TRIO OF FIRES IN LAKESIDE CAUSE ONE DEATH; SHERIFF’S INVESTIGATING “SUSPICIOUS” BLAZE
Printer-friendly version November 6, 2009 (Lakeside) – Three fires last night in Lakeside are under investigation by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, East County Magazine has learned. A traffic accident in the 9500 block of Blossom Valley Road last night sparked a fire which spread into trees. Alpine Fire District and Cal Fire responded to the blaze and determined that the occupant of the vehicle had died, according to Captain Mark Grow of Heartland Fire. In a separate incident earlier at 10:26 p.m., a vehicle struck a home in the 8600 block of Via del Luz, rupturing a gas line and starting a fire. Lakeside and El Cajon Fire Departments were able to contain the fire and stop it from spreading to the structure. The Red Cross was notified to help the residents. The Union-Tribune reports today that the driver struck his own home. The possibility that these two incidents might be related is being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office, Grow wrote at Heartland’s online blog. A third fire erupted at 10:42 behind businesses in the 9500 block of Winter Gardens Blvd. A company from Lakeside extinguished the suspicious fire that is currently being investigated. A Bonita unit was moved to Lakeside’s station #3 to help cover the area following the blazes. Printer-friendly version
AMA AND AARP ENDORSE HEALTHCARE REFORM PROPOSAL NOW BEFORE CONGRESS, LOCAL LEADERS WEIGH IN
Printer-friendly version HUNTER AFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO PUBLIC OPTION; OTHERS OBJECT TO DROPPING AMENDMENT TO LET STATES PASS STRONGER HEALTHCARE REFORMS By Miriam Raftery November 5, 2009 – The Democratic-sponsored healthcare measure currently before Congress got a booster shot today with the endorsement of two major groups, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced support for concurrent passage of H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3961, U.S. House of Representatives health system reform bills. “The time to make health system reform a reality is now,” said J. James Rohack, AMA president. “These two bills were introduced together, and they need to be passed together. Both are essential to achieving meaningful health system reform this year.” H.R. 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act, “goes a long way toward expanding access to high-quality affordable health coverage for all Americans, and it would make the system better for patients and physicians,” Dr. Rohack said. “This is not the last step but the next step toward health system reform. We will remain actively engaged with patients, physicians, Congress and the administration to ensure that the final bill results in marked improvements to our health system.” AMA also called on Congress to pass the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 (H.R. 3961) to permanently repeal the “broken physician payment formula” and preserve access to care for seniors, baby boomers and military families. “Ensuring the security and stability of Medicare must serve as the foundation for any serious health system reform this year,” Dr. Rohack said. “In less than 60 days, Medicare physician payments are scheduled to be cut by 21 percent, with more cuts in years to come. According to a recent AARP poll, nearly 90 percent of people age 50 and older are concerned that the current Medicare physician payment formula threatens their access to care.” He added, “Congress created the Medicare physician payment system, and Congress needs to fix this problem once and for all to fulfill its obligation to seniors, baby boomers and military families” AARP Chief Executive A. Barry Rand said the organization supports the House bill over other proposals because the measure does more to lower drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries, strengthen Medicare and bar insurance companies from denying people coverage because of their health or age. The bill also would lower premiums for Americans ages 50 to 64 who have to buy insurance in the private market and would create a voluntary long-term care insurance program. “Under the House plan… insurance companies will not be able to reject you or charge you an outrageous premium because you got sick once, you may get sick again, you lost your job, you’re over 50 years old or because your employer dropped your coverage,” Rand said at the briefing. “Millions of Americans will start to regain control over their lives.” Bonnie Cramer, chair of AARP’s volunteer advisory board, said one key factor in the organization’s decision to support the House bill was that it won’t add to the national deficit. “Our members are worried