EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS
September 5, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) –– East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include: LOCAL/REGIONAL San Diego-Based Ships In Red Sea As Syria Situation Heats Up (KPBS) Lightning knocks East County man off his feet (10 News) San Diego’s Best Lakes (U-T San Diego) An identity crisis for Julian? (U-T San Diego) Water board leaves Division II seat as is (Ramona Sentinel) Preventing Wildfire In San Diego County Doing time on the fire line ( U-T San Diego) Solar Power Advocates Challenge California Bill Regulating Rates Fire damages Lemon Grove BBQ restaurant (U-T San Diego) Sprawl is still sprawl, even if it’s green (Atlantic Cities) Expected front-runners (Todd Gloria and Carl DeMaio) bow out of mayoral race (Reuters) Fletcher on Jacobs’ Balboa Park plan (Voice of San Diego) The pawns line up in San Diego’s Mayoral Race (San Diego Free Press) STATE Smoke from Sierra fire reaches Yosemite Valley (Yahoo news) Siskiyou County votes to pursue secession from California (Sacramento Bee) Senate, Calif. Governor Clash On Prison Spending (AP) Tsunami would swamp California’s economy (Sacramento Bee) For excerpts and links to full stories, scroll down and click “read more.” LOCAL/REGIONAL San Diego-Based Ships In Red Sea As Syria Situation Heats Up (KPBS) The Navy has sent the San Diego-based destroyers USS Stockdale and USS William P. Lawrence, and the cruiser USS Princeton, to the Red Sea as the situation in Syria heats up. Lightning knocks East County man off his feet (10 News) An East County man narrowly escaped major injury after lightning struck the ground about 10 feet away from where he was standing and knocked him off his feet. At about 4 p.m. Tuesday, the clouds were rolling in above Chambers Park in Lake Cuyamaca, prompting Hans Nansen and a friend to take a look. San Diego’s Best Lakes (U-T San Diego) When you come to San Diego from wetter parts of the country, it might seem the region is a tad short on fresh water recreation areas. But if you look closely, the county has a fine collection of lakes where one can fish, boat, and in rare circumstances, even take a dip. Henry David Thoreau categorized lakes as the Earth’s eyes “looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” Take a look into some of San Diego County’s best lakes. An identity crisis for Julian? (U-T San Diego) The mountain town of Julian with its apple pies, beds & breakfasts, restaurants and quaint shops, is changing for those who call it home. Fewer people live in the community, and some of the businesses that catered to the local crowd for decades have closed. Water board leaves Division II seat as is (Ramona Sentinel) The fate of Director Christopher “Kit” Kesinger’s Division II seat on the Ramona Municipal Water District Board is in the hands of his constituents, say board members. Preventing Wildfire In San Diego County (KPBS) — The threat of devastating wildfires is a fact of life in California. CalFire says it has a prevention plan. But critics in Southern California say using prescribed burns to clear vast tracts of land isn’t the answer Doing time on the fire line ( U-T San Diego) Warner Springs — If they aren’t actively working a fire, cutting lines and saving homes, the women of Puerta La Cruz Conservation Camp stand at a red line every weekday morning exactly at 8:30.At that moment they are prisoners, detained by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and serving sentences for felonies committed in places far removed from their present circumstances. Solar Power Advocates Challenge California Bill Regulating Rates (KPBS) — The Sierra Club, solar power installers and concerned citizens are challenging a CaliforniaAssembly Bill. If passed, AB 327 would change how much utilities pay residents for the solar power they generate. Fire damages Lemon Grove BBQ restaurant (U-T San Diego) A chimney fire broke out inside a Lemon Grove barbeque restaurant Friday morning about 90 minutes before it was to open for the day. The 9:30 a.m. fire forced the temporary closure of Coops West Texas BBQ on Lemon Grove Avenue, in a strip mall at Cypress Avenue, Heartland fire officials said. Sprawl is still sprawl, even if it’s green (Atlantic Cities) Does the lead photo with this article look like a good place to put over 1,700 new homes on a little over 600 acres? What if I told you it was working agricultural land in a remote location 45 miles north of San Diego and 61 miles south of San Bernardino, California? What if I added that the developer is doing everything it can to make the project green? Those are the questions currently facing San Diego County authorities. Expected front-runners (Todd Gloria and Carl DeMaio) bow out of mayoral race (Reuters) (Reuters) – Two politicians viewed as potential front-runners to replace disgraced former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, who resigned in the face of a sexual harassment lawsuit, said Tuesday they would not run, leaving the race wide open. Fletcher on Jacobs’ Balboa Park plan (Voice of San Diego) San Diego mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher works for Qualcomm, which Irwin Jacobs founded. In his previous mayoral run, Fletcher was a big booster of Jacobs’ plan for Balboa Park’s Plaza de Panama, which failed in court after intense opposition from preservationists. Mayor Bob Filner then did his own low-cost solution. I asked Fletcher during my recent Q-and-A about reviving Jacobs’ plan. The pawns line up in San Diego’s Mayoral Race (San Diego Free Press) It was a day to remember in San Diego’s political history. Three high-profile politicians opted to decline the opportunity to enter the contest for the top spot in the eighth largest city in the United States. STATE Smoke from Sierra fire reaches Yosemite Valley (Yahoo news) ense smoke from a wildfire burning in and around Yosemite National Park on Saturday hampered both
