FLETCHER PARKWAY TO BE DESIGNATED “VETERANS MEMORIAL PARKWAY”
Printer-friendly versionFebruary 16, 2011 (La Mesa) — As part of the City of La Mesa’s ongoing effort to honor our Veterans, La Mesa residents who are World War II Veterans are invited to attend the La Mesa City Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22 at the City Council Chambers, 8130 Allison Avenue. The City Council will take a moment to honor WWII military personnel for their service during their regularly scheduled meeting. Last month the Council recognized the Pearl Harbor Survivors for their valor. Once a month between January and June, the City Council will pause to honor a different Veterans Group from each of the major military actions. The celebrations will culminate on June 3rd when La Mesa’s Fletcher Parkway will be designated as “Veterans Memorial Parkway” during a festive ceremony to be held at Parkway Middle School. According to Councilmember Dave Allan who is spearheading this recognition, “Fundraising is underway for this project which will add new signs to Fletcher Parkway at each end of the City. We have raised $9000 in the community so far showing that La Mesa appreciates its Veterans. I was surprised there is no such parkway honoring Veterans in San Diego County. La Mesa will be the first.” WWII Veterans are welcome at the meeting on February 22; please RSVP to the City at 619 667 1105. Donations for the Veterans Memorial Parkway signs can be made payable to the City of La Mesa and noted for this project. For information please contact the City Manager’s Office at 619-667-1105. Printer-friendly version
MISSING WOMAN WITH MEMORY LOSS
Printer-friendly version February 16, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police seek the public’s help to locate Sarita Esquilin, 71. According to police, “Esquilin has recently begun to experience memory loss and has trouble finding her way home.” She was last seen at 110000 Westonhill Drive in San Diego at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, February 14th . She was driving a 2003 silver Honda CRV with California license ## 5AUD254. She is 4’11”, 115 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. If you have any information concerning Sarita Esquilin or if you see her, please call the San Diego Police Department at (619) 531-2000 or Detective Cat Millett at (619) 531-2277. Printer-friendly version
SENATOR KEHOE’S BILL WOULD ALLOW RENTERS TO DISPLAY POLITICAL SIGNS
Printer-friendly version SAN DIEGO – Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) introduced legislation today that protects tenant rights by allowing them to display political signs in the windows of their rented apartments or homes. “Every Californian’s political views are a cornerstone of our democracy, and renters deserve the right to express their views just as much as homeowners,” said Kehoe. “Whether it’s posting a sign supporting a candidate or a neighborhood issue there is no reason to continue this ‘second class’ status for the 40 percent of Californians who are renters.” SB 337 would allow tenants to post campaign signs for candidates, initiatives, recalls, referendums, and legislative votes in the windows of their apartments and homes. Current law allows residents in mobile home parks, homeowners’ associations, and common interest developments to display political signs, but such protections don’t apply to renters. SB 337 enjoys the support of the American Civil Liberties Union. Kehoe introduced similar legislation in 2006 but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Printer-friendly version
TO HAVE AND TO BEAT
Printer-friendly version By Dilkhwaz Ahmed February 16, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) — It was about 10:00 p.m. when my telephone rang. I wondered who could it be? I picked up the phone and found myself speaking to a police officer in East County. He asked me for help in translating for a Middle Eastern woman who was a victim of domestic violence. He told me that I was the only one who could be trusted to assist in a situation such as this since I was the director of an agency providing domestic violence education and services to refugees and immigrants in San Diego County. I quickly responded to his request for assistance. Since it was the end of the day, I was very tired and overwhelmed having dealt with several domestic violence situations. When I arrived at the victim’s house, I felt very comfortable to be there, but horrified at what I saw. The trauma inflicted on the woman that night was terrible. There were bruises on every part of her body. On her sensitive skin were contusions and her skull appeared to be broken. There were cuts on her upper body, arms, and chest. The victim also had a large black bruise on her leg, the result of her husband kicking her repeatedly. Those were the bruises we saw that night. I wondered if there were other parts of her body that were affected by this brutal beating, but the young woman was ashamed of showing us more of her body. Then, I heard the