EMERALD ASKS SAN DIEGO COUNCIL TO HEAR EVIDENCE ON SDG&E SHUT-OFF PROPOSAL ON MONDAY; SDG&E PLANS TO PROCEED WITH SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WAITING FOR CPUC APPROVAL
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery July 24, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—The San Diego City Council will consider Monday whether to take a stand for or against SDG&E’s controverisal proposed plan to shut off power to rural residents during high fire-risk conditions. The plan is supported by at least two Councilmembers. A July 23 San Diego Union-Tribune article stated that Councilwoman Marti Emerald put a resolution on Monday’s agenda “supporting San Diego Gas & Electric Company’s proposal and urging the PUC to approve it.”Asked to verify this, Emerald’s director of communications, Geni Cavitt, called the statement “inaccurate” and said of Emerald, “She has not taken a stand and wants to discuss this with the full Council on Monday.”Emerald was not available for an interview. But in an editorial published today in Voice of San Diego, Councilmembers Emerald and Ben Hueso both clearly voice support for the shut-off plan, concluding that “SDG&E’s plan deserves our support.” ECM was not aware of the editorial at the time we spoke with Emerald’s spokesperson. The editorial coauthored by the Councilmembers gave these arguments in support of the resolution. “In our efforts to be proactive, we have developed some innovative solutions to help prevent fires from starting,” the piecel stated. “Monday, the San Diego City Council will consider one of these ideas when they vote on a resolution in support of San Diego Gas & Electric’s proposed Emergency Power Shut-Off Plan. Prevention is a critical component of any fire response strategy, and SDG&E’s plan deserves our support." The editorial stated that “though power lines rarely cause wildfires, they have been responsible for three of Southern California’s four largest wildfires.” The editorial failed to mention that SDG&E has admitted in documents filed with the CPUC that its lines have been implicated in 167 fires over the past five and a half years. The piece noted that the largest powerline-caused fires burned nearly half a million acres and destroyed more than 2,100 structures. "If power had not been running through the lines," Emerald and Hueso observed, "those particular fires would not have started as they did.” The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has postponed its ruling on the power shut-off plan until after September 10th. But SDG&E announced this week that it will not wait for CPUC approval before cutting off power if key conditions are met after the official start of fire season September 1st. Donna Tisdale, chair of the Boulevard Planning Group, criticized SDG&E’s action. “It is all about shifting liability. SDG&E reps have confirmed to me several times that when the power is shut off to our at-risks communities, “ “they will continue to run power through our dark communities to the urban communities on the existing Southwest Powerlink and the proposed Sunrise Powerlink—if it ever gets built," she said in an e-mailed response to our request for comment. "That fact alone generates significant resentment for those of who will bear the negative impacts from increased energy infrastructure. SDG&E claims all these new projects will increase reliability.” But she added, “Apparently that does not apply to vulnerable rural communities who are being treated as third class citizens. Ironically, we will continue to pay for first class services that we won’t receive.” At a recent meeting in Live Oak Springs, SDG&E displayed a map of expected shut-offs based on weather conditions, said Tisdale, who added that the Boulevard area would be the most severely impacted. “This whole process stinks to high heaven,” she concluded. The shut-off proposal will be on the Boulevard Planning Group’s agenda at its meeting on Thursday, August 6. SDG&E did not return calls by press deadline today. However the Union-Tribune quotes SDG&E spokesperson Stephanie Donovan as stating, “The commission hasn’t said we can’t do it…If we were to hit those extreme weather conditions sometime before the commission has a chance to rule, we would see that as an extreme threat to public safety.” SDG&E would ultimately abide by the commission’s decision, Donovan reportedly added. The utility has said it could cut power for up to three days to as many as 60,000 customers (150,000 people) when five conditions are met: a red-flag warning from the National Weather Service, moisture at or below 10 percent in twigs and 75 percent in living plants, relative humidity at or below 20 percent, and sustained winds above 29 mph or gusts above 47 mph with sustained winds over 29 mph. Some opponents of the shut-off plan, including County school officials and area water districts, are considering legal action to halt the shut-off plan. So are County Supervisors, who voted to oppose the shut-off after hearing testimony from emergency service providers, education leaders, and water districts opposed to the shut-off. Now Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who represents East County, is calling for a state investigation into whether SDG&E committed ethical breaches in promoting its shut-off plan. SDG&E recently agreed to pay $1.1 million to settle an ethics claim that the utility misrepresented testimony to regulators while lobbying for Sunrise Powerlink. In mid-July, several elected officials including El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis and La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid, admitted that SDG&E wrote letters which the officials signed asking the Board of Supervisors to support the power shut-off proposal. Madrid has stated that he made minor changes to the letter and that he no “lackey” for the utility company. Both mayors have taken contributions from SDG&E but denied that the funds influenced their support of the shut-off plan, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. In addition, speakers at a community meeting who testified in favor of the shut-off plan reportedly failed to disclose relationships with SDG&E. Editor’s Note: East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery has testified before the CPUC and Supervisors that the SDG&E shut-off plan would prevent readers in the black-out areas from receiving ECM’s wildfire and emergency alerts via e-mail, potentially putting lives at risk. Printer-friendly version
