ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS DIRECT CONSTITUENTS TO PHONY CA HEALTHCARE “RESOURCE” SITE
“It’s outrageous that our elected officials in California are using taxpayer dollars to intentionally mislead their constituents and divert them from CoveredCA.com … Republicans in California should be ashamed… the GOP’s newest tactics is to lie to voters and prevent sick people from getting the care they need.”—Dr. Paul Song, oncologist and Courage Campaign executive director By Nadin Abbott and Miriam Raftery December 3, 2013 (San Diego)—The California Assembly Republican Caucus, chaired by East County representative Brian Jones (R-Santee), is taking heat for creating a phony website (http://www.coveringhealthcareca.com/) designed to divert consumers from the state’s official Covered California site (https://www.coveredca.com/). Covered California is the website for consumers to get information on new healthcare exchanges and sign up for healthcare coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Republican members including Jones are promoting the sham healthcare site, labeled a “California Resource Guide” directly to constituents on their official Assembly websites paid for by taxpayers. A Los Angeles Times economics writer called the action an “underhanded anti-Obamacare stunt by the Califonia GOP.” The LA Times writer further dvised that “constituents needing useful information about how to deal with the Affordable Care Act would be well advised to look elsewhere. As an aid to understanding and navigating the Affordable Care Act’s new requirements and opportunities for coverage, the GOP site is worse than useless.” For example, the Republican site mentions only “bronze” plan options, but fails to mention three other levels that include higher levels of care options: silver, gold and platinum. The GOP site focuses on costs and penalties, not benefits. It suggests seniors will be forced to pay higher taxes for closure of the donut hole and that young adults will pay higher premiums to cover older and sicker individuals. Initially, the Republican site did not even include a link to the real Covered California website despite helpful sounding links such as “helping you navigate your federal healthcare changes.” Links went to articles slamming the healthcare reforms. View screenshot of original site. A link was added today, only after East County Magazine and the Los Angeles Times made inquires. ECM contacted California Attorney General Kamala Harris, whose office has previously forced other scam healthcare sites to be taken down. http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/11/14/attorney-general-shuts-down-fake-covered-california-websites/; http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/190297-california-shuts-down-obamacare-site-imitators A Harris’ aide said her office declined to comment at this time on the site, which was launched in August but only recently promoted heavily by Republican members. ECM contacted Assemblymember Brian Jones’ office. His staffer, Laurie Paredes, said Jones’ office had been receiving questions on the healthcare reforms and that the site was a way to answer all questions in one place. Paredes said the website is meant to educate consumers and provides “another format to answer questions from constituents.” The website itself clearly identifies the California Republican Assembly Caucus at the bottom. An ECM search of the WHOIS database further found that the website domain was registered by Sabrina Lockhart, Communications Director for Assembly Republican leader Connie Conway and the site is administered at the State Capitol, per WHOIS. https://twitter.com/SDLockhart . Lockhart’s official state webpage features a screenshot of the phony healthcare site. http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/AD26/Default.aspx Interestingly, another Republican member, Shannon Grove, removed a similar display and link off her state website after ECM placed calls to the Attorney General regarding the use of state resources for promoting the deceptive site. However ECM has a screenshot of the page. Jones’ office, as of this afternoon, still includes a link to the site with the words “Covering health care: A California Resource Guide.” While an honest critique of the pros and cons of the healthcare reforms would be a legitimate role of any elected official, the deceptive nature of the site is the core of the controversy. Despite the GOP efforts to thwart consumers from learning about options undered Covered California, the number of applications has soared and now averages 10,000 applications a day. As of November 19, 360,464 applications have been completed and applicants’ eligibility determined for premium help or no-cost/low-cost Medi-Cal. For the week ending November 16, the latest time period for which data is available, 71,188 applications were completed, according to Covered California. Covered California has also just announced a self-help site for small businesses seeking healthcare options. Individuals seeking information on California’s healthcare exchange options should visit www.coveredca.com . The site has drawn attention at the national level with coverage on MSNBC TV and other major news outlets. Courage Campaign and MoveOn have launched a petition drive asking Republicans to take the website down. Will Shuck, communications director for Speaker John Perez, shared this reaction with East County Magazine. “There’s a good online destination, and it’s coveredca.com. By most measures, Covered California is the best site in the nation for connecting people with affordable health coverage. So, whatever other sites are out there, the place to go for information or coverage is coveredca.com.” Majority Leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) had this response. ““The Affordable Care Act has been the subject of much discussion since the October 1 implementation date; however, for Californians, CoveredCA.com is the only reliable official source of information about healthcare reform. I urge consumers to be cautious about relying on any other information. In the long run, the Affordable Care Act and Covered California will improve the lives of the more than five million uninsured Californians who will no longer face the fear of illness and injury without insurance and who won’t be financially devastated by healthcare costs.” In case you are wondering what the real Covered California website looks like, to avoid confusion with imposter sites, below is a screenshot image.
