LA MESA OKTOBERFEST GEARING UP FOR BIGGEST CELEBRATION YET
Printer-friendly versionSeptember 30,2009 (La Mesa) – Friday, Saturday and Sunday, more than 200,000 people are expected to flock to downtown La Mesa for one of East County’s biggest annual celebrations: La Mesa 36th Annual Oktoberfest. This year, watch for some new attractions—and the return of an old favorite. By popular demand, the big beer garden is back—along with traditional German foods and music including a Bavarian band the Gemutlichkeit Dancers. But there are also some changes—including Sunday afternoon rock and roll music by the Heroes, one of San Diego’s most popular rock groups, plus new food options ranging from shaved ice to hamburgers. “We’re gearing up to serve our community and welcome people from all over to La Mesa,” said Mary England, La Mesa Chamber of Commerce President. “We’re very excited about this year’s event. This is the first time that the La Mesa Chamber has had vendors at Oktoberfest.” La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the La Mesa Village Merchants Association are hosting this year’s event for the second year. The event, which is the largest Oktoberfest west of the Mississippi, covers six square blocks filled with over 300 craft and commercial booths, five food courts, three beer gardens and a children’s carnival. Festivities from from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Printer-friendly version
WILL YOU BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE NEXT WILDFIRE STRIKES? SIGN UP FOR E-MAIL & CELL PHONE NOTIFICATIONS
Printer-friendly version EDITOR’S UPDATE: ECM no longer recommends AlertSanDiego. While the service does provide timely notification of emergencies targeted by zip codes, we have received complaints of SPAM, political mail and excessing mailings sent to subscribers of that service. Instead, we recommend only the Viejas Wildfire & Emergency Alerts service powered by East County Magazine. We average a couple of alerts per week and we NEVER send you anything other than emergency alerts via our service. You may also sign up for a weekly e-newsletter about East County news and events, if you choose. We do not share our list with anyone, not even our sponsors–and we always value your privacy. October is fire season, the month when both the devastating 2003 Cedar Fire and the 2007 wildfires struck our region. Advance notification is crucial to saving lives during a wildfire. We recommend that everyone in San Diego County sign up for two different emergency notification services: the Viejas Wildfire Alerts powered by East County Magazine http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/?q=node/89 and AlertSanDiego. http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/ready/signup.html. Why two services? Because they reach people in different ways and at different times. During a fire, you don’t know what may burn – so it’s safest to receive notifications by e-mail AND phone. It’s also wise to sign up for both early notification of a regional threat, and for narrower notices that reach those within an evacuation zone. At AlertSanDiego, you can now register your cell phone to receive emergency notices that are narrowly targeted if your residence or business is in an evacuation area. (The County’s system already has your land line for emergency notifications via reverse 911). Viejas Wildfire Alerts reach you by e-mail even if your phone lines or cell phone towers burn down. Some people also forward our alerts to their Blackberries or other portable devices. We are working to add new features including Twitter soon. Our alerts include links to more info, such as locations of evacuation shelters. Most importantly, Viejas Wildfire Alerts is that you will learn about major fires in most cases BEFORE your neighborhood faces evacuation, giving you more time to prepare. During the 2007 fires, many people did not receive reverse 911 calls while neighbors a block away did. We’ve found that many readers have businesses, family or friends outside their immediate neighborhood and appreciate the early warning about major fires and other emergencies. For instance, one reader called her sister in Rancho Bernardo after receiving our alert. The sister, whose babies were asleep upstairs, had no idea that a fire had just started on her street. We’ve also received thank yous from people who were driving outside of their residence area, spotted smoke and received our alerts on their Blackberry. If you’re only signed up for notification in your neighborhood, you could miss vital information about a fire where you work or to an area where you’re traveling within San Diego County. We also notify readers about other emergencies, such as last week’s tsunami warning, earthquakes, law enforcement bulletins such as SWAT team actions, freeway shut-downs, and urgent weather bulletins such as red flag warnings and flash flood alerts. During an emergency, you can also check www.eastcountymagazine.org for updates on breaking news—not only in East County, but countywide when a disaster strikes. Readers can post comments and updates, too, alerting others to potential hazards such as downed power lines or fallen trees blocking local roads. Stay safe! Sign up for these potentially life-saving services today—and tell your friends. Printer-friendly version
