LA MESA SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS
East County News Service March 20, 2019 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa is seeking volunteers for an ad hoc citizen committee on homelessness. If you’re passionate about homeless issues and want to make a positive difference in the community, you are encouraged to sign up. Committee members will create a plan to articulate the role of the city, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations with respect to homelessness. Applications are due April 4 at 5:30 p.m. and can be found on the city’s website https://www.cityoflamesa.us/ or in person at La Mesa City Hall.
LA MESA EARTH DAY FESTIVAL APRIL 27 FEATURES PEDAL FOR THE PLANET TRAIL RIDE
East County News Service March 20, 2019 (La Mesa) – A Pedal for the Planet Trail Ride, arts and crafts, vendors, STEM activities, educational materials, a bounce house and food trucks are all part of La Mesa’s Earth Day Festival. Sponsored by the La Mesa Park and Recreational Foundation, La Mesa’s Earth Day Festival will be held on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street in La Mesa. The event promises “fun for all ages.” For more information, contact ci.la-mesa.ca.us or call Misty at 619-667-1319.
CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD SHIFTS FROM BORDER TO FIRE PREVENTION
By Miriam Raftery Photo: Creative commons by S.A. March 20, 2019 (San Diego) — Instead of putting up razor wire at the border, California’s National Guard troops will soon be wielding shovels, rakes and chainsaws to clear brush, thin trees and help prevent the spread of wildfires. The troops will receive 11 days of training in April, then be dispatched across the state in hopes of preventing future disasters such as the Paradise Fire, which killed over 80 people and destroyed the town of Paradise in northern California last year. Cal-Fire spokesman Mike Mohler says,”They will be boots on the ground doing fuels projects alongside Cal-Fire crews,” KNSD reports. It’s not the first time the National Guard has been used for fire protection. Thousands of National Guard troops battled fires across the western United States last year, including here in California. Back in 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called in National Guard troops to help battle hundreds of fires sparked by lightning. Mohler indicated crews would be trained in forest management to avoid over-thinning of chaparral and trees. The state estimates that over 23,000 square miles of forests need thinning or restoration, but only 140 square miles of projects are thus far planned. The Forest Service has reported millions of dead trees in California after several years of drought. Cal-Fire is also recruiting civilian fuels management crews to reduce fuels and if needed, help fight fires in the early stages. But some environmentalists voice concerns. Shaye Wolf, a scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity, says, “Cal-Fire is taking the Trump approach, logging the forest and weakening critical environmental protections, and that’s the exact opposite of what we need to be doing.” Some ecologists say that overthinning of forests and chaparral can lead to increased growth of grasses, which burn hotter and faster, fueling megafires.
SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR MAN MISSING FROM EDGEMOOR HOSPITAL IN SANTEE
Update March 21: This individual has been found and is safe. By Miriam Raftery March 20, 2019 (Santee) – A search is underway for Jose “Raul” Martinez, a 63-year-old patient reported missing yesterday from Edgemoor Hospital, a skilled nursing care facility at 655 Park Center Drive in Santee. He suffers from medical conditions and may become disoriented. He is Hispanic and was last seen waring a black jacket, dark jeans and white shoes. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 170 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. If you see him, please call the Sheriff’s Department at (858)565-2000 and reference missing person case #19113916.
MEDICAL EXAMINER PUTS 20 YEARS OF DATA ONLINE
By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office Photo: Chief County Medical Examiner Dr. Glenn Wagner in an examining room for death investigations. March 20, 2019 (San Diego) – In a model of government transparency, the San Diego County Medical Examiner is releasing 220 years’ worth of data–from 1997 to the third quarter of 2018, in a free searchable online portal. The site makes over 59,000 records available. Valuable comparisons and conclusions can be drawn from the types and circumstances of sudden unexpected deaths that occur in San Diego County, and in changes over time. “We feel strongly that this information learned from the deaths that we’ve investigated can be used to help the living and even change lives for the better,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Glenn Wagner. “Our vision is to be a data-forward agency. The idea is to make the data available for the public, media, other departments or agencies that may have some overlap with segments of the people included in the report, and researchers who may be able to look at the data and provide insights back to the Department of the Medical Examiner.” The Medical Examiner does not investigate all deaths in San Diego county. Approximately 40 percent of all deaths are reported to the Medical Examiner, and of those more than 3,000 are brought in for an examination. In general, the Medical Examiner has jurisdiction for all accidental deaths, homicides, suicides, in-custody deaths, and any sudden or unexpected natural deaths in which the decedent had not seen their health care provider in the last 20 days of life. “The types of cases that fall under the Medical Examiner’s scope are of interest from both a public health and public safety aspect. The ability to compare San Diego statistics with other regional, state and national statistics is as important as a jurisdiction’s crime statistics,” said Wagner. “The data has implications for many agencies. Patterns and trends as reflected in this population as compared to the population as a whole, from public health and hospital and clinic information is important in terms of keeping your fingers on the pulse of the community.” Photo, right: A County employee looks at some of the Medical Examiner data that is now available online Making the data available for public searches has been an objective for the department for several years. Project managers studied how other jurisdictions locally and across the nation shared data to try to make the County’s data portal intuitive, responsive and easy to navigate. The data follows privacy guidelines that protect the deceased person and person’s family, and so does not include names, dates of birth, case numbers or specific addresses. The data is available in raw form and presented in some pre-assembled data sets such as opioid, fentanyl and suicide deaths, which are commonly requested by media outlets. To access the data portal and for other San Diego County Medical Examiner information, please visit the office’s Statistics page.
