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GOVERNOR VOWS TO VETO TAX INCREASE PROPOSAL THAT MAY KEEP STATE PARKS OPEN, STAVE OFF CUTS IN STATE SERVICES

Printer-friendly version    By Ryan Lescure   July 1, 2009 (San Diego)–Faced with the prospect of closing 220 state parks, including two in East County (Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park), the California Legislature passed a bundle of tax and fee increases by a simple majority, though a two-thirds majority is required to raise taxes. Governor Arnold

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EAST COUNTY ROUND-UP, JULY 1, 2009

Printer-friendly version    Top Stories About East County in other publications, including: • FIRE SERVICES PARTNERSHIP EMERGING • LAKESIDE YOUTH IS COUNTY’S 44th WITH WHOOPING COUGH • OFFICIALS’ SUPPORT SCRIPTED BY SDG&E • WIND FARM SET FOR CAMPO RESERVATION • DESCANSO AREA TARGET OF USFS GRANT TO GREATER SAN DIEGO RCD • GOVERNMENT AGENCIES’ OPENNESS ON WEB VARIES • NEW

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M*A*S*H BASH! ACTOR/AUTHOR MIKE FARRELL IN LA MESA JULY 1

Printer-friendly versionJune 30, 2009 (La Mesa) – Actor Mike Farrell, who played Dr. B.J. Hunnicutt on the T.V. series M*A*S*H, will present his new book at the La Mesa Community Center on Wednesday, July 1st.   "We will have a ‘swamp’ set up for an ice-cream social, and Mike will be available to sign his books; Of Mule and Man

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THREE-ACRE FIRE DOUSED IN PAUMA VALLEY

Printer-friendly version  June 30, 2009 (Pauma Valley) – Cal Fire has extinguished a three-acre vegetation fire in the 32000 block of Pauma View Drive, Pauma Valley.   The fire was started by a tractor and burned portions of a grove, but did not threaten or damage any structures, Cal Fire Captain Nick Schuler reports.   The fire was reported at 4:06

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BILL TO CLEAN UP TOXIC WASTES, AIR & WATER POLLUTION & PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES PASSES HOUSE; LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES SPLIT VOTES

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery   June 27, 2009 (Washington D.C.)–H.R. 2996, landmark legislation that aims to protect air, clean up waterways and restore our public lands, has passed the House of Representatives by a 254-173 vote. Among San Diego’s Congressional representatives, Bob Filner and Susan Davis voted in favor of the measure, while Brian Bilbray, Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa

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REGISTER TO VOTE

Printer-friendly versionJune 27, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Voter registration will be held at several La Mesa locations this summer. If you’ve moved, never registered, been dropped off the Registrar’s rolls for failing to vote in several elections, or wish to change your political party, visit any of the following voter registration drives: Saturday, June 27th: Noon to 4:00pm

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LEAVE FIREWORKS TO EXPERTS, BURN INSTITUE WARNS

Printer-friendly versionAll fireworks illegal in County, from sparklers to bottle rockets   July 1, 2009 (San Diego) — The Fourth of July is almost upon us – a time for family picnics and fireworks displays. Yet all too often, the public fails to consider the harsh consequences when amateurs play with fireworks. In the wrong hands, fireworks can lead to property damage,

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COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TAKES THE HIGH ROAD ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA ISSUES

Printer-friendly versionBy Kyle Serzen   June 26, 2009 (San Diego)–The San Diego County Board of Supervisors lit up some controversy during its meeting on Tuesday, which included two medical marijuana issues. The first was a resolution passed unanimously 5-0 to allow patients to apply for a medical marijuana ID card beginning July 6th. The Board also passed a measure asking

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LANDMARK CLIMATE CHANGE BILL PASSES HOUSE BY SLIM MARGIN WITH HELP FROM 2 LOCAL DEMOCRATS; SD REPUBLICANS VOTE NO

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery   June 27, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – By a scant seven votes (219-212), the U.S. House of Representatives last night passed the landmark American Clean Energy and Security Act. The bill has been hailed by the Environmental Defense Action Fund as “the most important environmental and energy legislation in our nation’s history.”   Supporters say the

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4TH OF JULY EAST COUNTY “TEA” PARTY TAX PROTEST PLANNED

Printer-friendly versionJune 23, 2009 (El Cajon) –San Diego Republican Party chair Tony Krvaric has invited the public to a “TEA Party” tax protest on July 4th. Despite the most severe budget cuts and fiscal shortfall in the state’s history, The California Republican Party has held firm against raising taxes and refused to fund reelections for legislators who vote for any increases

