ATKINS, VOEPEL SHARE REACTIONS TO GOVERNOR’S STATE OF STATE
By Miriam Raftery, East County News Service January 24, 2017 (San Diego) – State Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and East County’s new Assemblyman Randy Voepel (R-Santee) today shared their reactions to Governor Jerry Brown’s State of the State address Atkins issued the following statement: “Governor Brown made it clear that California will not turn its back on the immigrants who contribute so richly to our culture and our economy; nor will we turn away from reproductive healthcare and climate science. Our state will continue to lead the way forward on these issues. “He also recognizes that in a democracy, there are different points of view. California, like the nation, has many unique communities, and it is our obligation to understand their perspectives and experiences. We may not always agree, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to find common ground. “The Governor reminded Californians that we have a lot to be proud of – a strong economy, bolstered reserves, higher minimum wage, reduced unemployment, greater investments in education – and he pointed out that new investments in public works would help us continue that forward momentum. “An d he touched my heart when he ended with a Woody Guthrie lyric! Great speech. Vintage Jerry Brown.” Voepel issued an “annotated version” of the Governor’s remarks. Brown noted that California has reduced unemployment from 12.1 to 5.2 percent, creating nearly 2.5 million jobs. Voepel noted that while those numbers appear “strong on the surface, a number of our state’s citizens who have struggled to find work have left California for other states in the hopes of finding employment.” On Brown’s statement that California has increased support for public schools and universities by tens of billions of dollars, Voepel responded, “Despite the increases in funding, our student’s performance still falls well behind other states. It’s clear that funding isn’t the only issue – it’s important we implement specific reforms to improve our education system.” Regarding the Governor’s pledge to “make California a world leader in the fight against climate change,” Voepel, a climate change skeptic, says the current cap-and-trade program has been a “complex and ineffective boondoggle that may not even be legal.” He applauded the Governor, however, for focusing on long-term fiscal health by proposing to strengthen the rainy day fund. However, he suggested revenue predictions may be overly optimistic and too dependent on income from high earners. He differed sharply with the Governor’s pledge to protect undocumented immigrations against deportation threats from the Trump administration. “Many of the measures he has supported have directly conflicted with federal law and have made it more difficult for enforcement officials to execute their responsibilities.” Voepel noted that recent reforms to reduce prison populations also created public safety challenges for local law enforcement. On healthcare, he called the Affordable Care Act an “ineffective and improper solution” that has forced some people to switch doctors and face higher premiums. He said he agrees that it’s important to “Ensure our citizens have proper healthcare” but did not elaborate on what his alternative to the ACA he would back. One area of potential agreement with the Governor is on an infrastructure plan to create jobs, though Voepel wants the focus on transportation upgrades and repairs without raising taxes or fees.
GOVERNOR BROWN’S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS: “CALIFORNIA IS NOT TURNING BACK, NOT NOW, NOT EVER”
By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine Photo credit: Joe McHugh, California Highway Patrol January 24, 2017 (San Diego) — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today delivered his State of the State address, departing with the traditional practice of listing every issue and priority to instead address the “broader context of our country and its challenges.” The Governor vowed to “defend everybody – every man, woman and child – who has come here…and has contributed to the well-being of our state” and committed to protecting the state’s gains on immigration, health care and climate change, guided by the principles that make California “the Great Exception” – truth, civility and perseverance. Citing the English poet John Donne, the Governor made it clear that California is not an island and America’s future is inextricably tied to California’s future: “When California does well, America does well. And when California hurts, America hurts.” Below is the full text as prepared for delivery: Edmund G. Brown Jr. State of the State Address Remarks as Prepared January 24, 2017 Thank you. Thank you for all that energy and enthusiasm. It is just what we need for the battle ahead. So keep it up and don’t ever falter. This is California, the sixth most powerful economy in the world. One out of every eight Americans lives right here and 27 percent – almost eleven million – were born in a foreign land. When California does well, America does well. And when California hurts, America hurts. As the English poet, John Donne, said almost 400 years ago: “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main…And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” A few moments ago, I swore into office our new attorney general. Like so many others, he is the son of immigrants who saw California as a place