Congressman Filner, the Freedom Rides, and Three Generations of Civil RIghts Activism
“I was 18. We did this thing, and we changed the whole legal structure of America. The sense that change is possible has been with me since."–Congressman Bob Filner
For the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Rides, Rep Bob Filner (D-San Diego) shares his memories as a Freedom Rider and of enduring two months in jail to take a stand during the tumultuous Civil Rights movement.
May 4, 2011 (El Cajon)--Concerts on the Green, downtown El Cajon’s free weekly Friday night summer music series, opens this Friday, May 6, 2011. Chosen one of San Diego Magazine’s Top 10 outdoor music venues, Concerts on the Green at Prescott Promenade Park feature musicians performing from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Opening night of 2011 features San Diego’s favorites - the Mar Dels – to rock your socks off.
May 2, 2011 (La Mesa) – William S. Lerach has spent his career heading up prosecutions of some of Wall Street’s biggest corporate crooks. He's recovered billions of dollars for defrauded shareholders from big banks, corporations, accounting firms and insurance companies. After his most notable success—recovering $7.2 billion for defrauded shareholders of Enron—he appeared in the Oscar-nominated documentary, “Enron, the Smartest Guys in the Room.”
A frequent commentator on economic matters as well as securities and corporate law, Lerach now makes a chilling prediction: that America’s public and private pension funds are poised to fail. The new financial crisis will threaten the financial security of retirees due to the actions of Wall Street, he warns.
May 4, 2001 (San Diego) --The California State University Board of Trustees today announced three finalists for the presidency of San Diego State University. The finalists and the dates they will visit the campus for all-day meetings with various groups are:
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Elliot Hirshman, provost and senior vice president, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will visit onMonday, May 2.
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Steven Leath, vice president for research and sponsored programs, University of North Carolina system, will visit onTuesday, May 3.
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Paul J. Zingg, president of California State University, Chico, will visit onThursday, May 5.
May 4, 2011 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa Firefighters Local 4759 invites you to attend a pancake breakfast fundraiser on May 22, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at the La Mesa fire station 11 at 8034 Allison Avenue, La Mesa. The tickets are $5.00 each. The breakfast will consist of pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee.
May 4, 2011 (El Cajon) - El Cajon Police officers responded to reports of gunshots at a residence on Lorna Street early Monday morning, just after 3:00 a.m. When they arrived, officers discovered a male victim who had suffered multiple injuries.
Thanks to all who made our SummerFest a sizzling success!
Over 300 community members who attended, dozens of sponsors, a legion of loyal volunteers, the talented Chefs de Cuisine, Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation for hosting our event at their beautiful facility, and our VIP guests including two members of Congress.
All proceeds benefit East County Magazine's nonprofit community news reporting and wildfire/emergency alerts to keep our reader safe and informed.
Thanks to our generous sponsors:
Chefs de Cuisine, Mission Trails, East County Magazine, Holiday Inn on the Bay, Julian Meadows Inn, Sycuan Resort, Golden Artistry, Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, Main Street 5 Gallery, Sportsplex, Heritage of the Americas Museum, Crunch Fitness, Lemon Grove Historical Society, Gio Bistro Wine Bar, Golden Artistry, Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce, Elephant & Castle, Nights of the Sound Table, Lions, Tigers & Bears, Dube Vineyards, San Pasqual Winery, Gloriosa Vineyards, La Serenissima Vineyards, Mangio Bene, Sea World, San Miguel Fire, John Hammerstand flight instructor, Olaf Wieghorst Gallery, artists Gloria Chadwick, Abigail Migala, and Denise Strahm.
May 4, 2011 (Dulzura) – Gilbert N. Amador, 73, died May 2nd at Sharp Hospital of injuries sustained in a collision with a semi-truck April 28 at Dulzura. According to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office, Amador was en route to an appointment and struck a semi-truck that was stopped in the roadway preparing to make a left turn.
May 4, 2011 (Campo) – The driver of a Harley Davidson motorcycle who died in a crash on Highway 94 in Campo on May 1, 2011 at 5:58 p.m. has been identified as Pauline Elaine Walker, 57. She was temporarily living and working in Boulevard, though her permanent residence was in Davenport, Washington.
May 4, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – E-mails that claim to show photos or videos of the killing of Osama bin Laden may contain a virus that will damage your computer and steal your identity, the Federal Bureau of Investigation warns.
May 3, 2011 (San Diego) – Today marks the debut of East County Magazine’s newest column. In addition to writing film criticism, I will pen a biweekly column about another subject I’m equally passionate about: Autism. I am qualified to talk about the subject for a good reason: I am Autistic myself.
