EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS
January 7, 2016 (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 A look ahead at East County in 2016 (San Diego Union-Tribune) What’s in store for local schools in 2016 (San Diego Union-Tribune) Water Conservation Down In San Diego County (KPBS) San Diego Apartment Rents Rise Faster Than State, National Averages (KPBS) Wall encourages strangers to give (San Diego Union-Tribune) U.S. tuna fleet to be shut out of vast area of Pacific over fee dispute (Los Angeles Times) San Diego may explore legalized pot growing (San Diego Union-Tribune) Ramona author Joyce Strand takes first and second spots on 2015 best seller list (Ramona Sentinel) Supervisors approve Fire Authority lease of Palomar Mountain volunteer fire department station (Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News) Lilac Hills vote delayed indefinitely (San Diego Union-Tribune) State Watchdog Tells Horn — Again — Not to Vote on Lilac Hills Ranch Project (Voice of SD) Downtown: $6.4B development juggernaut (San Diego Union-Tribune) Bright and dim views of San Diego job market (SD Reader) Border Biometrics Take Deeper Look At Otay Mesa Crossers (KPBS) STATE New laws to have wide-ranging impact on life in California (San Francisco Chronicle) The most important new California laws of 2016 (KQED) 20 California laws that go into effect in 2016 (San Francisco Chronicle) These new laws will try to help California’s vulnerable students (Los Angeles Times) Forest Service renewing Nestle’s water use in San Bernadino Mountains (Los Angeles Times) California volcanoes showing major movement: precursor to larger activity coming? (Dutchsinse) Uninsured Californians To Face Rising Tax Penalties In 2016 (KPBS) California prison reforms have reduced inmate numbers, not costs (Reuters) California ERs in critical condition (San Diego Union-Tribune) Emergency rooms are reaching capacity more frequently and beds for new patients are unavailable. For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. LOCAL/REGIONAL A look ahead at East County in 2016 (San Diego Union-Tribune) East County will see some big changes in 2016. There’s going to be a new four-star hotel in El Cajon, new city managers in Santee and Lemon Grove, and the end of torn-up streets in the downtown area of La Mesa. What’s in store for local schools in 2016 (San Diego Union-Tribune) There are a number of improvements and special programs coming to South and East County school districts in 2016. Water Conservation Down In San Diego County (KPBS) Two-thirds of the water districts in the county missed their November conservation goals, but cumulative savings since June remain strong, state water officials said. San Diego Apartment Rents Rise Faster Than State, National Averages (KPBS) A new survey of California apartment rents finds the state outpaced the nation when it comes to rent hikes over the past year. / San Diego’s rental price increases are slightly higher than state averages. Wall encourages strangers to give (San Diego Union-Tribune) A wall on Broadway encourages people who can to donate coats, and those cold to take one U.S. tuna fleet to be shut out of vast area of Pacific over fee dispute (Los Angeles Times) The U.S. tuna fishing fleet, which helps feed San Diego’s storied tuna industry, is fighting for business survival thousands of miles from home.By New Year’s Day, the entire fleet of 37 boats will effectively be cut out of a vast area of the Pacific Ocean — source of 60% of the nation’s canned tuna — because of a high-stakes dispute over how much they will pay to fish there. San Diego may explore legalized pot growing (San Diego Union-Tribune) New state medical marijuana laws may prompt San Diego to regulate and expressly allow cultivation of the drug within city limits for the first time. A memo issued on Monday by Deputy City Attorney Shannon Thomas describes multiple ways the city could regulate growing marijuana, including creation of new zoning regulations specific to the drug or simply allowing cultivation in all areas now zoned for agriculture. Ramona author Joyce Strand takes first and second spots on 2015 best seller list (Ramona Sentinel) “Go Set a Watchman,” “All the Light We Cannot See,” “The Nightingale” and other nationally acclaimed books are all top sellers, according to the the Independent Booksellers Association’s Best Sellers List of 2015. Supervisors approve Fire Authority lease of Palomar Mountain volunteer fire department station (Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News) Palomar Mountain contains beautiful forest scenery and is served by both the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Dept. and the San Diego County Regional Fire Authority. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors, who are also the board of the San Diego County Regional Fire Authority, voted 5-0 Dec. 15 to approve a lease between the SDCRFA and the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department for SDCRFA use of the Palomar Mountain fire station. Lilac Hills vote delayed indefinitely (San Diego Union-Tribune) A California Supreme Court ruling requiring developers to do more to show their huge housing projects won’t significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions is likely to delay several big projects throughout the state, including the controversial Lilac Hills Ranch community proposed near Valley Center. State Watchdog Tells Horn — Again — Not to Vote on Lilac Hills Ranch Project (Voice of SD) California’s Fair Political Practices Commission has advised once again that County Supervisor Bill Horn must recuse himself from an upcoming vote on the Lilac Hills Ranch project in Valley Center. Downtown: $6.4B development juggernaut (San Diego Union-Tribune) If you’ve noticed a few more construction cranes on the downtown skyline, your eyes don’t deceive. San Diego’s Centre City has more than $6.4 billion in 63 projects under construction, approved or under review — an amount equal to more than 40 percent of the 1,600-acre community’s entire $15.5 billion in assessed valuation, according to Civic San Diego…. Bright and dim views of San Diego job market (SD Reader) Lousy employment growth, good socioeconomic environment Border Biometrics Take Deeper Look At Otay Mesa Crossers (KPBS) San Diego border agents are now testing new biometric scanners on people walking across the border.