STATE BUDGET BATTLE CONTINUES; COMMUNITIES MAY PAY A HEFTY PRICE
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery July 22, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger posted a knife-wielding video to exemplify his willingness to sign a budget with deep cuts to services for Californians. The latest budget, negotiated by legislative leaders in both parties, proposes to close the $24 billion budget gap in part by forcing cities and counties to loan the state money for three years, with interest. “It would raid municipal funds for $1.9 billion, mostly county money,” the L.A. Times reports. Cities and counties would lose another billion dollars in transportation money and redevelopment agencies would be ordered to pony up an additional $1.7 billion. Los Angeles County has threatened to sue the state and warns that the budget cuts will trigger longer responses for firefighters and rolling brownouts that will take fire engines out of service at stations across the city. An e-mail sent to Supervisor Dianne Jacob requesting comment on how the state’s proposed raid on County funds could impact San Diego was not responded to by press deadline. The proposed budget would also slash $6 billion from K-12 education and $2.8 billion from state colleges and universities. Students will also pay the price; the California State University system this week voted to hike fees 20% in anticipation of the budget cuts. A health care program for children which Republican leaders wanted to eliminate has been spared, but will face deep funding cuts that will put thousands of youngsters on waiting lists to receive healthcare, according to the Sacramento Bee, which reported this week, “Tens of thousands of seniors and children would lose access to healthcare.” Assemblyman Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove), in a letter to constituents, said he has opposed those tax increases that would worsen the financial burden on families already struggling to make ends meet, but wants to close tax loopholes which are currently “protecting billion-dollar corporations from contributing their fair share of revenues to our state.” Block said it makes no sense to cut in-home health services that result in sending people to emergency rooms or nursing homes, costing the state more in the long run. “Nor does it make sense to cut education and job training programs, driving some individuals to state unemployment lines, homeless shelters, or in the worst case, prisons where cost to the state are already out of control.” Republicans have steadfastly approved any tax or fee increases, even for big oil and tobacco companies, calling instead for more belt-tightening and a reduction in waste, fraud, and size of government. The proposed budget includes consolidation and elimination of various state boards and commissions. The budget also calls for offshore oil drilling along Santa Barbara’s coast—though a proposal to add a well-head tax on oil companies drilling in California was rejected. Chevron has threatened to leave California if such a tax is imposed, costing jobs, Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) told East County Magazine. Anderson said he opposes the well-head tax because “California has the highest overall taxes in the nation for businesses.” Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi harshly criticized the move. “The Governor just put California’s coastline up for sale when he had other options that don’t put our natural resources at risk,” Garamendi said. “He refused to approve a plan to tax oil companies that now extra oil in California to fund health care services, children’s programs and education. California is the only oil producing state without an oil severance tax, and it would generate $1.2 billion dollars annually.” California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton blasted the proposal as a “sweetheart deal for one oil company” that was “negotiated behind closed doors without any legislative hearings to allow public comment.” In a letter to Democrats, Burton said the move strips the State Lands Commission of its power to reject oil leases and gives it to a commission appointed by Schwarzenegger. The drilling won’t solve the budget crisis, Burton said, “because its promises of future revenue are not actually written into law.” The bill does include a vehicle tax fee increase to prevent closure of some state parks, though as many as 50 could still be shut down, East County Magazine has learned. A proposal to release 8,000 inmates from state prison as a cost-cutting measure has been postponed after it threatened to blow apart budget negotiations this week. A 2/3 majority is required to pass a budget. Republicans have opposed any tax or fee increases, calling for more belt-tightening and reforms instead. Late Monday, Senator Republican leader Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta) whose district includes East County issued this statement on a tentative budget agreement: “We were able to resolve California’s $26.3 billion budget deficit without raising taxes. It solves our cash flow issues and saves money by reforming key government programs so they operate more efficiently. By being accountable for every taxpayer dollar we can save billions in future years.” Assembly Speaker Karen Bass calls the budget compromises “painful solutions” adding that “many of the cuts we have to make would be unthinkable if we weren’t in the midst of an unprecedented and