LABOR VICTORY: SD SCHOOL BOARD VOTES TO KEEP 10,000 CONTRACTING JOBS LOCAL UNDER PROP S, REQUIRE CONTRACTORS TO PROVIDE HEALTH BENEFITS TO WORKERS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery ”We cannot survive as a city if 75% of our children are coming out of families living in poverty…This is saying that our city is not going to live in poverty.”—Shelia Jackson, President, San Diego School Board May 27, 2009 (San Diego) – “Today, the School Board affirmed the vision of the future—that when tax dollars are spent, they should be spent to benefit the community,” Tom Lemmon, San Diego Building Trades and Construction Trades Council, told East County Magazine moments after the San Diego School Board meeting last night. By a one-vote margin, the Board adopted a Construction Careers Project Stabilization Agreement (PSA) requiring that all 10,000 jobs for school improvements under Proposition S must go to local workers, pay living wages, and provide healthcare insurance for employees. The measure drew a large crowd that included many construction workers and contractors, prompting School Board member John Lee Evans to remark, “I’ve never seen so many men at a school board meeting.” Evans, voted for the measure, along with members Richard Barrera and board president Sheila Jackson. Members John De Beck and Katherine Nakamura voted against it. San Diego County lost 10,000 construction jobs in 2008 alone, according to the California Employment Development Department’s Labor Market Information report issued in January 2009. The measure aims to stabilize the local economy by providing local jobs with good wages and benefits for workers. Supporters of the measure said the agreement will assure not just short-term jobs, but provide a path to middle-class careers for high school graduates not heading to college, including paid apprenticeships. Supporters also argued that the measure will boost the local economy by assuring that all workers hired live in San Diego County, with 70% living within the School District’s boundaries. Supporters defended a requirement to use union apprenticeship programs, noting that union programs graduate 92% of all the apprentices in California, as well as 95% of all women and 92% of all minorities between 2002 and 2007. “Where is the commitment on the part of non-union contractors to the people being trained?” asked board member Richard Barrera. “90% of the graduates of apprenticeship programs are coming out of unions, and nearly 100% of women and minorities are coming out of unions.” Noting claims by opponents that 85% of workers are non-union, he observed, “If 15% of the industry is producing 90% of graduates, then that’s real commitment.” He challenged non-union apprenticeship programs to improve outreach to women and minorities. Barrera noted that Governor Schwarzenegger is now talking about cutting healthcare for children and stressed the importance of parents having jobs that provide health benefits. “Anything we can do as a school district to make sure that kids have healthcare, that’s an opportunity we need to provide.” Noting that he and other board members have been threatened with recall and removal from office if they support the measure, Barrera added, “That’s your choice, but I’m not going to be intimidated into not doing the right thing.” Opponents testified that the measure would largely eliminate job opportunities under Prop S for apprentices in non-union apprentice programs, as well as projects for some contractors who have done business with the district in the past. Andrew Hamilton said he received training through a non-union apprenticeship program and passed a state exam. “If you want a face to discriminate against, here I am,” he said. Another local student who apprenticed in a non-union program testified, “Please don’t deny me the right to work on the school that I grew up in.” But another worker testified that after completing a non-union internship and being injured, he was unable to return three years later to the program. “My three years there did not count for anything,” he said. “The union has given me an opportunity to start over again.” Nakamura called her vote a “tortured decision” but said she believes good companies are being punished. She also objected to people such as her neighbor, a non-union carpenter who lives outside the zip codes in the district, being excluded. De Beck similarly commented, "I do believe there are people being left out." The Project Stabilization Agreement was added in part to comply with Obama administrative directives for to include PSAs for federal projects. To date, 29 school boards across California have adopted PSAs . Locally, PSAs have been used at Petco Park and the San Diego Water Authority. The measure adopted by the District does include an escape clause that allows the District to suspend the project labor agreement for a specific project if less than three competitive bids are received. Evans observed, “The bigger picture here, and what scares people, is that San Diego is changing The U.S. is changing. There are voices speaking up—those who have been excluded…and I am very proud to be part of this.” Board president Sheila Jackson observed, “This has been a long road.” She noted that nearly 75% of families living in the District are living below the federal poverty level, and that unemployment levels are high in the District. If steps are not taken to improve wages and provide healthcare for families with children, she concluded, “We will not be America’s Finest City.” “Workers matter,” Lemmon concluded, adding that he is excited to be working to support the many community partners in favor of the agreement .(To view a list of supporters, click here and scroll down: http://www.onlinecpi.org/downloads/Fact%20or%20Fiction_School%20Board.pdf) Lorena Gonzalez, head of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, concurred with Evans’ assessment that “Change has come to San Diego.” Gonzalez (shown in photo with Lemmon), added, “We’re starting here, and once we see some great success here, you will see some other school boards follow suit.” Printer-friendly version