SEARCH FOR WOMEN ESCAPED FROM DETENTION
Update January 12, 2016: These suspects have been appehended. Read more here:http://cdcrtoday.blogspot.com/2016/01/women-who-walked-away-from-san-diego_12.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CDCRToday+%28CDCR+Today%29 January 7, 2016 (San Diego) — The California Department of Corrections is looking for two violent criminals who removed their ankle monitors in San Diego and walked away from the “Custody to Community Transitional Reentry Program (CCTRP) on January 4th. A search of the women was conducted after they were discovered missing at 7:31 p.m. Local law enforcement agencies have been notified and are assisting in the search. Tumoi King and Viviana Mendez were participating in the CCTRP, which allows eligible participants to serve the remainder of their sentence in a community program instead of state prison. Through the program, they can receive rehabilitative services such as alcohol and drug recovery, employment, education, housing, family reunification and social support. King, 28, is a black female, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 175 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. She was received by CDCR on Feb. 19, 2014, to serve five years for a second-degree robbery conviction in Riverside County. She has been participating in CCTRP since November 2014 and was scheduled to be paroled in October 2016. Mendez, 20, is a Hispanic female, 5 feet, 2 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She was received by CDCR on Oct. 1, 2014, to serve a seven-year sentence for an assault with a deadly weapon conviction in Yolo County. She had been participating in CCTRP since September 2015. She was scheduled to be paroled in February 2017. Anyone with information regarding either of these women is asked to call (916) 464-4169 or local law enforcement.
CHIEF’S CORNER: EL NIÑO SAFETY TIPS
By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna El Niño has arrived and it looks even more powerful than expected, reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. Don’t get caught in flooded waters and debris flow! You need to be aware of the potential flood and debris flow dangers associated with rainy days. Here’s what to do. Make sure any necessary home repairs are complete. Clean yard and roof gutters. Determine the areas on your property that may have flooded in the past. If needed utilize sandbags for those areas. Make sure your car’s tires have proper tread and windshield wipers are in proper working order. Never drive around marked flood barricades or into flood waters. Never attempt to walk or wade through flowing water. As little as 6 inches of water can sweep you off your feet causing a potentially life threatening situation. Monitor radio and TV news closely for information about weather conditions and flooding in your area. Identify important items to take if your neighborhood is evacuated, such as computers, photos, important documents, medications, and other needed items for your family and pets. Be prepared to leave immediately if an evacuation is ordered. Have alternate evacuation routes out of your neighborhood. Have enough food and water to supply your family for at least a 72-hour period. Always remember to include a radio and flashlight with fresh batteries in your kit If you do not need to leave your house, stay indoors Use common sense and safety at all times! For additional information visit: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/water/resources/flood_brochure1_HR.pdf
JULIAN GETS NEW PARAMEDIC SERVICE FROM COUNTY AND CAL FIRE
Source: County News Service January 7, 2016 (Julian) — Julian residents and visitors now have around-the-clock access to paramedic engine service, thanks to an agreement reached among the region’s lead rural fire agencies and Julian fire officials. The Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD) recently entered into a pact with the San Diego County Fire Authority to place a new paramedic engine staffed by CAL FIRE near downtown Julian. The upgrade builds on County and CAL FIRE efforts in recent years to raise the level of professional, 24/7 firefighter staffing across rural East County. “This big boost in paramedic service is not only good news for Julian residents, but for all those who visit our beautiful backcountry each year,” said County Supervisor