Citizens “Take Action!” Guide
Printer-friendly versionWhose interests are your elected officials representing: the people–or the special interests? Too many voters haven’t got a clue—so East County Magazine is shedding light into those smoke-hazed back-rooms in Washington D.C. and Sacramento, enabling you to keep up with what your elected officials are doing – and decide whether or not they deserve your vote next election. You can also share your views on key issues with the handy tools we’ve provided. Find out how they voted: Major bills are listed at https://justfacts.votesmart.org/ a nonpartisan organization, as well as key measures tracked by public interest groups. We also have articles on many recent bills in our Politics section at East County Magazine Contact your elected officials, or to find out who represents you: visit our Sound Off! section in our “Citizens’ “Take Action” Center. Printer-friendly version
Welcome
Printer-friendly versionSeptember 2008 Dear Readers, Back in the Dark Ages before Internet and cell phones, chatting over the back fence with neighbors was the cool way to get news Think of this site as your virtual back fence: a place to share your views with neighbors all over East County! We started this publication to fill a news void, give voice to people whose voices aren’t being heard in existing media–and show all those beach dwellers and downtown denizens that there actually is life east of I-15. Okay, so we don’t have beaches. Or sand fleas. But we do have beautiful lakes, mountains, and deserts. No coastal fog here — just plenty of sunshine and solar panels sprouting up faster than wildflowers after a spring rain. We don’t have over-the-line tournaments or sandcastle building contests. But we’ve got grape stomps, jazz and bluegrass festivals, rodeos, parades, free concerts, movies in the park, and Indian pow-wows — just a few of this month’s festivals! (See our calendar for more events). Bonus point: No weekend beach traffic jams East of I-15. You can still find vestiges of the Old West in East County, with rural towns proudly celebrating their heritage. San Diego’s eastern region is also home to all 19 Native American tribal reservations in San Diego County. Where else can you find cowboy and Indian museums – as well as tribal-owned resorts, spas, golf courses, casinos, shopping malls and theaters with celebrity entertainers? We’re eager to connect our readers by building a virtual community. Concerned about wildfires, healthcare, land use projects, border issues or other community topics? Have a hot tip on a story we should cover? Let us know. Post your views here. Found a great back roads bistro we should review? Please share! Irked at public officials’ stances or votes? Sound off. (If you don’t know how they voted, or want to contact your elected representatives, check our Citizens Action Center.) Our mission is to build better communities. We’ll profile people making a positive difference, keep you informed about important issues, and cover exciting events beforehand so you can attend with family and friends. Our community resource section and columns offer a wealth of useful tips and info. We also have a wildfire e-mail alert service plus live updates during emergencies – all free, thanks to our generous donors and sponsors. (See our “Donors and Sponsors” section to help support our independent community media and emergency alert services.) Most importantly, please let us know what you think – and what else you’d like to see in our upcoming issues. Miriam Raftery Editor, East County Magazine Posting Guidelines Welcome to the East County Magazine’s Back Fence Blog, your place in cyberspace to share news and views with neighbors here in San Diego’s eastern region. We respect all viewpoints and encourage participation by everyone in our community. Please keep posts brief and courteous (no name-calling, threats, hate speech, libel or profanity) and respect copyright laws. Comments will be screened to be sure guidelines are followed, so expect a brief delay before seeing remarks posted. If you notice an inappropriate post, please contact webmaster@eastcountymagazine.com or editor@eastcountymagazine.org. Printer-friendly version
A Firestorm of Controversy – Still No County Fire Department Five Years After Cedar Blaze
Printer-friendly versionBallot measure will ask voters to approve tax for fire services By E.A. Barrera Photos courtesy of La Mesa Fire Department “Given the existing high-risk conditions that are projected to continue into the future, destructive firestorms will certainly occur again. Yet, even armed with this knowledge and after the Cedar Fire wake-up call, the San Diego region is woefully unprepared.” – San Diego County Grand Jury, May 29, 2008 September 1, 2009 (East County)–October will mark the first anniversary of the Witch Creek Fires and fifth anniversary of the deadlier Cedar Fire. Four years have passed since voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition “C” which called for a Countywide Fire Department. Yet the County of San Diego is still at the nascent stage of organizing collective fire departments of the region into one unified command structure. In August, the County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to put a measure on the November ballot asking voters to approve a $52 increase in their annual property taxes—or $1 a week– to fund such a unified fire command. The measure would fund purchase of reserve fire engines, water bombers and other regional equipment. On June 25, the Supervisors also voted unanimously to approve a consolidation of some of the County’s twenty-three separate fire departments, while boasting that they had spent $3 million from the County’s General Fund and Community Development Block Grant funds to purchase eight four-wheel drive fire engines. County Supervisors will spend $15.5 million dollars annually to bring