FRONT AND CENTER: TIME TO GIRLCOTT THE MILITARY
By Rick Rogers, DefenseTracker.com July 3, 2012 (San Diego)–The scourge of sexual assaults in the military seemingly cannot be stopped. With the military unable or unwilling to protect our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, it’s time women refuse to join the military and to disband the farcical Uniformed Code of Military Justice – an inadequate and unequal court system more interested in protecting the military than dispensing justice. Cut off from it fastest growing pool of recruits – women – we’d find out exactly how fast our military leaders could correct this national embarrassment. As reported recently by the North County Times, 64 sexual assaults were reported at Camp Pendleton and 333 in the Marine Corps last fiscal year. Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos, in a Corps-wide message laid part of the blame at the feet of commanding officers. "In far too many cases … poor command climates due to unengaged leadership are eroding the trust necessary for victims to safely report these crimes," Amos said. Sexual assaults are up across the military in recent years. The Defense Department recorded nearly 3,200 cases last fiscal year. The Pentagon estimates another 16,000 assaults went unreported. In more than 80 percent of the cases, the perpetrators were fellow service members. Unfortunately, there are good reasons for victims not to come forward. Just 20 percent of sexual assault cases went to court-martial in 2010, and that half of those resulted in acquittals. Nearly 70 percent of substantiated, “actionable” cases did not go to trial because of lower-level command discretion. As with most disasters, no one single cause has created the toxic atmosphere where women are now in more danger behind a base gate than walking down a city street. * Heavy drinking is not strongly enough discouraged. In most sexual assault cases, alcohol plays a large role. * The military granted too many waivers and allowed too many criminals and sexual predators into the ranks. * Bolstering that premise, Navy studies found that up to 15 percent of men attempted rape or have raped someone before enlisting — twice the percentage of their civilian peers. * Little incentive for commanders to prosecute criminals. To do so just makes them look bad. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta knows this and proposed in April to transfer sex crime cases to independent offices within each branch. Too little, too late. Time to girlcott the military until further notice. Rick Rogers has covered defense and veterans issues for nearly 30 years. He hosts Front & Center: Military Talk Radio Sundays, 11 to noon, Pacific Time, on KCBQ AM 1170 (www.kcbq.com). Podcasts at www.DefenseTracker.com. Contact him at (760) 445-3882 or Rick.Rogers@defensetracker.com
READER’S EDITORIAL: 10 POINTS FOR DENIAL ON JULY 19 TO SAVE MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK
By Stephen Goldfarb July 4, 2012, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)–Ten points clarify why an initiation to amend the community plan and rezone from open space to industrial should be denied by the San Diego Planning Commission at the July 19th hearing. Rezoning, if approved, would allow construction of the Quail Brush gas power plant near Mission Trails Regional Park. The 10 points were discussed by a local citizen in a letter to the San Diego Planning Commission, CEC, and local elected officials. The full letter which follows, answers and clarifies these serious points. Three Initiation Criteria The proposed amendment is inconsistent with the East Elliott Community Plan The proposed amendment conflicts with the General Plan The proposed amendment is inconsistent with the Navajo Community Plan The applicant’s only alternative sites are in East Elliott Is the area “pristine”? The private owners and city-owned land The elephant in the room Can environmental damage caused by siting a large power plant in Open Space conserved land be mitigated? What is fair to the applicant? Preface. I was in the audience at the Planning Commission June 28, 2012 meeting. I would like to comment on several matters. I am also writing in anticipation of the July 19, 2012 Planning Commission meeting when a vote will be completed as to denying implementation of an amendment to zone land dedicated to Open Space conservation to heavy industrial use to accommodate a power plant. It is unclear at this time whether only the two Commissioners who were not present at the June 28 meeting will vote, or whether all Commissioners may vote anew. Introduction. The issue of denying the applicant initiation of an amendment to install a large power plant on environmentally conserved East Elliott land is unusual for several reasons. The City requires a vote to “initiate” such an amendment. The responsibility for determining whether to initiate