Dianne Jacob. “It’s great to team up with the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District on this latest initiative to strengthen fire and emergency medical services in our rural areas.” The new engine joined CAL FIRE’s Station 50, located just outside downtown Julian, on New Year’s Eve. Julian is one of eight rural communities to receive new paramedic engines since 2014, joining Jacumba, Descanso, Otay, Jamul, Lake Morena, Pine Valley and the Intermountain area northeast of Ramona. The new paramedic engine in Julian joins two full-size fire engines, two rescue vehicles and one smaller fire engine staffed by the Julian fire district volunteer firefighters. The improvement is part of a broader agreement recently struck between County Fire and the Julian district to bolster fire and emergency medical services. Six professional CAL FIRE firefighters will staff the new engine, including a fire captain paramedic, two fire apparatus engineers and three firefighter paramedics. At least two will be on duty around-the-clock, including at least one paramedic. They are trained and the engine is equipped to provide “Advanced Life Support,” meaning patients will be able to receive a sophisticated level of emergency medical services, such as a variety of medications, as well as IV and emergency cardiac equipment including EKG monitors, pacemakers and chest compression kits. Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District Chief Rick Marinelli said he is “pleased to welcome this new resource to the community. Firefighters from the JCFPD operate two other fire stations in the area. The addition of this paramedic engine will enhance fire protection and EMS to residents and visitors of Julian Cuyamaca. We will be better able to handle our increasing call volume with both our volunteers and CAL FIRE. This will raise the level of service and provide advanced life support to the area when the ALS ambulance is committed to other calls. We will also have faster response times and increased fire suppression capabilities. The addition of this fire engine will not only benefit residents and visitors of Julian – Cuyamaca, but the entire region.” The Julian district’s Station 56 and 57, along with CAL FIRE’s Station 50, serve a 50-square-mile area that is home to about 5,000 people. Julian is a popular tourist destination for San Diegans as well as out-of-state visitors, with busy state Routes 78 and 79 leading into the area. This incoming traffic unfortunately has resulted in numerous traffic-related incidents requiring medical intervention and paramedic response. In addition to Station 50, CAL FIRE’s Station 51 is located near Lake Cuyamaca just off state Route 79. County Fire reserves can back up CAL FIRE’s professional staff when needed. The upgrade in Julian is a key addition to County Fire’s comprehensive efforts to improve fire protection in the backcountry since it was created eight years ago. County Fire and CAL FIRE San Diego Unit Chief Tony Mecham said placing this paramedic engine in Julian will help citizens and also advance the cooperative fire protection services in the area. “This places an engine in a strategic location that is going to help us respond more quickly to not only Julian but to nearby areas like Banner Grade, Shelter Valley and Cuyamaca,” Mecham said. “This could help save lives.”
A NIGHT TO SHINE: EAST COUNTY CHAMBER AWARDS GALA FEB. 11
East County News Service January 7, 2016 (Lakeside) – The San Diego East County Chamber will host its East County Honors Annual Awards Gala on Thursday, February 11th at the Barona Resort and Casino in Lakeside. The event starts at 6 p.m. and includes cocktails, dinner reception, silent and live auction, opportunity drawing. Balloon pop, and live entertainment by Guy Gonzalez and the Gypsy Swng Cats. The Annual East County Honors Event honors businesses and individuals for their accomplishments and recognizes the tremendous and lasting impact they’ve made on our community. In addition to recognizing local businesses, individuals, and non-profits for their achievements, the Annual Event serves as a fundraiser, raising money to fund community programs and services supported by the Chamber throughout the year. For tickets ($95 before Jan. 29, $115 after) and details visit http://eastcountychamber.org/san-diego-business-community-events-activities/annual-awards/ .