CONCERT OF COLOR ART EXHIBIT AT MISSION TRAILS NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 20
September 4, 2013 (El Cajon) – The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation (MTRP) is pleased to present an exhibition featuring the following award-winning artists: Kris DeYoung – Oil; Deb Gargula – Colored Pencil; Terry Kvitky – Acrylic; Wilma Lopez – Encaustic; James Otto – Photography; Denise Strahm – Photography and Jerry Vande Berg – Oil and Watercolor. This exhibit is on display until September 20, 2013. Mission Trails Visitors Center is located at One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego. About the Artists: Kris DeYoung – Kris has been inspired to create bold and sensitive paintings of the world’s plants in her “Native Plant Series.” In these paintings, she demonstrates man’s destructive relationship with nature by juxtaposing hard edge or abstract designs with representational images. She seeks to increase awareness of this negative relationship with nature with these artworks. Three paintings representative of these ideas in this show are Mojave Agave, Toyon and Chuparosa. Deb Gargula – Currently Deb is working in Colored Pencil, sometimes mixing it with water-soluble pencil and gold leaf. Her images function as a structure to hang color on. Her style is based on the layering of colors and textures. Deb likes the translucent nature of the materials she uses. She finds there is a richness of color to be achieved by layering colors that is not available by applying color directly onto the page. This allows her to form unique ways of expressing her subject. Each piece is an adventure, a chance to further explore the world with new eyes. Deb’s images tend to be tranquil and atmospheric, not a photographic reproduction of the subject. Her goal is to translate what she sees into color, texture, movement, mood and beauty. Terry Kvitky – Born in Chicago, Terry demonstrated a desire to express herself artistically starting in the second grade. By the age of sixteen, she began to explore the use of oil paints, and charcoal or pencil for portrait drawings. Through the years spent in banking, bookkeeping, and teaching, Terry never gave up the dream of one day pursuing her passion for painting more fully. Terry has been a member of the Temecula Valley Art League for eight years. She has taken classes in oil painting with John Heinrichs and watercolor classes with David Musser. Her work has been featured in Fallbrook, CA as part of an international artist’s project, Landfillart.org, and Portraitofthefallenmemorial.org. Terry defines herself as a “colorist,” employing a vibrant palette to portray landscapes and other images in an Interpretive-Realistic manner. Wilma Lopez – Through her encaustic paintings, Wilma tries to create unique original works that perfectly balance her knowledge of color and techniques. James Otto – Jim is a landscape and still-life photographer living and working in San Diego County. He was born in Caracas and was raised in the Midwest. He started photographing in earnest after attending graduate school in Albuquerque and Denver. He began shooting black and white landscape images in the four corners region using medium format film cameras. Later, Jim started with digital cameras and print media. He has photographed in the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, but he has an affinity for the quiet little places, where it is just a solitary palomino, or red-tail perhaps, lending its wry commentary. Denise Strahm – Denise likes to call herself a paintographer. When she takes pictures, she strives to create artistic photographs with painterly attributes. The mood, color and texture of the scene are captured, and it communicates to the viewer what she sees and feels in that scene. Her graphic design background helps her transform complex, mostly architectural subject matter into simple contemporary compositions. And, since she does not paint with a brush, she will continue to paint with her camera. Jerry Vande Berg – Jerry is a former Research Investigator at the Veterans Medical Center and University of California, San Diego. He has studied with internationally famous artists such as Gary Johnson, Lee Kromschroeder and John Seery-Lester. He has received numerous awards and juried Best in Show and First Place in oil and watercolor categories in numerous exhibitions. His paintings have been purchased by private collectors of wildlife art and many national corporations throughout the United States. An appreciation for the manner in which wildlife exists daily in their environment is Jerry’s primary goal in his paintings. The MTRP Visitor and Interpretive Center is located at One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119, and it is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.
