EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS
February 3, 2015 (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 One firm gets most schools’ legal work (UT San Diego) Outside Attorneys, Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Fees Cost City More than Settlements, Jury Awards (NBC) Lemon Grove’s last dairyman Grossmont High grad, dies (Mt. Helix Patch) La Mesa Schools: Babbit joins La Mesa-Spring Valley Board (La Mesa Today) First memory care homes in California to be built in Spring Valley (EC Californian) California man convicted in ‘revenge porn’ case (Reuters) Officials: Why Isn’t There More Solar On San Diego Apartment Buildings, Condos? (KPBS) STATE California runs risk of financial relapse, ratings agency says (Los Angeles Times) AG cites possible felony crime in raid on ex-utility boss (U-T San Diego) Amid report Michael Peevey’s home searched, Jerry Brown praises PUC (Sacramento Bee) APNewsBreak: Boy Scouts settle California suit over abuse U-T) Suspected Ebola patient admitted to California hospital (Reuters) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. LOCAL/REGIONAL One firm gets most schools’ legal work (UT San Diego) More than 35 school districts in the region turn to the county Office of Education for help with certain legal issues, and an obscure agency in that office assigns most of the casework to one firm. Stutz Artiano Shinoff & Holtz received $4.6 million of the $6.6 million in legal work distributed through the legal clearinghouse in the past three fiscal years, or nearly 70 percent, public records show…. Critics say the setup is insular and cozy among insiders at the agency, known as the San Diego County Schools Risk Management Joint Powers Authority. The JPA’s executive director, Diane Crosier, once worked for Shinoff…. The consortium also has two other firms it picks from when assigning legal work — Winet Patrick Gayer Creighton & Hanes and Gibbs & Fuerst, LLP. Outside Attorneys, Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Fees Cost City More than Settlements, Jury Awards (NBC) The city of San Diego is settling a pension lawsuit for $70,000 after spending more than $2 million on outside attorneys. In a gender discrimination case, it’s granting $875,000 in legal fees to a plaintiff’s attorney to whom a jury awarded $101,000 damages. All that money could cover the salaries of 65 new police officers, or 25 percent of a new fire station’s cost…. Lemon Grove’s last dairyman Grossmont High grad, dies (Mt. Helix Patch) William “Bill” Miller once opened your unlocked kitchen door and placed milk bottles and butter directly into the fridge. Those days are gone forever, but they spoke to the down-home, familiar trust that once existed in Lemon Grove and other small towns. La Mesa Schools: Babbit joins La Mesa-Spring Valley Board (La Mesa Today) Steve Babbitt, a Spring Valley pastor and a local web designer, was selected from among six applicants to fill out the incomplete term of board member Bill Baber. First memory care homes in California to be built in Spring Valley (EC Californian) Noah Homes, a non-profit organization in Spring Valley that has provided life changing services for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities for over thirty years, hosted a kick-off event to celebrate their plan to build the first memory care homes in California for adults with developmental disabilities who are fighting against Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other issues related to aging. California man convicted in ‘revenge porn’ case (Reuters) A San Diego man who prosecutors say ran a “revenge porn” website featuring nude pictures of women often posted by jilted ex-lovers wasconvicted on Monday of identity theft and extortion charges, prosecutors said…. Boellart, who was taken into custody after the verdict, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on April 3. Officials: Why Isn’t There More Solar On San Diego Apartment Buildings, Condos? (KPBS) The San Diego-based Center for Sustainable Energy is getting just over $700,000 to explore why efforts to encourage solar on multi-unit complexes are falling short. STATE California runs risk of financial relapse, ratings agency says (Los Angeles Times) When Gov. Jerry Brown released his latest budget proposal earlier this month, he said California’s finances were balanced but remain precarious. On Wednesday, a report from Wall Street ratings agency Standard & Poor’s echoed the governor’s concerns and questioned how sustainable California’s recovery will be…. If the stock market shifts from gains to losses, Standard & Poor’s said, the budget could be dramatically affected because about half of the state’s revenue comes from the wealthiest 1% in California. AG cites possible felony crime in raid on ex-utility boss (U-T San Diego) State agents seized bank statements, computers. miscellaneous files and a host of other materials from the Los Angeles area home of former California Public Utilities Commission President Michael Peevey this week, indicating a public-corruption case is growing more serious. According to the search warrant and an inventory of materials seized by Attorney General’s office investigators, Peevey is suspected of committing at least one felony offense. Amid report Michael Peevey’s home searched, Jerry Brown praises PUC (Sacramento Bee) Even as it was reported that state investigators seized computers and other items from Michael Peevey’s home, Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday offered only praise for the former president of the California Public Utilities Commission. APNewsBreak: Boy Scouts settle California suit over abuse U-T) The Boy Scouts of America settled a sex abuse case Thursday involving a 20-year-old California man who was molested by a Scout volunteer in 2007 — a decision that will keep years’ worth of “perversion” files detailing sex abuse allegations secret from the public. Suspected Ebola patient admitted to California hospital (Reuters) A patient suspected of being infected with Ebola was admitted on Thursday to the University of California, Davis, Medical Center in Sacramento, the hospital said in a statement.