MAJOR ROAD CLOSURES AND HAZARDS DUE TO SNOW, FLOODING, AND DEBRIS
January 7, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) — Snow, debris flows and flloding from heavy rainfall are making the morning commute tough. Here are the latest updates on closures and hazards impacting Highway 94, Interstate 8 and other highways as well as major surface streeets across East County. Snow on I-8 just east of Kitchen Creek – snow ploughs are working (CHP) Numerous accidents reported east of Pine Valley. SR-94 closed both directions from Lyons Valley Rd. to Honey Springs due to flooding (Caltrans); CHP site indicates a “river” flowing 30-40 feet wide this a.m. Sunrise Highway is open but you are required to carry chains. CHP is en route to check conditions on Highway 79 from I-8 to Julian. Dehesa road from the school to willow glen has multiple mudslides and is a total mess. Willow glen is completely closed by the quarry, a reader reports State Route 94 at Buckman Springs Rd., vehicle overturned (CHP) I-8 east west of Fuerte, off-ramp sign fell down and is in slow lane, per CHP Ramona: B St. closed from 10th and at 11th due to flooding (DPW). Also Magnolia dip is now closed at highway 78 and 500 feet north of Magnolia dip due to flooding in Ramona. Spring Valley: Quarry Road from SR125 to Lakeview is closed due to flooding(DPW) Sign up to receive free East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts at the top right corner of our webpage at www.EastCountyMagazine.org and also receive our free weekly newsletter. You can also follow EastCountyAlert on Twitter for brief text message alerts on your mobile phone. We recommend all of the above, since you don’t know what form of communications may work best in a major regional emergency.
ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS
January 7, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)– East County Magazine’s World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include: U.S. The 2016 Supreme Court Cases (Washington Post) Armed protesters occupying building on federal land (CNN) Oregon militants: death threats from ranchers reported years before standoff (OregonLive) Database of 191 million U.S. voters exposed on Internet: researcher (Reuters) Suspected Islamic State supporter charged with New Year’s Eve plot in New York (Reuters) Donald Trump responds to being used in terrorist video (CBS) America’s abortion wars—and how to end them (Newsweek) Cuban Immigrants Flow Into The U.S., Fearing The Rules Will Change (NPR) New York governor orders homeless off streets in freezing weather (Reuters) Michigan Supreme Court cracks down on ‘pay or stay’ imprisonment (NPR) WORLD North Korea says it successfully conducts hydrogen bomb test (CNN) Fiery protests at Saudi embassy in Tehran after Saudis execute Shi’ite cleric, 46 others (CNN) Airstrike Kills ISIS Leader Directly Linked To Paris Attackers (NPR) Newly installed mayor of Mexican city killed (Reuters) Exclusive: Seized documents reveal Islamic State’s Department of ‘War Spoils’ (Reuters) Mass attacks on German women: what does it spell for refugee crisis? (CS Monitor) ‘Hamas activated cells to carry out suicide attacks, target Israeli political figures’( J Post) Volley of rockets fired from Gaza at southern Israel (JPost) Police In Belgium Arrest 6 Over New Year’s Eve Terrorist Plot (NPR) Europe’s Refugee Crisis Pales In Comparison To World War II Aftermath (NPR) Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ returns to German market in new form (AP) Russian diplomat: Russia has removed uranium from Iran (AP) Putin names United States among threats in new Russian security strategy (Reuters) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. U.S. The 2016 Supreme Court Cases (Washington Post) …In the next few months, the nine justices will hear cases related to the Affordable Care Act, abortion, laws regarding DUI tests, the power of teachers’ unions, freedom of speech in a government office, and other issues. Additionally, the court will hand down rulings in cases it heard in late 2015, on issues like affirmative action. Armed protesters occupying building on federal land (CNN) Armed anti-government protesters have taken over a building in a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon, accusing officials of unfairly punishing ranchers who refused to sell their land. ….Acting U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams of Oregon gave a starkly different perspective on the arson case….”Five years ago, a federal grand jury charged Dwight and Steven Hammond with committing arson on public lands and endangering firefighters,” Williams wrote …The prosecutor said witnesses saw the Hammonds illegally slaughter a herd of deer on public land….a teenage relative of the Hammonds testified that Steven Hammond gave him a box of matches and told him to start the blaze. Oregon militants: death threats from ranchers reported years before standoff (OregonLive) Years before the arson fires that sent two Oregon ranchers to federal prison — sparking an armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge — federal officials reported several death threats from the men. Database of 191 million U.S. voters exposed on Internet: researcher (Reuters) An independent computer security researcher uncovered a database of information on 191 million voters that is exposed on the open Internet due to an incorrectly configured database, he said on Monday. The database