MAYOR MADRID’S AUDIT REPORT REFLECTS ON CITY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD
By Miriam Raftery Jaunary 9, 2013 (La Mesa) – Mayor Art Madrid reflected on the past, praised the city’s present accomplishments, and looked ahead to the future in his annual city audit report delivered on January 8 in the City’s Centennial year. “I dare say that in many ways we are glad to see 2012 in our rear view mirror,” he said, citing budget cuts by the state among the city’s biggest challenges in the past year. Fiscal challenges will continue, he predicted, as Congress embarks on the federal budget negotiations battle. “We may be seeing the last of the Community Development Block Grants, CDBG and Housing Assistance Programs, plus other vital safety net programs that assist certain members of our society.” Mayor Madrid also named climate change and environmental concerns among the key challenges ahead, spoken in a week when the National CIimatic Office announced that 2012 was the hottest year on record in the U.S. “What is the role of local governments, including La Mesa, in addressing these problems? First choosing facts and science over politics, acknowledge that these issues exist, and define their impact on our city by evaluating the costs and consequences of doing nothing,” said Madrid. He added, “Equally important is creating awareness that the general public also has a key role and responsibility in helping curb some of these problems by the judicious use of many finite resources.” He also touched on the Sandy Hook school shooting, calling it “mind numbing and incomprehensible” though without offering specific solutions for preventing a similar tragedy locally. The Mayor urged everyone to “hug and tell each family member how much we love them and how important they are to us. We should always be ready to help our neighbors in time of need and strive to be an asset to the neighborhood and community in which we live. He addressed the need to bolster safety at Oktoberfest in response to a rowdy disruption last year that forced temporary closure of a portion of the event. Despite this incident, police reported a 10% overall decrease in violent crimes over 2011. Reflecting on the city’s century-old past, he observed, “When La Mesa incorporated in 1912, it was a rural village with agricultural roots. It’s growth into today’s vibrant and thriving community is the result of a constant vision for improvement and hard work by many… Today’s Council meeting is a milestone in our city’s history; it’s the last meeting of our Centennial year. On January 12, 2013, four days from today, we will end our year-long celebration with the “Party of the Century,” an event that has been in the planning stage for the past year.” He thanked all who participated in the year-long planning. He also proudly listed off some of La Mesa’s recent accomplishments and noted that in recognition of La Mesa’s successes in many areas, the city was invited to participate in the Bloomberg Foundation Mayor’s Challenge to inspire other cities in innovations in five different themes. Times change, and so has La Mesa. In 2012, the city worked toward updating its General Plan, adding new elements for Sustainability, Parks and Recreation, and Health and Wellness. La Mesa was named by WalkSanDiego as the second most walkable city in the region. A Smart Growth Planning grant from SANDAG helped the city develop a plan for encouraging use of bicycles. The City developed its first-ever citywide master plan for parks and made over $4 million in infrastructure improvements. Plans for a Boys and Girls Club are also under discussion to serve children in the region. Infrastrucutre improvements in the Downtown Village are “finally moving forward,” the Mayor stated, adding, “The City’s large financial investment in this project reflects an optimistic vision of the future for the village.” A Downtown Streetscape continues to be vetted. La Mesa’s Council also voted to allow fermentation of beer and wines at certain locations, opening the door for wineries and breweries as new businesses in the community. The Building Department issued 82 residential photovoltaic solar permits, a 46% increase over the year before. Madrid quoted from T.S. Elliot, observing “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” Complete text of the Mayor’s speech is below. 2012 CITY OF LA MESA “AUDIT REPORT” Since 1991 I have had the privilege of submitting my annual “Audit Report” as the first order of city business at the beginning of each new year. I am again honored to report a summary of our 2012 activities and accomplishments to our residents, co-workers and council colleagues. I will also offer a brief glimpse of the challenges that lay before us. First, we wish each of you, your families and everyone in the region a healthy happy and peaceful new year. We congratulate Councilmember Ruth Sterling and City Clerk Mary Kennedy on their successful re-election and Councilmember Kristine Alessio on her initial election to the City Council. Our sincere thanks to retiring Councilmember Dave Allan for his many contributions during his twelve years on the City Council; he always represented La Mesa in an effective and highly professional manner while serving on numerous boards and commissions at the regional state and national levels. When La Mesa incorporated in 1912, it was a rural village with agricultural roots. It’s growth into today’s vibrant and thriving community is the result of a constant vision for improvement and hard work by many individuals, including former and current city councils, professional city staff, dedicated employees, business and civic leaders and above all our residents. La Mesa is one made of many, where our past is always present. Our Centennial celebration included many educational, fun and challenging events such as geocaching which attracted participants from throughout the region and even out-of-state. Our annual Flag Day Parade had the largest number of entries in its history. These memorable events are but a few of many activities made possible because of the hundreds of volunteers
POLITICAL REFLECTIONS: REPUBLICANS WIN THE “FISCAL CLIFF” DEBATE