ongoing recession.” Bass said the budget prevents irreparable harm to schools and proposed elimination of California’s safety net, but noted that the two-thirds vote requirement “hamstrings our ability to pass responsible revenue solutions.” Common Cause, a nonpartisan organization, will host a meeting with a panel of experts on August 1st in San Diego to discuss whether a Constitutional Convention for California should be convened to find a better way for state government to operate—including eliminating the 2/3 vote requirement for budgets, a requirement only two other states currently have. The meeting will be held on August 1st from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Mission Valley Library community room, 2123 Fenton Parkway in San Diego. For details and to RSVP, visit http://www.commoncause.org/CA/SanDiegoMeeting. The budget is expected to be voted upon this week, perhaps as early as today. If you wish to express your
FIELDS OF DREAMS: MAJOR ATHLETIC FIELD IMPROVEMENTS UNDERWAY IN GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Printer-friendly version Projects Funded by Props H and U School Bonds July 24, 2009 (El Cajon) – Grossmont Union High School District announced this week that construction is underway to enhance athletic fields and facilities at several campuses. The projects are funded by the Proposition H and Proposition U bonds passed by East County voters in 2004 and 2008. The work, which is being performed during the schools’ summer recess, provides parity for the sports facilities at the various campuses, and improves access as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Projects include: • Steele Canyon High School (Spring Valley) – new synthetic rubber track; ADA upgrades, including sidewalks, handrails and striping; minor restroom updates; and drainage upgrades at track • Mount Miguel High School (Spring Valley) – new synthetic rubber track, two 440-square-foot restroom facilities and ADA and path of travel requirements • Santana High School (Santee) – new synthetic rubber track; new ticket booths; ADA upgrades, including making the concession stand accessible; drainage upgrades; and electrical work • West Hills High School (Santee) – new synthetic rubber track, restroom building • Chaparral High School (El Cajon) – new athletic field • El Cajon Valley High School (El Cajon) – new synthetic surface field and track; new fencing, gates and landscaping; and significant upgrades to make the whole field/track area ADA compliant • Monte Vista High School (Spring Valley) – new synthetic track to compliment synthetic field previously installed • Granite Hills High School (El Cajon) – new synthetic rubber track; ADA upgrades, including sidewalks, handrails and striping; restroom upgrades Proposition H was approved by 62 percent of voters in March 2004 to fund repairs of aging schools in the district as well as the construction of a new school. It was the first bond passed by voters in the East County in 37 years. The $274 million program includes student safety improvements, upgrades and expansion of technology and other infrastructures, renovations of outdated classrooms and the construction of new science classrooms. Proposition U is a $417 million General Obligation Bond Measure passed by voters in November 2008. The program substantially completes the modernization of all district schools, providing classrooms and equipment for Career Technical Education, multi-purpose facilities to support the superintendent’s vision for the arts in education, and the construction of a new high school in the Alpine/Blossom Valley area. More information about the construction programs is available on the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee Web site at http://cboc.guhsd.net. The Proposition H information can be found at http://proph.build-guhsd.com. Proposition U information is available at http://portal.guhsd.net/GUHSD/propu. Printer-friendly version
HUNTER AMENDS HEALTHCARE BILL TO BENEFIT SMALL BUSINESS
Printer-friendly versionJuly 23, 2009 (Washington DC) – On July 17, the House Education and Labor Committee voted unanimously to accept an amendment offered by Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) aimed at protectingt small businesses from employer mandates included in comprehensive health care reform legislation currently under consideration in the House. Hunter has stated that he opposes a public option for healthcare proposed by the Democratic majority in Congress. That measure would require most businesses to provide employees with health care coverage or risk incurring a penalty tax equal to eight percent of annual payroll expenses. The Hunter amendment allows businesses to apply for an exemption from this mandate if the Department of Labor determines that compliance would result in job losses that negatively impact that company or the community it serves. Hunter told the committee that the National Federation of Independent Businesses estimates that as many as 1.6 million jobs – more than 1 million of them small businesses — will be lost. “There is also the unfortunate reality that some businesses might instead choose to reduce wages, limit inventory or, even worse, close their doors altogether.” In 2008, about half of small businesses nationwide with three to nine workers offered health coverage according to another study. “Faced with mandates and penalties, businesses are going to have to make tough decisions at one of the worst possible times,” Hunter concluded. “ Right now, these businesses don’t know how they will have to respond – and that’s a serious problem. But one thing is certain: job loss must be avoided if we hope to maintain the profitability of America’s small business community. Today’s recession has severely challenged small businesses. Imposing mandates and penalties without opportunity for relief will only make matters worse.” The New York Times reported this week that businesses with one to nineteen employees lost 757,000 jobs from the second quarter of 2007 through 2008, Hunter noted. That amounts to 53 percent of all private sector losses for a group of companies with about 20 percent of all employees. "Do we really want to make things more difficult for these businesses and those who rely on the jobs they provide?” he asked. “I hope we all agree that the answer is no…This amendment recognizes the difficult challenges that employers are currently facing – or, may face in the future – and provides a reasonable opportunity to apply for a temporary exemption. In other words, it provides employers with an economic `safety valve.’" Printer-friendly version