an amendment is assigned to the Planning Commission rather than the City Council. The California Energy Commission is the lead agency for siting a large power plant. The Energy Commission conducts its own review. The reason the matter is before the City Planning Commission is because the Energy Commission refers to the City responsibility for determining whether the project is in conformity to the City’s laws, ordinances and regulations. The Energy Commission may override the City’s decision if it finds that the project meets the criteria for establishing public necessity or convenience. For the City, this is an issue about location. A power plant belongs in an area zoned for heavy industrial use. The land where the applicant wishes to install its power plant is dedicated to open space conservation, zoned for very low residential use (RS1-8), is close to schools, hospitals and residences, and adjoins Mission Trails Regional Park. The land is in the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP). The Mission Trails Design District Ordinance controls development in the region close to the park so that development is in conformance to park landscaping. The applicant seeks to amend this area to heavy industrial use. That means changing the East Elliott Community Plan, the Sensitive Land Regulations, zoning, the Mission Trails Design Group Ordinance, and the MSCP. The problem is exacerbated because the applicant, who had wide latitude where to site its proposed plant, sought out this environmentally conserved area. It now is insisting on the City changing the land’s designation to accommodate the power plant. 1) Three Initiation Criteria. The initiation criteria for an amendment are: a) the amendment request appears to be consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan and community plan and any community plan specific amendment criteria; b) the proposed amendment provides additional public benefit to the community as compared to the existing land use designation, density/intensity range, plan policy or site design; and c) public facilities appear to be available to serve the proposed increase in density/intensity, or their provision will be addressed as a component of the amendment process. All three initiation criteria must be met. It is evident that the first criterion, consistency with the goals and policies of the General plan and community plan, is the over-riding consideration. 2) The proposed amendment is inconsistent with the East Elliott Community Plan. On its face, the proposal to amend the existing community plan in which the land is designated for open space and natural habitat conservation, and very low density residential development (RS1-8), into land for heavy industrial use is inconsistent with the community plan. A power plant does nothing that enhances the goals and objectives of the community plan. It may be useful to see how Development Services handled a previous request, one much less controversial than the applicant’s present proposal. In the former case, an owner submitted a plan in which the owner sought to develop two contiguous East Elliott parcels totaling 17.86 acres for 19 single-family homes. The number of homes is based on the applicable zoning (RS1-8). The Planning Department responded (Planning Department, 9/7/2006, Cecilia G. Williams, AICP, Program Manager, PTS #81594), “The majority of the East Elliott Community is intended for conservation as Open Space.” The Planning Department continues, “Due to the Open Space land use designation of the site…further subdivision of the property would not be consistent with the community plan designation.” And, “The request to subdivide the subject site based on the underlying RS-1-8 zone with 19 single-family dwelling units is contrary to the policies in the community plan regarding open space preservation.” The Planning Department points out that the East Elliott Community Plan contains Open Space Management Guidelines, “for the continued preservation and enhancement of the natural Open Space areas within East Elliott.“ The Community Plan states: “Natural Open Space areas should remain undeveloped with disturbance limited to trails and passive recreational uses such as walking, hiking and nature study that are consistent with preservation of natural resources.” Compare that to the applicant’s proposal to put a power plant that is 20% longer than a football field, three
TROLLEY TO COMICON, SAVE THE HASSLE