Update 7 p.m. The fire is now out, after charring over 12 acres and briefly threatening homes. View our video shot by Billy Ortiz by clicking the image above.
May 3, 2011 (El Cajon) – Drum Macomber of El Cajon is revved up over winning the “Best in Show Sycuan Casino Award” at last Wednesday’s Classic Cruise Night in El Cajon.
“I have owned the car for about seven years,” Macomber said of the 1963 Impala Super Sport that he purchased from the original owners with 132,000 miles.
May 3, 2011 (Lakeside)--Several students from El Capitan High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) traveled to the State FFA conference in Fresno April 15 – 19. Garrett Hurst was selected as the state winner in agriculture mechanics repair and maintenance proficiency and second place in forage production. He is Sentinel for the El Capitan FFA, also serving as a Sagebrush 4H and Junior Fireboard Member.
Shelby Meyer was selected the state winner in swine production
proficiency. Shelby Meyer is the President of El Capitan FFA. Both students' projects and applications will be judged at the national level in July. Meyer was also awarded a $500 state FFAscholarship.
May 3, 2011 (San Diego) - A SIG Alert is in effect on I-15 north of Carroll Canyon Road, where a multi-vehicle accident involving a semi-truck and at least three cars occurred this morning. The truck, which was carrying a load of water, lost its rear axles. Lanes are closed while awaiting heavy equipment to remove the semi-truck, according to CHP and San Diego SIG Alerts.
May 3, 2011 (Pine Valley) 12:17 p.m. -- CHP has just received a report of a bridge-jumper at the Pine Valley Bridge on I-8. It is unclear whether the individual has actually jumped; use caution if you are driving in this area as a freeway closure may occur.
May 2, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Summer class schedules are available now for camps, enrichment classes, and youth aquatic classes. There’s something for every child and teen’s interests—from “Mad Science” camp to camp programs in fencing, flag football, theatre, and surf camp, to name just a few. See schedule for class dates and times. For convenience in enrolling, there is a blue Enroll Online link on theCommunity Services web page.
May 2, 2011 (La Mesa) – Two 13-year-old boys were forcibly robbed of their bicycles last night around 8:30 p.m. at Northmont Park by a man and an older teen. The thieves were last seen with the bicycles heading south on Severin Drive away from the park, according to La Mesa Police. The man was described as a Hispanic male, 20, with dark spiky hair and a tattoo on his right arm, wearing baggy pants. The older teen was described as a black male, 16, with short hair, wearing a purple shirt with a white design and jeans.
May 2, 2011 (Valley Center) – Two of four suspects in a pair of school burglaries in Valley Center have been arrested. Two other suspects remain at large, including one who has been identified.
The suspects are all documented “Dorner Block Crip” street gang members from Moreno Valley in Riverside, according to Sgt. Bob Bishop with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.
May 2, 2011 (East County) -- During the week of April 23, 2011, all personnel from Heartland Fire and Rescue serving the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove attended vehicle extrication training. C&D Towing made the training possible by providing twenty vehicles to practice the vehicle extrication and rescue techniques. The training was especially valuable because newer cars continue to change.
May 2, 2011 (East County) -- A multi-company/ multi-agency drill hosted by the San Miguel Fire District was held yesterday, givingEast County fire agencies an opportunity to work together to improve mutual-aid responses. The event included agencies such as CALFIRE, Sycuan, and San Diego Rural Fire, giving them a rare opportunity to participate in a commercial structure drill.
May 2, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A small brush fire scorched less than quarter of an acre this afternoon near Bell Junior High School on Briarwood Road in the Paradise Hills area. According to Maurice Luque, spokesman for San Diego Fire Department, the blaze was swiftly doused.
May 2, 2011 (LaMesa/San Diego) -- On April 30 at 2:21 a.m., La Mesa Police officers responded to a call of a deceased shooting victim at the Kaiser Hospital at 4647 Zion Avenue, San Diego. The man had been shot while in a vehicle near the 6900 block of Alvarado Road, La Mesa. Friends drove him to the hospital, according to police.
San Diego and La Mesa Police officers searched the area and discovered shell casings in the rear lot of the Marie Callendar’s Restaurant located at 6950 Alvarado Road, La Mesa, near the border with San Diego. The restaurant was closed at the time.
Update: The freeway is reopened. The device found was a pipe sealed at both ends containing inert military ordnance, NBC news reports. It is unknown how the object wound up in this location.