GUHSD BOARD VOTES 5-0 TO HALT CHARTER REVOCATION FOR HELIX HIGH
Printer-friendly versionJuly 23, 2009 (El Cajon)– The Grossmont Union High School District Board voted unanimously (5-0) to halt the charter revocation process for Helix Charter High School. "We agreed that the actions taken by the Helix board satisfied the cure and correct letters and there was no need for a hearing," GUHSD trustee Richard Hoy told East County Magazine this evening. "Both Helix and our board are confident that the issues have been addressed and while we have learned from the past we are looking forward." At the last GUHSD board meeting, parents, teachers and students, and alumni (photo) turned out in support of Helix. Helix initially balked at meeting some requirements set by the district, including revising the composition of the school’s charter board, but ultimately agreed to meet the district’s conditions. For details on actions taken by Helix to satisfy the GUHSD board’s concerns over handling of sexual misconduct cases, please see our prior article at http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/?q=node/1667. Printer-friendly version
TASTE OF LA MESA PROVES A SAVORY SUCCESS
Printer-friendly version By the East County Eater July 23, 2009 (La Mesa) – “When we started out a year ago, they said this couldn’t be done,” La Mesa Chamber of Commerce President Mary England told a hungry crowd at the La Mesa Community Center. The Chamber’s first annual “Taste of La Mesa” event drew more than 350 visitors, 25 restaurants and over two dozen additional vendors. England praised Gabe Giordano, owner of Gio Bistro Wine Bar, title sponsor of the event. While seated next to him on a flight to Sacramento, England shared her dream of hosting an event for the public to sample fare from East County eateries. “He handed me a thousand dollars cash and said `Let’s make this happen,’” she recalled. Gio’s served up its signature sangria, along with succulent lamb chops and chicken skewers. Elsewhere around the room, restaurants from La Mesa and neighboring communities offered up a wide range of dishes. Guests savored seafood lasagna, stuffed mushrooms and artichoke-spinach pizza at Nonno’s Pizza. “We have our liquor license now and we’ve just added imported wines, “ the owner disclosed. Feasting proved an international affair, with hearty Irish offerings from Hooley’s Irish Pub & Grill, Italian from Tiramisu Trattoria, and Olive Garden, Chinese and Thai dishes from Chopsticks (including a tasty tofu dish), South-of-the-border specialties from La Casa Blanca, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill, plus American fare from Lunch Box Café & Deli and Lemon Grove’s Antique Row Café. Barbecue aficionados found plenty to please their palettes at Black Jack International BBQ, Gib’s Ribs, and West Coast BBQ and Catering. Other participating restaurants and food vendors included Brigantine Restaurant, Sheraton Hotel Mission Valley, Continental Catering, Edible Arrangements, Tarantino Gourmet Sausages, Bella’s Finest, and Cali Comfort Restaurant and Sports Bar. As finishing touches to this delicious evening, those with a sweet tooth lined up for pie at Marie Callendar’s, luscious cakes from Costco and a bacon-topped chocolate cake from Riviera Supper Club. One suggestion for next year – a pitcher of ice water at each table and some glasses would be nice additions. I’d gladly pay more for a ticket on a warm summer’s eve not to have to stand in line for a cold drink after sampling spicy salsa! Music, wine tasting, and a drawing for some wonderful prizes rounded out the evening, all for just $20 ($25 at the door). There were so many great food vendors, I couldn’t try them all–so I’m looking forward to an encore tasting event next year! Printer-friendly version
TREE TRIMMER SAVED FROM SUFFOCATION AFTER TRAPPED 40 FEET UP
Printer-friendly version July 23, 2000 (Bonita)–It is a too common occurrence, but this time it did not end in death. Just before 10 AM members of the Bonita-Sunnyside Fire District responded to the report of a man trapped in a palm tree, in the 5600 block of Sweetwater Road. While the victim could not be seen from the ground Firefighters could hear the man calling for help. Rescue teams quickly raised their truck ladder 40 feet into the air and began cutting away at the palm fronds that had fallen on the 40-year old tree trimmer. Firefighters had to proceed cautiously because any major shift in the palm fronds could cause additional injury. In many cases, trimmers cut the palm fronds above their head but don’t knock them down immediately. After a buildup, the ring of the fronds can slip down over the trimmer and the safety line. The weight of the fronds can be so heavy the victim cannot breath and can asphyxiate. The weight on the safety lines can prevent possible victims from freeing themselves or even moving. In total, 14 firefighters responded to the “high rise” rescue and the victim was carefully freed in about an hour. The victim was transported to Grossmont hospital for evaluation but no major injuries were reported. Fire officials remind residents that the trimming of a large buildup of dead palm fronds can be extremely dangerous, work best left to professionals. However even professionals need to be reminded to drop the cuttings as they go, so there will be no life threatening buildup Printer-friendly version