voice of her eight-month old baby. He was crying, and that really broke my heart. His mother told me he had been constantly subjected to witnessing her being abused by his dad. When I saw the victim, with her body language and injuries indicating she had been beaten so horrendously, I really felt compassion for her because she was not able to communicate the extent of her condition to the officer due to the language barrier. This young mother had been manipulated and never had a chance to reach out from the circle of her home to learn English. It was not the only thing that prevented her from knowing the rights she was entitled to as a resident of the United States. There was also the fear of leaving home and not having anyone to reach out to for help…..except her abusive husband!! In her psychological perception, her husband became the source of survival in the United States. As a U.S. citizen he had petitioned for her to join him in this country. Consequently, she became very dependent on and obedient to him. Furthermore, he had threatened her and led her to believe that if she reported him to the authorities, she would be deported and their baby would be taken away from her because she is not a U.S. citizen. The fear that finally motivated and drove her to call the police was that of being beaten to death by her husband. He had even threatened to kill her and throw their baby on the street. That night, as on previous nights, her beat her and told her to prepare food for him. He ordered her to watch him eat until he finished his meal. She knew that he would beat her then as he had done before he had eaten. After the tremendous physical and emotional abuse, he left the house, but not before his threat to come back and kill her. However, she managed to call the police in spite of her fear. Although her decision to contact law enforcement had given her dignity, she knew it was a definite risk. Yet, she believed it was better than the alternative of being killed and having her child raised on the streets as her husband had threatened would happen. After I heard her story, I thought she was the luckiest survivor I knew. By calling the Police Department and having an officer arrive within five minutes, she beat the odds of having her husband return, hurting her and even possibly killing her. While I was holding the baby, talking to the victim and translating her story to the officer. I found the young woman to be so fearful for her life that she kept telling me, “He will be coming back any time to kill me. Please let’s go somewhere else. He is coming to kill us. You don’t know him. He is capable of killing.” Despite my talking to her and trying to calm her down, she was still very uncomfortable as well as very frightened. Through reaching her with the help of authorities, I was able to introduce her to the rights to which a woman resident of the United States is entitled. I provided her with a safe and harmonious place to live with her child in peace and love. She was blessed to be living in the United States. She said, “It’s my first night in four years that I’ve been able to take a deep breath without feeling that I and my child could be hurt.” She also said, “I am physically at peace, but psychologically surrounded by many people who tolerate and even support these kinds of behaviors.” Her husband is still supported by many Middle Eastern men for his actions. They provide him shelter to keep from being arrested and keep pushing his wife to forgive him and go back to him because they believe Middle Eastern women should not call the police on their husbands. I believe that violence should not be tolerated anywhere. Poverty, immigration status, and not knowing the language should not be excuses for women to remain in a cycle of violence. Everybody deserves a better life, especially persons who come from cultures where there are laws that prohibit the freedom of human rights. The husband actually called his wife’s family overseas and threatened them that if
HWY 94 SHUT DOWN EASTBOUND AT RANCHO JAMUL ROAD
Printer-friendly version February 15, 2011 (Jamul) – A SIG ALERT has been used for an accident that has shut down eastbound Highway 94 at Rancho Jamul Road just east of Jamul Estates. The crash involves a big-rig truck and another vehicle, Incident Page Network reports. Major injury is reported. Traffic is being diverted off at Melody Lane onto Proctor Valley Road. T he accident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. and the highway remains shut down as of 5:37 p.m., California Highway Patrol’s website states. The CHP, Border Patrol, and paramedics were summoned to the scene. If you are not yet signed up for our free emergency e-alerts, sign up by clicking the Viejas Wildfire & Emergency Alerts box at the top right side of our screen. You can also receive a free subscription to East County Magazine’s weekly newsletter with news and events for our region. You can also follow ViejasAlerts at www.Twitter.com to receive alerts on your mobile device. Printer-friendly version