“HISTORIC” AGREEMENT SIGNED: ALLOWS NIGHT-FLYING HELICOPTERS TO FIGHT WILDFIRES ON STATE LANDS IN EAST COUNTY
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarmon shakes hands with CAL-FIRE Chief Howard Windsor as Mayor Jerry Sanders looks on October 1, 2008 (El Cajon) — “This is a historic occasion,” said Fire Chief Howard Windsor with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). Speaking at the San Diego Sheriff’s facility at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, Windsor announced an agreement with San Diego Fire-Rescue Department allowing CAL FIRE use of San Diego City-owned helicopters to fly night firefighting missions on state wild lands in East County. Night flights were prohibited in 2003 when the Cedar Fire started around dusk. The fire spread through the night, ultimately becoming the worst fire in California history. After the Cedar Fire, flights were permitted up until a half hour after sunset. “We proved we could do that,” San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarmon said, adding that the new agreement will greatly improve fire protection for the region by enabling small fires to be stopped with airpower in the early stages. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, predicted the agreement will “dramatically reduce the likelihood that fires in the back country will reach homes and businesses in San Diego.” Windsor called the agreement a “huge paradigm shift,” noting that night-flights to fight fires have been used only rarely elsewhere by the Forest Service. “We are at the doorstep to evaluate the risk vs. gain,” he said, adding that night-flights to combat fires could become the standard statewide in ten to fifteen years. Flights will be allowed throughout nighttime hours if lives, structures or infrastructure is threatened–provided the pilot is familiar with the terrain and wind speeds do not exceed 45 mph or gusts of 60 mph. Pilots will have final determination whether a mission is safe to fly, Windsor added. CAL-FIRE has a fleet of 23 air tankers, 11 helicopters and 14 airtactical aircraft. The state recently put a DC-10 on contract and added a second DC-10 on call for use when needed. In addition, an on-call DC-7 has been added since last year’s fires, Daniel Berliant of CAL-FIRE told East County Magazine. Miriam Raftery, editor of East County Magazine, is a 25-year journalist who has won national and local awards for her investigative reporting and community journalism. If you are indicated in syndicating or reprinting this column, please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org. Printer-friendly version
PROUD PARENT–LOOK WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR “BABY!”
Printer-friendly versionThis is a FANTASTIC resource for those of us in the East County…Well done! — Carole Kennedy, President, California Faculty Association, SDSU Very cool! This magazine is filling a real void! — Jamie Reno, award-winning Newsweek journalist Thank you so much for the unexpected yet timely alert regarding the fire yesterday. We saw the smoke but were left completely uninformed. Then suddenly I received your email on my Blackberry! I’m referring you to many others. — Ellen Sullivan, reader You were the first ones to let me know about the plane crash [off I-15 near Miramar]. I was in Sacramento. — Assemblyman Marty Block I respect the work that you’re doing with the East County Magazine. — Doug Deane, education chair, East County Chamber of Commerce Allow me to express my sincere thanks for your article in East County Magazine about our Greener Future and Renewable Energy Seminars…Thank you very much for providing an excellent forum and outreach to the East County Community. Your article undoubtedly helped us have an even more successful event! — Alan Ridley, Cuyamaca College It is with great joy and community pride that the readers of Indian Voices greet the inaugural edition of the East County Magazine…We owe a debt of journalistic gratitude to Miriam Raftery for taking a leading role in the media explosion by creating and providing an online medium for a community that needs a voice. — Rose Davis, Indian Voices This is one of the most objective articles written thus far with respect to the 52nd District Congressional race. — Margaret Hunter, Hunter for Congress Many thanks! Nice article. — George Decker, Lumpkin for Congress I am a huge fan and would like to see efforts like yours succeed and thrive. We need you out here! — Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, editor, San Diego Press Club’s Foghorn I signed up for ECMag’s Wildfire Alert system and it completely WORKED this afternoon. On my way home about 2 p.m. I could see lots of smoke to the north. It was a fire at Camp Pendleton, and I got the full report from my East County Magazine email bulletin. — Gayle Lynn, reader I applaud East County Magazine for doing an outstanding job of educating the public about issues and candidates. Your publication clearly had an impact in several close, key races in our region by providing independent, fair-minded media coverage. — Francine Busby, past Democratic