May 2, 2011 (San Diego) 9:30 a.m. - A possible pipe bomb has forced closure of I-5 southbound at the Coronado Bridge, Incident Page Network reports. San Diego Police, San Diego Fire Department and the Bomb/Arson squad has been summoned. A SIG Alert has been issued and all traffic is being diverted, San Diego SIG alerts confirms.
May 1, 2011 (San Diego's East County)
Updated 11 p.m. -- Osama bin Laden was killed today in a special operation led by U.S. forces, President Barack Obama revealed tonight in a broadcast to the nation.
"Today at my direction," President Obama said, "A small team of Americans carried out this operation...After a firefight they killed Obama bin Laden and took custody of his body." The leader of Al Qaeda and mastermind behind the 911 attacks was hiding in a compound deep within Pakistan, U.S. intelligence learned last August. After months of confirming intelligence and planning the operation, the strike today went smoothly with no U.S. casualties, he confirmed.
April 30, 2011 (Poway) -- The Echo Pacific/POW! Golf Challenge will tee off on May 16, 2011. Golf, cocktails, games, dinner, live entertainment, and a silent auction are the components of a lively day and evening. Bid on weekend spa getaways, private cruises on San Diego Big Bay, VIP Padres tickets and a wide variety of dinner and entertainment packages- all to benefit the POW! Foundation Profession Performances and Arts in Education Initiatives.
April 29, 2011 (San Diego) – The great sportswriter Grantland Rice said, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” Queen to Play purports to be a film about a housewife in a mid-life crisis and stale marriage who finds happiness through chess. It then ends in a Big Game. The movie fails on both counts.
April 29, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) – Four suspects have been arrested for allegedly participating in a home invasion robbery in which a Rancho San Diego family was brutally assaulted and their dog shot. The home invasion occurred on December 15, 2010 on Wildwood Drive.
![](/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/resize/FILNER%26FreedomMugshot2011-275x207.jpg "Rep. Filner proudly displays his "Freedom Ride" mugshots; photo by Ron Logan")
May 2, 2011 (La Mesa) – William S. Lerach has spent his career heading up prosecutions of some of Wall Street’s biggest corporate crooks. He's recovered billions of dollars for defrauded shareholders from big banks, corporations, accounting firms and insurance companies. After his most notable success—recovering $7.2 billion for defrauded shareholders of Enron—he appeared in the Oscar-nominated documentary, “Enron, the Smartest Guys in the Room.”
May 4, 2001 (San Diego) --The California State University Board of Trustees today announced three finalists for the presidency of San Diego State University. The finalists and the dates they will visit the campus for all-day meetings with various groups are:
May 4, 2011 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa Firefighters Local 4759 invites you to attend a pancake breakfast fundraiser on May 22, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at the La Mesa fire station 11 at 8034 Allison Avenue, La Mesa. The tickets are $5.00 each. The breakfast will consist of pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee.
May 4, 2011 (Dulzura) – Gilbert N. Amador, 73, died May 2nd at Sharp Hospital of injuries sustained in a collision with a semi-truck April 28 at Dulzura. According to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office, Amador was en route to an appointment and struck a semi-truck that was stopped in the roadway preparing to make a left turn.
By Brian Lafferty
May 3, 2011 (Lakeside)--Several students from El Capitan High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) traveled to the State FFA conference in Fresno April 15 – 19. Garrett Hurst was selected as the state winner in agriculture mechanics repair and maintenance proficiency and second place in forage production. He is Sentinel for the El Capitan FFA, also serving as a Sagebrush 4H and Junior Fireboard Member.
May 3, 2011 (San Diego) - A SIG Alert is in effect on I-15 north of Carroll Canyon Road, where a multi-vehicle accident involving a semi-truck and at least three cars occurred this morning. The truck, which was carrying a load of water, lost its rear axles. Lanes are closed while awaiting heavy equipment to remove the semi-truck, according to CHP and San Diego SIG Alerts.
May 2, 2011 (La Mesa) – Two 13-year-old boys were forcibly robbed of their bicycles last night around 8:30 p.m. at Northmont Park by a man and an older teen. The thieves were last seen with the bicycles heading south on Severin Drive away from the park, according to La Mesa Police. The man was described as a Hispanic male, 20, with dark spiky hair and a tattoo on his right arm, wearing baggy pants. The older teen was described as a black male, 16, with short hair, wearing a purple shirt with a white design and jeans.
May 2, 2011 (Valley Center) – Two of four suspects in a pair of school burglaries in Valley Center have been arrested. Two other suspects remain at large, including one who has been identified. 
April 30, 2011 (Poway) -- The Echo Pacific/POW! Golf Challenge will tee off on May 16, 2011. 
By Brian Lafferty
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