BOMB SQUAD AT ZION & MISSION GORGE ROAD
Printer-friendly version October 20, 2009 – San Diego Police have evacuated the Postal Annex at 6549 Mission Gorge Road after discovery of a suspicious device. “We have secured the Annex . Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST) is on site and evaluating,” Detective Gary Hassen told East County Magazine at 2:45 p.m. today. The Postal Annex opened a package and found “wiring connected to a PVC pipe with foam around it at 12:45 p.m.,” Hassen told East County Magazine. The Annex called 911 and Police were dispatched. All roads and adjacent stores remain open, he confirmed. Printer-friendly version
WHERE DOES YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE STAND ON HEALTHCARE REFORM?
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery October 18, 2009 – The House and Senate are grappling with several versions of major healthcare reform measures that could dramatically transform our nation’s healthcare system. Four of the five measures would include a public option, which give Americans a choice between private health insurance or opting for coverage under a government-run system similar to Medicare. Where do your Congressional and Senate representatives stand? All have now taken a firm position either for or against the public option. Here are statements directly from San Diego County’s five Congressional representatives and California’s two U.S. Senators. If you wish to contact your Congressman or Senator to voice your views, you can find their contact information in our Citizens Action Center. Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein both urged support for a public option in an October 9th letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Feinstein only recently voiced support for the public option, following a deluge of calls, letters, and e-mails urging her support. The letter, signed by 29 Democratic Senators, notes that, states that only a public option will produce “nationwide access and ongoing cost containment,” adding, “As it stands, the health insurance market is dominated by a handful of for-profit health insurers that are exempt from the anti-trust laws that ensure robust competition in other markets across the United States. Without a not-for-profit public insurance alternative that competes with these insurers based on premium rates and quality, insurers will have free rein to increase insurance premiums and drive up the cost of federal subsidies tied to those premiums. This is simply not fiscally sustainable.” The letter concludes, “The number one goal of health reform must be to look out for the best interests of the American people—patients and taxpayers alike—not the profit margins of insurance companies.” The Senators also voiced opposition to an alternative “co-op” insurance proposal offered in the Senate Finance Committee. “There are many areas of the country where the population is simply to small to sustain a local co-op plan,” the letter stated. “We are also concerned that the administrative costs associated with financing the start-up of multiple co-op plans would far outstrip the seed money required to establish a public health insurance program.” It’s obvious that insurance companies need competition, with their chief executives earning average salaries of $14 million a year and their profits increasing by 400 percent from 2000 to 2007, Senator Boxer observed. "We need competition, which is what a public option would bring us," Boxer said in an interview with the Bee. "And we need a safe haven for our citizens, so they know if all else fails and they can’t get a good deal on a (private) plan, they can get a basic plan that they know will never desert them." Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter, who represents most of East County, opposes the public option, though his website does not list his position on this issue. In a recent letter sent to a constituent, however, Hunter stated, “I do not feel a government run option is the solution, not only because of the cost, but also because this approach limits choice for consumers and the availability of quality care for those who need it most.” At a recent political forum sponsored by the East County Chamber of Commerce, Hunter said he believes there are ways to fix the system without getting rid of insurance companies and added that he wouldn’t trust government to handle healthcare when “they can’t get cash for clunkers working.” He opposes any public option or universal access but said he would support changes to make private health insurance more portable and transparent. “Reform the system, don’t crush it,” said Hunter, a military veteran who received healthcare through the Veterans Administration, a government-run healthcare system, before joining the Congress. Democratic Congressman Bob Filner, who represents the South Bay and southern portions of East County, posted a video on You Tube voice support of a robust public health option he dubs “Medicare for all.” Filner disputes Hunter’s contention, stating, “This will increase America’s choice for healthcare coverage. It will be open to everyone regardless of income, health status, race, employment, or gender. It will provide affordable, high quality and accessible healthcare for all Americans, and they will be able to choose what doctor to go to…We will have competition with private plans and lower insurance costs for everyone…We want a public plan that makes sure everybody—everybody—gets coverage for their health insurance.” Filner said having healthcare coverage for all would enable people to see primary care physicians and get preventative care to stay out of emergency rooms, reducing costs for healthcare to society. “In my district there are 150,000 uninsured individuals, 21% of my district,” said Filner, who added that 97% of those people will have coverage under plans currently under consideration by Congress. “If we do that, almost 130,000 more people will be covered in my district. For me, it’s a no-brainer,” said Filner. He added that he opposes recent proposals for a “trigger option” which would prevent a public option from being implemented unless certain trigger levels were met. “Any trigger, as far as I’m concerned, kills my support for the bill,” he affirmed. “We need to do this now. I am not going to vote for any healthcare reform plan that does not include a public option.” Republican Darrell Issa, who represents the northeast portion of San Diego County, notes on his website that the U.S. spends over $2.2 trillion on healthcare care each year – over 16% of the gross domestic product, yet 45 million people have no health coverage and cost is prohibitive for many. Issa believes priorities for healthcare reform should include protecting the doctor-patient relationship and people’s ability to choose their physicians and timely access to quality treatment. “Our health care system should never be taken over by the government,” adds Issa, who believes a government takeover of health care would lead to
ALL ABOARD! HAUNTED TRAIN TOUR & PUMPKIN EXPRESS
Printer-friendly version (Click arrows to hear the haunted train) October 19,2009 (Campo)— The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum at the historic Campo Depot invites families to board the Pumpkin Express and ride the rails to the great pumpkin patch. In addition to a scenic one-hour train ride, kids can tour the haunted train, pick out a pumpkin and decorate it on-site. These spirited train rides are offered on Oct.24-25 and on October 31st, with departures at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Costs for the train ride, haunted train tour, pumpkin and decorations are $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12 and $5 for children ages 5 and under. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged; tickets will be sold on the day of each event, but the museum cannot guarantee availability of pumpkins to walk-up guests. For more information, visit www.psrm.org and http://www.psrm.org/events/pumpkin/. Printer-friendly version
I-5 CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS DUE TO POTENTIAL SUICIDE
Printer-friendly versionOctober 20, 2009 – California Highway Patrol has issued a SigAlert and closed down all lanes of Interstate 5 in both directions at the Pershing Drive S-curve in Golden Hill. Commuters are advised to take alternative routes. Police are trying to talk down a woman spotted on a pedestrian bridge who is considering throwing herself off the freeway overpass. The freeway closed at 1:40 this morning. by 8:30, traffic no northbound I-5 was backed up all the way to highway 163, with two lanes open. CHP has now closed the remaining lanes. Channel 10 News has posted this link to find alternate routes: http://www.10news.com/traffic/index.html. Printer-friendly version