MOST ROMANTIC VALENTINE RETREATS IN EAST COUNTY
By Miriam Raftery February 2, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) — What better way to infuse passion into your relationship than to slip away for a Valentine weekend stay at one of East County’s romantic inns, cabins or lodges? Or give a getaway gift for later in the year as the perfect way to say”I love you.” Here are few idyllic places to rejuvenate your spirit with that special someone: Sweetheart package at Santee Lakes: Snuggle up in a waterfront or floating cabin. Cabins include barbecue rings, big-screen TVs, kitchens and pedal boats to explore the lakes and isles. Single-night rates range from $104 to $149 a night. Or sign up for the “Sweetheart package” – a two night stay in 2015 as a gift for your Valentine. This $400 package includes a gift basket with a bottle of wine, assorted goodies and two fishing permits, plus a one-pound box of chocolates and a gift certificate to delight your darling. Julian retreats: Julian, the historic gold rush mining town, has a wealth of options for weekend getaways . While there you can enjoy a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride, go wine-tasting, tour a gold mine, hike in the woods, shop in one-of-a-kind boutiques and savor dinner at local restaurants away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Options range from the historic Julian Hotel to bed and breakfast inns or cozy cabins—and many are very affordably priced. For a list of currently available rooms, visit http://www.julianca.com/Lodging-Weeks-Availibility.html Jamul Haven, Jamul: This elegant restored Victorian home has rooms for $199 weeknights, $219 weekends in a sumptuous setting. All rooms include a private full bath, a porch or balcony, antique furniture, inlaid marble mosaics, mahogany wainscoting and molding, tin-tile ceilings, hand carved doors, stained glass windows, and authentic Victorian wallpaper. Amenities include a stone-lined pool and spa, English gardens, farmhouse kitchen, game room and disco to dance the night away. www.jamulhaven.com La Casa del Zorro Resort, Borrego: This upscale desert resort, recently renovated and reopened, is a tradition dating back to 1937. Choose from casitas, deluxe rooms or garden rooms plus amenities that include golf at nearby locations, a full spa for the utmost in pampering, and Valentine’s dinner specials. It’s posh but pricey, with current available rooms ranging from $179 to nearly $800, with most rooms priced around $250 and up. Orchard Hill Country Inn, Julian: This four-diamond inn overlooks the historic gold rush town of Julian just one block off the main street in town, nestled among fruit trees, gardens and pine trees. The inn is offering a Valentine’s special that includes champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, rose and full five-course dinner ($55 plus two night’s lodging; lodge rooms run $195-$295 a night; cottages are $295-450. www.orchardhill.com Viejas Casino & Resort, Alpine: This sophisticated new resort hotel includes a lush sparkling pool with hot tub and fire bowls, fitness gym, and proximity to the casino as well as the Viejas Outlets Centers across the street. Viejas offers a Romance Package a luxury or executive suite, $100 food or beverage credit that can be used at restaurants such as the award-winning Grove Steakhouse or on room service, chocolate-covered strawberries, romance-themed turn-down service,and late checkout. www.Viejas.com. Barona Resort & Casino, Lakeside: Barona’s resort includes a full-service spa (how about a his-and-her massage to set the mood?), lakes for romantic strolls, a variety of restaurants from Italian to a steakhouse, golf course, and comfortably appointed rooms. There’s even a wedding chapel on site if you feel inspired to say “I do” or renew your vows. Rooms range from $129 to $179 a night. The website showed it booked up on Valentine’s weekend, but it’s worth checking for cancellations – it’s a large resort adjacent to the casino, so you just could get lucky! www.barona.com.