READER’S EDITORIAL: WHY I AM AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
By Joel A. Harrison, PhD, MPH March 20, 2019 (San Diego) — On Wednesday, March 13th, Governor Gavin Newsom imposed a moratorium on the death penalty. The reactions, both supporting the governor and condemning his action, have come swift and furious. When I read stories of families whose members, especially children have been murdered, even more so by serial killers, families who have attended death penalty appeal after appeal, cases where the evidence of guilt is overwhelming, I find little sympathy for the defendant and if I were a lawyer would find it near impossible to represent them. However, as I will try to explain below, my personal reactions aside, I am against the death penalty, partly because of the risk of executing an innocent person; but even the execution of someone overwhelmingly guilty of some truly horrendous act. This is not about them; but about us as a society. For a good summary of the history of the death penalty and current status around the world, see Wikipedia. Capital Punishment. I have been against the death penalty since my pre-teen years when a 1957 TV documentary series, “The Court of Last Resort”, alerted me to the risk of an innocent man being executed. I bought the paperback book, which I still own, for a whopping 35 cents (Wikipedia. The Court of Last Resort; TV episodes available at YouTube; Gardner, 1952). Since then I have followed the various innocence projects, shocked at how easy a conviction is, based sometimes on flimsy, circumstantial evidence, or even fabricated evidence, and how difficult it is to overturn. Our system has a built-in bias where appeals courts often bend over backwards to not undo lower court decisions. Appeals are based on procedural justice, not substantive justice. That is, they are not supposed to look at the actual evidence presented at trial, nor new evidence, just if a person received a “fair” trial, a vague term at best. Thus, over the past few decades, over 150 innocent people convicted of murder, after spending years in prison and many on death row, were freed. And by some estimates circa 4% of those executed over the past decades were innocent (Death Penalty Information Center; Sarandon. Death Row Stories; Netflix. The Confession Tapes; Wikipedia. Innocence Project; Wikipedia. Kevin Cooper). With over 150 exonerated cases in the U.S., 60% still support the death penalty. What does that say about us? I was raised to believe that in American justice, it is better for 10 guilty men to go free than convict one innocent man; but this doesn’t seem to reflect the reality where race prejudice, and a criminal justice system that elects Judges, DAs, Sheriffs, and Police Chiefs, often based on their conviction rates, innocence be damned (Kagan, 2003). In fact, there are examples where judges or DAs have changed their minds about a defendant or convicted person’s guilt, either in mid-trial or afterwards, who have later been voted out of office. As the years have gone by my stand against the death penalty has been reinforced for a number of reasons: The obvious disparities in minorities being condemned to death far more often for the same horrendous crime than whites. The obvious disparities between not only states; but even different districts within a state. The tremendous psychological toll it takes on the prison officers carrying it out. The hypocrisy/contradiction in stating that killing is wrong, so we will kill to prove it, converting the taking of a human life into a cold calculated ritual. Despite some cases having had adequate defense counsel taking decades to uncover new evidence which Prop 66, by shortening the appeals times, would have been executed. Botched executions, where extreme pain was inflicted on defendant. I guess if we want to revert to the Medieval World where torture was often the norm, we have succeeded. The enormous cost of automatic death penalty appeals because of its finality, monies that could be more wisely spent on apprehending criminals, perhaps, preventing further victims, and giving closure to most families who, nowadays, are faced with the endless appeals, as opposed to life without parole. All members of the European Union have abolished the death penalty, as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most Latin American countries. But, at least, the U.S. is in good company with nations that certainly reflect the best in American values??? Countries with the Most Confirmed Executions in 2017 1. China (1,000s *see above) 5. Pakistan (60+) 2. Iran (507+) 6. Egypt (35+) 3. Saudi Arabia (146+) 7. Somalia (24) 4. Iraq (125+) 8. United States (23) Countries with the Most Death Sentences in 2017** 1. China (1,000s *see above) 4. Bangladesh (273+) 2. Nigeria (641) 5. Sri Lanka (218) 3. Egypt (402+) 6. Pakistan (200+) ** Death-sentencing totals unknown for Iran, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea Death Penalty Information Center. Death Penalty: An International