CHALDEAN VIRTUOSO JOINS GROSSMONT SYMPHONY IN “MIDDLE EAST MEETS WEST” CONCERT MAY 29
Printer-friendly versionMay 26, 2009 (El Cajon)–The Grossmont College Symphony Orchestra will present “Middle East Meets West,” starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 29, at the St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Church, 1627 Jamacha Way in El Cajon. Special guest artist will be Luay Yousif, violinist. Yousif, born in Baghadad in 1979, has performed with the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. He has lived in the U.S. since 2007, and is currently the director of music for St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Church. Selections will include “Romance No. 2 in F” by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), “Symphony No. 2” by Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978), a Soviet-Armenian composer, and “Al-Pasha” by Raed George, an Iraqi composer and singer. George’s “Al-Pasha” was the 2008 winner of the Gold Medal from Alsharqiya Television Channel, one of the main Iraqi TV channels that perform Arabic and Iraqi dramas. In addition, the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra, along with Yousif, will perform the world premier of “Mayra,” a work based on Psalm 114 and composed by Sarhad Yawsip Hermiz Jammo, Bishop of the St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Church. Vocalist Kerrie Caldwell, soprano, and Stephanie Johnson, mezzo-soprano, will sing in Aramaic. Tickets are priced at $15, $20 and $25 per person, and free for children under age 12 with a paid adult admission. For more information, phone (619) 644-7254, or visit www.grossmontsymphony.org. Printer-friendly version
EQUALITY TORCH RELAY SET IN EAST COUNTY JUNE 6
Printer-friendly versionMay 27, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—“This is a time where we need equality,” says Eve Parker, lead organizer of the East County Equality Torch Relay slated for June 6th in Santee, El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove. The relay is part of a county-wide event for supporters of equal rights for gay and lesbian people. “I am actually a heterosexual, but I felt so strongly that I believe it is important that I stand up and take the lead,” said Parker. She points to the women’s rights and Civil Rights movements of the past, noting that it took the support of men and white Americans to help secure equal rights for women and African-Americans. The June 6th date for the relay commemorates the anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York, events that many consider to be the start of the gay rights movement. Organizers say the Equality Torch Relay event aims to "inspire courage" and foster reflection on impacts of discrimination. “Some think this relay is happening at the wake of the Supreme Court ruling for same-sex marriage in California, but the timing is ironic; we have been planning this event for weeks,” Parker said, referring to today’s high court decision upholding Proposition 8, which bans future gay marriages in the state. Two of East County’s state legislators, Senator Dennis Hollingsworth and Assemblyman Joel Anderson, have been vocal supporters of Prop 8, maintaining that marriage should be reserved for unions between a man and a woman. The torch, which is unlit, will travel to every city in San Diego County including segments via foot, bicycle, car, rail, air, sea and more. In East County, stops will include 20-minute rallies at each City Hall. To date, political leaders who have confirmed that they will speak include Lemon Grove Councilman George Gastil and Assemblyman Marty Block, said Parker. Asked whether organizers anticipate counter-protesters in East County, a bastion of religious conservatism, Parker said law enforcement will be on hand to protect the rights and safety of participants. For additional information or to sign up as a participant or volunteer, visit http://sandiegopride.org/382/Equality_Torch_Relay.htm. Printer-friendly version
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER STEVE POIZNER ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR ANDERSON FIRE-RELIEF LEGISLATION; URGES SAN DIEGO RESIDENTS TO BE PREPARED FOR WILDFIRES
Printer-friendly versionMay 26, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced support of AB 157, authored by Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon). Poizner also offered disaster preparation tips for all San Diego residents, including advice for preparing a home inventory for insurance purposes. “Wildfire survivors face so many hurdles as they try to rebuild their homes and lives, and I am pleased to support legislation that aims at giving survivors more time to navigate this lengthy and complex process,” said Poizner. “I also urge all Californians to examine their own homes and take a few simple steps today to protect their homes and belongings so they don’t also fall victim to wildfires.” AB 157 would allow Cedar Fire survivors two additional years to rebuild their homes without their property taxes being reset. Under current law, fire survivors are allowed 5 years to rebuild before higher property taxes are set. “The time it takes to rebuild homes and lives cannot be underestimated, and for many, restoration is an ongoing challenge,” said Anderson. “I introduced Assembly Bill 157 as a simple way to ensure a realistic timetable for addressing the losses that survivors have suffered.” Commissioner Poizner also advised all local homeowners to proactively prepare for fires and other potential disasters by conducting a home inventory and updating their insurance policies. This year’s wildfire season is already under way. The May 5 Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara destroyed 8,700 acres and burned 80 homes to the ground. Commissioner Poizner urges all homeowners to conduct a home inventory to maintain detailed