where, through grit and determination, they could realize their dreams. And they are not alone, millions of Californians have come here from Mexico and a hundred other countries, making our state what it is today: vibrant, even turbulent, and a beacon of hope to the rest of the world. We don’t have a Statue of Liberty with its inscription: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” But we do have the Golden Gate and a spirit of adventure and openness that has welcomed – since the Gold Rush of 1848 – one wave of immigration after another. For myself, I feel privileged to stand before you as your governor, as did my father almost sixty years ago. His mother, Ida, the youngest of eight children, was born in very modest circumstances, not very far from where we are gathered today. Her father arrived in California in 1852, having left from the Port of Hamburg, aboard a ship named “Perseverance.” It is that spirit of perseverance and courage which built our state from the beginning. And it is that spirit which will get us through the great uncertainty and the difficulties ahead. It is customary on an occasion like this to lay out a specific agenda for the year ahead. Six times before from this rostrum, I have done that, and in some detail. And, as I reread those proposals set forth in previous State of the State speeches, I was amazed to see how much we have accomplished together. We have: Increased – by tens of billions – support for our public schools and universities. Provided health insurance to over five million more Californians. Raised the minimum wage. Reduced prison overcrowding and reformed our system of crime and punishment. Made California a world leader in the fight against climate change. Passed a water bond. Built up a rainy day fund. And closed a huge $27 billion deficit. And during the last seven years, California has reduced the unemployment rate from 12.1 percent to 5.2 percent and created almost 2.5 million jobs. And that’s not all. But this morning it is hard for me to keep my thoughts just on California. The recent election and inauguration of a new President have shown deep divisions across America. While no one knows what the new leaders will actually do, there are signs that are disturbing. We have seen the bald assertion of “alternative facts.” We have heard the blatant attacks on science. Familiar signposts of our democracy -truth, civility, working together – have been obscured or swept aside. But on Saturday, in cities across the country, we also witnessed a vast and inspiring fervor that is stirring in the land. Democracy doesn’t come from the top; it starts and spreads in the hearts of the people. And in the hearts of Americans, our core principles are as strong as ever. So as we reflect on the state of our state, we should do so in the broader context of our country and its challenges. We must prepare for uncertain times and reaffirm the basic principles that have made California the Great Exception that it is. First, in California, immigrants are an integral part of who we are and what we’ve become. They have helped create the wealth and dynamism of this state from the very beginning. I recognize that under the Constitution, federal law is supreme and that Washington determines immigration policy. But as a state we can and have had a role to play. California has enacted several protective measures for the undocumented: the Trust Act, lawful driver’s licenses, basic employment rights and non-discriminatory access to higher education. We may be called upon to defend those laws and defend them we will. And let me be clear: we will defend everybody – every man, woman and child – who has come here for a better life and has contributed to the well-being of our state. My second point relates to health care. More than any other state, California embraced the Affordable Care Act
READER’S EDITORIAL: WIND ENERGY – A RUNAWAY FAILURE FOR NEARLY 4 DECADES–PART 1 OF 3
By Jim Wiegand, wildlife biologist Editor’s note: This replaces an earlier version, with updates, additional documentation links and clarifications added. January 24, 2017 (San Diego) — If you are one of the millions across America, that that believes wind energy will create a better world, you need to read the facts presented here. This information has been hidden by the media, utility companies, your government and by most of all, a terribly destructive industry seeking profits. California’s wind turbines may have started a green revolution here in America. But as readers will learn here, wind energy’s perceived value to society is a devious fantasy. Adding to the public’s confusion is that this puffed-up industry has been enabled with layers of rigging from politicians, planted media stories, fraudulent research, data manipulation and outright lies. All for the purpose of giving corporations access to taxpayer billions. As you will learn here it certainly has not been for the energy provided. I would imagine that the US has now invested well over 2 trillion dollars in these turbines and infrastructure. But the story and success of wind energy is the basically same power of suggestion story as “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Ironically this well-known tale written in Denmark 200 years ago, is also the home of this fake green industry. From the massive amounts of publicity over the years one would think that wind energy is carrying a rapidly increasing load of America’s electricity demands. Opinion polls overwhelmingly show