CAJON VALLEY TEACHERS UNION PRESIDENT TO SPEAK AUG. 20 AT EAST COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB
August 17, 2015 (El Cajon ) — Chris Prokop, president of the Cajon Valley Education Association, the teacher’s union for Cajon Valley Union School District, will be the featured speaker at the East County Democratic Club’s meeting on August 20th at MJ’s Restaurant, 526 North Second Street in El Cajon. Social hour and dinner starts at 6 p.m. with program at 7 p.m. Learn about matters in the district from Prokop’s purview as a classroom teacher and leader of the teachers’ union, as well as dissatisfaction among some over changes in process at the Cajon Valley Union School District. The restaurant features American, Greek and Mexican food available for purchase.
RAMONA WATER RATES RISE 14 PERCENT
By Tasha Matthews August 18, 2015 (Ramona) — Customers of the Ramona Municipal Water District are under pressure to conserve more water after the board of directors approved a 14 percent water rate increase at Monday’s meeting. The Ramona Sentinel reports that Richard Hannasch, the district’s financial services director, stated during the public hearing that the more a customer conserves, the lower the impact will be. He added, “You are charged based on what you use.” The district’s customers have conserved 28 percent since June 1st, when mandatory water conservation was ordered by the state. But Hannasch explained that additional revenue is needed to maintain the district’s water infrastructure and 435 miles of pipeline. Costs of treated water from the County Water Authority has gone up 90% in the past seven years, and CWA is Ramona’s only source of water. The vote for the rate increase was 4 to 1. Director Jim Hickle, the only one who voted no on the water rate increase, questioned the 14 percent hike. Hannasch said it was based on a study by Raftelis Financial Consultants Inc/ The new rates will take place starting Sept. 1st, impacting both treated and untreated water. There were various people who sent letters objecting to the rate hike as well as two member who protested in person, but the majority of the directors agreed that there was no other option. Tasha Matthews is a UCSD Marshall College student and Guardian scholar.
LA MESA MAN LEADS FIGHT FOR FERRET LEGALIZATION
By Miriam Raftery August 18, 2015 (La Mesa)—Our staff has been hard at work ferreting information out on proposed initiatives seeking to weasel their way onto the 2016 ballot. Here’s a scoop: La Mesa resident Pat Wright has proposed a ballot measure that would ask California voters to legalize owning ferrets as pets. The Legislature previously passed a bill that would have decriminalized ferret fans from owning the weasel-like animals, but Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger thwarted ferret fans by vetoing that bill. Now, California Attorney General has cleared the ferret-legalization initiative to start the signature-gathering phase, so watch for petition gatherers at your local grocery stores or other public places. It’s still a steep hurdle though for ferret aficionados to climb, since over 365,000 signatures are needed to qualify the measure for the ballot. The Sacramento Bee reports that Wright is baffled over efforts to block ferret ownership. “If you don’t have ferrets, why do you care?” he asks. Wright enjoys the energetic interactivity of his ferret friends. But he admits his ferrets have occasionally nipped him and he had to replace baseboards in his house due to damage from his trio of feisty ferrets—Tiger, Bailey and Jethro, Reuters reports. Another of his former ferret pets was ordered euthanized by the state after it bit a cameraman at a pro-ferret rally, according to Reuters. Ferret fans are fighting back against the ban with a website, www.LegalizeFerrets.org. They contend that bites are rare and that despite being legal in 48 states, ferrets have not run wild to wreak havoc in the environment. That debate has turned heated at times. The Legalize Ferrets site contends that state Senator Joel Anderson from San Diego’s East County once accused a ferret lobbyist of a bribery attempt in his legislative newsletter; the group denies that any such action occurred. California isn’t the only place where ferret ownership is outlawed. The state of Hawaii has banned them, citing fears of domestic ferrets being released into the wild and becoming invasivre species. New York City also has a ferret ban. City health officials there warned of “vicious, unprovoked attacks” by ferrets amid a failed effort by activists to overturn the city’s ban. Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani once infamously stated on his radio show that “excessive concern with little weasels is a sickness” and called ferret fans “deranged.” So the ferret fight continues—and soon California voters may have the final say.
