New Report Detailing CA Domestic Workers’ Economic Hardship, Workplace Abuses Underscores Need for Equal Labor Protections
May 29, 2013 (Sacramento)—Today, the California State Assembly passed the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights (AB 241 Ammiano). If signed into law, the bill would extend basic labor protections—like overtime pay and rest breaks—to the workers who care for California’s homes and families.
“If we can’t pass this bill this year and get it signed, we will owe an explanation to the workers,” said Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, the bill’s author. “These workers, who are mostly women, keep our households running smoothly, care for our children, and enable people with disabilities to live at home and remain engaged in our communities. Why shouldn’t they have overtime protections like the average barista or gas station attendant?”
May 30, 2013 (El Cajon)—Wing walking, mock air battles and pyrotechnics are among the attractions at this year’s Wings Over Gillespie Air Show. The event will take place June 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Gillespie Field, 1960 Joe Crosson Drive in El Cajon.
Tickets start at $8 for the event, which also features a free Kid’s Zone, amusement rides and a beer garden. This year's Wings Over Gillespie features a collection of San Diego aircraft and World War II aircraft.
May 29, 2013 (Lakeside) – Clad in pajamas, Karen Goodman broke down in tears as she told me her story today.
We met with her at the request of Walter Choate, an advocate for the homeless who told us that without immediate help, this bedridden woman who relies on a caregiver to survive could be homeless by Friday--and lose all of her belongings as well.
May 30, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:
May 28, 2013 (El Cajon)--Every Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m., Downtown El Cajon Business Partners hosts a classic car show. Each week the theme changes, from last Wednesday’s “Topless Night” where all of the best convertibles could be seen on the Promenade, to this week's Salute to the Military.
Other upcoming events include Charger Steve's Starz Carz, Return of the Horseless Carriage, and Thunder on Main Street for the season finale at summer's end, featuring a full street closure.
Nationally Honored Local Hero to Speak at Community Service Event
May 28, 2013 (Alpine)--The Alpine Fire Protection District will present a community event on May 30 from 6-8;30 p.m. at the Alpine Elementary School auditorium, 1850 Alpine Blvd. in Alpine. The event will feature Ennis Jackson, an award-winning speaker who has won the National Star of Life for his efforts to alert and educate the community which includes high schools, colleges and business on the subject of destructive decisions and life saving CPR techniques. These destructive decisions include underage drinking, the use of mind-altering drugs and texting while occupied, and most importantly, the value of family. Jackson is a paramedic stationed out of Alpine Fire Station 17.
June 2, 2013 (Alpine)--Alpine Sheriff's Station will host a free community meeting for homeowners on how to prepare your homes and families for wildfire. The event will be held Monday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard in Alpine. A severe fire season is anticipated due to drought, so authorities urge residents to learn how to reduce risk of loss and help firefighters protect your properties before the next major wildfire occurs.
Update: Santee reader Jerrie Dean informs us that her mother saw Larry Negrette return to his mobilehome park today. The Sheriff's office confirms with the following details:
On Monday, May 27, 2013 at around 10:15 p.m., Mr. Larry Negrette was located in the 10200 block of Ashwood Street in Lakeside. Mr. Negrette had contacted a resident on Ashwood Street and asked for food. The resident provided Mr. Negrette with food and water. As the resident and Mr. Negrette spoke, Mr. Negrette appeared disoriented and could not remember his address or phone number. The resident became concerned for Mr. Negrette and decided to notify the Sheriff's Department. Deputies from the Santee Station responded and contacted Mr. Negrette. He was reunited with his family.
May 27, 2013 (Santee) – Larry Negrette, 70, has been missing form his home in the 9400 block of Mission Gorge Road, Santee, since 5 p.m. Saturday May 25. He suffers from dementia and high blood pressure.
His family is extremely concerned for his welfare. His vehicle is inoperable and accounted for. Negrette is Hispanic with grey hair, receding hair line, brown eyes, and a mustache. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 210 pounds. He was last seeing wearing blue jeans, T-shirt, and white sneakers.
May 28, 2013 (San Diego)--A wide range of facets and perspectives of the growing “green energy” industry were shared at a special forum titled “New San Diego Green Leaders: The Road To 100% Renewables” on May 7th at Cricket Communications headquarters in Kearney Mesa. Kathleen Connell moderated the forum sponsored by Green Experts Academy; East County Magazine was media sponsor of the event.
