U.S. TO ADMIT MORE REFUGEES OVER NEXT TWO YEARS
By Miriam Raftery September 12, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Today, Secretary of State John Kerry announced the U.S. will raise its cap on refugees from the current level of 70,000 to accept 85,000 next year and 100,000 in 2017. The news comes in response to a growing refugee crisis of people fleeing ISIS in Syria and Iraq, including Christians and other minorities as well as Muslims. That came as welcome news in El Cajon, where Iraqi-American Christians are celebrating at the Chaldean Festival. Mark Arabo, a spokesman for the Chaldean community in the U.S., has been advocating for a raise in the refugee ceiling, including meetings at the White House and with Secretary Kerry. His communications director, Lundon Attisha, called the news a “major step forward” in a statement issued today, adding, “This, for many in the Chaldean community is a moment of celebration.” Though Kerry’s order does not specify how many Chaldean refugees will be admitted, Arabo aims to seek assurances that a sizeable number will be Chaldeans and other religious minorities, Attisha said. Earlier this month, the White House indicated it would take in at least 10,000 Syrian refugees, after 4 million Syrians have fled their nation and currently are residing in United Nations refugee camps. Hundreds of thousands more have taken refuge in Europe, while the U.S. has accepted only 1,500 Syrian refugees. Kerry has indicated background checks will be conducted to week out potential terrorists and that the U.S. refugees accepted from Syria will come off a list the U.N. prepared before the influx of migrants to Europe, the New York Times reports. Some of the refugees will also include Africans threatened by human rights abuses, including immigrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
WHERE DOES FIORINA STAND ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS ISSUES?
By Miriam Raftery September 20, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – In the second Republican presidential debate, Ex-Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina scored high approvals from voters for standing up to Donald Trump over his disparaging “look at that face” remark. But when it comes to standing up for women’s rights, just how does Fiorina compare to the leading contenders in either party? Back in 2010, while running for Senate against Barbara Boxer in California, Fiorina said she would support overturning Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, the Los Angeles Times reported. In her second debate against Boxer, she made clear that she opposed all abortions except in the cases of rape, incest or when the life of a mother is at stake, Medical Times reported, according to On the Issues. More recently, she has said she would support legislation to ban abortions after 20 weeks to prevent pain to the fetus. But 20 to 21 weeks is the time when ultrasounds can first be done to find conditions such as spina bifida or Downs syndrome, meeting such a law would also prevent abortions for many serious birth defects and other conditions, particularly in states with waiting periods required before abortions can be obtained. Fiorina’s position is less extreme than many other Republicans in the 2016 race, some of whom want to outlaw all abortions with no exceptions. But her position is more conservative than the Democratic candidates, who support keeping abortions as allowed under Roe v. Wade legal. As for birth control, she opposes mandating employers to pay for contraception covrage, as the Affordable Care Act requires, the New York Times reported. “We are not waging a war on women simply because we believe there is no good reason for birth control to be free,” she said at last year’s CPAC. While CEO at Hewlett Packard, she stated, “I hope that we are at a point that everyone has figured out that there is not a glass ceiling.” However she has opposed raising the minimum wage. Moreover, though she recently claimed to support equal pay for women, her track record is the opposite. She opposed both the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. For a detailed discussion of these issues and Fiorina’s remarks at the nonprofit Media Matters fact check site, see http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/05/28/media-give-carly-fiorina-a-free-pass-on-opposit/203800
THEATER ARTS FOR ALL: VISIONARY DANCE THEATRE