additional resources and firefighters to more than 50 existing fire stations throughout the region, unifying twelve agencies to merge through a three-phased process. “Over half the County will be unified into a single, less-fractured, more efficient agency. This means stronger and better coordinated services in our rural areas. And, it brings us significantly closer to our eventual goal of creating a Countywide fire entity to serve the region,” said Jacob, who also stated in a previous announcement that purchase of the new fire trucks represented “proof positive of the County’s aggressive efforts to make our region the best prepared it can be for fire and other disasters.” Yet county fire officials and residents have been hearing promises from politicians for the last five years about unifying the departments, only to see little or no action. In August 2005, a plan was put forward by the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to begin the process of reorganizing the region’s fire protection. LAFCO issued a scathing report in February 2005 which labeled the county’s emergency preparedness organization “bewildering” and “short-sighted.” “In the absence of compelling cooperative agreements or inclusive organizational structure, the region’s 28 autonomous agencies exist in an environment that results in isolated policy decisions impacting the effectiveness of region-wide service,” stated the 2005 LAFCO report. In their report, LAFCO said the region’s agencies had not developed a universal response criterion, had not provided a unified command or employed unified standards for training safety personnel, and were not able to “engage in strategic regional planning that could eliminate redundancies” and engender more effective use of resources. “Because emergency services are divided among so many agencies—no single authority is accountable for creating and implementing a comprehensive vision for the region,” stated the LAFCO report. “The determinations in this report underscore the fact that the region’s bewildering organization of un-served areas and redundant, under-funded public agencies did not evolve spontaneously; it was encouraged and given shape by short-sighted public policy choices that were adopted without a vision of how such decisions would impact public safety.” Grand Jury report, fire officials scorch Supervisors Fast forward three years later; the County Grand Jury report blasted the County’s continued lack of progress in creating what they term an “historically and currently failing” system to “provide the resources necessary to protect residents and visitors during significant firestorms.” “San Diego County … spends only $8.5 million annually on fire protection as opposed to Orange County which spends $260 million and Los Angeles County that spends $860 million. According to 2007 State of California estimates, San Diego County has over 3 million people and covers 4,200 square miles. For comparison purposes, Orange County has an estimated 3 million people and covers 790 square miles, while Los Angeles County has approximately 10 million people and covers 4,060 square miles,” stated the Grand Jury Report on May 29, 2008. According to County records, the 2003 Cedar Fire burned 376,237 acres, destroyed 3,241 structures and killed 15 San Diego County residents, including one firefighter. Four years later, the 2007 Witch Creek/Guejito fire burned 368,340 acres, destroyed 2,653 structures, caused 23 citizen injuries and 89 firefighter injuries, and ultimately killed 10 San Diego residents. “According to researchers, fire season has grown two months longer and destroys 6.5 times more land than in the 1970s,” stated the Grand Jury. “In spite of Santa Ana conditions, insufficient rainfall, longer fire seasons and urban sprawl, the County remains without a unified fire protection agency and no central command. Assessments following the Cedar Fire and the Witch Creek/Guejito fire have consistently called for a better-organized and more responsive system in the unincorporated area where wildfire tends to originate.” During LAFCO’s 2005 study of the county’s fire preparedness, local fire department personnel severely criticized the Supervisors’ for their lack of commitment to fire protection. San Marcos Fire Department Chief Larry Kinnard said the problem for county fire fighters was one of funding. He was joined by Lakeside Fire Chief Mark Baker, who also called for an increase in property tax revenues to pay for local fire services. Both men echoed blistering statements made by then-president of the San Diego Fire Chiefs Association Kevin Crawford, who in October 2004 said a chief culprit leading up to the lack of preparation for the Cedar Fire was “an atmosphere of inattention” on the part of the county towards the volunteer and smaller fire departments in San Diego’s backcountry. “Fire protection in San Diego County is like a large jigsaw puzzle. One of
DYING TO COME TO AMERICA – Immigrant Death Toll Soars; Water Stations Sabotaged
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery September 1, 2008 (Holtville)–“These people came here looking for opportunity. Not one of them expected to die,” said Enrique Morones, erecting a hand-made wooden cross at a gravesite marked only by a brick engraved with the name Jane Doe. A few years ago, there were twenty bricks in this pauper’s graveyard at Holtville in Imperial County, final resting ground for immigrants who died crossing the U.S.