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SMOKEY SKIES OVER MIRAMAR TODAY & TOMORROW

Printer-friendly version September 11, 2009 (San Diego) – Emergency response training today at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station sent billowing into the air, visible from nearby freeways. A training exercise also triggered false reports of a plane crash and brush fire.   Additional smoke will be visible tomorrow, when a controlled burn will be held at the base in

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EAST COUNTY ACTIVIST FILES ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST SEMPRA/SDG&E LOBBYIST; ATTORNEY COULD FACE DISBARMENT

Printer-friendly version September 11, 2009 (Boulevard) – Donna Tisdale, Chair of the Boulevard Planning Group (photo), has filed a formal ethics complaint with the California Bar Association against Sempra/SDG&E lobbyist Heidi DeJong Barsuglia. Barsuglia has been implicated in a sex scandal involving Assemblyman Mike Duvall, as we have previously reported.    In an e-mail to East County Magazine, Tisdale noted

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THE GREAT DEBATE! 4 CANDIDATES FOR SHERIFF FACE-OFF SATURDAY IN EL CAJON

Printer-friendly version East County Magazine Editor Miriam Raftery to Co-Moderate September 11, 2009 (El Cajon) – East County’s top law enforcement issues will be on the front burner at the hottest political debate in town Saturday, when four candidates for San Diego County Sheriff will face off on issues ranging from border protection to a jail expansion in Santee.  

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4TH ANNUAL SAFE & SOUND FIRE EXPO IN EL CAJON SATURDAY, SEPT. 12

Printer-friendly version  On September 12, 2009, the San Miguel Fire District will host our 4th Annual “Safe and Sound” Fire Expo. The event will be held at the Rancho San Diego Towne Center/YMCA, 2891 Jamacha Rd. El Cajon 92019, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.   “Our community has always faced significant fire dangers, but now with recent budget cuts,

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GAME OF THE WEEK: FOOTHILLERS TO BATTLE NORSEMEN

Printer-friendly version  by Christopher Mohr September 10,2009 (El Cajon) – In the second Game of the Week, we’re going to stay at Valhalla to see a couple of East County rivals square off. Grossmont makes a short drive south to face Valhalla Friday night. Grossmont (1-0) had a dramatic 16-14 win at home last week against Otay Ranch. After missing

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SEMPRA ISSUES VIDEO STATEMENT ON LOBBYING SCANDAL, LAUNCHES INTERNAL INVESTIGATION

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery September 10, 2009 (San Diego) – Sempra Energy today issued a video statement expressing “shock” at news that a lobbyist for the company has been implicated in a sex scandal with Mike Duvall (R-Orange County), vice chair of the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee. Duvall resigned yesterday, after his videotaped boasts were widely publicized, as East County

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COMPETITORS STILL SOUGHT FOR S.D. SENIOR OLYMPIC BALLROOM COMPETITION SEPT. 13 IN EL CAJON: “WHERE YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO BE A CHAMPION”

Printer-friendly version  September 11, 2009 (El Cajon/Rancho San Diego)—If you’re over 50, now you can put on your dancing shoes–and be a good sport!  Going for the gold, competitors in the San Diego Senior Olympics this year will waltz into Cottonwood Golf Club in Rancho San Diego on September 13th to dance the night away in the Senior Olympic Game Competition.

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CPUC PULLS PLUG ON SDG&E PROACTIVE POWER SHUT OFF PLAN

Printer-friendly version  SAN FRANCISCO, September 10, 2009 – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today denied, without prejudice, San Diego Gas and Electric Company’s (SDG&E) request to proactively shut off power when certain fire conditions are present.  According to a press release issued by the CPUC, the Comission denied the request "because SDG&E has not met its burden to demonstrate that

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ANDERSON’S IOU BILL PASSES ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY; SENATE MUST ACT BY FRIDAY BEFORE LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS

Printer-friendly version  September 8, 2009 (Sacramento) – AB 1506, authored by Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) has passed the Assembly by a unanimous vote. The measure would require the state of California to accept its own IOUs as payment for taxes or fees.   “Your letters and voices came through loud and clear and generated momentum that carried onto the Assembly

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ASSEMBLYMEMBER SALDANA RECOMMENDS RENEWABLE STRATEGY FOR BACKCOUNTRY IN LIEU OF SHUT-OFF PLAN

Printer-friendly version September 9, 2009 (San Diego)–Assembly Member Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) urged the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to collaborate with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and other stakeholders in developing a long-term distributed generation strategy to reduce the risk of wildfire and provide safe power generation in case of emergencies.   Saldaña’s made her recommendations in a letter

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