candidate, 50th Congressional District Congratulations and I wish you the best of luck. I posted a notice about your new magazine on my News page. — Sam Warren, Editor, San Diego WriteWay (e-zine for writers and publishers) Miriam Raftery’s new online magazine is outstanding and I especially liked her article under Voter’s Watchdog — Protecting Your Right to Vote. It is concise and yet it covers just about all the main points everyone in San Diego should be aware of and do something about. — Ann Zegler, member, Secure Accurate Elections Many congratulations on the launch! How exciting! It looks great, well done, must have been a phenomenal amount of work and I applaud you. — Sue Russell, journalist and author Congratulations Miriam, I am so happy for East County and your accomplishments! — Estela del los Rios, interim executive director, Center for Social Advocacy This looks fantastic! I can’t wait to dive in. I’ve forwarded this to about 30 others. — Jolene Crowley, Crowley Communications LOVE the magazine. You are filling a void with this. — Mary Handfelt, Cedar Fire survivor We love you guys! — Bobbi Brinks, founder of Lions, Tigers & Bears Congratulations on your new magazine! I will put a listing for it in the chapter on Resources in the new upcoming edition of The $Best Deals, Steals, Freebies & Bargains in San Diego due out this fall. — Sally Gary, author As Executive Director of the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County and President of the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County, I would like to commend Ms. Raftery for her suggestions for protection of San Diego County’s unincorporated and wildland—urban interface areas. — Marty Leavitt Printer-friendly version
La Mesa City Council Candidate Forum Video
Printer-friendly versionCandidates for the La Mesa City Council answered questions from the public in a September forum hosted by the East County League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. View the complete video, provided courtesy of Citizens Oversight Projects: www.copswiki.org/twiki/bin/view/Common/M646 Printer-friendly version
October Capitol Report – How They Voted
Printer-friendly versionHow did your elected officials vote on the most important bills in Congress and the California Legislature? Find out here! Congress weighed in on bills to fund the border fence, bring accountability to the commodities market, allocate money for the Defense budget including a pay raise for military personnel, protect consumers from credit card companies, allow offshore drilling and expand tax credits for renewable energy. In California, the Legislature finally passed a budget and sent bills to the Governor to reduce global warming, provide universal healthcare for all Californians, and protect consumers from dangerous recalled products. As of press deadline, the Governor has signed the budget bill and 63 other bills, vetoed 131 measures, and has not yet taken action on many others. Deadline to sign or veto bills is midnight Sept. 30th. Details and updates on the Governor’s actions will be posted here: gov.ca.gov/archive/press-releases Then check to see how your representatives voted in our CAPITOL REPORT. OCTOBER 2008 CAPITOL REPORT: KEY VOTES IN THE PAST MONTH For more information on these and other bills, visit www.vote-smart.org or www.govtrack.us. To find out who your elected representatives are, visit our Citizens Action Center. FEDERAL BILLS (CONGRESS) HR 3997: ECONOMIC STABILIZATION/BAILOUT BILL Status: Failed Description: The bailout plan would have allowed for the U.S. government to purchase devalued mortgage backed securities resulting from the subprime mortgage crisis from troubled financial institutions. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has said that the plan could cost up to $700 billion. Vote: Representative Davis: Yes Representatives Bilbray, Filner, Hunter, and Issa: No H.R. 6604: Commodity Markets Transparency and Accountability Act Status: Passed House Description: To amend the Commodity Exchange Act to bring greater transparency and accountability to commodity markets and stop oil speculation. Votes: Representatives Bilbray, Davis and Filner: Yes Representative Hunter: No Representative Issa: Did not vote S. Amendment 2480 (to HR 2638, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act): Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Status: Passed Senate Description: Appropriates $3 billion to place border fences and customs requirements along the United States and Mexico land border Votes: Senators Boxer and Feinstein: Yes S. Amendment 2405 (to HR 2638): Real I.D. Funding Status: Amendment Tabled Description: To make $300,000,000 available for grants to States to carry out the REAL ID Act of 2005. Votes: Senators Boxer and Feinstein: No S. 3001: Defense Authorization Act Status: Passed House and Senate, on President’s desk Description: Authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. Includes 3.9% pay raise for military personnel. Votes: Senators Boxer and Feinstein: Yes Representatives Bilbray, Davis, Issa, Filner, and Hunter: Yes HR 6604: