By now you are probably tired of seeing the yearly roundups, the “wrapped” versions of every music, fitness and social media site you are a part of.
But sitting down to reflect on the stories our paper has covered over the past year, I realized that it’s actually a very important exercise to take inventory of yearly events in our town.
I am reminded of just how engaged and invested this community is, and how important it is for us to cover the daily news of Coronado with fair and accurate journalism.
So, thank you so much for reading our content and inviting us into your stories.
Here is our take on the top five storylines this year – those that had the most community impact and highest level of engagement:
Port ends lease with ferry landing
In October, the Port of San Diego made a closed-door decision to not extend its lease to the operators of the Coronado Ferry Landing. For 40 years, Port Coronado Associates has managed the property which is home to 19 businesses. A termination of the lease, which is now under consideration for a one-year extension, leaves local businesses owners questioning their future.
This is a decision that has significant ramifications for many people in this community. It is a controversy that, for me, reinforces how important journalism is in shedding light on an issue that, at face value, lacks clarity.
Vermin in local businesses
Rats and roaches have quite literally been pestering local restaurant owners for a long time. A story we published in August looks deeper at just how problematic vermin have become for many businesses. In many ways, it’s a problem that does not have an easy solution.
The story brings attention to an unspoken issue in Coronado, while recognizing the tough spot that small business owners are in.
Continuing coverage of the Tijuana sewage crisis
This year saw big announcements in regards to the ongoing cross-border contamination, more commonly known as the Tijuana sewage crisis. Nearly a century of broken promises from U.S. and Mexican officials have resulted in millions of gallons of raw sewage flowing into the Pacific Ocean.
The Department of Defense’s Inspector General’s report at the start of the year found that Navy SEALs have been getting sick training in the polluted waters. In April, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin visited San Diego to see the issue in person. A memorandum of understanding between the two countries was established in July identifying expedited timelines for key projects. And just a few weeks ago, the U.S. and Mexico signed a new minute agreement (a sort of pact) resolving to overcome the problem.
Yet, county leaders are asking for more to be done through designation of the Tijuana River Valley as a Superfund site. So far, the EPA has denied their requests.
We also investigated the track record of Veolia, the mega-corporation operating the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. The piece examines the two ways Veolia can be viewed – as an international company putting profits over public health, or as an enterprise whose mission is to protect the planet.
Navy news
The Navy is an integral part of Coronado’s identity. With so many active-duty, retired, and Navy veterans in Coronado (not to mention all of the family members who call this town home), it is a priority of ours to focus coverage on Navy news.
In February, a Navy jet crashed into San Diego Bay after its two-person crew ejected. This prompted an investigation into what exactly went wrong.
The USS Carl Vinson, a Coronado-based aircraft carrier, was deployed to the Middle East and combated Houthi attacks. And, NASCAR announced Naval Air Station North Island will be home to street race this year.
With both the topics of the Navy and the sewage crisis, it is clear that national events are connected to us at a local level. And that’s the beauty of community journalism. It is our responsibility to highlight those stories and recognize how neighbors are being affected by what’s happening on a larger scale.
So, thank you again for engaging with our news coverage in 2025. Here’s to a new year, and new storylines to follow.