-Mexican border in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Now there are 656. No trees shade this pauper’s graveyard from the scorching summer sun. There is no grass, only an expanse of bare earth and bricks. Many of the dead remain unidentified; other bricks bear names of men, women and children buried here. The graveyard does not include bodies of other border crossers buried in Mexico. “I have a letter from a mother whose son died crossing,” said Morones, founder of Border Angels (Angeles de la Frontera, www.borderangels.org), a nonprofit organization that provides water stations and other humanitarian aid to prevent deaths among people crossing rugged desert and mountain terrain in San Diego’s East County and Imperial County. “He was 19 and about to get married. She pleaded with him not to go. He just wanted a little money to get a house in Mexico. He did come home—but in a casket.” Before construction of the border wall began in 1994 as part of Operation Gatekeeper, one or two people died each month attempting to cross into the U.S. To date, only about 100 miles of the proposed 2,000 border wall have been built. Since construction began, Morones estimates, the death rate has climbed 15- to 30-fold. Two immigrants each day are now dying, he said—a total of 10,000 nationwide since construction of the wall began, more than three times as many deaths than occurred in the 9-11 terrorist attacks. “They are forced to cross in harsher areas,” he said of the ill-fated immigrants. “It’s inhumane. The U.S. preaches human rights.” Some die from violence, shot by Border Patrol agents, vigilantes or thieves. Others are killed in accidents: stumbling in rugged terrain, falling over the wall, or struck by vehicles. Many others perish of dehydration and exposure – conditions made worse by the recent sabotage of water stations set out by Border Angeles and other humanitarian groups. Water Stations Slashed “Sadly, every one of the more than 40 stations we went to were vandalized and the water emptied out while the containers were slashed by a knife,” Morones wrote in an e-mail in mid-June. He noted that the sabotage was discovered immediately after June 14—the same weekend Campo Minutemen had announced in a local newspaper plans to hold a reunion. Morones told East County Magazine (ECM) he views the Minutemen as “a destructive vigilante group.” Morones said his group’s activities are legal, done with permission of landowners including various government agencies. While instances of vandalized water stations have occurred in the past, the frequency of such vandalism has increased since the Minuteman Project nationally was established in 2004, Morones said. Asked if Minutemen were involved in damaging water stations, Campo Minuteman founder Britt Craig, aka Kingfish, told ECM, “I have no personal knowledge about that.” He denounced as felons those who aid illegal immigrants by knowingly providing sanctuary, jobs, or housing. But he said, “Putting water out in the desert, it’s humanitarian…That’s not a felony,” he added, noting that water could assist stranded travels or immigrants returning to Mexico after finding harsh conditions in the desert or mountains. Asked his view of the humanitarian aid provided by Border Angels, U.S. Border Patrol Agent J. Espinoza at the Campo Border Patrol Station replied, “They’re human beings. I don’t want to see anybody die. A lot of them are over their heads.” Agent E. Rahman concurred. “The coyotes (human traffickers) will tell them anything. They’ll tell them it’s just a short walk.” In fact, the average border crosser takes three days to cross mountains and desert before reaching safer urban areas, according to Morones. Many have traveled for days or even weeks from southern Mexico or Central America before even arriving at the border, he added. Agent Espinoza said he believes Minutemen have a right to be on the border “as long as they are law-abiding,” but added that new Border Patrol agents are often surprised to see how crowded the border area is at night with private citizens on patrol, armed with cell phones–and often, more. On the road with the Border Angels: Signs of desperation—and more vandalism Over the July 4th weekend, as temperatures soared to over 100 degrees, additional sabotage was found at some local water stations. Campo Minutemen had once again announced a gathering named “Operation Secure American Now!” for the same weekend. This reporter accompanied Morones on an Independence Day trip and documented first-hand the damage found. We pulled off the highway to a dusty ridge overlooking a dry gully, where footprints from dozens, perhaps hundreds of immigrants have left impressions in the shifting sands. Above, towering boulder-strewn mountains served as formidable natural barriers to any who dare to cross. Dressed in cool, cotton clothing, I found myself drenched in sweat within minutes of stepping out into arid heat in the mid-90s. I wondered how anyone could survive long without water in such conditions, knowing that temperatures often soar into triple digits here. Morones knocked a rock off the top of a container filled with water jugs, careful to look inside before pulling one out. “I got bit by a spider one time,” he recalled. “I needed six weeks of antibiotics.” Another time, a kangaroo mouse jumped out. Rattlesnakes and scorpions are additional risks in this sometimes-deadly environment. I asked Morones, who was born in the U.S. but says he’s proud of his Mexican heritage, what compels him to take such risks. “It’s just doing the right thing,” he replied. “This is about family values. I was raised as a good Catholic, a Christian.” His website features a
September Festivals
