TOWN HALL MEETING ON SUNRISE POWERLINK SET FOR APRIL 6 IN ALPINE
Printer-friendly versionMarch 28, 2009 (Alpine, CA) –The East County Community Action Coalition (ECCAC) has scheduled a Town Hall meeting on Monday, April 6, 2009, from 6-8pm at the Alpine Community Center. The meeting will be a chance for East County residents to get more information about the Sunrise Powerlink’s Southern Route. The route affects communities and towns such as Alpine, Boulevard, Campo, Carveacre, Chocolate Canyon, El Monte Valley, Jacumba, Lakeside, and more. County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, a vocal opponent of the project for years, will be the keynote speaker. On December 18, 2008 the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved SDG&E’s proposed Southern Route for the 123 mile high voltage transmission line, Sunrise Powerlink. Many East County residents have only recently become aware of the routing of the line. SDG&E has held several open houses in affected communities,which have been attended by hundreds of local residents opposed to the project. The town hall meeting is a chance for groups who have been fighting the Sunrise Powerlink since its inception in 2006 to present information to the public. Although the route has been approved by the CPUC and the Bureau of LandManagement, the US Forest Service has still not given final approval. Several miles of the line will go through Cleveland National Forest. In addition, legal action has been initiated by several groups, and a stay on the project has been requested pending the results of litigation. Groups such as Protect Our Communities (POC), based in Santa Ysabel, feel that the project is not necessary and can still be stopped. According to Denis Trafecanty, co-Founder of POC, "the majority of the renewables produced should be produced in the San Diego basin where the energy is needed. As far as big solar projects in the desert, these projects must be constructed only on already disturbed lands in the desert, and these lands should be near the already existing Southwest Powerlink which was built 25 years ago with the promise that it would carry renewable energy. There is no need to build a new transmission line into San Diego." Trafecanty hopes a combination of coordinated community action, political pressure, and legal action will at least delay commencement of work on the Sunrise Powerlink, if not completely terminate the project. The POC was one of several groups that successfully fought against the Northern Route, which would have taken the transmission line through Anza Borrego State Park. Some of the concerns for residents and businesses along the route include increased fire danger due to both construction and the power lines, decreased firefighting ability in close proximity to powerlines, loss and destruction of habitat, noise pollution, loss of viewsheds, and loss of revenue and customer streams to local businesses due to power outages and road closures during construction. In addition, there is some confusion about whether or not the project will be used for green energy. Supporters of the new transmission line say it is necessary for SDG&E to meet California’s renewable energy mandate of 20% and to ensure that a growing population has the energy it needs. Opponents point to the fact that SDG&E did not agree to carry any renewable energy on the line, and that the utility company has not considered less costly local power solutions and rooftop solar projects. Other utilities, such as Southern California Edison, are projected to build solar facilities on 65 million square feet of commercial rooftop, enough to power about 162,000 homes. The ECCAC was recently established to continue the opposition to the Sunrise Powerlink project. It was founded by Laura and Milton Cyphert of Lakeside. According to Laura Cyphert, "We believe it is the inherent right of our east county communities to have a voice in matters that have such enduring and significant importance. The fact that most of the community was not effectively informed of the proposed path during the public participation hearings is irresponsible. It is our intention that through coordinated community action, we will be able to protect San Diego from a future of renewable firestorms, among other dire consequences, while still addressing San Diego’s need for clean energy." The ECCAC will be pursuing legal action, along with several other local and national organizations. Their initial action was filed on March 23, 2009. The ECCAC is encouraging anyone who is affected by the Sunrise Powerlink project, or those who would like more information, to attend the meeting. ECCAC: www.EastCountyAction.org POC: www.protectourcommunities.org CPUC: www.cpuc.gov Printer-friendly version
HOW DO YOUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS RATE ON MIDDLE CLASS ISSUES? GRADES FOR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES VARY FROM ZERO TO 100%
Printer-friendly versionApril 1, 2009 (WASHINGTON, DC)–San Diego Congressional members Bob Filner and Susan Davis have received an “A” from the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy. The organization’s Congressional Scorecard evaluates each Member of Congress based on their support for policies that help our nation’s middle class. Democrats Filner and Davis voted in support of middle class issues 100% of the time. Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer each scored 80%. Among Republicans, Brian Bilbray rated 13%, while Duncan Hunter and Daryl Issa received the lowest possible 0% rating for voting consistently against middle class issues in the first three months of 2009. “It’s great that the Drum Major Institute holds Congress accountable for its impact on regular people because wealthy CEOs and corporations have the resources to hire lobbyists to watch their backs,” said Congressman Filner. “ou shouldn’t have to be rich to make your government work for you.” The Drum Major Institute (DMI) is a non-partisan group that evaluates policies based on the impact they will have on the squeezed middle class, as well as on the aspirations of low-income Americans who are working their way into the middle class. To access their summaries and assessments, visit the DMI on line at http://www.TheMiddleClass.org. The site offers consumers the opportunity to download a widget that tracks your legislators’ votes on key issues and also advises you on upcoming votes. The group tracks legislators’ records on the following issues: Civil Justice Consumers Corporate Accountability Debt & Bankruptcy Education Energy & Environment Government Accountability Health Care Housing Immigration Retirement Security Tax Fairness Workplace & Job Creation Printer-friendly version
SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL APRIL 25: CONSERVATION IN BLOOM
Printer-friendly versionMarch 26, 2009 (El Cajon) – If you haven’t yet experienced the Spring Garden Festival, be sure to mark your calendars for April 25th. The annual event drew more than 7,000 people last year and is quickly becoming one of East County’s premier attractions. Live music, Native American dancing, arts and crafts, food, plant sales, water-wise gardening, tree-care advice from experts, and special tours for children are among the activities slated at the event hosted by Cuyamaca College. Festivities take place at the college’s Heritage of the Americas Museum, the Water Conservation Garden, Ornamental Horticulture Department Nursery and Grand Lawn. Admission and parking are free. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cuyamaca College is located at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in the Rancho San Diego area of El Cajon. For more information, call 619-670-5194 or visit www.cuyamaca.edu/springfest. Printer-friendly version