By Nadin Abbott and Tom Abbott Photo Nadin Abbott July 4, 2012 (San Diego)– if you live in the East County, and you are planning to attend Comicon International, the Trolley has a deal for you. Metropolitan Transit will sell commemorative day passes, for $20.00, and decreasing amounts depending on how many days you ride. For the full Convention and the Preview night, cost will be $20 for the five days. If you can get yourself to the MTS store, the passes are already on sale there. The address is 102 Broadway and 1st, downtown. Otherwise they will be on sale at booths at the following stations and trains: Wednesday, July 11 Old Town – 3 pm Fashion Valley – 3:15 pm Grantville – 4 pm Qualcomm – 4:30 pm Gaslamp – 6 pm Convention Center – 6 pm Thursday, July 12 Old Town – 7 am Fashion Valley – 7:15 am Hazard Center – 7:15 am Qualcomm – 7 am America Plaza – 7 am Santa Fe Depot – 7:30 am Gaslamp – 12 pm Convention Center – 12 pm Friday, July 13 Old Town – 7 am Fashion Valley – 7 am Hazard Center – 7:15 am Qualcomm – 7 am America Plaza – 7 am Santa Fe Depot – 7:30 am Gaslamp – 12 pm Convention Center – 12 pm Saturday, July 14 Old Town – 7 am Fashion Valley – 7:15 am Hazard Center – 7:15 am Qualcomm – 7 am America Plaza – 7 am Santa Fe Depot – 7:30 am Gaslamp – 12 pm Convention Center – 12 pm Sunday, July 15 Old Town – 7 am Fashion Valley – 7 am Hazard Center – 7:15 am Qualcomm – 7 am America Plaza – 7 am Santa Fe Depot – 7:30 am Gaslamp – 11 am Convention Center – 11:30 am Expanded service is as follows: * Wednesday, July 11: Green Line: Trips to and from the Convention Center will operate every 15 minutes until the last trip at 10:10 p.m. Blue Line: Service to downtown will operate on a normal schedule. Southbound service from 12th & Imperial Transit Center will operate every 15 minutes until 8:08 p.m. and every 30 minutes from 8:38 p.m. until the last trip at 12:08 a.m. Trains leaving downtown for Old Town will operate on a normal schedule. Orange Line: Service to downtown will operate on a normal schedule. Trains will leave the Convention Center every 15 minutes until 8:15p.m. and every 30 minutes from 8:45 p.m. until the last trip at 11:45 p.m. * Thursday, July 12 and Friday, July 13: Green Line: Service to the Convention Center will operate every 15 minutes beginning at 6:08 a.m. from Santee. Trips from the Convention Center will be every 15 minutes to 8:40 p.m. and every 30 minutes from 9:10 p.m. until the last trip at 12:40 a.m. Blue Line: Service to downtown will operate on a normal schedule. Southbound service from 12th & Imperial will operate every 15 minutes until 8:08 p.m. and every 30 minutes from 8:38 p.m. until the last trip at 12:08 a.m. Trains leaving downtown for Old Town will operate on a normal schedule. Orange Line: Service to downtown will operate on a normal schedule. Trips leaving the Convention Center will operate every 15 minutes until 8:15p.m. and every 30 minutes from 8:45 p.m. until the last trip at 11:45 p.m. * Saturday, July 14: Green Line: Trains to the Convention Center will operate every 15 minutes. The first departure from Qualcomm Stadium will be at 6:25 a.m. and from Santee at 6:35 a.m. The last train to Santee will depart from the Convention Center at 1:10 a.m. (Sunday morning). Trains leaving the Convention Center will operate every 15 minutes. Starting at 8:40 p.m., eastbound trains will alternate terminating either at Qualcomm Stadium or Santee. The final departure at 1:40 a.m. from the Convention Center will terminate at the SDSU Transit Center. Blue Line: Service to downtown will operate on a normal schedule. Southbound service from 12th & Imperial will operate every 15 minutes until 8:08 p.m. and every 30 minutes from 8:38 p.m. until the last trip at 12:08 a.m. Trains from downtown to Old Town will operate on a normal schedule. Orange Line: Service to downtown from Gillespie Field will operate every 15 minutes beginning at 6:22 a.m. Trips leaving the Convention Center will operate every 15 minutes until 8:15p.m. and every 30 minutes from 8:45 p.m. until the last trip at 12:15 a.m. * Sunday, July 15: Green Line: Service to the convention center will operate every 15 minutes. The first trip from Qualcomm Stadium is at 6:25 a.m. and the first trip from Santee is at 6:35 a.m. Trips from the Convention Center will be every 15 minutes until 6:40 p.m. Blue & Orange Lines: Blue & Orange Lines will operate 15 minute service throughout the event. For more information visit the MTS site.
SANTA YSABEL RESORT & CASINO SEEKS DEBT RESTRUCTURING
July 4, 2012 (Santa Ysabel) — An official of the Santa Ysabel Resort and Casino announced that the facility will continue to operate as usual while it seeks to restructure its debt under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy law. The tribeʼs attorneys filed the petition yesterday in federal bankruptcy court Southern District of California. Casino General Manager David Chelette said the strategic reorganization will have no discernible impact on employees or customers. All casino operations, promotions and payouts will continue unaffected. Chelette said the move will enable the casino to right-size its debt and ensure its longterm viability. “This proactive step enables us to protect the jobs of our employees, which are vital not only to them and their families, but to the local economy as well,” he concluded.