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Sept. 1, 2008 (East County)–We first planned to call this column Festival of the Month. But after discovering how many great events communities and groups are hosting in San Diego’s eastern region we changed the column name to tell you about as many fun-filled festivals as possible. Many are free, though some charge admission. Check out details on these and many other activities at our calendar of events. Here are a few of our favorites: September 1st is the last day in 2008 to enjoy Park at Dark sunset and night-time live entertainment and “Journey into Africa Tours” at the San Diego Wild Animal Park in San Pasqual. Enjoy a blast to the past at the Cajon Classic Car Show September 3 and 10, featuring antique cars and specialty vehicles, sidewalk vendors, free raffles, and entertainment including classic tunes by Dr. DJ and All Around Mobile. On September 5, El Cajon’s First Friday offers activities, entertainment and discounts at local downtown merchants. The Sycuan Traditional Gathering and Pow-Wow September 5-7 attracts tribal members from across North America with Native American dancing and drumming competitions. Native American crafts, vendors and food are also available at this three-day event, which is free to the public. Saturday, September 6th is jam-packed with festivities for the whole family! The Julian Grape Stomp Fest offers wine-tasting, food, crafts and an option to doff shoes and stomp fruits of the harvest with other visitors. While in the mountains, visit the Cleveland National Forest Centennial Celebration featuring the Fiddlin’ Forresters at Dos Picos Park in Ramona. Escondido has a Parade and Grape Stomp with crafts and a petting zoo. Or take a historic train ride departing from the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo. Escondido also offers a Grape Day Festival and Parade. Later on, grab some popcorn and snuggle up for Lemon Grove’s Movie Night in the Park, or dance the night away at El Cajon’s free Concert on the Green. Okay, it’s not a festival, but we can’t resist Stargazing at Mission Trails Regional Park on September 10th. Telescopes are provided for astronomy enthusiasts from dusk to 10 p.m. Note: This easily-accessible park offers many other activities such as nature walks and bird watching. On Thursday, September 11th, stroll the AlleyCat Art Walk in El Cajon to enjoy displays by local artists and artisans. Or savor a Winemaker Dinner on September 12th at the Rancho Bernardo Winery. Yeehaw! The Golden State Rodeo in Lakeside will be held on September 12-13. The Poway Community Parade and Festival Escondido take place September 13th. You can also enjoy three days of outdoor music by more than 30 bands plus DJs, food, wine-tasting and camping at Ranchita Rocks Concerts, a three-day backcountry event September 12-13 to benefit Defeat Sunrise PowerLink. On September 14th, check out the Carmel Mountain Ranch Fall Festival, or enjoy the Celtic Spring Band at the Escondido Performing Arts Center. The Lemon Grove Jazz, Wine and Art event on September 15th costs $35 in advance or $45 at the door. The YMCA in La Mesa hosts a Meet the Pharmacist and Senior Fair on September 18th. On the same date, Escondido hosts the Rods & Woodies Classic Car Show. Watch historical reenactments by costumed participants at Living History Week on Mt. Laguna September 20-21,part of the U.S. Forest Service Centennial Celebration. While in the mountains, savor some toe-tapping music at the Julian Bluegrass Festival September 20-21. Try your luck at the Poway BBQ Casino Night September 10th or saddle up for the Rodeo Trail Ride in Poway on September 11th. The Poway Rodeo September 27-28 includes a Dance on Friday, September 26th. Or take a historic Twilight Train Trip to Tecate, Mexico from the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo. Farm Education Day and Opening Day of the Pumpkin Patch at Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center on September 27th includes a straw maze, tractor hayride, and farm zoo plus 4H instruction in raising livestock, wool spinning, bee keeping, and organic farming. Other events on the 27th include Wild West BonitaFest and Reader’s Theater in Borrego, a desert community. For an exotic afternoon, reserve space to attend Between the Stripes, a fundraiser and silent auction benefit held at Lions, Tigers & Bears Ranch in Alpine, a big cats rescue haven. Printer-friendly version
Tough Medicine, Part I
Printer-friendly versionGrossmont Hospital Investigations Raise Oversight Concernts, Criticisms By Sara McInerney, staff writer, and editor Miriam Raftery September 14, 2008 (La Mesa)–Revelations of preventable patient deaths and alleged neglect at Sharp Grossmont Hospital have led some community leaders to demand increased oversight even as new complaints of patient care at Grossmont surface. Grossmont is one of four hospitals in San Diego County assessed the maximum allowable fine by state health regulators for preventable errors that caused patient deaths, injuries, or were likely to cause serious harm. Medicare and Medi-Cal are considering cutting their reimbursement for the hospital by October 15. Federal, state and county regulators are currently investigating the hospital. The hospital has submitted plans to correct deficiencies, including improving training and communications, and is awaiting a revisit by the California Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). “We are looking forward to them coming out, doing a resurvey, and being confident that their concerns have been addressed,” Michele Tarbet, chief executive officer (CEO) of Sharp Grossmont Hospital, told East County Magazine. “I’m very proud of the care that we provide at Grossmont Hospital. We have an outstanding staff.” Grossmont has previously won national and international awards for patient care, including recognition as a magnet hospital. Grossmont received the maximum allowable fine ($25,000) for the death of Larry Napolis, 45, a heart attack patient who died March 21 after his ventilator was left off. Investigations continue into two other allegedly preventable deaths: Jeffrey Christopher, 25, a psychiatric patient whose restraints were not monitored, suffocated face-down on his mattress April 11. Mary Ruth Keimig had a hysterectomy and died April 24 after being injected with a drug into her bloodstream instead of her muscle, signonsandiego.com and KPBS have reported. On August 21, the hospital received word that it has been cleared by the state of wrongdoing in a fourth