at Grossmont College, a bachelor of science in nursing through Grand Canyon University and a doctorate in nursing practice from the University of San Diego.
Valles, 56, is currently a nurse practitioner working in the high-risk infant clinic at Rady Children’s Hospital, and she also runs a health coaching business. She has volunteered with the East County Homeless Task Force, the El Cajon Animal Shelter’s fundraising arm El Cajon ACES Foundation, Jackie Blue’s Rescue Angels and East County Animal Rescue. Valles is married with two adult children and two grandchildren.