CHP IS HIRING – RECRUITMENT SEMINAR SEPTEMBER 10
September 4, 2013 (San Diego) – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will hold a recruitment seminar at the CHP Border Division Office in Kearny Mesa on September 10 at 9330 Farnham Street between 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Those interested in working for the CHP are required to attend this seminar before applying online at www.CHPcareers.com. Online applications will be accepted September 12 to September 14. Interested applicants must R.S.V.P., as seating is limited. To RSVP, e-mail the recruiter at 601_recruitment@CHP.CA.GOV and a confirmation will be e-mailed back if space is available.
READER’S EDITORIAL: AN ENVIRONMENTALIST’S VIEWS ON THE MAYORAL RESIGNATION AND MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE EVENTS
By Mike Bullock I was sent this link to an article about Friday’s events: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/13831. It seems to me that the article is more balanced that the UT coverage. The article has a link to the audio of both the Filner and the Gloria speech. Bob was an elected mayor, stepping down to avoid losing all of his personal savings and wealth to legal fees and settlements. His message to his constituents deserved to be printed in the UT as a complete transcript. (I would have liked to have been able to cut and paste from the transcript, which I assumed would be published.) But I forget. The UT is no more a newspaper than Fox News is a news channel. The UT’s purpose is not to inform but to persuade. There are parts of Bob’s speech which the UT does NOT want you, or others, to hear. Mayor Bob Filner’s Speech: As an environmentalist, I want to point out the following, where the times corresponds to the audio link contained within the East County Magazine link shown above: At about 7:10 he talks about the cars being removed from the Plaza de Panama in Balboa Park. Todd Gloria and the others would NEVER have done this without first building a $45 M parking garage. The fees from the parking garage were going to be used to pay off the city bond AND BUILD MORE PARKING GARAGES. That is the UT vision: more freeway lanes and more parking garages. How dare Bob simply remove those cars. He did NOT have permission to do that from those that feel they are the real authorities. At 7:25 he talks about protecting La Jolla from the seal poop. Why the “conventional wisdom” politicians couldn’t get that done is beyond me. Ask Jerry Sanders why Bob could fix this but he couldn’t. At 8:05 he talks about bringing in Bill Fulton. Many have told me that this may have been (would have been) the most important thing Bob did for San Diego. I wonder where he will go now. Todd Gloria’s speech sounded like he can fire him now. My reading of Section XV (see below) doesn’t tell me that. At 8:56 he talks about putting Solar on public buildings. At 10:30 or so, he talks about climate (and a related book: The New Industrial Revolution) and the city’s emerging Climate Action Plan (CAP). He clearly supports actually doing the job. However, it will take real change to do that and I doubt Council President Gloria will want that because it would conflict with the UT vision of parking garages and freeway expansions. Todd Gloria’s Speech The link to the audio is contained in the link provided above. Take a listen. It is short. Anyone that took a public position of wanting Mayor Filner to resign had a responsibility to read the City Charter’s Section XV. Here is the link to the Charter: http://docs.sandiego.gov/citycharter/Article%20XV.pdf Todd claims that he is going to “Assume the role of Mayor.” Yes, sort of like in a high school play. He will pretend. Actually, here is the key paragraph as to what Todd Gloria can and can’t do: During the period of time when an appointment or election is pending to fill a vacancy in the Office of Mayor, the presiding officer of the Council shall be vested with the authority to supervise the staff remaining employed in the Office of the Mayor, to direct and exercise control over the City Manager in managing