case, the death of a man who died after undergoing a tonsillectomy. According to Bruce Hartman, manager of marketing communications at Grossmont, the tonsillectomy patient had other serious medical illnesses when he underwent surgery. Other reported problems at Grossmont include improper use of CPR by a nurse, expired medications, an unsanitary operating room mattress held together with tape and glue, and unsafe handling of food and kitchen equipment. Tarbet declined to comment on specific cases under investigation or what disciplinary actions if any have been taken against staff implicated in serous incidents including three preventable patient deaths. But she added, “We’re all devastated by what occurred…Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families and we are working with the families directly.” Barry Jantz, CEO of the Grossmont Health District, said he is “confident they are going to remedy the situation to make the improvements necessary so that we can continue with Medicare and Medi-Cal.” Watchdog group and others criticize Grossmont Hospital District secrecy Asked in a KPBS radio interview whether the hospital deficiencies were caused by poor management, unprofessional practices or staff overload, San Diego Union-Tribune editor replied, “It’s a case of all three—and also a case of a really shocking lack of oversight by the hospital board.” The publicly elected hospital board failed to ask adequate questions and was “kept in the dark” by the hospital’s corporate board, he noted. Directors of the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) have said they weren’t notified about patient-care mistakes. A new policy adopted in August requires hospital administrators to provide quarterly reports on patient care and safety to the board, in closed sessions. Administrators must also notify the board within a day of any patient-care incidents reported to state regulatory agencies, however that communication is required to be kept confidential. “One of the most disturbing revelations was that this board was kept in the dark,” Sara McElravy, an elected hospital board member, attested in an August 4th meeting. She grilled hospital representatives, asked when they learned of deficiencies and what role they played in resolving problems. “Why was the elected district board not notified and what did you intend to achieve by this omission?” John Whalen, a retired physician, called on board members who won’t attend meetings to “resign, because you are being negligent in the performance of your duties.” Whalen has since filed papers to run for a seat on the board. Some patients praised the hospital and expressed support for staff. “I just want to thank you for saving my life,” said Ronald Vaughn, who testified that he was diagnosed with West Nile Virus, the Union Tribune reported. Ray Lutz, founder of Citizens Oversight Projects (COPs), a government watchdog organization, authored a scathing editorial in the East County Californian critizing Jantz and others. “It was his responsibility to inform the district board of the outrageous events occurring at the hospital…should we continue to trust him with our lives?” observed Lutz, who is also a candidate for the 77th Assembly district. “The idea of a private board hiding its problems from the public while accepting millions of taxpayer dollars is a clear example of how these public/private partnerships can go awry.” Lutz faulted the GHD for continuing a “culture of silence” on its website by having no notices of special meetings, agendas or minutes posted for public view. In addition, he faulted board members for failing to attend meetings or ask key questions. His editorial praised the California Department of Health for calling attention to a “festering problem” by sounding the alert over preventable patient deaths at Grossmont. “My opponent, Assemblymember Joel Anderson, proposed cutting 117 similar boards and commissions to save money in a January 10, 2008 press release,” he added. “I’m just happy he wasn’t successful at also cutting the `redundant’ hospital review board. Redundancy can be a very good thing, particularly when our health and lives are at stake.” The citizens’ watchdog leader also said the hospital’s efforts to improve communications do not go far enough and that the level of confidentially is “excessive.” He believes GHD board members should be allowed to report egregious violations without violating the district’s
Tough Medicine, Part II
Printer-friendly versionCommunity Leaders Call for New Hospital in East County: Long Waits in Grossmont ER, Patient Deaths Heighten Urgent Need By Sara McInerney, Staff Writer September 18, 2008 (La Mesa)–Government investigations into at least three preventable patient deaths at Sharp Grossmont Hospital have raised serious questions about the facility’s capacity to service the needs of East County’s growing population. Closure of the El Cajon Valley Emergency (full service) Hospital and a Kaiser facility, both in El Cajon, have exacerbated pressures on Grossmont, East County’s only remaining hospital. In addition, Grossmont ceased being a designated trauma center in the 1980s, leaving East County with no trauma center. Designated trauma patients are now transported via helicopter or ambulance to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. Those facts have left some community members ill at ease. “We lost both hospitals within the last eight years,” said Marge Carlson, candidate for the El Cajon City Council. Carlson has called news of recent preventable deaths at Grossmont Hospital “more than embarrassing; it is devastating.” Carlson has launched a petition drive calling on public officials to allocate funds for a new hospital in East County. “With the loss of two full service hospitals in El Cajon within the last five years and with the possible loss of federal funding to Grossmont Hospital (due to negligent