POVERTY RATE AT 50-YEAR HIGH IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY; EL CAJON HAS WORST POVERTY RATE IN COUNTY
Printer-friendly version New Census data show 850,000 county residents living in economic hardship September 29, 2009 (San Diego)–Poverty in San Diego County shot up in 2008, rising at a much faster pace than in California or the nation. This plunge in quality of life for many San Diegans is documented in U.S. Census data released today. The data shows that 850,000 county residents–29% of the population–were living in economic hardship in 2008, according to analysis by the Center on Policy Initiatives. That measure, using a threshold double the federal poverty level, is a more realistic gauge in cities like San Diego where living costs such as housing and fuel are higher than the national average, CPI reports. "The starkest case is that of El Caj on, which has 21% living below the poverty rate (compared to 12.6% countywide)," said CPI director of research Murtaza Baxamusa. "One in five is pretty dire. El Cajon, in terms of poverty, is the worst city in the County…The City of El Cajon really needs to examine their public policies and their investment in people." Even worse, nearly half (46%) of all people in El Cajon are living in economic hardshp, using the threshhold of double the poverty level. "The problem is not only the increase in unemployment, but a growth in working poverty as more people have had their hours cut to part-time," said Baxamusa. "Nearly a third of our county population is now struggling to make ends meet under severe economic distress." The County’s official poverty rate rose in 2008 from 11.1% to 12.6%, the highest level on record in the past 50 years. That means 46,000 more people fell below the federal poverty level, subsisting on less than $10,991 for an individual or $21,834 for a family of two adults with two children. But the poverty threshold is the same throughout the nation for various family sizes, so the Census Bureau also reports how many people live below 200% of the federal level, still a very low income in San Diego. In 2008, 62,000 more County residents slipped beneath that level. The biggest significant increase in poverty was among white men of working age. Imperial County had the state’s highest poverty rate — percentage of people living below the federal poverty level — in 2008: 22.9%. "The stark increase in poverty in our region underlines the need for public policies that create not just any jobs, but good jobs with pathways to stable careers," Baxamusa said. "As the economy recovers and people return to employment, they must have fair wage and benefit levels that eliminate working poverty." New figures for other East County cities and for the unincorporated areas of the County are not available, since the yearly figures are only released for cities with populations over 65,000. As we enter an economic recovery cycle, Baxamusa said investment in public infrastructure and job creation sh ould focus on those in economic hardship "to create career ladders that allow them to climb out of poverty, to retool and train them for instance to apprenticeship jobs in the construction industry, where there aer more job openings with investment in infrastructure." Public agencies should also assure that other factors, such as a shortage of affordable housing, should not create further problems for people struggling in economic hardship. Such steps could help people in our reigon emerge stronger than before, he said. "Things like homelessness are life-changing experiences," Baxamusa concluded. "Even if you find a job, even if you find a home, it is a permanent scar on the psyche of society." Printer-friendly version
EL CAJON’S RESCUE TASK FORCE TO SEND RELIEF TEAM TO HELP WITH TSUNAMI, DONATIONS SOUGHT