U.S. CITIZEN FROM SAN DIEGO LANDS ON NO-FLY LIST
July 4, 2012 (San Diego) – The San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is speaking out in hopes of aiding a San Diego citizen of Somali heritage who is stranded overseas—the second local Muslim in a month to be barred reentry to the U.S. Ali Ahmed, a student majoring in journalism at City College, is an American citizen. He came here as a refugee and recently sought to return to Africa to meet his father, who he became separated from during the war. The two were slated to meet in Kenya, where many Somalis sought refuge. According to a UT San Diego article, Ahmed, 20, also planned to complete an arranged marriage. He reportedly stopped in Mecca, located in Saudi Arabia, for a religious pilgrimage en route. But he was denied boarding in Bahrain, where he learned in late June that he had been placed on the U.S. government’s no-fly list. No explanation has been provided by the federal government, which is prohibited by the U.S. Privacy Act from disclosing who is on the no-fly list. Since inception of the list following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, many have been placed on the list in error, including such prominent Americans as the late Senator Ted Kennedy. In a letter sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas wrote: “His placement on the No-Fly List without due process of law, and his corresponding inability to fly back home to the United States, constitute grave violations of his civil rights and liberties.” Last month, CAIR advocated on behalf of another San Diego Muslim citizen stranded in Costa Rica after being placed on the no-fly list. That man was later allowed to re-enter the United States overland through the Mexican border, as MSNBC reported. Earlier this year, CAIR called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate acts of "coercion and intimidation" allegedly used by the FBI to pressure Muslim citizens into giving up their constitutional rights if they wished to return to the United States from overseas. See details of CAIR’s allegations: CAIR Seeks Probe of Whether FBI Sought Torture of U.S. Muslim http://tinyurl.com/793u9wk CAIR Asks DOJ to Probe Oregon FBI’s ‘Coercion’ of Muslim Citizens http://tinyurl.com/7ool6pf Video: CAIR Says Portland FBI is Coercing Muslims to Give Up Rights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Chk5i3X_2U Last year, CAIR filed a lawsuit against the DOJ and the FBI seeking a court order to allow a Virginia Muslim teenager who had been detained in Kuwait and placed on a U.S. government no-fly list to return to the United States. (See: CAIR: Va. Muslim on No-Fly List Returning to U.S. http://tinyurl.com/6egwl7e and CAIR Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/noflysuit.pdf) CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, has assisted a number of other American Muslim citizens who have been stranded overseas by government actions.
READER’S EDITORIAL: TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP: GUTTING AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION, LAND USE, COPYRIGHT, AND LABOR LAWS
A Better World is Possible co-organizer speaks out By Norrie Robbins July 4, 2012 (San Diego) — When a democratic country loses its ability to write and enforce environmental, health, transportation, communication, land use, copyright, and labor laws, it loses its sovereignty. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which masquerades as a trade bill, presently includes nine countries whose trade representatives, including ours, have been meeting secretly for 3 years under the behest of 600 multinational corporations that do not want to be subject to laws and regulations. With the leaking of two of 26 chapters, it was revealed that the Obama administration had agreed to submit the US to the jurisdiction of foreign tribunals where foreign corporations would be empowered to challenge US laws and demand unlimited compensation from the US Treasury. Congress will not be allowed access to the documents, nor will the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness. Congress will be required, however, to vote it up or down so the President can sign it into law. Any changes to TPP require that all signatories agree. Analysis of the leaked chapters show that TPP will waive Buy American procurement policies for all firms operating in the TPP countries; offshore millions of good-paying jobs to low-wage nations; undercut working conditions globally; allow foreign firms the ability to acquire land, natural resources, and factories without government reviews; expand pharmaceutical monopoly protections and institute a system of longer patent life so as to decrease access to affordable medications; limit food GMO labeling and allow import of goods that do not meet US safe standards; expand copyright rights and enforcement; institute regulation that will kick people off the internet after committing three infringement violations, and roll back Wall Street by prohibiting bans of risky financial services. Secret negotiations, public debt, paying corporations with taxpayer money, and loss of American sovereignty–this sounds like treason. It must be stopped. This week, negotiators from 8 countries are meeting in San Diego to gut our environmental, health, transportation, communication, land use, copyright, and labor laws for the benefit of 600 corporations (the Trans-Pacific Partnership). Activists, including me, have designed an alternative conference called "A Better World is Possible." Some meetings are the Peace Resource Center off Home Ave. or at the old water tower in Balboa Park (Centro Cultural de Raza). For details, click here. The views expressed in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.
SWEET NEWS: NEW LEMON GROVE LIBRARY RECEIVES MAJOR DONATIONS
By Miriam Raftery July 1, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – A new public library is now under construction in Lemon Grove at the corner of School Lane and Lincoln, thanks to Prop W bond funds. On June 27, Friends of the Lemon Grove Library presented the county library with a check for $60,000 to purchase the “First Day Collection for the new library. During the ceremony, the group also gave $5,000 from the City of Lemon Grove raised by Rosemary Putnam. Helen M. Ofield, President of the Lemon Grove Historical Society, described Putnam as the “den mother to the whole library effort”, noting that Putnam asked the Lemon Grove Council for library funds earlier this year. The $5,000 donation will fund the Family Literary Collection, providing books for impoverished families that do not have books at home.
