LA MESA – La Mesa experienced some difficult times in 2025 – including the tragic death of an on-duty police officer. There were some positives as well, like Grossmont Hospital celebrating 70 years of service and local business owner Becca Title publishing her first novel.
What stood out was the city uniting to advocate and push for change – even when the odds didn’t favor La Mesa or community residents.
Pass by University Avenue and La Mesa Boulevard on Tuesday mornings and you will see a group of protestors, mostly seniors, waving signs. They have faithfully marched, often using canes, walkers and wheelchairs, outside the Social Security Administration office every week since March when the Trump administration first started to look at cuts to Social Security benefits.
Any recall campaign is a huge challenge, as is getting politicians to limit their own campaign donations or stopping the construction of a battery storage facility. That hasn’t stopped the community from trying. Whether it’s fighting for nurses’ pay or a better future for a blighted property, La Mesans proved themselves to be indefatigable.
Here are the five stories that defined the community this year.
1. La Mesa police Officer Lauren Craven becomes first killed on the job
La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven. (Photo courtesy of La Mesa Police Department)It was significant when La Mesa lost its first police officer in the line of duty. A lot of things were written about Lauren Craven, of course, but this from editor Jennifer Vigil was particularly gutting: That Craven joined the force to help other women in trouble after she was a victim of a serial rapist in Hollywood. A senseless loss.
2. Grossmont Union High School District cuts all librarian jobs
Protesters gather for a photo at the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) meeting on April 24, 2025 at Grossmont High School in La Mesa. (Photo by Drew Sitton/Times of San Diego)Grossmont Union’s board has been in the news constantly this year, whether for allegedly violating the Brown Act or for hiring politically-motivated administrators with little to no experience. But what spurred district-wide student walkouts, hundreds-strong protests and the attempted recall of La Mesa’s trustee was the board cutting the jobs of all teacher-librarians. That singular decision shaped the turmoil and resistance to the board for 2025.
3. Grossmont Center sale
File photo of Reading Cinemas at Grossmont Center in La Mesa on April 7, 2021. (Photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)The most popular article about La Mesa this year was editor Jennifer Vigil’s story on Grossmont Center being sold for $21 million. The mall has already been changed though. Walk around to find lots of community spaces – from theaters to senior centers and playgrounds, not just retail and dining options.
4. Battery storage facilities plans canceled
A proposed battery storage facility at 8135 El Paso Street is no more. (Photo by Amy Reichert)For two years, community members shared their concerns about a proposed battery storage facility near an SDG&E substation. The difficulty of putting out chemical fires at other locations made the suburban location, near a school, seem especially dangerous. In July, the developer pulled the plans.
5. Sharp nurses’ strike
David Worsham, 44, shakes the hands of members of the clinical team and first responders credited with saving his life after he suffered heart failure. (Photo courtesy Sharp Grossmont Hospital Marketing & Communications)It may have been missed over a holiday weekend, but one significant bit of news – thousands of nurses, including at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, took part in a 3-day strike over Thanksgiving. Healthcare workers demanded staffing and patient care fixes at the growing hospital, which just celebrated 70 years of serving East County.
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