The forum addressed how San Diego might utilize 100 percent renewable energy, also focusing on how local leaders can learn from Germany and other countries where development of alternative renewable energy sources is not an option, but a necessity.
May 27, 2013 (Ocotillo) -- When Jim Pelley arose at sunrise and looked out over the desert from his home in Ocotillo, he noticed something missing. So he grabbed his camera to record the unusual sight.
A Siemens wind turbine at Pattern Energy's Ocotillo Express Wind Energy facility had hurled off a multi-ton blade onto a trail on public Bureau of Land Management recreational land. Fortunately, since the accident occurred at night, nobody was harmed.
Photos by Lisa Elkins-Goodman, Brett Stalbaum and Joseph Moulton
By Miriam Raftery and Nadin Abbott
Update May 28, 2013 -- The General Fire is now 950 acres and 85% contained, Cal Fire confirms. The cause of the fire has been traced to shooting. One injury has been reported from the fire.
May 26, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) Upodated May 27 9 a.m.– The brush that began yesterday in Rodriguez Canyon south of Highway 78, across from the Banner Grade Store in the 3600 block of Highway 78, is now 850 acres and 20 percent contained. IPN indicates the fire is spreading rapidly and has potential for 300 acres. Helicopter indicates no structures are threatened at this time, however there is a power outage.
Power restoration is expected at 3 p.m. There is no estimate on containment.
Multiple strike teams have been dispatched to battle the fire on U.S. Bureau of Land Management property.
May 27, 2013 (San Diego) – “Our school community was deeply saddened as we learned of the magnitude of the widespread devastation caused in the community of Moore, Oklahoma and surrounding areas. The absolute destruction has profoundly affected the lives of thousands of the residents in that area,” Chaim Heller, head of the San Diego Jewish Academy wrote in a letter to parents of students. “Jewish tradition teaches us "Al Taamod al dam re'echa" (Do not stand idly by while our neighbors are in pain). San Diego Jewish Academy has a longstanding tradition of reaching out to help any and all who are in need. We believe that our Jewish values of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and (acts of loving kindness) are essential components of our instructional program at San Diego Jewish Academy.”
May 27, 2013 (San Diego) –San Diego State University’s Honors College will receive a $1 million gift, thanks to a planned endowment from Professor Emeritus Henry Jannsen.
“I owe SDSU more for the life I’ve had than I can ever repay,” Janssen said, SDSU’s news center reported.
Janssen is one of hundreds of SDSU faculty and staff donors to The Campaign for SDSU, which aspires to raise $500 million to support the university’s development as a leading public research university.
May 27, 2013 (San Diego) – The San Diego Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) has named East County resident Lawrence O’Leary president of its board of directors. The San Diego Chapter of the CLCA aims to serve, protect and promote professionalism; and advance public awareness of the landscape industry.
O’Leary is director of sales and marketing at Hydro-Scape Products Inc., a leading provider of landscape and irrigation supplies. Hydro-Scape has 18 different locations serving Southern California, Hawaii and international locations.
May 27, 2013 (San Diego) – Its graduation and summer break time once again; its celebration time! This can be expensive, however, cost is a minor concern for most parents when it comes to these events says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. "Their biggest concern is the risky behavior associated with graduation events and school break parties – drinking and driving, distractions while driving, drugs, unsafe sex." Yes, it happens and it's critical that parents talk to their graduates about these dangers. Here are a few tips that can help keep your teen safe and make this time of year something they fondly remember:
1. Know who’s driving all evening: Are your kids or a friend driving, is there a designated driver, or will they be renting a limo?
May 27, 2013 (Lakeside) – Helix Water District’s Johnstown Tank, located in Lake Jennings Park Estates off Harritt Road, Lakeside, is currently undergoing complete interior and exterior recoating. Work began on Monday, May 13, 2013. The project will take approximately six months to complete.
The viewshed for this tank includes a large area along the I-8 corridor west of the Lake Jennings Park Road exit.
Residents in the area should be aware of increased traffic, elevated noise levels, and a visual change to the tank’s surface.
