EL CAJON COUNCILMAN KALASHO FILES DISCRIMINATION CLAIM WITH STATE OF CALIFORNIA
By Paul Kruze August 19, 2017 (El Cajon) — Yet more eyes are going to be fixed on embattled El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho with news that he has filed a discrimination complaint with the State of California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. The action follows last Tuesday’s 4-1 vote affirming that the only electronic device permitted to be used by Council members at the dais during City Council meetings are city-provided Apple iPad tablets. The iPads provided to members of the City Council will be configured to only allow access to City of El Cajon official websites and access to the city’s financial budget documents and municipal codes, but other Internet sites will be blocked. Note-taking software will be downloaded onto the iPads and an attached keyboard will be provided. The move to address use of personal electronic devices during council meetings by council members came about when El Cajon mayor Bill Wells expressed concern several months ago that private communications may be happening between council members themselves and the public during its bi-monthly meetings. The City of Escondido is the only other San Diego County municipality that has taken similar steps to stop the use of personal electronic devices by Council members while seated at the Council’s dais. According to Teresa M. Collins, Communications Officer for the City of Escondido, the City Council and Escondido’s mayor, Sam Abed, made the issue a priority to comply with the State of California’s Open Meetings law, also known as the “Brown Act.” “We needed to make sure that we were in compliance with the rules already established,” she said. Under the Brown Act, a violation of that law may occur when“a series of communications of any kind, directly or through intermediaries” is used by a majority of the members of an agency to “discuss, deliberate, or take action on any item of business that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body.” (Gov. Code section 54952.2(b)(1).) Collins also said that compliance with the Brown Act requires that any text or email communications that occurs between Council members and/or city-employed staff during the meeting must be made public, since they were sent during the public meeting. A website published by the First Amendment Coalition suggests that if a council is made up of five people and three are communicating with each other outside of the confines of a publicly noticed meeting, then this would be a violation of the Brown Act. Such communications includes those dispatched by email and thus it would seem that the same would apply to text messages between various members of a particular board or council. In addition to the city of Escondido, the cities of Palm Desert, Lake Elsinore and Anaheim have adopted specific rules banning or limiting city council members from using personal cell phones and electronic tablets during meetings. According to a San Diego Union-Tribune article published on August 9, Kalasho provided the El Cajon City Attorney’s office a note sent to him by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing thanking him for his “pre-complaint inquiry” and advising him to allow two to three months to be contacted by the department with more information and instructions on how to proceed. But the chance that Kalasho would could win a discrimination suit against the city because he was not allowed to use a personal electronic device during city council meetings is zero, says Josh Gruenberg, a leading San Diego attorney who specializes in employee and employee discrimination law. “This is not discrimination,” he told East County Magazine. “Anyone can use the word ‘discrimination.’ In a general context, discrimination means being treated differently than anyone else. The law treats the word entirely differently. In the legal context, discrimination is only illegal if it is being done for an illegal reason. What I would say is that someone can be can be discriminated against based on age, race, sex, national origin, religion, medical condition, veterans’ status, and so on,” Gruenberg said. “Taking notes at a meeting or having your head down looking down at your iPhone is not one of the protected characteristics of discrimination law,” he said. As reported previously by East County Magazine, El Cajon City Attorney Morgan Foley directly questioned Kalasho about his threats to file a discrimination complaint against the City of El Cajon during the recent Council session. “And discrimination is because you can’t use an iPad like anybody else or is it because you’re being told you have to use this particular iPad?” Kalasho replied that because of his political affiliation with the Democratic party, this could be grounds for a complaint, noting that he is the only El Cajon City Council member who uses an electronic device to take notes during Council meetings. He has claimed that transferring notes between a city-issued iPad and his personal device would be too “burdensome.” East County Magazine asked Kalasho for a comment, but he did not respond to multiple inquiries. Twitter & Facebook: PaulKruzeNews