HIGH WIND WARNING ISSUED
December 3, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for mountains and deserts. Gusts over 60 miles per hour are forecast. A cold front moving through the recent will drop temperatures below freezing for high desert areas by Wednesday morning. Rain and snowfall are forecast at higher elevations.
READER’S CALENDAR FOR DEC. 1
December 3, 2013 (San Diego) – For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org FOR ALL SAN DIEGO COUNTY LIBRARY EVENTS, go to: http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/news-events/index.shtml December 3 (Tuesday, 7:30 pm) — Warwick’s will host Fannie Flagg, the bestselling author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, as she discusses and signs her new novel The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion. This event is free and open to the public, however Reserved Seating is available. Please call Warwick’s for details. Only books purchased from Warwick’s will be signed. Background: Mrs. Sookie Poole of Point Clear, Alabama, has just married off the last of her daughters and is looking forward to relaxing and perhaps traveling with her husband, Earle. The only thing left to contend with is her mother, the formidable Lenore Simmons Krackenberry. Lenore may be a lot of fun for other people, but is, for the most part, an overbearing presence for her daughter. Then one day, quite by accident, Sookie discovers a secret about her mother’s past that knocks her for a loop and suddenly calls into question everything she ever thought she knew about herself, her family, and her future. Sookie begins a search for answers that takes her to California, the Midwest, and back in time, to the 1940s, when an irrepressible woman named Fritzi takes on the job of running her family’s filling station. Soon truck drivers are changing their routes to fill up at the All-Girl Filling Station. Then, Fritzi sees an opportunity for an even more groundbreaking adventure. As Sookie learns about the adventures of the girls at the All-Girl Filling Station, she finds herself with new inspiration for her own life. Fabulous, fun-filled, spanning decades and generations, and centered on a little-known aspect of America’s twentieth-century story, The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion is another irresistible novel by the remarkable Fannie Flagg. For more information regarding the event, please contact Warwick’s Books | 7812 Girard Avenue | La Jolla, Ca | 92037 | Ph. (858) 454-0347 | www.warwicks.com. December 3 (Tuesday, 5:00 pm) — Join us for a special reading and signing with local author Shelley Moore Thomas, author of the Good Knight series of picture books and the Young Reader novel, The Seven Tales of Trinket. Thomas, known as The Story Queen, will read and perform a play based on her books. Thomas is an elementary teacher in the Carlsbad Unified School District. Barnes & Noble, Oceanside, 2615 Vista Way, Oceanside: Lisa Kovach – Community Relations Manager, at 760-529-0270 or crm2153@bn.com for additional information. December 6 (Friday, 6:00 pm) — Join us for a signing with children authors Shannon Messenger and Salina Yoon. Messenger is the author of the middle grade series Exile, the sequel to Keeper of the Lost Cities, as well as the young adult novels, Let the Sky Fall and Let the Storms Break. Yoon is the author/illustrator of Penguin and Pinecone, Penguin on Vacation, Penguin in Love, plus many more. She has written and/or illustrated more than 100 books for children. Barnes & Noble, Oceanside, 2615 Vista Way, Oceanside: Lisa Kovach – Community Relations Manager, at 760-529-0270 or crm2153@bn.comfor additional information December 6 (Friday, 7:00 pm) — All aboard The Polar Express! On Friday, December 6 at 7:00 pm, enjoy a reading of the holiday classic The Polar Express, along with fun activities and holiday treats. Barnes & Noble, Oceanside, 2615 Vista Way, Oceanside: Lisa Kovach – Community Relations Manager, at 760-529-0270 or