SUPERVISORIAL RACE KICKS OFF EARLY
Could Senator Joel Anderson challenge Jacob in 2016? East County News Service February 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) — Supervisor Dianne Jacob has announced plans to seek reelection in 2016 for what would be her final term of office, under term limits approved by voters. She is seeking early support in an email signed by 16 community leaders, Times of San Diego reports. That e-mail praises Jacob’s “courage to stand up for us” on issues ranging from securing aid for fire victims to helping homeowners secure clean energy options, then warns against termed-out politicians who could run against her. Potentially that could include State Senator Joel Anderson, who has already launched a campaign committee to run for Supervisor in Jacob’s 2nd Supervisor District in 2020 for what would then be an open seat due to term limits, the Reader recently reported. But the UT San Diego suggests he may jump in sooner, in 2016, and if so could win support of the Republican Party for an effort to unseat Jacob. Those signing the letter on Jacob’s behalf include former La Mesa Councilman Ernie Ewin, ex-San Diego zoo ambassador Joan Embery of Lakeside, Lemon Grove Historical Society president Helen Ofield and her husband, Jack, and more. The e-mail urged recipients to go to diannejacobforsupervisor.com “and endorse Dianne’s re-election.” The email to Jacob supporters states, “It would be a tragedy if a politician, whose only interests are advancing a political career and delivering for special interest supporters, replaced a committed public servant like Dianne.” Jacob, a Republican, has held the office for over two decades. In her last two elections, she defeated Democrat Rudy Reyes, a Cedar Fire survivor and burn victim, by wide margins. Democrats have not yet announced who they may field to run against Jacob in 2016. Her district is the largest countywide, including the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Poway and Santee as well as unincorporated areas of San Diego County. The County Republican Party is reportedly unhappy over Supervisors’ recent vote to limit campaign contributions by political parties to $25,000 in Supervisor races and $50,000 for countywide races such as district attorney. Tony Krvaric, chair of the San Diego County Republican Party, has suggested those caps may have been due to Anderson’s potential candidacy. According to the UT, Krvaric said of the campaign finance limits, “I don’t think Dianne helped herself with that stunt she pulled at the County,” even though three of her Republican colleagues joined her in voting for the campaign finance limits, with only Supervisor Bill Horn voting no. Jacob has been a fighter standing up against destructive energy projects and industrial zoning in the backcountry and San Diego’s inland regions, from Sunrise Powerlink to the county’s wind energy ordinance. Anderson refused to take stances on major energy projects such as Quail Brush, Tule Wind and Sunrise Powerlink despite numerous requests from constituents to do so. He recently sent a letter to Supervisors in support of Soitec’s proposed solar projects in Boulevard, despite strong community opposition in Boulevarde and a San Diego State hydrologist report indicating the projects could irreversibly damage the ecosystem by draining groundwater for construction beyond what can be replenished through rainfall. Anderson has long positioned himself as a tax fighter championing taxpayers, though Jacob backers also praise her record as a fiscal conservative. He previously served on the Padre Dam Municipal Water District Board before his election to the Legislature. Anderson has been an effective money raiser for the Republican party but has drawn controversy over his own political contributions. Anderson has received substantial campaign funding from Sempra Energy/SDG&E as well as Hamann Construction family members. In late 2009, Anderson was fined $20,000 by the Fair Political Practices Commission under a plea bargain arrangement for illegally funneling money from Sempra/SDG&E, Hamann Construction family members and others into his campaign through a Republican central committee in another county. The donations exceeded state limits for donors; Anderson returned contributions from Hamann, Sempra and others. Hamann owns part of the land slated for the controversial Tule Wind project and 765 acres of Soitec’s Rugged Solar project. Anderson also leases his office space in a building owned by Hamann Companies. Senator Anderson has not yet stated publicly whether he will challenge Jacob in 2016 or hold off until the seat is open four years later.