that the public supports renewable energy and especially wind power. But these favorable polls are from the mistaken belief that wind energy is green, has few impacts and is carrying a rapidly increasing load of America’s electricity demands. But this is a false perception created by sellouts, ignorance and profit seekers searching for taxpayer gold. From my years of wind energy related research, I have found that for this industry, telling the truth means absolutely nothing. For example, the first and only credible scientific mortality study ever conducted around wind turbines, was released in 1985. Since then all mortality research has been a rigging and cover-up game. Since the release of that first wind industry study, showing a bird mortality rate of 34 fatalities per MW, what obviously became most important to this industry, was public opinion. It is not easy for the public to admit how easily they can be duped. But this industry knows it and they have been working everyone for decades with an onslaught of research rigging, false media stories, false advertising, subliminal messaging and energy production embellishments. If they say they’re great, then they must be great and this has conditioned the minds of the masses. At one time the public was led to believe that wind turbines could make us independent of Middle East oil, then the primary story supporting wind energy development evolved into to fixing climate and saving mankind. Or maybe you have been led to believe that these turbines will power a new generation of electrified transportation While this form of transportation is coming, the vast majority of electrical energy consumed by electrified transportation will never come from wind turbines. The saddest part about this entire green fraud is that America’s utilities and energy providers all know that wind energy is no solution for any of this. They all know because they live with wind energy’s wimpy inefficient production numbers every day. Everybody reading this also needs to understand what I know to be true about this industry. An industry that will cover-up their slaughter to tens of thousands of eagles, including our endangered species, will stop at nothing for profits. An industry after killing thousands of eagles over the last 35 years at Altamont, then colluding with the USGS (2015) on a study overestimating this same population by more than ten times, will also stop at nothing. For the naysayers that do not believe in my expertise, I give you this: outgoing President Obama has just rewarded industry and especially the wind industry for their decades of mortality fraud on America. After claiming for years that very few eagles were being killed annually by wind turbines and that Altamont Pass was a regional aberration, our President recently signed a rule making it legal for industry to kill up to 7518 eagles annually in America. Since I know of no other industry that slaughters eagles, with this new Eagle Rule, President Obama just confirmed that this massive hidden eagle slaughter from industrial wind turbines, has always been with us. More but hidden proof is at the Eagle Repository in Denver where more than 33,000 eagle carcasses have been received since 1997 by this morgue. With the passing of this new Eagle (killing) Rule, it is very clear this industry intends to be killing many more eagles in the future as industrial wind turbines invade the wetland habitats of America. This ongoing wind industry slaughter is also killing millions upon millions of birds annually while producing very little energy for society. Being a dedicated wildlife biologist, I am aware of the extinction of species coming from these prolific killers and this is exactly why I write about wind energy. Audubon, the Sierra club and several other prominent conservation groups support wind energy. They have also been receiving buckets of wind energy funding thru various channels. If anyone reads their canned statements or looks over their websites, these groups claim this form of lethal energy will eventually save more species in the future from climate change. So basically, what they are all saying is that any species slaughter currently taking place, is for a greater good because these turbines are so wonderful. Readers will clearly see from the unfiltered numbers given in parts 2 & 3, what complete fools all these groups have become, selling out the slaughter of rare species for the meaningless development of wind energy. Jim Wiegand is an independent wildlife expert with decades of field observations and
RESERVE YOUR SEATS: HELIX WATER TALKS ON JANUARY 28TH
East County News Service January 24, 2017 (El Cajon) — Helix Water Talks is the Helix Water District’s new series of facility tours and panel discussions to give customers an inside look at how it provides a safe and reliable water supply – from the science and engineering to the policies and operations. The series begins with “On Demand: How We Deliver Water” on January 28 in El Cajon. See below for details: On Demand: how we deliver water 9:00-10:30 am Saturday, January 28, 2017 Helix’s Nat L. Eggert Operations Center 1233 Vernon Way in El Cajon 8:30-9:00 Coffee and donuts 9:00-9:30 Welcome and tour of Helix’s Nat L. Eggert Operations Center in El Cajon 9:40-10:30 Panel discussion and questions Reserve your seats at hwd.com/events/water-talks/. Scroll down to Bookings and complete the reservation form. Future talks will focus on water resources, water treatment and the cost of water.
