Fallbrook Observer Vol. 6.18, May 3, 2026
Happy Cinco de Mayo and Public Service Recognition Week!
Fallbrook Food Pantry held their annual gala last night
Fewer than 100 people attended the annual Fallbrook Food Pantry fundraiser last night but the need is greater. Its goal was to raise $150,000 but in the first quarter there were 2,000 additional recipients of food aid at the Pantry.
The Fallbrook Food Pantry (FFP) is a non-profit organization that provides nutritious food and education to low-income families in the Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rainbow, De Luz, and Pala communities. Since 1991, it has grown into a comprehensive center offering market-style food distribution and holistic wellness programs.
Location & Hours
Address: 140 N Brandon Rd, Fallbrook, CA 92028.
Daily Distribution: Monday–Friday, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
Friday Evening: Re-opens from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Contact: Phone: (760) 728-7608 | Email: info@fallbrookfoodpantry.org
San Diego County Congressman Scott Peters joined 41 other Democrats to help GOP send Trump spying bill to Senate
“It was these Democrats’ responsibility to stand up against this administration, and they voted to stand down instead,” said one campaigner.
from Common Dreams
The House voted 235-191 to send Section 702 of the FISA Bill (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) to the Senate.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), took to the House floor to blast Section 702 as “a dangerous mass surveillance tool” that “has been used to spy on Black Lives Matter protesters, members of Congress, journalists, and more.”
“These Democrats defied their constituents and common sense to undercut meaningful privacy reforms in the House and instead voted to hand over sweeping spy powers to the Trump administration,” Hajar Hammado, senior policy adviser at Demand Progress—which helped convene over 100 artificial intelligence, civil rights, and other progressive groups pressuring Congress to include privacy protections in any renewal bill for the spying power, stressed. “This means continuing warrantless backdoor searches and allowing an increasing number of federal agencies to exploit the data broker loophole to supercharge AI and fuel mass domestic surveillance.”
Burn permits are cancelled across California as of May 1
from Everything Fallbrook
Outdoor burning of yard debris (4×4 foot piles) is allowed in San Diego County, but only with a permit. Usually burn permits are issued for people with large amounts to burn, like groves or nurseries. And only in winter — in summer we’re too dry to allow outdoor burning because fires can get away too easily.
Permits are decided on a case by case basis. For example, permits may not be allowed in residential neighborhoods.
To apply for a burn permit, go to the North County Fire office and fill out a form. There is no application process online. We are not in CalFire’s jurisdiction, NC Fire manages burn permits for Fallbrook. Contact NC Fire.
As of May 1, no outdoor burning will be permitted, according to CalFire, which would apply state-wide.
Public Service Recognition Week May 3-9
Beginning the first Sunday in May, Public Service Recognition Week honors federal, state, county, and local employees across the nation.
Public servants work at every level of government from small communities to the federal government. They renew our driver’s licenses and they collect our garbage. Public servants govern, legislate and enforce our laws. The public workforce keeps our cities, states, and country running smoothly. Many civil servants work behind the scenes running programs and activities that are vital to many levels of government, social services and so much more.
North County Fire Protection District Board met
The North County Fire Protection District (NCFPD) held their regular monthly meeting on April 28th.
Budget: The Finance manager gave a quarterly review of the approximately $20 Million budget through the end of the Third Quarter 2025/2026. Overall, the District’s budget remains on track for this point in the fiscal year.
*revenues are tracking as expected.
*salary and benefit costs are slightly lower than the prior year, primarily due to reduced demand for OES overtime.
*Capital expenditures remain low year-to-date, largely due to the Station 4 project, which is still in the final stages of County approval.
Operations: Ever wonder about all the sirens in the background of small-town Fallbrook?
During the month of March 2026, the North County Fire Protection District responded to 678 incidents. Ambulances on medical calls are 82% of these emergencies. Fire trucks account for 11%. See chart below for the month of March.
Sometimes people ask me who I’m voting for…
In this issue I share my endorsements for the primary.
Two races I neglected to mention are Assembly member AD75 and State Senate SD40.
I’m voting for Gerald Boursiquot and Mara Elliott, respectively.
California, Arizona and Nevada propose water-saving plan for Colorado River
from The Guardian
Seven states that are legally entitled to draw on the Colorado River remain deadlocked over a plan to share the dwindling water so Arizona, California and Nevada have proposed cutbacks over the next three years to buy time until they can reach an agreement. 40 million people in the West are dependent on the Colorado River.
Lake Mead and Lake Powell are at historic lows due to overdrawing, reduced snow packs and a warming climate.
The lower basin states’ plan would save 3.2m acre-feet of water with the help of voluntary cutbacks through 2028. The plan also envisions saving an additional 700,000 acre-feet of water through conservation measures and infrastructure improvement, along with the creation of a conservation pool to ensure that the federal government meets its trust obligations to tribes in Arizona.
See the video of last week’s talk with FPUD GM Bebee
RIP - Mr. Take This Job and Shove It
Meetings and more this week and month…
CNN to Host California Governor Primary Debate
Debate Airs on Tuesday, May 5 at 6pm PT
Debate to Air Live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, and streaming for subscribers
Solana Center Workshop:
Manure Composting Made Easy: Rules and best practices for unincorporated businesses and residents
Saturday, May 9, 2026
10:00 AM 11:30 AM
Fallbrook Riders Inc.1627 South Stage Coach Lane, Fallbrook, CA
Register at the Solana Center
Farmers, ranchers, and livestock owners may be able to reduce their waste-hauling expenses by composting their own organic wastes and manures, thanks to the updated San Diego County zoning ordinance. This update offers increased flexibility and simplifies onsite composting. Join us at Fallbrook Riders, Inc. to learn about what is possible for your property/operation and tour their manure composting system. This workshop focuses on the zoning and regulatory requirements for small to medium-sized farm/ranching operations in unincorporated San Diego County.