includes names, addresses, birth dates, party affiliations, phone numbers and emails of voters in all 50 U.S. states and Washington…. Suspected Islamic State supporter charged with New Year’s Eve plot in upstate New York (Reuters) A 25-year-old man accused of planning to attack a restaurant in upstate New York on New Year’s Eve has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State militant group, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday. Donald Trump responds to being used in terrorist video (CBS) Donald Trump, in an interview airing on Sunday morning on “Face the Nation,” responded to his inadvertent starring role in a recent terrorist recruitment video. America’s abortion wars—and how to end them (Newsweek) …Unfortunately, in a country torn apart by absolutists, the abortion wars are stuck in a brutal stalemate. Both arguments are infused with hypocrisy, and consequences often go unconsidered while bumper-sticker logic prevails. Making it worse are politicians who use abortion as reliable red meat for their supporters—both liberal and conservative—by continuing to beat the same drums America has heard for decades. Cuban Immigrants Flow Into The U.S., Fearing The Rules Will Change (NPR) One consequence of improved relations is that Cubans believe it will soon be harder to immigrate to the U.S. This year has seen the largest influx of Cubans in more than two decades. New York governor orders homeless off streets in freezing weather (Reuters) New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order on Sunday requiring local officials throughout the state to force the homeless into shelters when temperatures dip below freezing and vowed to defend the edict if challenged in court. Michigan Supreme Court cracks down on ‘pay or stay’ imprisonment (NPR) The court has proposed adopting a standard rule to assess whether defendants can pay fines. In many cases, judges jail those who cannot, but the practice is illegal. WORLD North Korea says it successfully conducts hydrogen bomb test (CNN) North Korea says it has successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test, which if confirmed, will be a first for the reclusive regime and a significant advancement for its military ambitions. Fiery protests erupt at Saudi embassy in Tehran after Saudis execute Shi’ite cleric, 46 others (CNN) Saudi Arabia said Saturday it had executed 47 people in a single day, including a dissident Shiite cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, who had repeatedly spoken out against the government and the Saudi royal family…Loud and angry demonstrations broke out late Saturday at the Saudi Embassy in Tehran.
SAN DIEGO RIVER EXPECTED TO REACH FLOOD STAGE TONIGHT
Flooding and boulders also block roadways in East County; snow impedes travel in mountains By Miriam Raftery Photo: Ward Road in Mission Valley, courtesy of San Diego Lifeguards January 6, 2016 (San Diego) – With yet another storm set to hit tonight, the San Diego River is expected to reach flood stage (11.5 feet) tonight, cresting in the pre-dawn hours. The National Weather Service reports the river level has risen five feet in the past 24 hours to nearly 8 feet.. Major roads crossing the river in Mission Valley are closed and underwater including Fashion Valley Road, Avenida del Rio, Camino del Este, Camino de la Reina and Mission Center Road. The San Diego Mission del Alcala church has flooded, as has the parking lot at Fashion Valley mall. In East County, snow levels could dip down to 4,000 feet tonight, including the Julian area. Chains are currently required on Mount Laguna/Sunrise Highway from State Route 79 to Highway 8. There are also numerous closed or obstructed roadways: In Lakeside, a three-foot-wide boulder is obstructing El Monte Road at Lake Jennings Park Road. Also in Lakeside, Lemon Crest Drive is closed between Riverview St and Winter Gardens Blvd. In Ramona, Ramona Street is closed between H St. and Raymond Ave; Hunter Street is closed form Rowley Ave. to Raymond Ave. In Rancho San Diego, rock slides have forced closure of a portion of Willow Glen Road, while flooding has closed Quarry Dip Road in Spring Valley between State Route 125 and Lakeview Road, the County Department of Public Works reports. In the College area, flooding closed Alvarado Court/Alvarado Road. Numerous flooded roads and closures are reported in La Mesa this evening including 70th St. and Alvarado Rd., 70th St. and University, Boulevard Dr. and University Ave., Alvarado Road at both Guava Ave. and Comanche Dr., Lake Murray Blvd. and el Paso St., and Jackson Drive at Grossmont Center Drive. The San Diego Police Department announced it is closing a number of roads across the city due to persistent flooding during Wednesday’s powerful El Nino storms. The heavy rain has also prompted delays and closures on public transportation, 10 News reports. Due to flooding, San Diego MTS has canceled some bus stops, including Route 35 through Midway and Northbound Route 11 at Adams & Kensington, Adams and Biona Drive and Fairmont & Talmadge. The Blue trolley line has also been delayed just north of San Ysidro. Click here for updates. The North County Transit District said no trains will be using the Sorrento Valley station beginning at 5:30 p.m. until further notice. all COASTER and AMTRAK passengers heading toward Oceanside should expect a two-hour delay due to that track closure. Northbound COASTER 661 has been canceled, according to the NCTD.