records of their belongings. He encourages consumers to update their insurance companies with any home additions or major purchases so that their insurance coverage is adequate. Commissioner Poizner offered the following tips for conducting a home inventory: • Using a household digital camera and a Home Inventory Guide from the California Department of Insurance, catalogue your possessions and document their values. Photographs of household goods are especially helpful when an item is difficult to describe on paper, or if a purchase receipt cannot be obtained. • Label photographs with information about each item. • If a video recorder is used, commentary about each item should be included. • A copy of the inventory and supporting documentation, such as receipts and model numbers, should be stored in a safe place, such as a safe-deposit box, work office, or a relative’s house. • These records should also include financial documents such as insurance policies and mortgage information. • A free Home Inventory Guide is available at www.insurance.ca.gov. • Contact CDI at 800-927-HELP to obtain consumer information guides about additional insurance products, or for any insurance-related questions. Printer-friendly version
HOT TOPICS: FIRE CHIEFS DISCUSS FIRE SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS AT RANCHO SAN DIEGO-JAMUL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BREAKFAST
Printer-friendly versionStory by Kyle Serzen Photo by Leon Thompson May 27, 2009 (Cuyamaca College)—Despite the friendly conversation and satisfying meal at last Friday’s Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Meeting at Cuyamaca College, the focus was a serious issue—fire safety and preparedness for East County residents as fire season approaches. Cal Fire Battalion Chief Dave Allen and San Miguel Fire District Chief August Ghio spoke on what to expect and how to be prepared in the upcoming months. Fire season begins around September and runs through November, according to Allen, but San Diego residents know wildfires can occur at any time and it’s never too soon to be ready. Whenever fuel moisture levels fall below 60%, conditions are considered “extreme;” fuel moisture levels are currently at 54%. To make matters worse, San Diego firefighters are feeling the strain of the struggling economy. Property tax revenues are down $1.75 million and $800,000 is being cut from their budget. Fortunately, some steps are being taken to ensure the safety of San Diego residents as we get closer to fire season. Viejas, Barona, and Sycuan Native American tribes have provided a grant of $1,352,000 to build a new regional training center to help maintain an adequate number of firefighters in the San Diego area. Grading for this facility is set to begin in early autumn. Ghio emphasized that the construction of this facility will cost “not one penny of taxpayers’ money.” Ghio discussed the new “Before the Threat” campaign, which begins on July 18th. Over two weekends, the San Miguel Fire District in cooperation with Farmer’s Insurance will go to 400,000 homes in high risk areas to advocate fire safety. Each home should have a “defensible space;” that is, the first 50 feet around the home should be completely free of any dry or dead vegetation that could fuel a fire, and the next 100 feet should have no dead vegetation, although sparse green vegetation is okay. Ghio also stressed the importance of having an evacuation plan and a box of emergency supplies ready for family members and pets. “All you have to do is make a phone call. We’ll show up and give you advice,” said Allen. Even with the Before the Threat campaign and the new training facility, residents of high risk areas need to take the initiative to make their homes fire-safe in the next several months. Kyle Serzen is an SDSU student majoring in English and Political Science. He is currently an intern with East County Magazine. Printer-friendly version
FIRE ON MOUNT LAGUNA
Printer-friendly versionMay 27, 2009 (6:55 a.m.)–A five-acre fire is burning in Laguna Meadows, one mile west of the Laguna Campground on Mount Laguna. No structures are threatened and all roads remain open. “It’s in a fairly inaccessible area, so our engine crews have hiked in. We have two hotshot crews as well, and a potential to have some air tankers on it soon,” said Brian Harris, Cleveland National Forest spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. He added, “It’s a pretty low intensity fire now, but it’s putting up a lot of smoke that is visible from Interstate 8. Our division chief expects to have the whole thing mopped up by around noon.” Printer-friendly version
HELIX WATER DISTRICT CANCELS MAY 27 HEARING, AGREES TO REVAMP RATE HIKE PROPOSAL
Printer-friendly version By Dennis Moore May 24, 2009 (La Mesa) –Following a joint investigation by East County Magazine and Channel 10 news into allegations that Helix Water Board violated open government laws, the Board has voted to cancel a May 27 hearing and revise its rate hike proposal. "We won this round. They’re starting from scratch with a new plan and a new day–they’ll have a new study and a whole new [rate]schedule," said Kristin Kjaero, a La Mesa resident who sent a letter threatening legal action if the Board did not take steps to "cure and correct" actions she believes violated state law. Kjaero credited the efforts of hundreds of area residents and local media for drawing attention to inequities in the rate proposal, adding "We hope the District will see this as an opportunity to encourage transparency and the free flow of information in both directions." A notice posted at the HWD website offers this explanation of the revised rate study ordered: "To help focus the revised rate study, the board directed staff to apply water conservation goals across all user classes equally, maintain the current three-tier system for the Domestic Class, raise the commodity charge by the same percentage across all user classes and all tiers, implement water budgets for the Irrigation