crm2153@bn.com for additional information. December 7 (Saturday, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm) — A double book signing and fundraiser for the Edible Schoolyard Project at the Chino Farm with two pioneers of the California food revolution, Alice Waters and Kermit Lynch. Alice will be signing her newest cookbook, The Art of Simple Food II, and her friend and wine merchant, Kermit Lynch, will be signing his 25th anniversary edition of Adventures on the Wine Route. To honor the occasion, East of Echo will be playing a soulful music mix for steel pedal guitar, banjo, bass and trumpet; Bottaro Woodfired Pizza will be making custom pizzas using seasonal Chino produce; Kermit Lynch selected wine samples will be served and Ballast Point Brewery will pour beer tastings. As the founder of Berkeley’s Chez Panisse Restaurant, Alice Waters has been a leading light of the farm-to-table movement for four decades. With her emphasis on sustainable agriculture and locally sourced seasonal ingredients she helped revolutionize the way American’s think about food. In her newest cookbook, The Art of Simple Food II, a beautiful vegetable-focused book with 200 new recipes, Ms. Waters shares her passion for the many delicious varieties of vegetables, fruits, and herbs that one can cultivate in their own kitchen garden or find at a local farmer’s market. Outdoors, rain or shine. Free admission. Chino Farm: 6123 Calzada del Bosque, Rancho Santa Fe. December 9 (Monday, 7:30 pm) — The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla, and Warwick’s and Words Alive will present New York Times bestselling author Amy Tan as she discusses her newest novel The Valley of Amazement with Seth Lerer, the Dean of Arts and Humanities at UCSD. Tickets are $35 and available online at www.warwicks.com. Tickets include admission for 1 and a copy of The Valley of Amazement. Background: Shanghai, 1912. Violet Minturn is the privileged fourteen-year-old daughter of the American madam of the city’s most exclusive courtesan house. But when the Ching dynasty is overturned, Violet is separated from her mother in a cruel act of chicanery and forced to become a “virgin courtesan.” Half-Chinese and half-American, Violet grapples with her place in the contradictory worlds of East and West – until she is able to merge her two halves, empowering her to become a shrewd courtesan who excels in the business of seduction and illusion. But privately she continues to struggle to understand who she is and where she belongs in the world. Back in 1897 San Francisco, Violet’s mother, Lucia, chooses
SANTA AND SNOW AT SANTEE LAKES DECEMBER 8
November 26, 2013 (SanteE)–Santa and snow are in the forecast on Sunday, December 8th from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the annual Santa at the Lakes EVENT at Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve. You’ll find plenty of snow for sledding, Santa visits, and s’mores around the fire as highlights of this year’s event. Bring your coat and gloves to go sledding down a rel snow hill. When you’re ready to warm up from the snow, enjoy visits and photos with Santa, pony rides, a petting zoo, hay rides, holiday art activities, carnival rides, inflatables and a fire ring for the whole family to make s’mores. Enjoy hayrides and boat rides with the whole family. Kids can make holiday crafts including reindeer hats, holiday bag decorating, bird feeders, ornaments, Santa’s Stocking Factory and cookie decorating. Holiday music and decorations will fill the event to create a magical holiday feeling while enjoying tasty food at Feliz Nacho Dogs. Santee Lakes is owned and operated by Padre Dam Municipal Water District which provides water, wastewater, recycled water and recreation services to 100,000 residents in East San Diego County. Santee Lakes is located at 9310 Fanita Parkway in Santee. Admission is $5 per car and activity tickets are 50 cents each. For more information call 619-596-3141 or visit www.santeelakes.com.