Perspective In the U.S. DNA tests found at crime scenes often languish for years before they are tested, if ever. Not only does this deny justice to the victim of the specific crime; but potentially risks additional crime victims. There are a number of reasons for this backlog; but funding both for training and labs is a major reason. The funds going to the costly death penalty and its automatic appeals could have been used to expedite DNA testing. (National Institute of Justice, 2011; End the Backlog). Life-imprisonment without the possibility of parole will protect society and allow if there is any new evidence to be presented when available rather than the costly automatic appeals of the irrevocable death sentence. And life-imprisonment without possibility of parole will give closure to many families who face the agony of ongoing appeals. There are a few cases where the death penalty was used as a bargaining chip. For instance, the case of John Albert Gardner, a serial rapist and murder, who, in exchange for life-imprisonment without the possibility of parole,
JULIAN VOTES TO ABOLISH THE JULIAN CUYAMACA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor Miriam Raftery, Editor, contributed to this report Update March 27, 2019: The margin has narrowed slightly but Measure A still leads by 114 votes and a 7.96% margin: yes 53.98%, no 46.02% March 19, 2019 (Julian) – The County’s last all-volunteer fire department may soon be history. With 1,294 ballots counted tonight, Measure A is passing with 55.56%, the Registrar of Voters reports. The measure would affirm a decision made last September by the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to abolish the 35-year-old Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District. Fire and ambulance services would be shifted entirely to the County Fire Authority, under the direction of Cal-Fire. The Registrar’s office will continue to accept ballots until Friday, if postmarked by today. It is unclear how many ballots mailed out have not yet been returned, or whether there could be enough to make up the 145-vote gap (719 to 575). Cal-Fire firefighters’ union local #2881 posted on Facebook tonight, “Thank you to the Citizens of Julian and Cuyamaca for the opportunity to serve them.” (photo, left) For backers of the JCFPD who have fought hard to keep their volunteer firefighters, however, the outcome sparked strong emotions. “It doesn’t look very good right now,” Robert Menghini, president of the volunteer fire protection district. told ECM, adding, “As far as I’m concerned, this was an illegal election.” Although he did not reveal specific actions the district may take to challenge the election in court, Menghini said that the district will continue to fight any attempts to abolish the district by the County of San Diego. Tuesday’s election was mandated by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors last December, when LAFCO received enough “protest letters” from local residents to overturn an earlier decision a month earlier to dissolve the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District. The ball towards the vote started to roll last spring when the former JCFPD board after the board voted three-to-one to file a dissolution application with the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). The board did so only after the County informed the board that it would halt 100% of county funding for the JCFPD if it remained a volunteer district. None of the board members who voted for dissolution are currently on the board of directors. At the time of the board’s vote, directors considered the district’s finances and the majority determined that the district did not have the resources to continue. Aida Tucker, JCFPD’s former vice-president, told KPBS TV, “I looked at the budget and saw that there’s no way we were going to be able to make it in the next couple years. We probably would be broke by then without any extra help, so thinking about the community and what they deserve, I decided to go ahead and vote to dissolve the district.” Because of alleged staffing and response problems, the JCFPD asked the San Diego County Fire Authority for assistance in 2015. At the time, it entered into a two-year contract and the county gave the area extra resources and $105,000 in subsidies and services. However, when the contract expired in Oct. 2017, the board voted to stay independent, which resulted in a good portion of the extra County of San Diego funding disappearing. Because of that, Tucker said it quickly became clear that Julian wouldn’t be able to fund a 24/7 response team on its own. Following resignation of multiple board members, an election last November gave control of the board back to supporters of keeping the district independent. Fundraising efforts have been underway amid a contentious election in which both sides argued that Julian would be safer if their side prevailed. The stakes are high, with lives and property protection on the line. Passage of Measure A means Cal-Fire