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AT FOUNDATION FOR GROSSMONT & CUYAMACA COLLEGES
East County News Service January 24, 2017 (El Cajon) – Erich Foeckler, a fundraising professional for 20 years, is the new executive director of development for the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges, the philanthropic partner for East County’s two community colleges. The East County resident is in charge of developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising plan for the foundation and will take the lead in forging relationships with donors who want to make a difference in students’ lives. It is work that the seasoned professional has done with impressive results. As the donor relations executive at the San Diego chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Foeckler increased grant funding by 25 percent and nearly doubled the size of the local office’s planned-giving membership. As the director of development and marketing at Home Start, Inc. in San Diego from 2008-2012, he was credited for raising nearly $2 million to renovate homeless shelter facilities and for increasing grant funding and contracts by $1 million in a single year. As the director of communications and special events for six years at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, a well-known El Cajon institution that serves the needs of adults with developmental disabilities, Foeckler was key in the center winning Oprah’s Big Give competition in 2008. At the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges, Foeckler will be leading a major initiative to develop a permanent endowment for the Higher Edge Promise Scholarship program to fund East County high school graduates’ first year of classes at Grossmont or Cuyamaca College. “With this endowment, we want to send every Grossmont Union High School District graduate to their first year of college for free,” said Foeckler who holds a certificate in fundraising from the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy, Fund Raising School, and earned certification in 2003 as a Certified Fundraising Executive. He also earned a certificate in nonprofit management from Chapman University. John Valencia, vice chancellor of Workforce and Organizational Development at the college district who oversees the foundation, said the organization will benefit from Foeckler’s proven skills at relationship-building and his broad experience in corporate and non-profit management and fundraising. “Part of what we do is to draw attention to the valuable role our colleges play in the community and the transformative power they have on people’s lives, and Erich is the ideal ambassador to spread this message to potential backers,” he said. “His two decades of involvement in fundraising will be instrumental in our efforts to build financial resources for Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges and to enhance student learning.” Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, where his daughter still lives with her husband and son, Foeckler’s early years were as a food and beverage director during a 15-year career in the hospitality field, a time span spent developing and honing his expertise in event planning. A job as the director of photography at Disneyland followed and it was at the Happiest Place on Earth that his staff management skills were put to use handling a team of 125 cast members. Foeckler, a La Mesa resident, said he was drawn to the foundation job because of the district’s mission to serve the higher educational needs of East County. “As a lifelong learner, I want to help pass along the joy of education to the region,” he said. “Being a professional fundraiser has allowed me to help others achieve their dreams of making the world a better place, and goal-setting and achieving success is fundamentally what education is all about.” Serving the public good is key to Foeckler’s life, and is behind his volunteer work with Housing Innovation Partners, formerly known as the San Diego-based TACHS – The Association for Community Housing Solutions. A board member with the group, Foeckler said the organization’s mission is to develop safe, affordable housing for homeless people, including veterans, with mental health issues, HIV and AIDS. “I joined this board with some expertise in the needs of San Diego’s homeless, having previously fundraised to build two shelters for pregnant and parenting teens,” he said. Foeckler is enthusiastic about putting his fundraising and philanthropic expertise to use in new surroundings. “I’m thrilled to be part of the foundation team and can’t wait to share our beautiful campuses’ and students’ success with all of San Diego,” he said. For more information about the foundation, go to foundation.gcccd.edu. For more information about the college district, go to www.gcccd.edu.
FEDERAL RULE CHANGE COUD COST PROPANE USERS MILLIONS, INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION SAYS
East County News Service January 24, 2017 (Washington D.C.) — The Trump Administration has not yet announced if it will roll back a rule imposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) during the Obama Administration that effective yesterday, imposes $125 million in new costs on propane consumers, according to a press release issued by the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) last week. On Monday, January 23, 2017, approximately 5 million propane cylinders, including many that are used for home heating, forklifts, and even grill cylinders, became out of compliance with DOT regulations. In 2016, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) made a major change to a decades-old regulation that reduces the time propane marketers have to initially requalify a propane cylinder from 12 years to 10 years. “This action is an unlawful violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA),” a press release issued by the NPGA contends. “The APA requires that affected parties have an opportunity to comment on any changes that might create new obligations for stakeholders. DOT misled the propane industry in the initial notice of proposed rulemaking saying, `Costs associated with the rule are estimated to be negligible annually…. [T]hese requirements would not impose new requirements on current non-holders of SPs [special permits].’” In the rule PHMSA cites the number of affected business at 50. The reality is this rule affects thousands of companies, starting with approximately 3,000 propane marketers, according to the NPGA. Phil Squair, NPGA’s Senior Vice President for Public and Governmental Affairs said, “We estimate that this rule will cost more than $125 million. Calling that amount of money ‘negligible’ indicates more education needs to be done with regard to how these kinds of regulations affect small businesses.” On Friday, January 13, NPGA filed a Petition for Rulemaking & Emergency Stay for Cylinder Requalification Requirements before PHMSA. The petition outlines the extensive reasons for issuing a halt on the enforcement of this rule until a lawful rulemaking process can commence.