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Community activists, mayoral candidates call for tax deadline deferrals, 'independent investigation' into city storm preparedness

In the aftermath of this week's severe storm and damage in Southeast San Diego, community activist Shane Harris is asking Governor Gavin Newsom defer tax deadlines.

SAN DIEGO — Community activists and candidates for San Diego mayor are calling for action and investigations tonight, in hopes of relief for residents and answers from lawmakers after this week's severe storm.

"The fact rain caused this is not the truth," Larry Turner, a current candidate for the mayoral seat, said Thursday during a press conference in southeast San Diego's "Diamond District." "This has been neglected for a very long time."

Turner said while several parts of the county saw damage and problems stemming from the storm and the amount of water it poured, this area took it harder than others.

"Here it hurts worse," he said. "These people already have poor infrastructure. These roads that look like the storm might've done this damage — no. It was doing this a week ago."

Turner is now calling for an "independent investigation" into what he's calling mismanagement of money and resources. He says people in the "Diamond District" have been drawing attention to infrastructure problems for years, which they showed him last week.

"We literally drove down those roads, and we looked at the trees growing inside of these waterways, and we discussed the parking issues, and the street sweeping, and everything that flows into these canals," Turner added. "...and that the maintenance — just proper normal maintenance — it happens in other parts of the City, it isn't happening here."

In another press conference today, city of San Diego Deputy Chief Operating Officer Kris McFadden disputed that. He said the City is doing maintenance in Chollas Creek and its watershed, both considered an important part of the storm water management for the area.

According to McFadden, crews inspected 2,200 storm drains, cleaned 547 of them, and removed 113 tons of material from the 1,600-acre watershed last year. This fiscal year, he said crews had already inspected more than 3,800 storm drains, cleaned 471 structures, and removed seven tons of material from the area.

But, McFadden added the issue and solution go beyond that.

"Every drainage system in this area was overwhelmed," he said. "What we have to look at, and what we have been looking at, is a holistic approach to this entire watershed. It doesn't just start at the end, it starts high up into the watershed."

CBS 8 was in contact with a city spokesperson throughout the day. However, we did not receive a direct response to Turner's calls for an investigation into the maintenance work or preparedness of the city.

Meantime, Shane Harris — President of the People's Association of Justice Advocates — is asking state leaders and Governor Gavin Newsome for financial relief. He's proposing the state defer property, personal income, and business tax deadlines from February and April to October 15th.

"I can guarantee you no one who is trying to fix their damages is focused on paying taxes," Harris said. "It is not realistic to expect the residents of this county, especially the hardest hit, to pay and file their April 15th taxes."

Tax deadline extensions have happened before; most recently last year, when Governor Newsom and the IRS pushed them back for people affected by 2022's winter storms.

A spokesperson for the Governor directed us to the California Franchise Tax Board on this. A spokesperson for the Board tells us they cannot speak on what lawmakers may do. However, they added, they are aware of Newsom's emergency declaration for the area and are monitoring for possible changes that could stem from that.

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