By Mark Gabrish Conlan The views expressed in this column reflect the views of the columnist and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. January 10, 2013 (San Diego) — The first part of the “fiscal cliff” debate is over — and the Republicans won. That’s not the impression you’ll get from the corporate media, either the “objective” mainstream or the Right-wing media party of talk radio and Fox News. The mainstream media are reporting the swift passage of a bill through both houses of Congress continuing the Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans making $400,000 per year ($450,000 per couple) as a triumph for President Obama and at least a partial fulfillment of his pledge in both Presidential campaigns for a (slight) tax increase on the wealthiest Americans. (Ironically, the $400,000 at which the restored tax rates kick in also happens to be the salary of the President.) But the bill is actually a slap-dash scheme thrown together at the last minute to keep taxes from returning to Clinton-era levels for all Americans — and it leaves the Republicans with yet another opportunity to hold the American economy hostage and demand draconian cuts to what’s left of the social safety net when Congress next has to raise the U.S. debt ceiling in two months. What’s more, the deal does nothing to end the Republicans’ ideological hegemony over Washington in general and tax and budget policy in particular. Ever since the Republicans of 1935 fought tooth and nail against Franklin Roosevelt’s proposal for Social Security, the very idea of a “social safety net” has been anathema to them. They came to a grudging acceptance of some social welfare spending in the 1950’s, when Dwight Eisenhower was President, the highest income tax rate was a whopping 90 percent, the percentage of Americans belonging to labor unions was at its all-time high and America was still an industrial powerhouse with a booming economy. But the 1960’s marked the end of progressive Republicanism and the beginning of the “Southern strategy,” which Richard Nixon and Strom Thurmond put together in 1968 to neutralize the third-party Presidential candidacy of George Wallace and which created the combination of lassiez-faire economic Right-wingers and social conservatives neurotically obsessed with other people’s sex lives that has run the Republican party ever since. Did you vote for President Obama in 2012 expecting that he’d be a fighter to maintain Social Security and Medicare, and he’d raise taxes on the 1 percent to pay for it? No such luck. It seems that when Americans vote for Republicans, they get Republican policies — and when they vote for Democrats, they still get Republican policies. Obama came into the “fiscal cliff” negotiations with the naïve belief that the very fact of his re-election — the spectacular failure of Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell’s pledge to make him a one-term President — would cause the opposition to deal with him fairly and honestly. Obama hoped for a “grand bargain” in which he and Congressional Democrats would agree to eviscerate Social Security by making people wait longer to collect it (to 67 instead of 65) and slashing cost-of-living increases in benefits by tying them to the so-called “chained CPI,” a bit of legerdemain that willfully ignores the reality of inflation on the fixed incomes of senior citizens. But to the Republicans in Congress — especially the “Tea Party” fanatics who want to see just about every government program outside of defense and law enforcement either cut to the bone, outsourced to the private sector or eliminated altogether — Obama’s willingness to turn his back on the people who elected him twice wasn’t good enough. So what we ended up with was a bill that gives Obama a partial victory on taxes — and sets up yet another confrontation over the economy in March, when the country’s current debt ceiling expires and Republicans gain yet more leverage to force the deep cuts in so-called “entitlement” spending — Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — that are the real point of their policy. They also won some immediate victories, like getting rid of the “holiday” that lowered working America’s Social Security payroll taxes without restoring the working-class tax credit the “holiday” replaced. That means that every American making $113,700 or less in wages — which is 98 percent of us — will see an immediate tax increase. For a family making $80,000 per year, that will up the government’s bite on their salary by $1,600 — while couples $450,000 or more will save up to $9,200 per year. What’s more, the Republicans got their wish to keep the estate tax at 35 percent for inherited fortunes of $10 million or less (it goes up to 40 percent after that), instead of restoring the 45 percent rate on $7 million or more that existed before 2009. Since people who make — or have — that kind of money generally have excellent estate planners who take advantage of all existing loopholes, the effective estate tax on large fortunes is only 16.7 percent. According to the Tax Policy Center of Washington, D.C., over one-half of all U.S. estate taxes are paid, not by the 1 percent, but by the 0.1 percent — so cutting the estate tax is basically an enormous giveaway of public money to them. The “fiscal cliff” deal is being sold as the first installment in a series of steps to reduce the federal budget deficit. That’s an odd thing to say about a bill that will increase the deficit by $4 trillion over the next 10 years. Thanks to the Republicans’ ability to set the threshold for tax-rate restoration at $400,000 instead of $250,000, the new tax bill will increase federal revenues by only $625 billion per year — nearly $1 trillion less than Obama was hoping for. The new bill also merely delays the dreaded “sequester,” the steep budget cuts in both domestic and military spending that were put into place to
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: ANZA BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK
January 9, 2013 (Anza Borrego) – Daren Sefcik photographed these spectacular images in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. This endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep ram was spotted in a canyon between Potrero and Squaw canyons near Agua Caliente campground. “We were out backpacking for four days through there, “Sefcik says. He also captured this beautiful sunrise over Whale Peak, photographed from Fish Creek.