about financial security for their children and grandchildren,” she said. The AARP accused the health insurance industry of spending millions in recent months to influence older Americans, “sometimes generating misinformation about how health care reform would affect Medicare.” Obama told reporters at the White House today that he welcomed AARP’s endorsement of the health care reform. He urged Congress to “ listen to AARP “and other supporters and “ and pass this reform for hundreds of millions of Americans.” AARP’s press release noted that many Republican lawmakers—along with Blue Cross Blue Shield and other health insurance companies–0ppose the House bill, in large part because it includes a public option, a government-run insurance plan that could compete with private insurers. The House legislation would provide health insurance to almost all Americans with a price tag of about $894 billion over 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. And the CBO estimates the bill would reduce the federal deficit by $104 billion over 10 years. The measure would be paid for by a tax on the wealthy—individuals making $500,000 a year and couples with joint tax returns of $1 million, as well as by changes to Medicare and Medicaid worth billions in savings over 10 years, according to the CBO. “AARP has been fighting for more affordable health care, better health care, for decades,” says John Rother, the group’s executive vice president of policy and strategy. Now, he says, “we have a real chance to achieve that.” Rother says the bill will not only lower costs for most Americans but also “strengthen Medicare benefits and improve the financial status of the Medicare trust fund.” For Medicare enrollees, Rother says, the House bill would “completely close the Medicare doughnut hole,” make some preventive services free and improve access to doctors by increasing pay for primary care physicians. For people under 65, the bill would guarantee affordable health insurance choices, prohibit insurance exclusions based on preexisting conditions, limit insurance costs for older Americans and put a cap on out-of-pocket health insurance expenses, “so that you would know that you weren’t going to be bankrupted by health care costs,” Rother says. (For a full list of ways the measure would benefit older Americans, see http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/policy/articles/health_care_reform7.3.html_/). Joseph Stubbs, M.D., president of the American College of Physicians, says his group supports the bill because it expands affordable health care coverage for all Americans. He predicts medication costs will go down and adds that the proposed legislation will not affect patient choice, AARP reports. An analysis of the House bill from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a private research group in Washington, found the legislation would “both strengthen Medicare’s financial footing” and benefit uninsured adults ages 55 to 64. Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine), meanwhile, has issued a statement reinforcing his continuing opposition to
THREE ARRESTED IN HEALTHCARE PROTEST AT SAN DIEGO BLUE CROSS
Printer-friendly version November 5, 2009 (San Diego) – Mary Bell, 25, cannot get health insurance anymore since overcoming a kidney infection two years ago. On Monday, Bell and two others (photo, left) were arrested following a three-day vigil at Blue Cross in San Diego. Blue Cross executives declined to meet with the protesters, who sought to ask the insurance giant to stop spending money on lobbying and political ads – and fund care of patients like Bell instead. “I have had wonderful healthcare for the past 18 years,” said Jerry Malamud, who was also arrested, along with Bell and Carl Manaster. “I have Medicare. They replaced my two hips and also two cataracts,” he added, noting that he is pleased with the results. “It was all done very reasonably and I believe that this healthcare should be available to everyone in America.” About 70 to 150 people participated in the San Diego protest, one of many planned around the nation to bring public pressure on insurance companies. Nationally, more than 120 people have been arrested for civil disobedience in protests against healthcare insurers. Bell, Manaster and Malamud received misdemeanor citations and were subsequently released. The San Diego protest was part of the “Mobilization for Health for All” campaign. Founded in September, the organization was created by Center for the Working Poor, Healthcare – NOW! and Prosperity Agenda, supported by the Single Payer Action Coalition and members of Progressive Democrats of America. Locally, the group staged a 45-hour vigil – one hour for each of the 1,000 people in America who die each year due to lack of healthcare. The actions come at a time when healthcare reform is the hot issue on Capitol Hill. In Washington, Congress is expected to vote on the Democratic-sponsored healthcare reform measure this weekend. Printer-friendly version