Commodity Markets Speculation Bill Status: Passed House Description: To amend the Commodity Exchange Act to bring greater transparency and accountability to commodity markets, and for other purposes. Votes: Representatives Hunter and Issa: Did not vote Representatives Bilbray, Davis, and Filner: Yes HR 5244: Credit Card Bill Status: Passed House Description: To amend the Truth in Lending Act to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end consumer credit plan, and for other purposes. Votes: Representatives Davis, Filner and Hunter: Yes Representatives Bilbray and Issa: No HR 6899: COMPREHENSIVE AMERICAN ENERGY SECURITY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT Status: Passed House Description: Reduces dependency on oil through renewable and clean, alternative fuel technologies as well as offshore drilling. Expands and extends tax credits for renewable energy including solar and wind, provides incentives for plug-in hybrid cars, energy-efficient buildings and transportation, requires utility companies to produce 15% of electricity from renewable energy resources by 2020, allows limited offshore drilling if states opt in to allow, makes oil companies pay royalties for drilling on public lands, increases domestic oil production in Alaska, and more. Votes: Representative Davis: Yes Representatives Bilbray, Filner, Issa, Hunter: No STATE BILLS (CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE) AB 1781: 2008-2009 STATE BUDGET Status: Signed by Governor with a line-item veto Description: An act making appropriations for the support of the government of the State of California and for several public purposes in accordance with the provisions of Section 12 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of California, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. Votes: Senators Ducheny and Kehoe: Yes Senators Hollingsworth and Wyland: No Assemblymembers Salas and Saldaña: Yes Assemblymembers Anderson and Jeffries: No Assemblymembers Garrick, Horton and Plescia: Did not vote SB 840: California Universal Healthcare Agency Status: Vetoed by Governor Description: Establish universal healthcare to assure access to healthcare for all Californians including medical, dental, eye care and mental health care. Votes: Senators Ducheny and Kehoe: Yes Senators Hollingsworth and Wyland: No Assemblymembers Salas and Saldaña: Yes Assemblymembers Anderson, Garrick, Jeffries and Plescia: No SB 375: Global Warming and Land Use Policy Status: Signed into law by Governor Description: Reduce global warming pollution by providing incentives to local government to provide more compact development and transportation. This has been called the most significant land use bill since the Coast Act 32 years ago. Votes: Senators Ducheny and Kehoe: Yes Senators Hollingsworth and Wyland: No Assemblymembers Horton, Plescia and Salas: Yes Assemblymembers Anderson, Garrick and Jeffries: No Assemblymember Saldaña: Did not vote AB 1860: Ban Resale of Recalled Products Status: Signed into law by Governor Description: Protect consumers by prohibiting resale or export of dangerous recalled products and increase penalties on companies that violate the law. Votes: Senators Ducheny and Kehoe: Yes Senators Hollingsworth and Wyland: No Assemblymembers Salas and Saldaña: Yes Assemblymembers Anderson, Garrick, Horton, Jeffries and Plescia: No For last month’s votes visit www.eastcountymagazine.org/?q=0809capitol. Printer-friendly version
HEALTHCARE FOR ALL BILL PASSES- GOVERNOR THREATENS VETO
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery September 8, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) – A landmark bill to provide guaranteed universal healthcare coverage for every man, woman and child in California (including medical, dental, mental health and eye care coverage) has been approved by the State Legislature. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has until September 30th to sign the measure, SB 840 by Senator Sheila Kuehl, into law. But the landmark healthcare reform measure is at risk of becoming a casualty of the state budget impasse; Governor Schwarzenegger has threatened to veto all bills because the Legislature has not yet approved a budget. “Our healthcare crisis today has become a clear and present danger to the health, safety, and economic security of all Californians and all Americans. We need comprehensive reform that will genuinely fix this broken system and end this national nightmare, starting in California and then in Washington,” said Malinda Markowitz, RN, co-president of California Nurses Association, a key sponsor of the bill. CNA is part of a broad coalition mobilized to support passage of the bill. The group plans to run an ad urging Schwarzenegger to assure healthcare for all Californians and points out that Schwarzenegger’s homeland, Austria, provides guaranteed healthcare for its people. (See details at www.healthcareforall.org). Readers wishing to contact Governor Schwarzenegger to voice an opinion for or against on this measure can e-mail the Governor’s office, call his San Diego office at (619) 525-4641 or (916) 445-2841 in Sacramento. Votes among legislators representing East County and San Diego’s eastern region split down party lines. Democratic Senators Christine Kehoe and Denise Ducheny voted for the measure, while Republican Senator Dennis Hollingsworth voted no. In the Assembly, Democrats Mary Salas and Lori Saldana voted yes; Republicans Joel Anderson, Martin Garrick, Shirley Horton, Kevin Jeffries, and George Plescia all voted against the measure. Senator Sheila Kuehl, the bill’s author, said SB 840 “takes the money we’re already spending and uses it more efficiently to cover everyone. We’re wasting a third of our health care dollars on bureaucracy because insurance companies make the system too complicated, premiums are skyrocketing and thousands of Californians are dying every year because of preventable medical errors.” A study by the Lewin group concluded that the bill would save California $20 billion in the first year alone. That estimate has been confirmed by the California Legislative Analyst’s office. “The total operating cost of the new single payer insurance system would be less than the cost of maintaining the agencies and insurance policies that it would replace,” the nonpartisan League of Women Voters concluded in a background paper prepared on SB 840. Organizations supporting SB 840 include the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), California Association of Retired Americans, California Congress of Seniors, California School Employees Association, League of Women Voters, Health Care for All-California, California Labor Federation, California Church IMPACT, and California Nurses Association as well as many doctors, consumer groups, and some business owners. For a full list of the 271 supporting groups, see http://dist23.casen.govoffice.com/vertical/Sites/%7B6A93A017-DA3B-4A59-866F-E9FDC3D31EAB%7D/uploads/%7B9A17838B-5806-4E0D-89A9-2EEFAB761EF7%7D.PDF. Despite formal opposition from the American Medical Association (which also opposed the establishment of Medicare), the Annals of Internal Medicine reported in April that over 50% of individual doctors now support establishment of national health insurance – up from 10% just five years ago. SB 840 would provide a similar universal healthcare system for Californian which advocates hope could become a model for national healthcare legislation. Other opponents include the insurance industry, California Chamber of Commerce, and California Taxpayers Association. “We applaud the Governor for announcing his intention to veto SB 840, which would create a government-run health care system in California, leading to billions of dollars in new taxes on individuals and businesses, while not addressing the key issue in health care today—cost,” California Chamber of Commerce president Allan Zarenberg stated in a September 6th press release, noting that Schwarzenegger vetoed an earlier version of the bill two years ago. He predicted that the measure would “jeopardize the state economy” and noted that millions of Californians now receive health insurance provided by employers. But many employers don’t provide coverage – and even those that do often leave employees facing increasingly high premiums, deductibles and co-pays, observed Susan Duerkson, past co-director of Healthcare for All San Diego and current director of communications for the Center on Policy Initiatives, a San Diego-based research organization which has issued reports on the working uninsured. “2.9 million working adults in California have nothing, not even MediCal. They are completely uninsured,” she told East County Magazine. Over two-thirds – 69% — of all uninsured adults in California are working. Of those who are employed in California, less than half (49%) get insurance through their employer. Others get insurance through spouses or government programs such as MediCal or Medicare, while 17% (2.9 million) have no health insurance at all. That figure does not include the number of non-working people who are uninsured, including the unemployed, disabled, or elderly. Nor does it include the millions of children left with no health insurance coverage. Uninsured people who can’t afford preventative care or early treatment for illness often wind up in emergency rooms, driving up the cost of healthcare since those expenses are absorbed by hospitals and passed on to the insured, she noted. The problem also leads to hospital overcrowding and poorer quality care. According to the League of Women Voters, “Many uninsured individuals die prematurely.” The Institute of Medicine estimates that 18,000 people die each year in the U.S. because they lack health insurance. Here in San Diego County, middle-income working adults in San Diego County continued to lose health insurance coverage from 2003 to 2005 (the most recent period for which local figures are available), despite a drop in the total number of uninsured, CPI has reported. People like Darlene Roby, who provides home health care for three elderly women in La Mesa. Roby has no health insurance and has not had a raise in six years. In debt because of medical bills, she sleeps on