deaths and mismanagement), the 350,000 residents of East County desperately need a full service hospital,” the petition reads. “Since no emergency hospital can be operated to make a profit, the funding burden would be on the federal, state and county governments.” (Note: according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Grossmont actually services even more – 642,000 residents in a 750-square mile area.) Asked if any plans are in the works for a new hospital, however, Jantz replied, “No.” He said that the Grossmont Hospital District is not in a position to pursue such an endeavor. “Other private interests have analyzed the issue and have come to the same conclusion,” he said, adding that cost is the key obstacle. “This is much of the very reason that Scripps East closed, by the way. Partly as a result, Grossmont has the busiest ER in the County. There are no easy solutions to this dilemma, but some of the wait time issue is being addressed by the current expansion of the ED/Critical Care Tower at the Hospital, which is part of GHD’s Prop G. Concerns rise amid investigations, long waits in the ER Amid state and local investigations, the ER and hospital are continuing with their construction project, which is aimed at providing some relief for the current wait times in the ER. “Our claim to fame is that we’re the busiest ER in the county,” said Sarah Nash, nurse manager of the ER. Even after a major remodel and expansion, wait times average five hours for Grossmont emergency patients who are released. A patient who must be admitted to the hospital spends an average of eight hours in the ER before admittance. This wait time represents the amount of total time spent in the ER, including time spent being evaluated and under the care of a physician. Long wait times were partially confirmed by some patients waiting in the ER during a visit by this reporter last fall. One had been waiting for four hours and another had been waiting for an hour. Their injuries were minor. “I’ve been waiting for three hours,” said another patient banging on the admittance window. In April 2008, a patient admitted by ambulance with chest pain and breathing problems in the afternoon was forced to spend the entire night in the ER because there were no rooms available in the hospital. Four years ago, when the ER was first re-opened after construction was finished, the ER saw 175 patients a day. Now they are seeing more than 225 patients a day. Before the expansion, they saw 65,000 patients a year and now they serve close to 81,000. Nash contributes this to population growth, an aging population and acuity, or how sick the patients are. Since the population is older, there are more acuity and complications, so the wait time increases. In addition, long wait times were attributed to the amount of beds available in the hospital. If emergency cases need to be admitted to the hospital but there is nowhere to put them, then they have to stay in the ER. Tarbet said ER patients are evaluated by triage, with sickest patients treated first. “If you present in our ER as an extreme emergency or in critical condition there is no wait,” she said, “but if you come in because your finger got caught in a window, you could wait two to four hours.” She blamed long waits in the ER in part on “patients who chose to come to the ER instead of going to see physicians so that they don’t have to pay their bill…We have a lot of patients who don’t have physicians, and those patients do have long wait times.” Nash mentioned that there are times in the ER when there is no wait and other times when the wait is very long. When the ER reaches capacity, the ER goes on bypass and patients are diverted to the closest ERs. This happens frequently, but only stable patients are diverted. Five percent of the year, the ER is not allowed to go on by-pass. That is something that the County regulates. Wait times at the ER are of critical concern to many back country residents, who voice additional concerns about the length of time it would take to reach emergency care. “I know people (back country residents) who have three different cell phones so that they can find reception in case of an emergency,” said Eleanora Robbins, long-time La Mesa resident and outdoor science program teacher for children living on reservations. Robbins is mostly concerned with availability of anti-venin. Rattlesnake bites can have serious consequences if not treated immediately. Baby rattlesnakes will inject
Democratic Candidates Urge Voters to Unite for Change at East County Rally
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery "I’ve been a Republican for 35 years and I became a Democrat in January," La Mesa Councilmember David Allan told a crowd of approximately 350 people at the East County Uniting for Change picnic on Sunday at Harry Griffith Park in La Mesa. Sponsored by the La Mesa-Foothills, East County and Santee Democratic Clubs, the event took on the fervor of a revival meeting as an array of Democratic candidates for local and national offices urged voters to unite for change in November. "Let me tell you about the state. It’s broken," said Allen, a former firefighter and past president of San Miguel Firefighters. He noted that California has had two consecutive years of deficits in excess of $7 billion, then added, “The federal government is going to have a deficit over $400 billion…Being a local politician is the toughest job, because we’ve got to deal with problems created by the state and feds." Allan called for change at higher levels of government, adding, "Our government has forgotten what it’s about, which is to serve the people." Other speakers included Congressional candidate Mike Lumpkin, Assembly candidates Ray Lutz and Marty Block, San Diego City Council candidate Marti Emerald, Lemon Grove Council candidate George Gastil, Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District