COUNTY SEEKS COMMUNITY INPUT TO IMPROVE AMBULANCE SERVICES IN BACKCOUNTRY
By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office August 18, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – The County of San Diego is studying how to improve access to and quality of emergency medical services provided in San Diego County’s backcountry, which includes rural and desert communities. An important part of this process is getting feedback from residents who live in these areas and other stakeholders at a series of community forums.. “We have seen large population growth in the county over the past 30 years, and changes in where people live and work. We’ve also seen changes to technology, including that which is used for dispatching ambulances,” said Andy Parr, EMS Administrator for the County of San Diego. “This study will look at how to ensure the closest, most appropriate resource can be sent to the scene of a medical emergency in the backcountry—the right service, to the right person, at the right time.” The forums are being organized by the County Health and Human Services Agency’s office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and will take place on the following dates and locations: Date: Time: Location: Aug. 21, 2017 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Alpine County Library 1752 Alpine Blvd. Alpine, CA 91901 Aug. 22, 2017 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Julian Branch Library 1850 CA-78 Julian, CA 92036 Aug. 23, 2017 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Valley Center Library 29200 Cole Grade Rd. Valley Center, CA 92082 Aug. 24, 2017 12 to 2 p.m. Deer Springs FPD Station 1 8709 Circle R Drive Escondido, CA 92026 Aug. 25, 2017 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Campo Village Library 31356 CA-94 Campo, CA 91906 Aug. 25, 2017 2 to 3:30 p.m. Crest Branch Library 105 Juanita Ln. El Cajon, CA 92021 If you are unable to attend one of the scheduled community forums but still would like to hear more information or submit feedback, contact lilia.smith@sdcounty.ca.gov or (858) 505-6382.
SDSU MEN’S SOCCER DEFEATS CAL POLY POMONA 1-0 IN SEASON OPENER
Like our sports coverage? Donate to help support ECM’s sports section! Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories! Story and photos by Liz Alper August 18, 2017 (San Diego) – The SDSU men’s soccer team took the pitch on SDSU Sports Deck for the first time in 2017 tonight against Cal Poly Pomona. Eager to start their season off right, redshirt senior forward Winston Sorhaitz gave the Aztecs an early 1-0 lead with a smooth deke around Broncos senior goalkeeper Jason Trejos in the 11th minute of the first half. The Aztecs played good defense all period and took that 1-0 lead to the locker room. SDSU had excellent second half chances, but were unable to capitalize. The good news is that they didn’t need to; defense played a big role in both halves and the Aztecs kicked off the season with a 1-0 win over the visiting Broncos. SDSU is back in action next Friday when it travels to West Point to take on Army. First tip is at 4:30 p.m.
SDSU WOMEN’S SOCCER FALLS TO NO. 9 UCLA 5-1
Aztecs receive goal from Utush Source: goaztecs.com Photo courtesy goaztecs.com August 18, 2017 (Pasadena) – San Diego State, which fielded a lineup the featured six first-time starters, dropped its season opener Friday night at UCLA, 5-1. The decision puts the Aztecs at 0-1 on the year, while the ninth-ranked Bruins move to 1-0. SDSU kept the Bruins off the scoreboard for the first 36:35 until a bit of misfortune hit. With UCLA on the attack, the Aztecs went to clear the ball, but the attempt was deflected by a Bruin and the result went right to Hailie Mace, who was wide open and put the home side ahead, 1-0. San Diego State, however, nearly answered with a goal of its own when, after play resumed, Nikolina Musto centered a pass into the box to an oncoming Angela Mitchell. The senior’s sliding shot, unfortunately, veered to the left of the goal and the score remained unchanged going into halftime. UCLA doubled its advantage just over five minutes into the second half when Mace lofted a ball to the far post and found a Jessie Fleming, who jump-kicked her shot off the crossbar and into the net. Trailing 2-0 with just under 40 minutes to play, the Aztecs kept working to get on the scoreboard, but came up empty each time. The defense, meanwhile, held the Bruins at bay until Julia Hernandez scored with just under 28 minutes left in the game. Then with 18:14 remaining in the contest, Hernandez had her penalty kick saved by Gabby English, but got the rebound and scored her second of the evening to put UCLA ahead, 4-0. San Diego State managed to get on the scoreboard in the 74th minute when Aliyah Utush, who was taken down in the box, found the back of the net on a penalty-kick attempt. The PK goal was the first of Utush’s career, who entered the season as SDSU’s returning leader in scoring. UCLA ended up adding another goal with just over four minutes to play, a successful attempt by Claire Winter to provide the final margin. Utush had three of SDSU’s five shots with the other two coming from Mitchell (1) and Stacie Moran (1). Utush was also responsible for all three of the Aztecs’ shots on goal. English made six saves on the night. San Diego State started six players who had never started a game for the Aztecs (Yasmin Ahooja, Esther Arnarsdottir, Sarah Broacha, Chloe Frisch, Nikolina Musto, Mia Root), including five who never put on an Aztec uniform before this season (Arnarsdottir, Broacha, Frisch, Musto, Root). Of those five, four were true freshmen (Arnarsdottir, Broacha, Frisch, Root). The Aztecs return to action on Sunday when they play host to UC Davis in their home opener. The noon PT game atop SDSU Sports Deck is slated to stream live on the Mountain West Network. Admission is free. Box score