PUBLIC NOTICE OF FEDERAL FUNDS UNDER THE EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER NATIONAL BOARD PROGRAM
The deadline for applications to be received is July 16, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. July 4, 2012 (Sa Diego) — San Diego County anticipates being awarded funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter (EFSP) National Board program. The amount to be received has not yet been announced. The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Local Board is charged to distribute the funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs around the country. A Local Board made up of representatives of non-profit agencies and local governments will determine how the funds awarded to San Diego County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the County. Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary nonprofits or units of government; 2) be eligible to receive federal funds; 3) have an accounting system; 4) practice nondiscrimination; 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter; and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying organizations are urged to apply. Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must go to www.efspsd.org to obtain further information and download the Eligibility Application. If you have further questions you can email Sharon Johnson at sharonjohnson23@gmail.com. The deadline for applications to be received is July 16, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Additional Resources: www.EFSPSD.org San Diego County – Emergency Food and Shelter Program www.FEMA.gov Emergency Food and Shelter Program
BOTTLE BOMB HURLED AT TROLLEY EXPLODES IN LA MESA
July 4, 2012 (La Mesa) –A bottle bomb thrown at a passing trolley at the Spring Street station (4250 Spring Street) exploded shortly before 8 p.m. last night. There were no injuries and the trolley was not damaged. Police seek tips to identify the individual who committed this crime. Police responded to the call at 7:59 p.m. Responding officers located a deformed 16 ounce plastic bottle on the trolley platform. According to police,it appears the bottle had been filled with unknown chemicals that caused the bottle to fill with gases and explode. After reviewing the surveillance video, it was determined that someone threw the bottle from a vacant lot west of the trolley station. The suspect(s) were not found and have not been identified. At this time there is no additional suspect information. If you have any information on this case, please call the La Mesa Police Department at (619) 667-1400. 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
READER’S EDITORIAL: TAKE ACTION TO STOP INSURANCE RATE HIKES
By Dave Jones, California Insurance Commissioner July 2, 2012 (Sacramento) — The Supreme Court decision regarding the Affordable Care Act was good news for Californians. It means that Californians with health insurance will continue to enjoy the its benefits. Now we can move forward with reforms to provide health insurance to those without it. There continues to be a major missing reform in the Affordable Care Act, however. There is still no authority to reject excessive health insurance and HMO rate hikes. And without this reform, rates for individuals, families, and businesses will keep climbing. The deadline for County elections officials to certify that there are enough valid signatures to put our ballot initiative to reject excessive health insurance rate hikes on the November ballot has passed. Unfortunately, the registrars in the 58 counties did not have enough time to complete the process for this November’s election. Their projections, however, are that the ballot measure will qualify for the next general election ballot. Enough signatures were collected (800,000!), but to provide more time to collect them, the petitions were turned in at the last possible moment. There were simply not enough resources or volunteers to collect the signatures faster and turn them in so that County elections officials could validate every single one in time for this November’s election. We also faced competition in collecting signatures from other initiative campaigns with far greater resources. I am disappointed that voters will not have a say over skyrocketing rate increases sooner rather than later. The future of healthcare reform depends on making health insurance rates more transparent, affordable and accountable. Having the authority to reject excessive rate increases will be all the more important when people are mandated to buy health insurance. So, the hard work of gathering signatures was not in vain. The initiative to reject excessive rates will go to the voters in November 2014. We now have more time to build a grassroots campaign to counter the $100 million campaign that the insurers will wage against us. There is still an opportunity to pass this reform this year. If the State Senate acts on Assembly Bill 52, it would provide the authority to reject excessive health insurance rate hikes. Please continue to call and email your State Senator and express your support for AB 52. Thanks to those who have supported our efforts to reject excessive health insurance rate hikes. The initiative may not be in front of voters as soon as we had hoped, but we will continue to fight for this important piece of health care reform. We look forward to working with you between now and 2014 to do so. For more information about the ballot measure and how you can help, click here. Thank you. Sincerely, DAVE JONES Insurance Commissioner The views expressed in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.