TIPSY CRANBERRIES
Printer-friendly version Do something special with your cranberry dish this holiday season Recipe courtesy of Orfila Vineyards 1. Heat oil in a sauce-pan over medium heat 2. Add cranberries and fresh ginger and stir for a few minutes, or until cranberries start bursting 3. Add Orfila Estate "Seasons" Syrah and sugar 4. Bring to a boil for 15 minutes (until mixture is reduced) 5. Add curry powder, five-spice poweder and salt and pepper to taste 6. Remove from heat 7. Serve warm or let cool in the refrigerator Items you’ll need: 2 bags of whole cranberries 2 cups of sugar 1 bottle of Orfila Estate "Seasons" Syrah (1 glass for you and the rest for the recipe!) 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil 1 pinch of five-spice 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger 1 tablespoon curry powder salt and pepper Printer-friendly version
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE WE GO: SAN DIEGO’S UNFINISHED REVOLUTION
Printer-friendly version Local Civil Rights Leaders to be Honored Sat. Nov. 7, Waymon Shares Memories, Dreams with ECM By John P. Falchi San Diego’s most prominent living civil rights leader, Carrol Waymon, PhD and others who championed civil rights in the 1960s locally will be honored on Saturday, November 7th at a 40th reunion program of the Citizens Interracial Committee (CIC) titled “What you should know before we go: San Diego’s unfinished revolution.” In an exclusive interview this week with ECM, Waymon shared triumphs of the past, along with his hopes for the future. November 5, 2009 (San Diego) — Carroll Waymon, PhD, whom ECM previously interviewed on Inauguration Day, came to San Diego in September 1964 to become Executive Director of the CIC. This was the City of San Diego’s first human relations agency. He, along with Hispanic, black and white leaders, accomplished a great deal to reduce the tremendous amount of discrimination that existed in all aspects of life during the five years in which the CIC was in existence from 1964 – 1969. Saturday’s program will celebrate their achievements as the elders pass the torch to the younger generation in hopes of attaining goals yet to be fulfilled. The event will take place from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday at Neighborhood House, 5660 Copley Dr., San Diego, CA 92111. Former Sheriff Bill Kolender, an early advocate of the CIC and an original CIC Board member, will kick off the event at 2 p.m. There will be a dinner and youth spotlight at 5:30 p.m.. The cost for the event will be $35. in advance, $40. at the door, with scholarships available. Contact 619-298-3162 or www.issesite.com/event.html for information and reservations. Waymon, whose efforts leading the fight for equality have continued long after the CIC dissolved, will be honored for his leadership. Participants in panel and round table discussions include Bob Matthew, one of the first black principals in the San Diego City Schools, Clara Harris, a leader in advancing open housing and human relations, Gracia Molina de Pick, and Frank Saiz, noted community activists, along with many others who were instrumental in the success of the CIC. Students from local high schools will participate as respondents to the panel. Asked by ECM how successful the CIC was in improving San Diego’s race relations in a variety of areas, Waymon cited these achievements: Housing: “We opened up all of the cities in the County, so that all of us could live there without the KKK burning a cross onto our lawns. We nullified or removed the restrictive covenants.” Employment: “We wrote the first Equal Employment Opportunity ordinances for city and county and opened up many more opportunities for employment.” Hotels: “We helped make it possible for Blacks to be able to stay in the major hotels in the county.” Shopping: “We made it possible for Blacks to be able to try on clothes in, and be hired by, department stores.” Restaurants: “We enabled blacks to be able to eat in the major restaurants.” Taxicabs: “We negotiated with Yellow Cab Company to hire more than just one colored person.” Education: “The Cerlin case extended Brown vs. Board of Education to San Diego. Though filed in 1967 against the school board, it took until 1977 to get into court. Education remained under court control for 20 years.” Media: “We got the Union Tribune to start running stories about the black social set in 1966.” Police: “There