OASIS CAMEL DAIRY TOURS ON JAN. 13 AND FEB. 10
January 9, 2013 (Ramona) – The Oasis Camel Dairy opens its doors for tours on January 13 and February 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Enjoy a humorous and intimate hour with the camels and tour the facilities and pastures of the farm. The tours are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $7 for children ages 3 to 14 years. Camel rides are also available at a cost of $5 kids and $10 adults. Camel milk soap, creams & lotions as well as chocolate will be on sale after the tours. Visit http://cameldairy.wufoo.com/forms/oasis-camel-dairy-public-tour/ to reserve your tour. The Dairy is located at 26757 Old Julian Hwy in Ramona.
MAYOR FILNER ANNOUNCES STAFF APPOINTMENTS REFLECTING DIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO
January 9, 2013 (San Diego)–Mayor Bob Filner has announced his staffing team at City Hall. The appointments reflect San Diego’s diversity: over 50% are women, 38% Latino, 21% African-American, 4% Asian Pacific Islander as well as staff from the lesbian, gay, bisexual/transgender community. “When I campaigned for Mayor, I pledged that everyone would have a seat at the table, and that includes in my administration. I am proud to lead this team of talented and dedicated women and men. Together we will work hard for the citizens of San Diego,” said Mayor Bob Filner, who also released salaries of his staffers as part of his pledge toward transparency. Staff in the Mayor’s office includes: Vince Hall, Chief of Staff; Nelson Hernandez, Assistant Chief Operating Officer; Allen Jones, Deputy Chief of Staff; Francisco Estrada, Director of Council Affairs; Irene McCormack, Director of Communications; Donna Frye, Director of Open Government; Lee Burdick, Director of Special Projects & Legal Affairs; Linda Perine, Director of Community Outreach; Mario Lopez, Director of Bi-National Affairs; Lea Fields-Bernard, Director of Appointments and Compliance; Willie Blair, Director of Neighborhood Revitalization; Manny Doria, Community Outreach; Bert Luna, Assistant to the Mayor; Brenda Lugo, Director of Scheduling; Rev. John Ringgold, Mayoral Ambassador; Lena’ Lewis, Press Secretary; Steve Hadley, Deputy Director of Open Government; Jessica Gomez, Protocol Officer; Molly Chase, Protocol Officer; Pat Calloway, Executive Assistant to Chief of Staff; Caroline Ledesma, Receptionist/Administrative Assistant; Shalonda Vinegar, Receptionist; Waynee Lucero, Mayoral Assistant; Al Alvarado, Community Outreach.
LITTLE SAIGON FUNDRAISING AND AWARD DINNER JAN. 13
January 9, 2013 (San Diego) –In response to the long-time needs and present demands of the Vietnamese community, the Little Saigon Foundation is opening a Vietnamese Community Center in order to create a space for social services and cultural interaction. Early services include a Vietnamese Language School, Youth Leadership Development, Translation services, and physical health programs such as “Càng Khôn Thập Linh” (a combination of Tai-chi and yoga), as well as international ballroom dance. With spaces offered to local community groups to meet and hold events, the Center is the first Vietnamese Community Center in City Heights. Up until now, the organization has been operating on mostly the support of volunteers, but is now looking to add permanent paid staff. As such, the organizations will host the Little Saigon Fundraising and Award Dinner on Jan. 13 from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. at the Lucky Star Restaurant, 3894 54th St., San Diego. The event will raise funds to support ongoing projects and programs as well as recognize long-time community members who have contributed time, effort and leadership to the revitalization of the community. Tickets are $35 regular or $55 for VIP. The event includes an 8 course meal, Lion Dance, raffles, a silent auction, ballroom dancing and an open bar. Visit http://LittleSaigonSanDiego.org or call 619-719-0700 for information on purchasing tickets. The Little Saigon San Diego Foundation has been working with local non-profit organizations, businesses, and residents to revitalize the community. These projects include cultural and tourism events such as Lantern Festival; infrastructure improvements such as Street Clean-up, graffiti removal, uplifting storefronts and installing trash bins and benches; businesses promotion such as a free online directory and the Taste of Little Saigon event.