May 27, 2013 (Santa Ysabel) – The Hubbell/Ilan-Lael Foundation will be holding an Open House Studio and Home Tour of renowned architect, James Hubbell's home and studio on June 16 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 930 Orchard Lane, Santa Ysabel. A morning tour is offered between 11 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. The afternoon tours will be between 2 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.
May 27, 2013 (San Diego) – Fields Family Wines will be holding a Wine Dinner at Bistro Sixty, 5987 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego on June 7 at 6 p.m. The dinner includes 5 courses with pairings and costs $70 per person.
May 27, 2013 (Alpine) – The Alpine Historical Society will host the thirteenth annual Alpine History Day on June 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Museum, 2116 Tavern Road, Alpine. Tour the two pioneer houses and Carriage House with new displays of Justin Gruelle’s paintings, the 107 year-old buggy, farming tools, equipment and more. The Ford Model T will also be on display.
There will be opportunity to learn about beekeeping and sewing on a treadle machine. Third graders will read their winning essays on Alpine history and receive their awards.
Photo: Firefighters battle spot fire in Lakeside; photo by Jeff Holz
May 26, 2013 (San Diego East County)—Fire season is off to an early start. Yesterday, even as firefighters fought to contain the 1800-acre San Felipe fire in the mountains of East County, four new fires drew resources from across the region. Here is a wrap-up on those fires in Ramona, Lakeside, the Santee/San Diego boundary area, Dulzura, and the border region.
May 26, 2013 (Allied Gardens) – A 31-year-old man who was doing “wheel stands” while riding a Yamaha motorcycle at high speed southbound Princess View near Mission Gorge Road yesterday at 4:02 p.m. lost control and hit the pavement.
He sustained serious head injuries, though they are not considered life-threatening, according to Officer David Stafford with San Diego Police.
May 30, 2013 (El Cajon ) – Round up the art lovers and music lovers in your family for the third annual Western Music Jubilee on Saturday, June 1 starting at 7 p.m. at the Cuyamaca Performing Arts Center. The show stars Sourdough Slim, Dave Bourne, Mary Kaye, and the Red Hot Rhythm Rustlers.
It’s all to benefit educational programs at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum in downtown El Cajon.Wieghorst was one of America’s premier western artists. A cowboy and cavalryman who once pursued Pancho Villa, his paintings hung in the White House and were owned by three presidents: Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Rally today in San Diego and nationwide seeks to stop “Monsanto Protection Act 2.0”
By Miriam Raftery
May 25, 2013 (San Diego)—Food safety activists will hold a “March Against Monsanto” today at 11 a.m. in San Diego. (Details on their Facebook page.) Among other things, protesters oppose stealth language slipped into the 2013 Farm Bill approved by the House Agricutlrual Committee. The language revokes rights of states to pass laws requiring labeling of foods with genetically labeled ingredients.
“Monsanto is trying to manipulate Congress to pass a Far Bill that will wipe out citizens’ rights to state laws intended to protect their health and safety,” the Organic Consumers Association said, International Business Times reported.
May 24, 2013 (Alpine--originally written May 14, 2013) -- I am disappointed to report that new information has recently surfaced that indicates that Propositions H and U Bond funds have been grossly misused by the GUHSD, and that this misuse has been the subject of a cover-up by the GUHSD Trustees and Administrative staff. A "smoking gun" has been discovered that points toward unethical and non-transparent behavior by District staff, presumably under the direction of the Trustees.
You will see from the content in the attachment that District bond construction funds have been mismanaged at best, and GUHSD fiscal policies and decision-making are a train wreck. The attachment shows that the District's ongoing bond management practices and accounting procedures have cheated taxpayers and burdened the district with unsustainable district "OPEX" Operating Expenses.
“Something will have gone out of us as people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed.” – Wallace Stegner
May 24, 2013 (Julian) Updated May 29, 2013 – The quote above is inscribed on the Volcan Mountain Foundation webpage, a site devoted to protecting the wilderness preserve. But today, as a raging wildfire that started as a controlled burn encroached, bulldozers were ordered to cut a firebreak on the crest of Volcan Mountain, ECM has learned.
Meanwhile an ECM investigation has raised growing questions over whether this fire could have been prevented. Those questions include:
Why did Cal-Fire order a controlled burn in hot weather just hours after a high wind advisory had expired?