ECM PADRES REPORT: NON-EXISTENT PADRES OFFENSE GRANTS NATIONALS GAME TWO WIN
Like our sports coverage? Donate to help support ECM’s sports section! Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories! Story by Liz Alper Photo: the Nationals stoned the Padres offensively and defensively. Via @Nationals on Twitter August 18, 2017 (San Diego) – Pitching was good for the Padres last night, but Ryan Zimmerman was too tough to beat and the Nats took game one on his eighth inning home run. Luckily, there’s still three more games left, including tonight’s. Matt Grace, starting in place of Max Scherzer, started on the hill for the Nationals against Luis Perdomo. Howie Kendrick needed to get away from the Phillies desperately and it showed in the top of the first when he hit a solo homer to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Michael Taylor added on in the second with a single that scored Matt Wieters and the Nats took a 2-0 lead. Dusty Coleman helped the Padres out in the fifth with a solo homer to cut the lead in half. Washington still led 2-1. But the Nationals pulled further away in the sixth when Adam Lind singled to score Anthony Rendon to extend the lead to 3-1. The Nats added two more in the seventh with a sac fly by Alejandro De Aza and a single by Kendrick that scored him to take a 5-1 lead. Daniel Murphy added another run for good measure in the ninth with a single to right that scored Kendrick. Rendon hit a sac fly to score Wilmer Difo and the Nationals took game two with a 7-1 win. We’re back to 5:40 p.m. Saturday starts for tomorrow night. SDSU alum Stephen Strasburg starts for Washington against Travis Wood.
GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT HELPING COLLEGE STUDENTS LEARN USING THE LATEST MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
East County News Service August 18, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) has awarded a $89,440 grant to Grossmont College’s Allied Health Division. The grant will be applied towards the purchase of three pieces of equipment that will assist in the training of cardiovascular, respiratory and orthopedic technology students. According to Domenica Oliveri, interim dean, Allied Health Division, Grossmont College, the grant will help purchase a SurgiStat electrosurgical generator made by Dublin, Ireland-based Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) that will help cardiovascular students learn about electrocautery procedures used during a variety of interventional cardiac diagnostic procedures. She said the college currently does not have this equipment. In addition, Oliveri said GHD funds will help orthopedic students practice casting and splinting using a new cast cutter and cast dust vacuum manufactured by Stryker Corp. (NYSE:SYK) of Kalamazoo, Mich. She said the college’s current cast cutter and dust vacuum is outdated and frequently broken. Also, respiratory therapy students will experience how to care for patients with acute and chronic respiratory diseases with a new Carescape ventilator and oxygenation system from General Electric (GE) Healthcare, Oliveri said. The college’s current ventilations are rented or borrowed and do not give students the necessary skills needed to care for patients, she said. “We are grateful for the Grossmont Healthcare District because this new equipment will help refine rigorous and interactive laboratory experiences for our students,” said Oliveri. “Students using this equipment will be introduced to simulated workplace experiences enabling them to refine their critical thinking and analytical skills.” “We are proud to contribute to the education of these healthcare students so they can apply their knowledge in their careers as they provide safe and competent bedside care,” said Michael Emerson, 2017 board president, Grossmont Healthcare District. “Students who practice in a laboratory setting with up-to-date equipment in a simulated environment will be better prepared to keep pace with the future’s dynamic healthcare system.” Grossmont College offers accredited programs in cardiovascular technology, orthopedic technology and respiratory therapy. The Grossmont Healthcare District is a public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in the East Region. Formed in 1952 to build and operate Grossmont Hospital, GHD now leases operations to Sharp HealthCare via a public-private partnership, and continues to own the hospital on behalf of local taxpayers. 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 in San Diego’s East County. For more information about GHD, visit www.grossmonthealthcare.org.