will not shut down two stations in the winter months. Ambulance service will continue to be provided by the CFA, an important point since loss of a county ambulance would have forced the JCFPD to seek a contract with another ambulance provider, if one could be procured. But there will no longer be local volunteers to respond to calls if Cal-Fire or a county ambulance is not available. Some JCFPD supporters have voiced concerns over the potential for future cuts or dark days at stations, as well as delayed responses to local emergencies if Cal Fire crews are dispatched to battle wildfire elsewhere. Instead of 60 volunteers, with Cal-Fire’s aid on wildfires, Julian will now be reliant 100% on Cal-Fire, which JCFD backers say means far fewer firefighters on hand to respond to structure fires. JCFPD Chief Mike Van Bibber recently recruited dozens of new recruits, 18 of whom recently graduated from JCFPD’s training activity to become volunteer firefighters (photo, right). But those positions will be extinguished if tonight’s vote counts holds, unless a court intervenes. Follow Paul Kruze on Twitter and Facebook: @PaulKruzeNews
TRUMP VETOES CONGRESSIONAL MEASURE TO BLOCK HIS EMERGENCY DECLARATION
President also threatens to veto Senate’s passage of a bill ending support for Saudis in Yemen civil war By Miriam Raftery March 19, 2019 (Washington D.C.) — A courtroom battle looms after President Donald Trump vetoed a resolution Friday passed by both houses of Congress. The Congressional resolution rejected Trump’s emergency declaration to fund a border wall. One day earlier, in a rare show of bipartisanship, 12 Senate Republicans joined with Democrats to pass the resolution already approved by the Democratic-controlled House. The Congressional members objected to the President issuing the emergency declaration in defiance of Congress, which had earlier voted against Trump’s budget request for $5 billion in border wall funding. “Congress has the freedom to pass this resolution, and I have the duty to veto it,” Trump said. He called the resolution “reckless” and insisted that the immigration system in the U.S. has reached a “breaking point.” The Constitution gives power of the purse strings to the legislative branch—Congress, not the executive branch of government which includes the President. Public Citizen, a watchdog group, has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the emergency declaration. The state of California, the American Civil Liberties Union and others have vowed to also file legal challenges. Legal experts indicate courts will look closely at Congressional intent, which in this case clearly was to not fund a border wall at the level sought by Trump. If the executive order survives legal challenges, Trump’s plan is to take money from military programs including some in San Diego to pay for constructing an international border wall. While many in Congress disagree with the President’s assertion that immigration is at an emergency level, even some who share his views on the border wall have voiced concerns that if Trump’s emergency declaration contrary to the stated intent of Congress action stands, future presidents might issue executive orders to divert funds for other projects that Congress has not approved, such as addressing gun violence. It would take two-thirds of both houses of Congress to override the President’s veto. Reportedly, there are not enough members in either house willing to support an override. But there is another option to reign in presidential power regarding emergency declarations. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) has introduced a bill that would make it harder for presidents in the future to bypass Congress via an emergency declaration. His plan would require Congress to approve any presidential emergency declaration in the future, or the declaration will automatically terminate after 30 days. Approval would require a simple majority. Currently, an emergency declaration by a president may only be terminated by a Congressional resolution sent to the president. That concentrates a tremendous amount of power in a single person, since a president who opts to wield veto power can only be constrained with a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate. Presidential emergency declarations have been a concern since enactment of the National Emergencies Act of 1976. But now leaders in both parties have suggested it may be time to reign in presidential power. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has stated, “If Congress has grown uneasy with this law, as many have, then we should amend it.” The veto was the first by Trump, but likely won’t be his last. Trump has threatened to also veto a measure passed by the Senate which cut off U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s coalition forces in the civil war in Yemen, where a humanitarian crisis has been declared by the United Nations. The U.N. has said that 13 million Yemenis face starvation, including millions of children.