STUDY CONFIRMS HIGH INFRASOUND LEVELS NEAR WIND FARM WHERE PEOPLE ABANDONED THEIR HOMES
By Miriam Raftery January 8, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – ECM has previously reported about serious health problems experienced by people living near the Shirley Wind Farm in Wisconsin, where county health officials sought emergency declaration for families forced to relocate. That’s relevant here in East County, where four industrial-scale wind energy facilities propose to place turbines close to homes. Now a Public Service Commission study has proven “dangerous levels” of infrasound generated by those turbines. Four acoustical experts conducted C-weighted sound tests in December and found high readings oflow-frequency noise, or infrasound. One researcher became ill himself with symptoms similar to those experience by residents. Symptoms of the afflicted families include heart palpitations, ear infections, muscle and join pain, and general malaise. Wisconsin representative Andre Jacques said the Public Service Commission’s findings “compel them to act immediately to keep this nightmare from spreading.” Homes are located as close as 1250 feet from turbines at the Shirley Wind facility. The Public Service Commission has also received similar complaints of health problems from residents near other wind projects including Blue Skies/Green Fields and the Glacier Hills project. In San Diego’s East County, members of the Manzanita Native American tribe have been accepted into a Califiornia State University San Marcos study to determine whether serious health conditions including cancer may be caused by stray voltage and/or infrasound from wind turbines at the neighboring Kumeyaay wind farm , which went online back in 2005. Stray voltage 1,000 times above normal have been measured in the Manzanitas’ tribal hall, church, and homes on the reservation. Many other neighbors of the wind facility off the reservation have also complained of health problems similar to those experienced by residents near the Shirley Wind facility. The Campo Indians, operators of the Kumeyaay Wind facility, now want to built Shu’luuk Wind, which would be over twice the size of the Kuemeyaay facility with turbines nearly 50% taller. No plan has been offered to reduce the stray voltage or protect neighbors from infrasound, noise, or blade shadow flicker. Additional wind energy facilities planned in East County include Jewel Valley in Boulevard andTule Wind in McCain Valley. Just south of the border, La Rumerosa is a massive wind facility, is planned in Mexico. Just east in Ocotillo, yet another large wind project is nearing completion. Despite the proliferation of larger and larger wind projects internationally, no studies have yet been conducted to determine safe siting levels to protect the health of humans or wildlife. San Diego County planners previously considered adopting a sound standard using the C-weighted measuring scale that was used to detect the infrasound problems in Wisconsin. County Supervisors will weigh in next month, mostly likely, on whether or not to adopt a wind ordinance allowing more industrial wind projects in our region and if so, what noise standards should apply.
SANTEE RESIDENT PRODUCES FREE FAMILY ARTS & LITERACY PROGRAM AT THE SALVATION ARMY KROC CENTER JAN. 31
January 9, 2013 (San Diego) — Local master teaching artist and educator Jerry Hager and The San Diego State University Performing Arts Troupe present “The Enchanted Bookshoppe” as part of the Free Family Arts and Literacy Connection series on January 31 at 6:30 p.m. at The Salvation Army Kroc Center’s multipurpose room at 6605 University Avenue, San Diego. The Free Family Arts and Literacy series is a partnership between The Salvation Army Kroc Center and Young Audiences of San Diego. Hager, a resident of Santee, has been a theater mime artist since 1980. He teaches acting and is a Theater Arts Instructor at Grossmont College where he has also created touring programs. Hager is a performing artist with Young Audiences of San Diego where he conducts assemblies, workshops, artist in residence and special performances. Additionally he was the Seaport Village Mime from 1980 to 2006 that made him a San Diego icon. His company, The San Diego Pantomime Theatre, has collaborated with many theater groups including Classics for Kids, the San Diego Chamber Orchestra and the San Diego Museum of Art. Hager has also written, directed and presented over 50 mime-dramas (mime plays) in the past twelve years. The San Diego State University Performing Arts Troupe consists of music education undergraduates who present a captivating story of a group of young students who find enchantment and inspiration in a magical bookshoppe. This program is also under the direction of Dr. Nan McDonald, Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Education at San Diego State University. Admission for this performance is FREE. This is the third of six Free Family Arts and Literacy Connection programs that support the arts and literacy. In addition to the performance, each family will take home a free copy of the book “The Music Man’s Little Cellist” by Angela Winegar. For more information on the performance, contact Sherrie Brown at Young Audiences at 619–282-7599 x114 or e-mail sherrie@yasandiego.org.