PRESIDENT OBAMA TIGHTENS GUN RESTRICTIONS
By Tasha Matthews Photo courtesy of WhiteHouse.gov January 5, 2016 (Washington D.C.) –President Barack Obama has taken executive action to tighten gun control, revealing some restrictions and heightened enforcement of firearms sales on Tuesday. This is in response to the recent array of violent shootings taking place in the United States and Congress failing to pass any legislation to stem gun violence. “This not a plot to take away everybody’s guns,” Obama said in a ceremony in the East Room. “You pass a background check, you purchase a firearm. The problem is some gun sellers have been operating under a different set of rules.” He stated that he wants to uphold the Second Amendment without overstepping his executive authority while doing something about “the new normal” of frequency of mass shootings. He wants to ensure that the guns don’t fall into the wrong hands. President Obama got emotional when recalling the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012 and how much damage people with guns can cause. With a tear in his eye, he paid tribute to the parents, some of whom gathered for the ceremony, adding that they never imagined their child’s life would be cut short by a bullet. To put a personal face on the issue of gun violence, the White House assembled a cross-section of Americans whose lives were altered by the nation’s most searing recent gun tragedies, including former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and relatives of victims from Charleston, S.C to Virginia Tech. Mark Barden, whose son was shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School, introduced the President with a declaration that “we are better than this.” Obama’s package of executive actions aims to curb what he’s described as a scourge of gun violence in the U.S., punctuated by appalling mass shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, Charleston, South Carolina; and Tucson, Arizona, among many others. Over 4 million Americans have been victimized by gun violence in the last decade including assaults, robberies and other crimes. Over 30,000 Americans are killed by guns each year, including 20,000 suicides annually. In the past ten years, more than 18,000 children have lost their lives to guns, as well as 466 law enforcement officers. The main point of Obama’s plan takes aim at a sweeping definition of gun dealers who must conduct background checks on buyers. Some gun dealers decline to register as licensed dealers at gun shows and online to avoid that requirement. Aiming to narrow that loophole, the Justice Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is issuing updated guidance indicating that the government should deem anyone “in the business” of selling guns to be a dealer, regardless of where he or she sells the guns. To that end, the government will consider other factors, including how many guns a person sells, how frequently, and whether those guns are sold for a profit. Among the states that have laws requiring background checks for firearms are Washington, Oregon, California, New York, Hawaii, Colorado, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, and Delaware. Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina only require hand gun buyers to get background checks. The rest of the states don’t have any required background checks on firearms that are being sold. The President;s plan also increases mental health treatment and reporting with an aim to keep guns out of the hands of those who are mentally ill. It also beefs up enforcement of existing gun regulations, among other actions. The White House said it has thoroughly researched the President’s powers to identify every legal step he could take on his own when gun control efforts collapsed in the Senate despite the vast majority of the American public wanting action taken to stem gun violence, according to numerous polls. CNN reports that Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump on Saturday called the President’s announcement “an assault on the Second Amendment.” He also faulted the President for taking action unilaterally, without support of Congress.”You know, the system’s supposed to be you get the Democrats, you get the Republicans, and you make deals. He can’t do that.” Trump vowed that if elected, he will “unsign” President Obama’s orders. The National Rifle Association also blasted Obama’s action. NBC San Diego reports that the NRA issued a statement that “the American people do not need more emotional, condescending lectures that are completely devoid of facts,” adding, “Men and women of the National Rifle Association take a back seat to no one when it comes to keeping our communities safe. But the fact is that President Obama’s proposals would not have prevented any of the horrific events he mentioned. The timing of this announcement, in the eighth and final year of his presidency, demonstrates not only political exploitation but a fundamental lack of seriousness.” But Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) said Obama was “left with no choice but to take executive action in order to save American lives…Americans are being gunned down in public places all across this nation while members of Congress go to work in buildings secured by police at every entry and do nothing because Republican leadership is afraid to stand up to the gun lobby.” “While these actions are an important step in the right direction, they do not let Congress off the hook.” Peters said he’ll continue to voice his support for more gun control. ABC News reports that Presidential Democratic Candidate Hilary Clinton also supports the President’s actions. Clinton stated on Twitter “Thank you, @POTUS (President Obama), for taking a crucial step forward on gun violence. Our next president has to build on that progress—not rip it away.” She also posted “@POTUS is right: We can protect the Second Amendment while protecting our families and communities from gun violence. And we have to.” Whether the executive orders President Obama is issuing to enforce gun controls will make a difference and prevent countless lives being lost remains to be seen—and may well hinge on the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.