By Ariele Johannson September 18, 2015 (La Mesa)–You might be surprised how much some kids love Broadway! Recently, several teenagers from Visionary Dance Theatre showed off their love of singing Broadway hits for the supporters and staff of East County Magazine, with solo performances and a coed dance duet. Guests at both of our summer fundraisers got a taste of theater from these talented young people. With their Smart phones cued up to their song and the sound plugged into the sound system, both boys and girls delivered amazing solos of their own Broadway favorites. One boy/girl team did a pantomimed dance number portraying the shy coming together and ultimate heartbreak of a tender new romance. Using only one prop, they were able to transport viewers, as they creatively utilized space and each other to act and dance. In the end, they united. Visionary Dance Theatre enriches communities by getting kids—and sometimes even their parents—into the act. The non-profit organization just celebrated their fifth anniversary, remaining true to their mission of diversity, cutting-edge dance, and open mind and spirit. Driven by the vision of Artistic Director Spencer Powell, Visionary Dance Theater strives to enrich the community and its own company members through the shared experience of dance, theatre, and art. The organization includes divisions for the following: performing arts, musical theater, dance theater, community theater, and youth theater. Included in this vision is the belief that dance is for everyone. VDT brings together dancers and performers of all skill levels to create an environment of shared passion, growth, and opportunity for all of its members. Mickey Mounarath, Business Director and Co-Producer, is instrumental in creating opportunities for a diverse range of students to explore theater arts and to hone their skills. Mickey co-produces all dance concert productions and occasionally participates as a dancer. Mounarath has also produced or co-produced numerous dance productions and artists within the San Diego area, including the Choreographer’s Showcase series. For Visionary School for the Performing Arts, Mickey has co-produced all recitals and musical theatre productions. Visionary School for the Performing Arts offers classes for all ages and skill levels for dance, voice, and acting. Their office in East County is in La Mesa at 7202A El Cajon Blvd, CA, 92115. The classes at Visionary are taught by four teachers, including Spencer Powell, who is an award-winning actor and choreographer with 26 years of teaching experience. The youngest age for classes is four years old. Multi-class and family discounts are available. Besides providing an outlet for their creativity, Visionary is set up to allow students to gain experience. They provide many different kinds of performances for which students can audition. These include musicals, dance concerts, and plays. The Broadway hit Hairspray is the current production for their 5th Anniversary Season. The musical includes kids and their parent(s) who have withstood the rigors of rehearsing together. Performances for Hairspray began on September 11-12, and are also scheduled for 7 p.m., September 18-19, 2015 at Point Loma High School Performing Arts Center at 2335 Chatsworth Blvd., San Diego, CA. The cast includes Matthew Anderson as Wilbur Turnblad and Spencer Powell as Edna Turnblad. The production is directed by Spencer Powell. A review of this exciting production is available on our website. Previous plays or musicals recently produced by Visionary Dance Theatre and Visionary Community Theater include Tres, A New Girl Group produced by Mounarath-Powell Productions in August; Pop Rock, a musical review featuring Pop and Rock hits in July; and Geisha Boy in June of 2015 Kaleidoscope is the next performance presented by Bottled Light Dance Theatre, scheduled for October 23-24, 2015 at Kwai Sun Studio, 8380 Center Drive, Suite C in La Mesa. Presale ticket pricing begins on October 18, 2015 at $10, with regular ticket pricing after October 18 at $15 for general admission. Details about Visionary Dance Theatre, classes and performances can be found on their website at www.VisionaryDanceTheatre.org. Contact Info: Phone: 619-758-8112 Email: info@VisionaryDanceTheatre.org.
GIRL, 7, KILLED BE VEHICLE WHILE PLAYING IN PARKING LOT
By Miriam Raftery Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News September 20, 2015 (El Cajon) – A 7-year-old girl has died after being struck by a Ford Ranger pickup truck in the parking lot of an apartment complex where she lived at 589 North Johnson Street in El Cajon. A makeshift memorial for the victim, identified as Riley Jackson by neighbors, has been set up, 10 News reports. El Cajon Police officers and Heartland Fire paramedics responded to the scene at 7:11 p.m. last night. According to the Medical Examiner’s office, the girl and another child were playing in the parking lot when the victim ran out from behind a dumpster into the path of the Ford Ranger. The driver, Bradley Brown, a 20-year-old from National City, called 911 and remained at the scene. He has been fully cooperative with the investigation, said Lieutenant Soulard with the El Cajon Police, adding that neither alcohol nor speed were factors. The young victim was transported to Rady Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead of her injuries shortly after arrival. The El Cajon Police Department would like to remind pedestrians to always cross at controlled intersections or designated crosswalks and to wear bright or reflective clothing in hours of darkness. Please visit www.elcajonpolice.org and click on “Police Video” link for more tips on pedestrian safety.