READER’ S EDITORIAL: LEMON GROVE RESIDENTS, BEWARE OF PETITION SOLICITORS REGARDING CHANGES TO RECENT MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY ORDINANCE
By Jennifer Mendoza, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Lemon Grove August 18, 2017 (Lemon Grove) — Less than a year ago, the voters of Lemon Grove narrowly approved an ordinance to allow Medical Marijuana Dispensaries (MMD) to operate in our city. This ordinance was written by a coalition of MMD businesses and proponents. This same coalition is now unhappy with some of the language and restrictions they wrote into the ordinance. They wish to force the city to hold a special election in 2017, so that they can change the language. This special election could cost the city up to a quarter of a million dollars or more. These are your tax dollars, which could be spent on other necessary city services such as street repairs, public safety, recreation, etc. The current ordinance states that the dispensaries cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a protected use, which includes all state-licensed day care centers. The MMD coalition would like to change this language to exclude day care centers with 12 or fewer children and/or that use less than 45% of their property for the purpose of running their business. This would then exclude most if not all licensed family day care centers and most if not all church-run day care centers as being a protected use. In other words, an MMD could locate right next door to a day care center. The city has received quite a few permit applications to operate Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. It is likely that about three of these will be approved in the near future. These three businesses should be sufficient to service the needs of medical marijuana patients in a city of approximately 25,000 people. Additional MMDs will not significantly contribute more to the city’s tax base. So, I ask you to please not sign this petition when you are approached by one of the coalition’s paid petition solicitors. The people of Lemon Grove do not benefit in any way from this special election. Medical marijuana patients do not benefit. The only benefit is to MMD business and property owners, at the great expense of the citizens of Lemon Grove. If you think that Lemon Grove needs more than three Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and that the interests of the MMD business and property owners outweigh the interests of our children, then please wait and have this initiative placed on the general election ballot next year. If you have any questions, or would like additional information, please contact me at city hall or email me at jmendoza@lemongrove.ca.gov. The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org
JAY MORRIS NAMED MEN’S BASKETBALL DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
Dutcher completes coaching staff with hire of Morris Source: goaztecs.com Photo courtesy goaztecs.com August 18, 2017 (San Diego) – San Diego State men’s basketball head coach Brian Dutcher has completed his coaching staff with the addition of Jay Morris as the program’s director of player development. Morris fills the void left by Tim Shelton, who was elevated to the position of assistant coach in May. Morris comes to SDSU from Long Beach State where he was also its director of player development. In his one season at LBSU (2016-17), he was responsible, in part, for the development of an off-court curriculum focused on developing skills and relationships that would assist student-athletes after basketball. Prior to his time at the Big West school, Morris spent the 2015-16 campaign at Nevada. In that one season, Morris helped the Wolf Pack to a 24-14 record, which was a 15-win improvement over the previous year, and to a CBI championship. On the recruiting trail, Morris was the lead recruiter for several signees, leading to national recognition by a number of recruiting sites. Before moving to Reno, Morris was rooted at CSUN, a school he spent five seasons at as an assistant coach. While in the San Fernando Valley, Morris led the recruiting efforts for the 2012 Big West Freshman of the Year and number of Division I transfers. On the floor, he was instrumental in the development of the team’s perimeter and interior players, and while assisting the Matador offense in 2013-14, CSUN ranked in the top 10 nationally in free-throw percentage (1st), free throws made (2nd) and free throws attempted (8th). Morris got his Division I start at Long Beach State where he spent two seasons as the director of operations. In his position, he was responsible for coordinating team travel, film exchange, serving as camp director, maintaining the program’s recruiting database and monitoring academic progress. During his time at LBSU, the 49ers had the 10th-best recruiting class among mid-majors in 2009 and made the title game at the 2010 Big West tournament. A member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Morris received his coaching start at his high school alma mater, Westchester High in Los Angeles where he was an assistant basketball coach and strength coach for three seasons. During his stint at the prep level, Morris coached six players who went on to play Division I basketball.