HEAR OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: NEW JAMUL TRIBAL LEADER AND CASINO MANAGER SPEAK OUT
Hear our exclusive interviews with Jamul Indian Village Tribal Chair Erica Pinto and Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego’s General Manager Richard St. Jean, originally aired on KNSJ Radio: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/audio/2019/August/TribalBeat-JamulIndianChair%26CasinoManager.mp3 By Leon Thompson Photo, left: Chairwoman Erica Pinto August 17, 2015 (Jamul Indian Village) – As the long-planned Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego nears completion following a recent topping-off ceremony, the Jamul Indian Village has elected a new Chairwoman, Erica Pinto and brought in Richard St. Jean as General Manager for the casino. Chairwoman Pinto is the first woman elected Chair of the tribe and was the youngest person ever elected to the tribal council in 1996, at the age of 21. Her family traces its roots back as far as Jamul’s history itself—and now she has big dreams for her people and the community. East County Magazine spoke with Chairwoman Pinto, along with the new General Manager of the casino, Richard St. Jean on plans for the new casino, in exclusive interviews on KNSJ radio. See highlights below, and hear the full radio interviews by listening here. Chairwoman Erica Pinto Even before she was elected to the Tribal Council Pinto served as Tribal Secretary, answering phones, recording meetings, filing forms and keeping documents. She lived for a time in the Village and attended local schools including Valhalla High School. Her uncle is Raymond Hunter, former Chairman of the Tribe. Chairwoman Pinto has the unique combination of close family connection to the tribe, intimate knowledge of its undertakings and a young, fresh leadership style. She admits that being the leader of the tribe is “a whole different ball-game” from Council Membership but she is not shy about being the new face and voice of the Jamul Indian village in this time of intense attention being drawn to the Village. As the new tribal leader, she has big dreams. “My vision and my hope as leader of the tribe is to allow the tribe to become self-sufficient, economically independent, expanding our land base, able to venture out into other businesses,” she said in her interview with ECM. She also reflected on the many changes the tribe has seen. “Growing up in the Village was a whole different world,” she recalls. “There were dirt streets and dirt floors in some of the homes. We did not have running water or electricity until the 1980’s. I remember how happy were to have a bathroom indoors.” But she adds, “We were happy, if that makes any sense; we had each other–my brothers and me…My goal is a quality education for all and shoes to wear while going to school.” The Jamul Indian Village website has this statement on its new chair. “Ms. Pinto’s profound involvement with the Jamul Indian Village gives her a sophisticated grasp on even the most complex aspects of tribal governance, but her real passion comes from applying that knowledge to build a better future for the Tribe and ensuring care for their elders.” (Photo, right: Chairwoman Erica Pinto signs beam at topping off ceremony for casino construction) Chairwoman Pinto’s mother is Carlene Chamberlain, a widely respected leader who helped bring healthcare to the Kumeyaay Nation and serves on the Southern Indian Health Council with clinics in Santa Ysabel, Campo and Alpine. “My vision is to have healthy tribal members,” Chairwoman Pinto goes on to say, “free from the worry and extreme stress we had growing up, self-sufficient and able to pursue an education as far as their ambitions will take them, wherever their paths will lead them.” She also believes in giving back to the community. Erica Pinto and her brother, Chris Pinto started Acorns to Oaks, a program to mentor tribal youth in life skills and encourage kids to excel in school and steer clear of drugs. The tribe under Pinto’s leadership aspires to provide charitable assistance encompassing three areas: hungry, homeless and recovery. The tribe, in partnership with Penn National Gaming, seeks to reach out to the community through non-profits such as Madeleine Sophie’s, Crisis House and Noah’s Homes—especially the latter, a non-profit group home in Jamul where JIV can help provide employment and other opportunities for disasdvantaged residents. “The Community will benefit as well,” Chairwoman Pinto said of revenues that the new casino aims to generate. “There will be safer roads, a state-of-the-art fire station and more than a thousand new jobs.” Richard St. Jean, General Manager, Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego “We are very committed to hiring locally, buying locally and supporting local businesses,” Richard St Jean (photo, center) said when he sat down to talk with East County Magazine in our studio. “Jobs are coming to Jamul.” The new casino, built in partnership with Penn Gaming, is anticipated to bring investments, jobs and revenues to Jamul. It will be the nearest casino to San Diego as well as the Otay and Tecate border crossings. St Jean previously served four years as General Manager of Hollywood Casino Toledo, following a 16-year career at Station Casinos during which he served as President of Native American Gaming. His nearly 30-year career has also included roles at the Tropicana Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Colorado Belle Hotel & Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. One of the main concerns of local residents is the impact of the casino on traffic along State Route 94, so we asked what is being done to improve traffic safety and flow. St. Jean responded, “Penn National, the Jamul Indian village and CalTrans have been working very closely on the impact studies and the resulting modifications to SR 94. They have a great plan, they have been terrific to work with and CalTrans is excited to get started so that the improvements will be ready for the casino opening in mid-2016.” The Jamul Indian Village website shows details of six roadway improvements that include widening in some places, adding turn lanes, improved signage, rumble strips and signals in and around intersections.