the affairs of the City under the purview of the Mayor and to exercise other power and authority vested in the Office of the Mayor when the exercise of such power and authority is required by law. This limited authority would include circumstances where the expeditious approval of a legislative action is necessary to meet a legal requirement imposed by a court or another governmental agency. Such limited authority would not include the exercise of the power of veto or any other discretionary privilege that is enjoyed by a person appointed or elected to the Office of Mayor. The presiding officer, while acting under this section pending the filling of a mayoral vacancy, shall not lose his or her rights as a Member of the Council. I don’t think Council President Gloria can even fire the City Manager. (Any lawyers want to comment?) It seems to me that Council President Gloria overstated his authority in his speech. This idea that Mayor Filner could resign and everything would be fine is what we have been led to believe by the UT. Besides this, the election will cost the city up to $6M. What happened to fiscal conservatism? The UT supports a $6M expenditure if it fills their need? When sexual harassment is alleged, there are two things that should perhaps be done. First, crucify the alleged harasser. We seem to have done that pretty well. Second, we need to take a critical look at the sexual harassment policies of the City. I haven’t seen much of that. Now that Bob is gone, I hope some of those that wanted Bob out will talk about this. Government here takes great pride in “doing more with less”. Do everything “on the cheap.” (How would the NCTD, under Supervisor Bill Horn’s leadership, know that their “on the cheap” consultant would not anticipate that the Sprinter’s break discs would need to be replaced? I mean really. Breaks wear out? Who knew?) There was no law in place that Mayor Filner and his staff had to have the training done before some date or pay a fine per day, beyond the date. (They all took the training, on line, for the first time, AFTER the first press conference.) The alleged victims seem to have not gone to the City with complaints. Were they informed they could complain? My company urged us to complain and even had a Sexual Harassment Hot Line, for the case where the victim does
12TH ANNUAL KIDS CARE FEST SEPTEMBER 21
August 26, 2013 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District and City of La Mesa will host the 2013 Kids Care Fest at Briercrest Park, 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free, family-oriented event is open to the public and features free health care screenings. Organizers expect more than 1,000 children under age 12 will receive free, potentially lifesaving, health care screenings, including hearing, vision and dental screenings from healthcare professionals. Free medical information from pediatricians, dermatologists and pharmacists will be available. The La Mesa Police Department and La Mesa Rotary Club will offer kids free fingerprinting. Additional hands-on activities will include water safety, inflatables and pony rides, as well as demonstrations and displays from police and fire officials. Free parking will be available at Sharp Grossmont Hospitals Brier Patch Campus. For more information call 619-825-5050 or visit www.KidsCareFest.org.
24TH ANNUAL SYCUAN POW-WOW IS SEPT. 13 – 15
September 6, 2013 (El Cajon) – The 24th Annual Sycuan Pow-Wow will be held September 13 – 15 at the Sycuan Reservation, 5459 Sycuan Road, El Cajon. The Pow-Wow will begin on Friday evening with Gourd Dancing at 7 p.m., followed by the Grand Entry at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday the Gourd Dancing will begin at 1 p.m with a Grand Entry at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Peon Games will be held on Friday from dusk until dawn for boys and girls. Men and women will have Peon Games from dusk until dawn on Saturday. There is over $125,000 in prize money available. For complete details of the contest times and prize money please visit www.sycuantribe.org/pow-wow.