EAST COUNTY GOOD SAMARITAN RECOGNIZED WORLDWIDE FOR PAYING IT FORWARD, HELPING STRANDED MOTORISTS
Story and photos by Sharon A. Penny December 1, 2013 (El Cajon)–Thomas Weller of El Cajon has had stories printed throughout the nation about his acts of kindness (by CBS News, The LA Times, People Magazine and NPR, among others), as well as international publications. Yet this East County man remains humble and steadfast in his pursuit of paying it forward. Weller, known as the San Diego Highwayman (www.sandiegohighwayman.com) has been helping distressed motorists for almost 50 years. He never accepts payment for his kind gestures – which include providing gas for empty tanks to replacing batteries to fixing flats. Instead, he hands each motorist a card with the following inscription: “Assisting you has been my pleasure. I ask for no payment other than for you to pass on the favor by helping someone in distress that you may encounter.” These words were spoken to Weller when he was a teenager in Illinois. “When I was 16, being a normal teenage boy, I was out chasing girls in my old black and white cruiser during a snowstorm. I lost control and ran into a snow bank,” he said. “The only thing visible was the black trunk of my car sticking out. A kindly gentleman found me after several hours and rescued me – I’m convinced he saved my life. When I offered to pay him, he said those words that I now have printed on my card.” Weller explained it took him two more years to mature and truly grasp the meaning of paying it forward. By that time, he had moved to San Diego and graduated from Point Loma High School. At the ripe old age of 18, he began his quest to help motorists in distress and show kindness to strangers. Beulah and Shela For decades, Weller drove a Ghostbusters-inspired car, which he named Beulah, chosen from the book Code Three that he had read as a teenager. Weller’s Beulah was a mixture of many makes, models and years of vehicles. The main body was a 1955 Ford Country sedan, with a 1956 Crown Victoria front metal clip. Sadly, Beulah was “killed,” as Weller puts it, when he was sideswiped by a car in August 2011. The car was totaled, and he now drives a former 1956 Mercury ambulance conversion. Although it is not Beulah, it distinguishes him from any other search and rescue vehicle on the road. During the past 10 years, Weller’s partner in his Good Samaritan work has been Shela, his faithful border collie/lab mix. She loves riding shotgun in his customized rescue wagon. A mechanic by trade, now retired, Weller put his skills to good use, but more importantly, he continues to restore faith in humanity for some those who remain skeptical. “I stopped to help one guy who was very leery and disbelieving that I just wanted to help him,” he explained. “He turned out to be a TSA agent, so he often saw the worst in many people. It wasn’t until I finished and headed out to leave that he finally got it. This very tentative, suspicious man suddenly turned animated and thanked me. I told him to pass it on.” He’s had a few other people who were disbelieving of his kindness, especially women alone. He explained that he never imposes himself on anyone. Instead, he’ll move along out of the way, but within watching distance to make sure that the person is safe with other help before he leaves. The majority of people he encounters, however, are grateful, surprised and pleased to repeat random acts of kindness for his good-hearted deed. He estimates that he has helped more than 5,000 people. “I’ve met so many great people. One family from San Jose stands out. They were visiting San Diego during a Fourth of July weekend when their alternator gave out. I lent them my booster battery to make it back to their hotel. Because they were from out of town and most repair shops were closed for the holiday, I knew they were going to have a hard time getting their alternator fixed. So I gave them my address to stop by before they went home. I installed their freshly charged battery and provided them with a second battery for their vehicle. I knew they could make it home on that and deal with the alternator in San Jose.” Weller explained the reason they stood out was the lovely thank you note/drawing he received from their young daughter, Whitney. “She drew a car battery and my rescue mobile with Shela in the driver’s seat, which is where Shela thinks she belongs,” he laughed. “It’s my favorite thank you ever.” Weller still gets in his rescue mobile with Shela almost every day – often seven days a week. A local college student, Sarah Brown, is currently making a documentary film about him that should be released in early 2014. “As long as I’m able, I will continue to do this,” he said. “I’ll be 66 on Christmas day, but I still get as much joy from this as I did when I began it in 1966.”
POWER OUTAGE IN LA MESA
Update: SDGE now reports that 936 customers may be without power until 4 p.m. today. December 3, 2013 (La Mesa)–An estimated 1,568 homes remain without power in west La Mesa, where an outage at 3:27 a.m. initially left nearly 3,800 customers without electricity. San Diego Gas & Electric anticipates full power restoration at 9 a.m. The utility has not released the cause at this time.
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED THROUGH DECEMBER 4 FOR EL CAJON COUNCIL OPENING
December 2, 2013 (El Cajon)–The City of El Cajon is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the El Cajon City Council. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, December 4 at 5:30 p.m. and applications are available at the city’s website. To be eligible, you must be a resident and a registered voter when you apply and throughout your term of office. The seat is open to fill the vacancy left when Councilman Bill Wells was appointed Mayor, after former Mayor Mark Lewis resigned. Councilmembers must also fill out a Statement of Economic Interest in accordance with the City’s Conflict of Interest Code. Applications must be turned into the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 200 Civic Center Way in El Cajon, by 5:30 on Wednesday December 4. The Council appointee will serve until the term expires in November 2016. Interviews with applicants will be scheduled for Tuesday December 10 prior to the Council meeting the same day. Applicants will receive a letter confirming the interview before the meeting. The application asks would-be councilmembers to list their work experience, their vision for El Cajon, why they want to be a councilmember, any involvement with city boards, commissions and committees, and involvement with any other organizations that benefit El Cajon residents or businesses. If you have questions about the application or interview process, call the City Clerk’s office at 619-441-1763.