Class, maintain a single unit cost of water for Commercial and Multi-Family classes (no tiering), and prohibit irrigation meter pricing on single-family lots. Within the Irrigation Class, Tier 1 pricing will be full cost recovery, and pricing exceeding the target water budgets will be used to offset conservation activities. The plan will allow single-family lots two meters if they wish to install them, but both will be billed at Domestic Class rates." The Board asked staff to return in 90 days with a plan to review alternative water conserving rate structures, develop a rate study schedule, and prepare a public outreach plan for the future. The Board also stressed that customers need to continue to conserve to avoid huge fines for the water district. The district’s water supply has been cut by eight percent; the wholesale cost will increase 15.4 percent on September 1 and 19.6 percent on January 1, 2011. At a special meeting of the Helix Water District (HWD) Board of Directors convened Friday, May 22, members met in closed session with general counsel to discuss allegations that the Board violated Brown Act and Proposition 218 requirements and faced “significant exposure to litigation” according to the agenda. (For our joint investigative report, see http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/?q=node/1165 .) Following the closed hearing, the Board voted to postpone Monday’s session and revisit its rate increase proposal, assuring that proper notice is given to ratepayers. Many have complained that proposed rate hikes are disproportionately high for big families and owners of larger residential lots. After the closed session, HWD general manager Mark Weston made a Power Point presentation defending the need for steep rate hikes. “We still are going to have significant cost increases,” he stated. Other water districts in San Diego County are also raising rates as a result of a 19.7 percent rate increase from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) which supplies water to the County through the San Diego County Water Authority. Weston noted, “This year has been a challenge for water rate structure” and added that there are a “lot of perceived inequities.” (For excerpts from ratepayers’ letters detailing those perceived inequities, see http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/?q=node/1164 ; additional objected were raised in a hearing of the Grossmont-Mt. Helix Improvement Association last week, as ECM reported: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/?q=node/1175 ). Following Weston’s remarks, board member Charles Muse recommended option 2 from the Revised Helix Water Rate Study, while chairman Richard K. Smith recommended option 1. Board member DeAna Verbeke then motioned that the May 27th hearing on whether to raise rates for East County customers be cancelled, and the motion carried. Dexter Levy, who signed one of two cure-and-correct letters sent to the Board, said the Board made a mistake in its Proposition 218 notifications. "If they, the Board, are going to change the rates they need to send out a notice, which is required by Prop 218." He also objected to higher rates proposed for residents than for commercial water users. "The Board should not be charging more or less for irrigation, it should be the same across the board," Levy told East County Magazine. It would take signatures of 31,000 citizens to overturn a vote or action of the Board, he added, a goal that is daunting at best and would have been virtually impossible to attain by Wednesday’s scheduled hearing. The Board was also accused of violating provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act, a law designed to protect citizens’ rights. Former Attorney General Bill Lockyear, in a written 2003 explanation of the Brown Act, stated, “Throughout California’s history, local legislative bodies have played a vital role in bringing participatory democracy to the citizens of the state. Local legislative bodies such as boards, councils and commissions – are created in recognition of the fact that several minds are better than one, and that through debate and discussion, the best of ideas will emerge. The law which guarantees the public’s right to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies is the Ralph M. Brown Act.” What occurred at the special meeting of the Helix Board of Directors on Friday is a clear example of just what Lockyear envisioned. Printer-friendly version
FIRE DESTROYS TRAILER HOME IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly versionMay 27, 2009 (El Cajon)– El Cajon Fire crews responded to a trailer home fire at the Horseshoe Trailer Park, located at 150 South Anza, Space 1B early this morning. As crews arrived, they found a 30-foot trailer home fully involved. Firefighters had the fire knocked down in less than 10 minutes. Their quick action kept the fire from spreading to other nearby trailers, and the fire was contained to the one trailer and an attached patio area. An elderly man was at home inside the trailer when the fire started, he was able to escape unharmed. His wife was at work at the time of the blaze. Damage has been estimated at $50,000 for the one-bedroom trailer home, and $7,000 for its contents. There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is now under investigation, but it appears to be accidental. The American Red Cross is now assisting the displaced couple with temporary housing. “There was no working smoke alarm in the trailer at this morning’s fire,” a press released issued by the City of El Cajon noted. “Heat of the flames caused the man to wake up and escape. He was fortunate. In homes with no working smoke alarms most often occupants will die of smoke inhalation before flames can reach them.” Fire officials advise making sure that your home has a working smoke alarm for each level of your home, and another just outside the sleeping areas for added protection. For additional safety information please visit www.elcajonfire.com. Printer-friendly version