RENOVATION OF MAIN PATIENT TOWER COMPLETED AT SHARP GROSSMONT HOSPITAL
Source: Grossmont Healthcare District January 6, 2016 (La Mesa) — Patients are now being treated in state-of-the-art, upgraded rooms on all five floors of the East Tower of Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) reports. Over the past three years, taxpayer-funded renovation has been underway on floors two through five of the seven-story East Tower building, originally constructed in 1974. The East Tower work was part of the hospital’s Facilities Master Site Plan. Renovation cost of $41 million was financed through Proposition G, a bond measure sponsored by GHD and approved by East County voters in June 2006. Each renovated floor of the East Tower has 37 patient beds for a total of 148 beds. Among the improvements: patient-bed utility headwalls were replaced with advanced units; new Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and bariatric accessible rooms were retrofitted; and, nurses are now using newly configured central work stations with upgraded lighting and finishes. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems also were modernized with new lighting throughout the floors. Five existing elevators were upgraded with mechanical and cosmetic improvements. Private restrooms also were upgraded. The project included a seismic retrofit of the East Tower, which will bring it into compliance with current California Building Code earthquake standards. Taxpayer-funded construction is continuing at the publicly-owned, 540-bed hospital which opened in 1955. Prop. G also is currently funding construction of a 71,000-square-foot Heart and Vascular (H&V) Center and 18,000-square-foot Central Energy Plant (CEP). The bond-financed construction began in 2007, and is scheduled to continue over the next several years. The $60 million three-story H&V Center will eventually expand the hospital’s surgery capabilities with four new cardiac catheterization labs and four multipurpose procedural rooms that can support a wide range of specialties, including general surgery, minimally invasive surgery and image-guided surgery, as well as endovascular interventional procedures. In addition to the building, the current construction phase includes a new loading dock and materials receiving department on the lowest level, a new pharmacy and laboratory on the middle floor and shell space on the top floor for the new surgical floor build-out. Completion of the building is scheduled for mid-2016 while completion of the surgical floor is scheduled for late 2018. The $47 million, two-story Central Energy Plant will help meet future energy capacity needs of the hospital with new emergency generators, boilers, chillers, cooling towers and auxiliary systems, along with a new cogeneration energy system funded by Sharp HealthCare. The cogeneration system includes a 52-ton, 4.4-megawatt combustion turbine generator manufactured by San Diego-based Solar Turbines. The CEP also will contain a new control room that will monitor heating and refrigeration equipment, medical air and vacuum pumps. The new CEP is expected to save millions of dollars in energy costs, plus reduce the hospital’s emission of greenhouse gas pollutants by 90 percent, GHD officials said. The new CEP was constructed with 131 tons of reinforced steel bars surrounded by 4.23 million pounds of concrete with a 106-by-70-foot concrete foundation slab that is four feet thick. Completion of the CEP is scheduled for early 2016. The hospital is managed and operated by Sharp HealthCare under a lease agreement between GHD and Sharp HealthCare, which was extended by voters in 2014 for an additional 30 years. The Grossmont Healthcare District is an East County regional public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County. Formed in 1952 to build and operate Grossmont Hospital, the District is governed by a five-member board of directors, each elected to four-year terms, who represent more than 500,000 people residing within the District’s 750 square miles. For more information about GHD, visit www.grossmonthealthcare.org.