board candidate Mary Kay Rosinski, El Cajon Council candidate John Martz, Obama campaign spokesman Greg Bolian, and local party officials. Supporters rally behind Ray Lutz, 77th Assembly District candidate. Lutz chided his opponent, Republican Assemblyman Joel Anderson, for supporting a tax "sloophole" to benefit yacht owners at a time when state services are being slashed. "How many marinas are in the 77th Assembly District?” the East County candidate asked, adding that Anderson wants to eliminate 117 boards and commissions including many that oversee corporations. "He wants to keep the tax rigging in place," said Lutz, an electrical engineer and citizen activist who led efforts to stop private military contractor Blackwater Worldwide from building a training camp in East County. He pledged to oppose all special interests that seek to privatize public services. He also vowed to fight waste, fraud and abuse, fix tax inequities, support healthcare reform, back conversion to a green economy and oppose Sunrise PowerLink. Mike Lumpkin, former Navy Seal Commander, seeks to recapture the 52nd Congressional District seat for Democrats. Lumpkin, a former Navy Seal commander, headed the Joint Special Operations Task Force in the Arabian Peninsula for Operation Iraqi Freedom and later served as Congressional liaison for the U.S. Special Forces Command. He is running against Duncan D. Hunter, son of retiring Congressman Duncan Hunter. “At stake in the November election is the future of our country, the future of our economy, the future of our armed services and our world standing,” said Lumpkin, who drew cheers when he urged listeners to “come together and take our country back.” He stressed the importance of improving schools, creating jobs, and investing in alternative energy. Lumpkin announced recent endorsements by Hilary Clinton, General Wesley Clark and Senator Jim Webb. Marty Block, Democratic candidate for the 78th Assembly District, is running for an open seat vacated by Assemblywoman Shirley Horton due to term limits. President of the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees, he also served as president of the County Board of Education and dean of San Diego State University’s College of Education. “The California Nurses Association supports me because I support universal healthcare,” said Block, who predicted that someday “we’ll look back and not believe we didn’t have healthcare for all of our seniors, families and children.” Noting that he won his primary race by less than two votes per precinct, Block emphasized the importance of volunteers to help get out the vote for the November election. That point was also stressed by Democratic Go! Team leaders, who noted that around a third of all voters cast votes for president while leaving other offices blank. Teacher Mary Kay Rosinski, candidate for the Grossmont Cuyamaca College Board, pledges to implement recommendations of the San Diego Grand Jury, which found ethical violations by the board. Marti Emerald, former Channel 10 Troubleshooter/reporter and candidate for San Diego City Council’s 7th district, called for a need to “grow our economy and create jobs to allow people to buy homes and raise families with dignity.” She stressed the need for open government and accountability as well as jump-starting the economy. John Martes, candidate for the El Cajon City Council, criticized the current Council for offering sweetheart deals on land to “developer buddies”, citing several specific examples. “How can you trust these guys?” he asked. Martes also called for coordination of traffic lights to avoid excessive idling time and cut motorists’ fuel consumption. “Lemon Grove is a little city with big dreams,” said George Gastil, member of the Lemon Grove School Board and candidate for Lemon Grove City Council. He emphasized the need for safe neighborhoods, community vision and providing more opportunities for young people. Mary Kay Rosinski, a teacher running for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Board, pledged to restore accountability and assure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely in a district where the San Diego County Grand Jury has found ethical violations. The event featured jazzy beach folk rock music by local artist Charlie Imes and his band, including the song “Worst Presnadent Ever”, a humorous jab featuring a George W. Bush impersonator from Imes’ new album, On An Island. http://cdbaby.com/cd/charlieimes East County has long been considered a Republican strong hold and has significantly more registered Republicans than Democrats. Republicans have also heavily outspent Democratic candidates in recent races here. However, Democratic leaders expressed confidence that they will achieve victories in November. David Allan, a firefighting professional and public safety advocate, seeks re-election to the La Mesa City Council. Party leaders revealed that new voter registrations in East County are running ten to one Democratic over Republican. La Mesa recently shifted to a Democratic majority, as have several other San Diego County communities. Democratic leaders believe
Budget Crisis Hits Home
