By Miriam Raftery

View full video of Zoom interview 

Hear audio from our radio show on KNSJ (updated with status on bills signed into law)

Updated October 7, 2021 with status of bills signed or vetoed

October 3, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Last week, East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery

Interviews State Senator Brian Jones (R-Santee) via Zoom.  The Senator discussed his legislative accomplishments in getting several bills passed by the Legislature and onto the Governor’s desk.

 Several have been signed into law, including a measure to help homeless students get resources, a bill to protect foster children from human trafficking, and another to require that conservancy hearings remain private unless a judge finds a compelling reason to make them public.

Others remain pending, including a bill require personal protective gear for social workers during a pandemic, and more.

The Senator also spoke out on concerns over what he views as not enough clearing of forest lands to prevent devastating wildfires, even though funds for the clearing have long been allocated. In addition, he raised criticisms over the state’s homelessness policies and concerns about crime.

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

October 3, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) -- When a Santee woman recently passed away while in home hospice care, her loved ones were left with a medicine chest filled with prescription drugs. The homecare professionals who had been attending their patient told the family that they could not legally remove the drugs from the home. It wasn’t until a registered nurse came by to check on the wellbeing of the woman’s husband, that the drugs were removed from the residence for proper disposal.

By Brian Schrader

Photo: CCC by SA via Bing

October 1, 2021 (San Diego) -- The Senate’s still-in-progress budget bill is probably the last meaningful chance we have to seriously mitigate climate change. This is it! Call your representatives and tell them to support the reconciliation bill.

Photos:  Left: Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber with East County Magazine Editor Miriam Raftery.  Center: Slack Key Ohana.  Right: Jamul Casino Manager Mary Cheeks accepts Community Benefactor Award on behalf of Chairwoman Erica Pinto; Paul Gomez speaks at presentation of Briana Gomez Award for racial and social justice.

 By Miriam Raftery

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2021 (San Diego) – In the wake of restrictive laws and fears that the Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade, a March for Reproductive Rights is slated to be held Saturday, October 2 at 10 a.m. at San Diego’s Waterfront Park. The march is one of 500 marches planned nationwide in the wake of restrictive laws in several states and fears that the Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade. Details are available on the event’s Facebook page.

Numerous other states have enacted abortion restrictions and Missippi is reportedly preparing to ask the conservative majority on the Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade. These actions have galvanized both anti-abortion activists and abortion rights supporters.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has passed legislation that aims to protect most abortion access. Among San Diego’s Congressional delegation, Democrats Sra Jacobs, Mike Levin, Scott Peters, and Juan Vargas voted in favor, while Congressman Darrell Issa voted against.

East County News Service

September 30, 2021 (Alpine) – The beautiful gardens at Summers Past Farms (15602 Olde Highway 80 in Flinn Springs) is the setting for the 30^th annual Vintage Alpine: A Wine Experience in the Country. The event takes place on Sunday, November 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

September 30, 2021 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• Residents of tiny town sue to stop 600-acre solar project: Opponents of the facility in Jacumba Hot Springs hire law firm that fought the Keystone XL pipeline. (Los Angeles Times)
• Insurance Companies Increasingly Drop Homes Throughout San Diego County As Fire Risks Rise (KPBS)
• Grossmont High students break the (dress) code (The Reader)
• Families who fled Afghanistan describe harrowing journey to escape Taliban (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Santee officials attack SANDAG’s transit-centered plan: ‘It’s a frickin slap in the face’ (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Chabad Of Poway Shooter Pleads Guilty To All 113 Federal Charges (KPBS)
• Anti-Vaxxer Turns Vaccine Advocate After Husband Dies From COVID-19 (NBC 7)
• Survey: Many SDPD officers say they would rather quit than comply with vaccine mandate (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Bob Baker, car dealership owner, philanthropist, dies at 89 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• El Cajon police identify sergeant, gunman he hit with vehicle and fatally shot (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• California outlawed the all-white-male boardroom. That move is reshaping corporate America
• Not enough subs: California schools face severe teacher shortage (Cal Matters)
• With recall defeated, Newsom scores well in poll against 2022 rivals (Los Angeles Times)
• What just happened with single-family zoning in California? - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
• Newsom Marks California Vaccination Milestone: 80% With at Least One Dose Times of San Diego)
• Education Dept. opens investigations into 5 statewide bans on mask mandates (The Hill)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

Source: County of San Diego

September 30, 2021 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego has provided notice of intent to amend the County Zoning Ordinance and County Subdivision Ordinance to automatically withdraw inactive permits after two consecutive years of inactivity. The proposed ordinance amendments can be reviewed at https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/pds/Public_Review_Non-CEQA.html. 

East County News Service

September 30, 2021 (Julian) -- The Julian Arts Guild’s Open Studios tour is October 9 – 10 this year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  A dozen artists are participating in the tour through the Cuyamaca mountains area of Julian in San Diego’s East County.

East County News Service

September 30, 2021 (Sacramento) -- Over 10,400 firefighters are on the front lines battling 11 major wildfires burning across the state, making headway on many of the most devastating blazes, Cal Fire reported over the weekend. Get the latest fire updates in California at https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents.

East County News Service

September 30, 2021 (San Diego) – The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is considering a proposal to tax drivers for every mile driven.  SANDAG leaders say the plan would help fund future transportation needs and encourage use of mass transit. But opponents say it unfairly penalizes motorists in areas such as East County, where many communities lack access to mass transit and drivers have no choice but to commute long distances to work, shop, or attend college.

East County News Service

August 21, 2021 (Borrego Springs) – The 55^th annual Borrego Days Desert Festival is slated to take place October 23 and 24 at Christmas Circle Community Park on Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking are free.