10.07.24 County Update with Supervisor Nora Vargas

Supervisor Nora Vargas held her final County Update meeting last month for this term. Greg Cox was our former District One Supervisor for two terms—or eight meetings—and residents were comfortable with the way he did his yearly updates. Professional and low key, Supervisor Cox shared a lot of information and dealt with resident concerns.

This County Update was not what the residents are accustomed to and at times felt surreal. Two body guards—who looked straight out of Central Casting—walked in and scouted the room and that's how people knew that Supervisor Vargas had arrived. Another new addition was that four sheriffs were lined up along the side wall. With so much "protection" present, it gave you an uneasy, ominous feeling that danger was present.

Supervisor Vargas began the meeting by reading point-by-point a sign posted at the front of the room titled "Community Norms and Agreements."

The entire room was then asked to agree to these statements and show their support with a thumbs up.

Her presentation was mostly reading things on paper, but not necessarily interacting with those present. At one point she realized that Supervisor Greg Cox was in the audience but did not introduce him. After her presentation of what was in future plans, she went to a Q & A period. She asked people to fairly share their time so everyone could speak.

Many of the questions were involving concerns about San Miguel Road and the toll-avoidance traffic. She said many times that it was her top priority.

A man in the back was called on and was complaining about how she had handled some issues. Rather than deal with it like many have seen Supervisor Cox do in the past, she got emotional and told two sheriffs to remove him. As he was being removed, she yelled something like how dare you flip me off . . . I am a County Supervisor. Not sure exactly what she referred to herself as but it was a person of importance. As the man was sitting at the back of the room, no one would have had any idea that he had flipped her off when being escorted out if she had not announced it.

Supervisor Nora Vargas

After a few more questions, a woman started complaining about some things involving the SR-125 toll road. Ms. Vargas told her to leave and the woman refused and kept talking. Three sheriffs removed her and she was extremely upset and could be heard yelling outside for quite a while.

Supervisor Vargas had a little breakdown at that point and many thought she was crying. She said "This is my meeting" and something about people being mean to her. Some wondered if she had the mental and physical strength for this job and to serve the needs of 630,000 residents.

One of the last audience members to speak had the following thoughts:

Due to continual communication we've been receiving about San Miguel Road, we are led to believe drastic changes have been proposed that would create an absolute safety hazard and hardship for San Miguel Road residents.

With that in mind, we started walking the neighborhoods. We collected over 360 signatures opposing changes in this rural residential community. People stated emphatically that they moved to the country to get away from suburbia with its noise and congestion.  The only change universally agreed to be needed done is the stormwater runoff issue.

Currently more than 10,000 vehicles travel daily through this small residential street to avoid paying the SR125 toll. They quite often exceed the 25MPH speed limit.

Nora Vargas, as Supervisor of our District 1, Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the SANDAG Board that oversees freeways and toll roads, and member of the Air Resources committee to ensure environment safety concerns, we need your help.

We ask you to please use your authority to calm our roads and stop the toll avoidance through our community. If the deluge of traffic is removed, we will not need any additional changes except the storm drains. Will you help us?

The room applauded and Supervisor Vargas seemed irritated. She replied "I told you that it would be my top priority."

A month has passed and nothing noticeable has been done. Most of the information dispersed at the Update has been forgotten. But people will never forget the body guards, the sheriffs, the people being physically removed and the drama.