Printer-friendly versionState workers in East County struggle to cope with prospect of huge pay cuts, lay-offs; Judge orders Sept. 12 hearing on Governor’s wage-slashing orders By Miriam RafteryPhotos by Aida Canonizado Mildred Scarber, a state employee who works at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in El Cajon, was shocked to learn that Governor Schwarzenegger has ordered all state employees’ pay rates slashed to the federal minimum wage: just $6.55 an hour. “This drops my pay by two-thirds,” said Scarber, a salaried employee who has worked at the DMV for eleven years. “Previously our pay roughly came to $18 an hour.” In addition, the Governor has eliminated all overtime – so Scarber also loses the $100 to $300 a month she typically earned helping staff the ever-busy DMV office. If the Governor’s order stands, Scarber’s next monthly paycheck will be just $1,028. “My rent is $1,050,” she said. Still, Scarber counts herself lucky compared to some workers in her office. “It was really emotional the day the executive order came down,” she recalled, adding that part-timers with young children are the hardest hit. “There was crying going on.” Statewide, some workers may have hours cut and lose healthcare benefits, she added. SScarber is among about 180,000 state workers slated to have paychecks slashed to the federal minimum wage for August and beyond, until the California Legislature passes a budget that is signed by Governor Schwarzenegger. As of press deadline, no budget had been signed. But state workers dodged a bullet temporarily. On August 20, a Sacramento Superior Court judge issued an order for the state to pay workers full salaries for August, but set a September 12th date to decide the pay dispute. “The Governor’s Executive Order shows a total disregard for state workers and the valuable services they provide Californians. This applies to most of the 94,000 workers that SEIU (Service Employees International Union) Local 1000 represents,” said SEIU representative Brian Polejes. In addition, the Governor’s executive order laid off approximately 10,000 workers statewide. On August 16th, Local 1000 organized a protest rally at a DMV in Hillcrest. Nearly 200 people turned out, including 150 state workers and about 50 community members who came to show support, Polejes said. “We had a worker at the rally; she and her husband had just bought a house the month before and their first payment is due the end of the month,” Scarber said. “That brought tears to my eyes.” Now she added, “We’re trying to get public support.” California Controller John Chiang has thus far refused to implement the Governor’s order, stating that he cannot do so on such short notice due to computer program limitations. The Governor is suing Chiang to force implementation. The union is fighting back. SEIU Local 1000 has joined the Controller as a respondent in that lawsuit. In addition, Polejes said, “SEIU Local 1000 also sued for injunctive relief in Sacramento Superior Court and at the California Public Employees Relation Board (PERB), alleging the Governor had violated separation of powers, which requires the Legislature to do layoffs, and the merit pay system.” The PERB suit also charged the Governor with an Unfair Labor Practice due to reduction of wages during collective bargaining. “We also sued the Governor in Superior Court for failing to pay laid-off workers their terminal paychecks,” Polejes added. Consumers are also feeling the impact of budget cutbacks. “The El Cajon DMV is the largest field office in San Diego, and approximately one-fourth of its workers are permanent-intermittent,” Polejes told East County Magazine. Elimination of overtime and reduction of permanent-intermittent workers’ hours has forced DMV offices to stop accepting drop-in customers by mid-afternoon daily. The DMV has also halted Saturday business hours at 14 locations statewide, making it more difficult for customers who work weekdays to obtain driver’s licenses or handle other important matters at the DMV. California is the last among states with fiscal years starting July 1st to fail to pass a budget this year. Obtaining bipartisan agreement is difficult, because California is one of only three states that requires a two-thirds vote to pass a budget. “Many Republicans have taken a `no new tax’ pledge, tying [the Legislature’s] hands in a year with a large deficit like this one, in which the deficit is estimated at $15.2 billion,” Polejes said. “Their `solution’ is to permanently ratchet down spending, which is primarily on education and healthcare,” he said. Republican Assemblyman Joel Anderson, who represents much of East County, has proposed eliminating numerous state boards and commissions. His opponent, Democrat Ray Lutz, who founded the watchdog group Citizens Oversight Panels (COPs), said Anderson’s proposal would eliminate important consumer oversight entities that are important to protect the public health and safety. The Governor has proposed a temporary 1% increase in sales tax, a move opposed by Polejes, who said it would fall heaviest on poor, working and middle class Californians. “A responsible budget would combine cuts with revenue increases to protect valuable services,” he said, adding that the Democrats’ proposed budget would increase taxes on the wealthiest Californians. Polejes remained optimistic that a budget would be signed soon. But SEIU plans to pursue the lawsuit regardless of the budget outcome to prevent state workers from bearing the brunt in future budget impasses. Meanwhile, state employees like Mildred Scarber are anxiously awaiting word. “I share a condo with my sister and my mother lives nearby. I also have another sister who is a state worker, too, so she’s affected.” Scarber’s biggest fear is that she could lose her home if the budget crisis is not resolved soon. If the pay cut stands, she hopes her landlord will prove understanding of her plight. “I’ve been tightening my belt in anticipation of getting a small paycheck,” she said, “But I’m just praying it will be resolved.” Printer-friendly version
Vines and Steins – Gio Wine Bar
Printer-friendly versionEditor’s note: Gio’s has gone out of business, however a new restaurant has opened in its place. By Richard Noel If you’re out and about in East County and in the mood for a great glass of wine in an elegant atmosphere, relax with the knowledge that this urge will not require you to drive into the urban core of San Diego and spend an exorbitant amount of time or money just to park your car. That’s because GIO Restaurant in downtown La Mesa has opened the doors to its much-awaited wine bar. Printer-friendly version