Printer-friendly version September 30, 2009 (El Cajon)–Rescue Task Force (RTF) of El Cajon is prepared to respond to the tsunami and earthquake as part of its ongoing relief efforts in Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, RTF and WER (World Emergency Relief) are wiring cash aid to a partner of many years, which has been devastated by the typhoon that claimed hundreds of lives and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Over 50 children and workers at the orphanage that WER supports had to be evacuated by rubber raft through polluted waters, RTF reports (photo). “Sending cash is the quickest way we can help right now,” related Gary Becks, CEO. “Our project partner has an immediate need for food, drinking water and medicine (for cholera, cough, colds, first aid, and also vitamins). They also need clothes and footwear, blankets and towels.” Flood waters are above 7 feet high, and the center has at least four feet of standing water. The demand for temporary housing limits where the children and workers can stay. It may be months before they can return to their center. "RTF and WER are committed to helping "our" orphans," RTF chief executive officer Gary Becks wrote in an e-mail to supporters and media outlets. "Many fled abusive homes and now receive love and care in a safe environment. Their hope is made possible only because of caring people like you. The needs in the Philippines are overwhelming." Over 400,000 are seeking some kind of assistance at aid shelters. Another typhoon is expected to hit within 24 hours, Beck warned. We need your help to continue giving these children a living chance," Beck said. "Each gift will buy critically needed food, water and medicine for the kids in addition to clothes, footwear, blankets and towels….Your help is greatly appreciated!" For more information, call (760) 930-8001 Donations may be made online at www.rescuetaskforce.org, or send checks to: Rescue Task Force 864.N Second St #340 El Cajon, CA 92021 Printer-friendly version
PEDESTRIAN ROBBED & BEATEN IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly version September 30, 2009 (La Mesa)–At approximately 1:50 PM on September 28, 2009 a man called La Mesa P.D. from the Kaiser Hospital in San Diego to report that he had been robbed walking home from a local bar early Sunday morning. Assailants beat the man and reportedly left him unconscious. La Mesa Police contacted the male victim at the Kaiser Hospital on Zion Ave. A reward is offered for information leading to arrest and conviction of his attackers. The victim stated that at approximately 1:40 AM, Sunday morning September 27, 2009, he was walking W/B in the 8100 block of La Mesa Blvd. The victim said two males came from behind a nearby building and quickly approached him saying something to the effect of, "Run your phone homie." The suspects repeated this phrase several times as they approached the victim. The victim dropped his phone and the suspects told the victim to empty his pockets. The victim did so showing the suspects that he had nothing in them. The suspects then punched the victim 5-6 times in the head and face. The victim fell to the ground as a result of the blows, becoming momentarily unconscious. The victim awoke bleeding from his face. The suspects took the victims cell phone and walked off saying, “Don’t turn around” as they left. Initial reports are that the victim sustained a concussion, bloody nose, swollen face and a scratch to his left collar bone area. The victim stated he was not going to report the robbery until he read about a similar robbery in La Mesa and decided to get medical treatment. The suspects were described as follows: Suspect # 1: Black male adult, 18-22 years old, light complexion, 5-10, 165, thin build, black wavy hair pulled back into a “puffy bun” (NFD). Suspect # 2: Black male adult, 16-20 years old, 5-8, 140, thin build, black hair (NFD). This investigation is continuing. If you have any information on this case, please call the La Mesa Police Department at (619) 667-1400 (or specific detective and direct #). You may also call Crime Stoppers’ anonymous toll-free tip line (888) 580-TIPS (or www.sdcrimestoppers.com). You can remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case. Printer-friendly version
DEMOCRATIC CLUB RETURNS TO SPRING VALLEY-LEMON GROVE
Printer-friendly version Candidates for Attorney General and Insurance Commissioner Spoke at Festive Gathering September 30, 2009 (Lemon Grove) – Dozens of people packed into the Por Favor Restaurant in Lemon Grove Friday night to celebrate the community’s newly formed Spring Valley-Lemon Grove Democratic Club. The new club hosted an impressive array of guest speakers, including two candidates for statewide offices: Attorney General and Insurance Comissioner. The group’s next meeting is slated for Thursday, October 1st. . “Valley Grove is back,” Lemon Grove Councilman George Gastil proclaimed, referring to the area’s former Democratic Club, which disbanded several years ago. But victories by President Barack Obama and local Democratic candidates have revived a surge of interest in Democratic Clubs countywide, prompting Gastil to organize the new club. “This is a huge turnout for a new club,” Assemblyman Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove) said. Due to a regional Democratic convention in San Diego the next day, the event at Por Favor drew a number of candidates for state offices in addition to local office holders and candidates. Gastil introduced Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara), who