BILL TO PREVENT VETERANS’ SUICIDES PASSES SENATE
By Miriam Raftery February 3, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – It’s rare for members of Congress to agree on anything these days. .Both both the House and Senate voted unanimously to approve the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act. The measure now heads to President Obama’s desk for signature. The bill is named after a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who took his own life. He was one of over 8,000 veterans who commit suicide every year. The measure calls for external audits of suicide prevention programs in the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense to find out which programs are succeeding and which should be scrapped. In addition it will establish a website on mental health services for veterans. It will also create a pilot program to repay student loan debt for students in psychiatric medicine who agree to work at the VA. The cost of the bill is $24 million, and legislators did voice differences on whether those costs should be offset or if funds should come from VA funds already allocated, the Hill reports. The measure is expected to help address issues of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder which have contributed to the high rate of suicides among returning veterans. Clay Hunt’s mother, Susan Selke, issued a statement thanking the Senate for passing the bill. “While we are a little bittersweet, because it is too late for our son Clay, we are thankful knowing that this bill will save many lives,” she concluded.
VALENTINES WEEKEND KUMEYAAY LAKES POETRY CAMPOUT AT MISSION TRAILS FEB. 13-15
February 3, 2015 (San Diego)–San Diego’s Mission Trails Regional Park announces a three-day Kumeyaay Lakes Poetry Campout in February with Poet Jim Moreno–complete with love-themed workshops for romantics at heart. The Valentines Day Weekend (Feb. 13-15) will blend writing time for beginning to seasoned poets in four structured writing workshops. Star gazing with the San Diego Astronomy Association, a guided nature walk, and a Saturday sunset open mic for camping poets and community at the Kumeyaay Lake amphitheater will be blended with Valentine theme poetry events. The family-friendly event will be held at Kumeyaay Lake Campground,Two Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA, 92119, for 12 participants (ages 10 years old to adult) on Friday, February 13, Saturday, February 14, and Sunday, February 15, 2014, with check-in time Friday, February 13, 2015 at 5 p.m. The fee is $100 plus camping fees. Sign up at https://activenet020.active.com/sdparkandrec/ Imagine participants being able to camp with the Nature poems of Walt Whitman, Robinson Jeffers, Diane Ackerman, Jorge Luis Borges, Native American Joy Harjo, and others. In addition, the love verses of Noble Prize winner Pablo Neruda, Jane Hirshfield, Osip Madelstam, and Dorianne Laux, among others, will inspire Valentine’s writing. Weekend poets will hear poems by various poets such as Mary Oliver, Antonio Machado, Sandra Cisneros, Li Young Lee, and Jim Moreno as prompts in four structured workshops: Friday evening, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. In the Sunday A.M. Poetry Workshop, poets will make Native American Dreamcatchers and then compose poems about catching your dreams. Jim Moreno is on the Advisory Board of the Poetic Medicine Institute of Palo Alto, California and a Regional Editor of the San Diego Poetry Annual. He is a Teaching Artist with Young Audiences of San Diego and the Point Loma Arts Academy. Jim was the Resident Poet for the Juvenile Court & Community Schools and was an original member of the Langston Hughes Poetry Circle. Moreno is the author of “Dancing In Dissent”, (Dolphin Calling Press, 2007) and two cd’s of music and poetry. He hosts “2nd Tuesday— Jihmye Poetry” at the Cafe Cabaret on Adams Ave., and is in post production for his radio show “The San Diego Poetry Cafe” to be aired on KNSJ, 89.1 FM & KNSJ.org. Moreno was adopted by the Barbareno Chumash tribe in 1995. His writing has been heavily influenced by his Brother John Moreno, a member of the California Indian Storytellers Association. Information: (619) 668- 2748 or 760 802-2449, Sign up at https://activenet020.active.com/sdparkandrec/