SCHOOL BOND MEASURE QUALIFIES FOR STATEWIDE BALLOT
By Miriam Raftery September 20, 2015 (Sacramento – California’s Secretary of State has confirmed that a $9 billion school construction bond measure has qualified for the November 2016 ballot. The measure is sponsored by Californians for Quality Schools. Money approved in the past by voters for both K-12 and higher education over the past eight years is nearly tapped out, the Sacramento Bee reports. The bond measure isn’t the only education funding initiative that voters may be asked to weigh in on. A second proposed initiative has been proposed by the California Teachers Association, along with labor, health and police unions, that would extend some temporary taxes that voters approved in 2012 with a portion used to fund education.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH MONDAY AND TUESDAY FOR MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS
East County News Service File photo: Flooded road in Pine Valley, by Alex Tardy, National Weather Service September 20, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch, cautioning that heavy rainfall and flash flooding is possible from Monday afternoon through Tuesday in San Diego’s eastern mountains and deserts. Rainfall could exceed two inches in mountains and could top an inch in the deserts. Recent wildfire burned areas will be particularly susceptible to flash flooding and debris flows. Be alert to rapidly changing weather conditions, especially if you live in a flood-prone area or have outdoor plans Mnday or Tuesday. The forecast is due to low pressure and an approaching plume of deep moisture. A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued. Sign up to receive free East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts via email at the top right side of our homepage, and also receive a free weekly e-newsletter. You can also follow EastCountyAlert on Twitter to get alerts on your mobile phone. We recommend all of the above since you don’t know which form of communication sill work best during a regional emergency.
. SWAT TEAM ARRESTS SHOOTING SUSPECT IN EL CAJON
East County News Service September 19, 2015 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police dispatched its SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics team) and evacuated neighbors due to an active shooter at 1400 Petree Avenue. The incident began at 7:40 p.m. when a caller reported three gunshots from a neighbor’s apartment. While on the phone, police heard another shot.Officers responded and established a perimeter around the apartment, hearing additional gunshots from inside. Lt. Rob Ransweiler said,“The officers focused on evacuating as many residents as possible, clearing the parking lots and stopping traffic on the adjacent roadway. The reverse 911 system was used to send a safety message to the residents who were still in their apartments to remain in place and to avoid coming outside.” El Cajon’s SWAT team was called to the team, assisted by San Diego Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, and police departments from La Mesa, National City and Chula Vista. “As officers started walking up to the front door of the next door neighbor’s apartment to evacuate them, the suspect fired two rounds out the front door of his apartment,” said Lt. RRansweiler. “An hour after the incident began, the suspect stopped shooting and simply walked out his front door.” Once outside, he was not listening to commands to lie down on the ground, according to police, so a canine was used to safely take him into custody without further incident. The suspect gave officers conflicting information about anyone else being inside of his apartment. For this reason, every precaution was taken to ensure the safety of the community and of the officers that needed to make entry into the apartment. The reason for the shooting is not known. Officers are still on scene after obtaining a search warrant for the residence so they could ensure that they complete a thorough search for any and all weapons in the apartment. During the incident, all of the residents that were evacuated remained cooperative with law enforcement. After the situation was resolved, all of the residents were able to return to their homes. No one was injured during the incident. The suspect has been identified as 45 year old, Samuel Jason Herlevic of El Cajon. He was arrested for multiple felony counts of Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling. He was processed at the El Cajon Police Department before being booked into San Diego County Jail. This is an ongoing investigation at this time. Anyone with information regarding this investigation may still contact the El Cajon Police Department at (619) 579-3311.
ON THE AGENDA: LA MESA CITY COUNCIL SEPT. 22
By Kristin Kjaero September 19, 2015 (La Mesa) – Two development projects are on the agendas for regular and special meetings of the La Mesa City Council on September 22. These include an assisted care facility and an apartment complex. On the Special Meeting Agenda for 5:00 p.m., the Council will give consideration of possible ground lease of city-owned property for an assisted care facility to be built on the north side of Murray Drive east of SR 125 and adjacent to Briercrest Park. The Council will discuss a negotiation strategy in closed session. On the Regular Meeting Agenda at 6:00 p.m., the Council is being asked to ratify the Design Review Board’s approval of a 66-unit apartment development on 2.3 acres where the Big Yellow House restaurant used to be located, between Burlington Coat Factory and Highway 8. It is listed on the consent calendar, since the project was approved the week by the Planning Commission and has not been appealed. The Council will also interview applicants for openings on various city Commissions, and be given an update on the state of the law concerning group homes and residential treatment facilities with residential zones. The proposal for an assisted care facility at Briercrest had been contracted with a previous developer for several years before falling out, and a new developer has come forward now with interest in the project.