Why did the National Weather Service issue a spot fire weather report to Cal-Fire advising lower wind speeds when it has no wind monitor in the valley where the fire occurred?
Why was Volcan Mountain Foundatiion advised conditions were too dangerous for it to conduct pile burning, yet Cal-Fire conducted its own controlled burn?
Why did fire officials underestimate the potential size of this fire at 500 acres? (It has burned over 1,800 acres and is 60% contained.)
Should Cal-Fire’s plan to sharply increase the number of acres it clears statewide be axed given the consequences of this out-of-control burn?
May 24, 2013 (Mountain Springs) - Photographers Jim Pelley and Parke Ewing spotted a herd of endangered Peninsular Bighorn sheep preparing to cross I-8 in Mountain Springs, at the county line separating San Diego and Imperial Valley counties.
Residents report that wildlife is returning to the area over the past week, since wind turbines at the adjacent Ocotillo area have been silenced during the investigation into a blade that fell from a wind turbine.
How many sheep can you find ih the photo below? (click "read more" to view.) We don't know the answer, but Pelley says spotting the well-camouflaged sheep reminds him of playing "Where's Waldo."
May 23, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)—On Friday night, May 24, at sundown the public is invited to a lighting of the flame ceremony at Steele Canyon High School to honor heroes killed in action, as well as those currently serving in the military and our veterans. You can also bring a flag and plant it in the ground on Friday, or anytime during the Memorial Day weekend.
May 24, 2013 (Ramona)--The County Department of Animal Services (DAS) is investigating the death of a horse and is caring for another ten horses seized from an owner in Ramona late yesterday afternoon.
DAS was called to Ramona Monday after a group of horses was found loose on Highway 78 Monday. CHP and CALFIRE returned them to a nearby property, and DAS began monitoring a herd of 30 horses at the location, noting that the animals lacked food and water. CALFIRE supplied some water, but the conditions prompted DAS to post a notice advising the horses’ owner the animals were subject to seizure.
Concerned neighbors also provided some feed to the horses, but based on the conditions officers found during a check yesterday, DAS seized all of the animals on the property.
May 24 2013 (San Diego East County)- An elderly man in his eighties has been taken into custody after he led police on a wild chase through the mountains of East County.
Incident Page Network (IPN) first reported the chase at 2 p.m. on Thursday. According to IPN, the suspect was driving his 26-foot motor home through Sunrise Highway with Sheriff’s deputies in pursuit at around 50 miles per hour. Officials confirm that the chase started in Alpine and continued eastbound on I-8, until they finally caught the man in Buckman Springs after laying down tire spikes to slow the vehicle. The motorist was reportedly distraught, IPN reported.
Update May 24, 2013: 2 p.m. - The blaze is now 1800 acres.
Update May 24, 2013: Cal Fire held the blaze to 1500 overnight and now has 60% containment, with no threat to structures. One minor injury to a firefighter occurred.
May 23, 2013 (San Felipe)—Around 1 p.m., Cal Fire informed San Diegans through its Twitter account that it was conducting a controlled burn near the site of last year’s Ranchita Fire.Soon after, according to Cal Fire Deputy Chief Kely Zombro, “The winds shifted in an unprecedented way.”
The fire escaped the containment area, triggering mobilization of resources from across the region. As luck would have it, a multi-agency wildland training drill was being conducted at the Barona Reservation, where firefighters were swiftly shifted from the drill to the fire scene for a hands-on real-life exercise.
May 27, 2013 (Santa Ysabel) – The Hubbell/Ilan-Lael Foundation will be holding an Open House Studio and Home Tour of renowned architect, James Hubbell's home and studio on June 16 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 930 Orchard Lane, Santa Ysabel. A morning tour is offered between 11 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. The afternoon tours will be between 2 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.
May 27, 2013 (San Diego) – Fields Family Wines will be holding a Wine Dinner at Bistro Sixty, 5987 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego on June 7 at 6 p.m. The dinner includes 5 courses with pairings and costs $70 per person.
May 27, 2013 (Alpine) – The Alpine Historical Society will host the thirteenth annual Alpine History Day on June 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Museum, 2116 Tavern Road, Alpine. Tour the two pioneer houses and Carriage House with new displays of Justin Gruelle’s paintings, the 107 year-old buggy, farming tools, equipment and more. The Ford Model T will also be on display.
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