is now running for California Attorney General. “He single-handedly put together the coalition that defeated offshore oil drilling,” Gastil said of Nava, who also served on the Coastal Commission for eight years. Nava delivered a speech urging party loyalists to elect Democrats to serve in Sacrament “so we can hold the line against people who don’t give a damn about people.” A former district attorney and civil litigator, he has handled both criminal and civil cases, including protecting consumers from rip-offs. He takes pride in his 100% ratings from CALPIRG (a consumer organization), Equality California, and organizations for environmental protections and reproductive rights. He is also a strong advocate for humane treatment of animals and currently has bills on the Governor’s desk to shut down puppy mills, increase penalties on dogfights, and prevent convicted animal abusers from owning pets. “It’s about justice for all people,” Nava said of his desire to serve as the state’s highest law enforcement officer. Son of an immigrant father who came to American with nothing but “the shirt on his back and his dreams,” Nava credits public education with giving him the opportunity to succeed. “I will fight to protect the rights of everyone.” Insurance Commissioner candidate Dave Jones, currently a Sacramento Assemblyman, said the job of the insurance commissioner is “to be in your corner and keep the insurance industry accountable.” He pledged to campaign for single payer healthcare and as Insurance Commissioner, to work to reform the healthcare market in California. “2.5 million Californians have to buy insurance on the open market and often, they don’t know what they’re getting,” he said, citing the case of a woman who bought a “comprehensive plan” that turned out to cover hospitalizations but not outpatient surgery. “She was left with a $60,000 bill and was bankrupted,” said Jones, who has introduced bills to cap out-of-pocket expenses at $5,000. He also called for direct regulation of insurance companies (similar to how utilities are regulated) to end “profiteering” by monopolies. “Only 65 cents of every healthcare dollar goes to healthcare,” he said. “We can hold companies more accountable.” He criticized current Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner for “cutting the legs out from under laywers” who have tried to go after three health insurers that were compensating employees for rescission of policies (canceling policies after people become sick). Nava also serves on the Joint Legislative Committee for Emergency Management and wrote the bill that created the Emergency Management Agency (CAL EMA). “One thing that is driving up the cost of firefighting is increased growth in high fire risk areas without providing proper fire protection,” said Nava, author of AB 666, which is currently on the Governor’s desk. His bill will require that counties have findings of adequate fire protection before approving new development in rural, high-fire risk areas. “I need letters of support,” he added. The next meeting of the Spring Valley-Lemon Grove Democratic Club is slated for October 1st at 7:30 p.m. in a private residence at 2457 Trace Road, Spring Valley. Election of officers, future meeting dates and other goals for the organization will be discussed. Printer-friendly version
RED FLAG WARNING THURSDAY: CAL-FIRE BOOSTS STAFFING & EQUIPMENT DUE TO FIRE DANGER
Printer-friendly version September 30, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service in San Diego has upgraded its fire weather watch to a red flag warning. The red flag warning will be in effect from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 1st throughout most of the County, includingi nland valleys and mountains. Weak to moderate Santa Ana winds are predicted, with gusts of 25-35 and up to 50 mph in wind-prone areas. Relative humidity is projected to drop below 10% Thursday at most locations in the County, including coastal plains. Increased humidity is expected Friday as winds shift to the southwest. A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create “explosive fire growth potential,” according to the National Weather Service. CAL FIRE advises residents to avoid use of open flames and use of weed-clearing equipment which can cause sparking. Due to the Red Flag conditions, CAL FIRE has proactively positioned extra equipment and staffing in the San Diego area, Battalion Chief Nick Schuler reports. This includes staffing for all CAL FIRE crews, dozers, frontline engines, reserve and camp engines, staffing for one CAL FIRE agency aviation military liaison, early call back of CSR Cal Fire initial attack fixed and rotor wing aircraft at all bases (including personnel as needed), 24-hour staffing available for the Emergency Operations Center, and additional prevention officers as needed for operations. Printer-friendly version