BEWARE OF JURY CALL SCAMS
East County News Service August 17, 2015 (San Diego) – The San Diego Department is warning area residents to beware of phony callers posing as Sheriff’s officials. Here’s how the scam works. The caller tells you that you’ve missed jury duty and must pay a fine on a pre-paid card to avoid arrest, NBC Channel 7 TV reports. The Sheriff and the Court system do not use prepaid calls. If you receive a call from anyone claiming to be with the Sheriff or Court demanding money, hang up, then call the Sheriff’s office to report it. Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a crime, as is bilking consumers out of money with bogus schemes such as this one.
CHP AND SUPERVISOR JACOB RESPOND TO ECM INQUIRY ON 10-HOUR CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 94
By Miriam Raftery Photo: Joseph Zatarain, Potrero Town on Facebook August 18, 2015 (Jamul) – On Sunday, we reported on a 10-hour closure of State Route 94 last Friday due to a head-on collision involving a semi-truck that left many local residents stranded and angry by the long delays. Our story included documentation of numerous past lengthy closures on the highway in the Jamul area provided by the Deerhorn Valley Antler editor.We asked the California Highway Patrol and Supervisor Dianne Jacob for comments on this serious issue. Supervisor Jacob responded, “The public has every reason to be outraged, given the length of the closure, the dangerously high temperatures that day and the lack of communication from state authorities. I will be sharing those concerns with the Caltrans, CHP and other state officials. Drivers are already at risk on this dangerous and congested state highway, and the situation will become even more dangerous if a casino opens. Thousands of lives are at risk in the event there is a need for an evacuation of the area with nowhere to go.” Kevin Pearlstein, public information officer for the California Highway Patrol in El Cajon, today advised East County Magazine that the delay was due in part to the truck shifting and dropping part of its load. “The truck was carrying a form of coal. When the trailer opened up like a aluminum can it spilled everywhere,” he said, adding that the prolonged road closure was due to cleanup of the coal spill. The accident caused five injuries,two major and three minor to moderate, he added, and providing additional details: According to Pearlstein, the crash happened at 10:20 a.m. He said Sheriff deputies began assisting in traffic control at 10:49 a.m. and a SIG Alert was issued at 11:02 a.m. (A SIG Alert icon did appear on the CalTrans map, but the incident was inexplicably not listed in the “trouble” areas section despite the 10-hour closure. Many members of the public, media and officials were not aware of the closure. “At 11:54 a.m. the tow began to upright the semi,” said Pearlstein. “Unfortunately, the load shifted and poured out of the side of the trailer. At 1:11 p.m. they were attempting to open the road, but the tow was having difficulty.” Motorists have advised ECM that the road did not open until after 8 p.m. Some complained of inadequate notification, entering highway 94 after the crash occurred and becoming stuck in long traffic lines. Deerhorn Valley Antler reported concerns over motorists stranded for hours in 100 degree-plus heat. The U.S. Border Patrol was running water to motorists waiting for the roadway to reopen, he said, adding that drivers were advised of alternate routes around traffic via Buckman Springs, I-8, Honey Springs Road, Japatul and other options. He confirmed that an ambulance was advised of the closure and the emergency call for an unrelated patient was rerouted at 6:34 p.m. As for residents’ complaints over lack of media coverage, Pearlstein has promised to inform East County Magazine via e-mail of future emergencies. (You can follow our EastCountyAlert on Twitter.com or sign up to get our alerts via email at www.EastCountyMagazine.org ) Pearlstein said he is aware of one media outlet, NBC7, that learned of the accidents and sent an alert. As for how to prevent such long delays in the future, Pearlstein had this to say. “As you know, the 94 is a two lane highway. At many locations there are no shoulders, it is just wide enough for two vehicles to share at the same time. It is the mission of the CHP to lower the mileage death rate thru strict enforcement of speed, dui, and seatbelts. Last year the El Cajon office had 60,000 enforcement contacts. We will continue with our daily duties in an effort to keep drivers safe thru education and enforcement. “