FOREST SERVICE BEGINS PRESCRIBED BURNS IN EAST COUNTY
January 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The Palomar Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest will conduct prescribed burning from January 15, 2013 through June 30, 2013 when weather and fuel moisture conditions permit. This vegetation removal is for the purpose of hazardous fuels reduction, community defense zone maintenance and forest health. The prescribed burning will take place at various locations on the District including Palomar Mountain, Ramona, San Diego Country Estates, Sunshine Summit and Aguanga. The projects will cover approximately 700 acres. Some drifting smoke may be visible during the period of burning. Residents and other public may call Battalion Chief Tim Gray at 619-902-1414 for more information. The Descanso Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest will be conducting 300-500 acres of prescribed burning in the southeastern part of San Diego County. The projects are located near the communities of Alpine, Pine Valley, and Mt. Laguna. Prescribed burning will be conducted through June 2013, as weather and fuel conditions permit. The purpose of these burns is to assist in providing community protection by slowing the spread of wildfires under normal summer conditions. The Alpine area burn is located south-east of Alpine in the community of Carveacre. The area consists of Southern California chaparral that has not burned since 1970. The Corte Madera burn is located south of the town of Pine Valley. The area consists of masticated and standing Southern California chaparral that has not burned since 1970. The burn will tie into Interstate 8 and the Pine Fire of 2007, providing a significant buffer to the south of Pine Valley and North of Corte Madera Ranch. The Mt. Laguna prescribed burn will be conducted from Wooded Hill to the Laguna Campground along Sunrise Highway. The burn will assist in providing community protection for the residents of Mt. Laguna and limit the severity of a stand replacing fire. Residents in the area may call Battalion Chief Michael Tucker (619) 717-1017.
FINANCIALLY TROUBLED IBERDROLA SELLS OFF SOME ASSETS, BUT RETAINS TULE WIND PROJECT
By Miriam Raftery January 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Spanish utility giant Iberdrola Renewables still plans on “going ahead with Tule Wind” in McCain Valley near Boulevard despite a string of financial setbacks, Paul Copleman, media relations spokesman at Iberdrola USA, told ECM. Iberdrola, the world’s largest operator of wind farms, sold off $1.1 billion in assets in 2012 to reduce its staggering 32 million euros of debt as the company’s Standard and Poors Rating teetered just above junk bond status. Assets sold included 32 wind farms in France to GE. Iberdrola also divested itself of some natural gas assets and in the U .S., Energy Network, Energetix and NYSEG Solutions. In addition, the company has has quietly abandoned efforts to pursue at least one U.S. wind project and potentially more. In New York, the Watertown Daily News reports Iberdrola has removed meteorological testing towers at its Stone Church wind site in Hammond and is no longer pursuing the project, quoting Copleman. Revelations of major conflicts of interest among decision makers on the town council had surfaced in Hammond, where numerous councilmembers and planners had lands that would be leased to Iberdrola, financial investments that could yield profits from the project, or relatives employed by Iberdrola. The Thousand Islands Sun, a small local newspaper with no online edition, reportedly published that Iberdrola Business Development Manager Jenny Briot has stated that the company is canceling 100 projects in the United States, according to leaseholder James Pitcher. Copleman denies that 100 projects are being cancelled. He told ECM that the company has shut down some meteorological towers as part of “right-sizing” but declined to state how many. The Bolivian government seized two electricity distribution companies owned by Iberdrola in late December, but has indicated it will compensate the company. Iberdrola’s financial outlook was also negatively impacted by the Congressional delay until January to renew the wind production tax credit, however the renewal language will make it easier to qualify future projects for the massive federal subsidies, since projects now only need to break ground—not meet construction milestones—to obtain the tax credits. Long-term financial stability of renewable energy companies is a critical question in East County, where Amonix Solar proposed an 800-acre industrial solar farm shortly before it filed for bankruptcy and abandoned the project. Elsewhere in the world, wind turbines have been abandoned and left to rust in Hawaii, California and elsewhere when turbine developers or manufacturers failed. Paul Gipe, a former wind company executive in California, has said that the tax-credit frenzy was to blame. “The lure of quick riches resulted in shoddy products that littered California with poorly operating–sometimes non-operating — turbines,” London’s Daily Mail reported. “But thanks to the subsidies, it hardly mattered that some of the untested turbines were so sub-standard they barely even worked. Not to put too fine a point on it, for some wind energy investors it was simply a tax scam.”