had been a running battle between blacks and police. In all areas of hiring there were few blacks. CIC studied other U.S. cities which led to the “City Community Dialogues,” and the hiring of two\ negro sergeants.” In a discussion about methods the CIC used to help effect change, Waymon offered the following: ECM: What were the City-Community Dialogues? C.W.: This was a major effort to get people of all races, colors, and creeds together with City and County governmental officials every other Friday from 9:00 a. m. to 12 Noon, and it went on for 27 months. It turned into a major vehicle for change. The purpose was to bring a new sense of urgency to the problem of race relations in the San Diego area. ECM: What were the CIC Forums entitled Design for Understanding? C.W: They were a series of 17 forums of seven weeks each. We met in churches, garages, meeting halls, in a series of discussions. Through them we began to let people know our plight. The consensus was that they did a lot of good. ECM: Is the task of improving relations between the races very different today than it was 40 years ago? CW: San Diego is a different city today. Let’s look at some of the changes: Media– A serious race problem is in the invisibility of people of color in the media. Why not have black anchor people? Channel 10 was the worst station at one time, and now they have become the best. I’d give them a B. The worst of the media has been KPBS. Public tv and radio, to this day, are discriminatory, with only one black reporter overall. Ken Burns’ documentary, “On Your Honor,” failed to give Hispanics adequate credit for their efforts in WW II. That is terrible. The UT Newspaper has been changing in regards to race relations. It hired a black reporter and later put a black on the editorial page, helping the image of the community to begin to change. Education-The school district has gone from desegregated to segregated again. However, from where they started from until now, they are doing much better. Housing-Restrictive covenants no longer apply; technically we can live anywhere. City/County Government-They are still not very open and accepting of browns and blacks Administration of Schools-They have not made enough attitudinal change. S.D. Police Dept.-They went through some serious problems. They have changed their attitudes somewhat. Employment-This is an area that has seen considerable improvement. City Council-The first black, Leon Williams, was appointed to
PADRES, CHARGERS PITCH IN TO HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR ALPINE POP WARNER PLAYER BATTLING CANCER AT NOV, 9 BENEFIT
Printer-friendly version November 5, 2009 (Alpine)-Meet 13-year-old Vincent "Vinnie" Higgins of Alpine, who just discovered he is facing a life changing illness. Vinnie has bone cancer, and he and his family can use some help. The Joan MacQueen Middle School eighth-grader has been an Alpine American Little League player. This year he was playing for the Alpine Pop Warner Mountaineers. Several weeks ago Vinnie was hurt during football. He was sent to Children’s Hospital in San Diego, where the cancer was discovered in his femur. Fortunately, there was no trace of the disease in his lungs at that time.Now Vinnie faces a 20-week schedule of chemotherapy treatment. It’s also possible at least part of his thigh bone will be removed. Vinnie’s family has insurance, but not nearly enough. PLAY (Park Land for Alpine Youth) is overseeing a large fund raising effort for the family. All donations and goods are tax deductible, because PLAY is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 corporation. The first major fund raiser is an auction and dinner from 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 9. It will be at the Alpine Community Center, which is donating the space and the dinner. PLAY is accepting donations of money as well as auction gifts for the event. Auction items so far include great two-night stays at San Diego waterfront resorts, dinners at upscale area restaurants, a Southwest Airlines ticket to any place they fly, golf packages, NASCAR rides and a trip for two by private plane for breakfast at Casa Del Zorro. Special guests from the Padres and Chargers will make appearances at the fund raiser. Alpine residents Mark Bailey, Channel 6 television news anchor, and Mark Grant, Channel 4 Padres broadcaster and former Padres pitcher, also will be there. Later in December there will be an adults’ only fund raiser at the Viejas DreamCatcher Lounge. The date and details for this gala evening will be released soon. To donate funds or auction items, please contact any officer of PLAY or Chuck Taylor at 619-251-6998, or on the website at www.playalpine.org Printer-friendly version