SDSU BASEBALL’S FOUR-GAME WIN STREAK SNAPPED AT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
Jaden Fein hits first career home run in 5-1 loss Source: goaztecs.com Photo courtesy goaztecs.com March 19, 2019 (Los Angeles) – The San Diego State baseball team had its four-game winning streak come to a close on Tuesday night, falling to Loyola Marymount 5-1 at Page Stadium. The Aztecs fall to 11-8, while the Lions improve to 12-7 and extend their win streak to six. Jaden Fein hit his first career home run in the top of the fifth, erasing what was a 1-0 lead for LMU after sending a 1-1 offering from Nate Madole over the left-centerfield wall. Making his first career start, Adrian Mardueno was dealt the tough-luck loss, throwing a career-high five innings with just three hits and two runs allowed while striking out three. Trailing 3-1 in the top of the seventh, Chad Bible and Brian Leonhardt were hit by pitches in consecutive at-bats to give the Aztecs a late-inning threat. After Joe Fitzhugh recorded a two-out infield single to load the bases, Lions right-hander CJ Fernandezees was able to force pinch-hitter Deron Johnson to ground out to second base to end the potential run-scoring opportunity. The Lions carried the momentum into adding an insurance run in both the seventh and eighth, bringing the score to its final 5-1. NOTES With his performance today, Adrian Mardueno has an ERA of 1.31 on the season — the best among qualified Aztec pitchers (1 IP per game played) UP NEXT San Diego State begins a busy five-day stretch on Friday with a three-game Mountain West series at New Mexico before welcoming Arizona and Cal Baptist to Tony Gwynn Stadium next Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Box
THE PEOPLE’S ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE HOSTS ANTI-RACISM EDUCATOR JANE ELLIOT; HONORS FOUR WOMEN
By Angela de Joseph March 19, 2019 (San Diego) — Reverend Shane Harris is one of the few people who could put out a call on a Monday and get a hundred people to show up to downtown San Diego on Saturday morning to hear a talk about racism. Harris, the former president of the San Diego chapter of the National Action Network (NAN) recently launched his own national civil rights organization, The People’s Alliance for Justice. The People’s Alliance for Justice held a brunch-reception at the San Diego Union-Tribune’s 12th floor meeting room as an olive branch to the community after the paper’s editorial cartoon debacle last month. (The controversial Juxtaposed revered authors James Baldwin and Toni Morrison with actor Jussie Smollett, who has been indicted on 16 criminal charges). The keynote speaker was renowned anti-racism activist and educator Jane Elliot, famous for her “Blue eyes–Brown eyes” exercise which she first conducted for her elementary school students the day after Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. She was further catapulted into the national spotlight by her appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show over two decades ago and most recently as a guest on “Red Table Talk” hosted by Jada Pinkett-Smith on Facebook. Reverend Harris named The Women’s History Month reception in honor of legendary singer Mahalia Jackson, a staunch supporter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Jackson famously stood near the stage at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial at the 1963 March on Washington and said, “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” prompting him to make the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. The standing-room only event celebrated Women’s History Month by honoring four San Diego women for “taking on the fight for justice and equality.” The honorees were Marlea Dell’Anno, civil rights attorney; Tinicia Smith, co-founder and president of Black San Diego; Angela De Joseph, founder of Women of Color Roar Media; and 9-year-old Malaiha Cole, who called 911 from the backseat of her father’s stolen car, saving herself and her three-year old brother from the clutches of a kidnapper. The predominately young and African American crowd spilled out of the overbooked room into the hallway. Although seating was scarce and the temperature elevated, the mood was jovial as people leaned against walls and sat cross-legged on the floor. A few parents brought their children, including Union-Tribune editor and publisher, Jeff Light, who brought his daughter to hear the brilliant and often controversial words from Jane Elliot. And the 85-year-old firebrand did not disappoint. Elliot, a petite gray-haired woman, entered the room wearing her trademark white sweatshirt that says, “Prejudice is an emotional commitment to ignorance.” She took hold of the microphone and did not let go or let Reverend Harris get a word in until she was done. Elliot’s style is confrontational and designed to “shock and awe.” She asked for anyone who was bi-racial to stand, then chastised them because, “There is only one race, the human race.” Some of her talk is fact-based. For instance, the size of the continents shown in many maps and on globes were drawn to make European countries larger and the continent of Africa smaller. Then there were some “Elliotized” tangents she went on such as that Adam and Eve were a mixed raced couple and white people are faded black people, ideas played well with this audience but may have some push back in other circles. In all, Jane Elliot remains a unique and powerful educator. She is riveting and magnetic in her delivery of her most important message: racism is taught. Although everyone may not want to believe that we are “all cousins,” we did all agree to treat each other the way we want to be treated. It is a simple concept, but one that would have a tremendous impact on our communities and the world, if we practiced it. The Mahalia Jackson Women’s History Month event ended with Elliot relinquishing the microphone and Reverend Shane Harris pinning the new San Diego president of The People’s Alliance for Justice, Tonja Daniels.