By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Genevieve Suzuki,Lauren Cazares, and Shawn Townsend.

August 9, 2024 (La Mesa)—La Mesa’s City Council will have two new members after the November election.  That’s because Councilman Jack Shu is retiring and Councilman Colin Parent, whose term  expires, is running for State Assembly.

Both Parent and Shu have endorsed two Democrats running for Council seats:  Genevieve Suzuki, an attorney, journalist and community volunteer, and Lauren Cazares, a policy advisor at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.  The County Democratic Party and prominent Democratic officials have also endorsed Suzuki and Cazares.

The County Republican Party has not endorsed any candidate in this race. Two other candidates have pulled papers to run: fitness company CEO and  personal trainer Shawn Townsend, an independent, and Jose Fernandez, whose information is not yet available.

By Miriam Raftery

August 7, 2024 (Philadelphia) – Large crowds packed a stadium in Philadelphia this week to see the first public speeches by Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her newly-named vice presidential pick, Minnesota Governor and five-term Congressman Tim Walz. Walz brings leadership skills, expertise on rural and veterans' issues, as well as  Midwest common-sense values to the team. Raised on a farm, Walz served 24 years in the National Guard, rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major.

He has also worked as a high school teacher and football coach, taking a team with 27 straight losses on to win the state championship for the first time in the school’s history. His affable manner and sense of humor also bring a sense of normalcy that appears to be welcomed by many voters, judging by the enthusiastic cheers heard throughout his first public speech as vice presidential running mate.

By Miriam Raftery

August 6, 2024 (San Diego) – The U.S. State Department has issued a level 4 advisory urging Americans not to travel to Lebanon, and for Americans in Southern Lebanon, near the Syrian borders, or in refugee settlements to immediately depart. Those who do not leave should be prepared to shelter in place for a prolonged period, due to escalating military actions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Following Hezbollah strikes in Israel, Israel launched an airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate. Hours later, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a bomb in Tehran, Iran. Iran has blamed Israel and has threatened to attack Israel in response, though Israel has not confirmed nor denied responsibility for the Iranian death.

Any attacks on Israel are expected may trigger a wider military response by Israel. Today, Israeli fighter jets reportedly flew low over Beirut,  producing sonic booms that scattered frightened residents, according to Reuters.

For travelers and foreign nationals in Beirut, fleeing is becoming more difficult. Insurance companies have raised premiums due to unrest in the region, prompting Air France, Lufthansa and other European airlines to halt flights into Beirut, NPR reported yesterday. Middle East Airlines is still flying, but there are not enough planes to accommodate all who seek to leave.

By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – AB 1819, a measure by Assemblymember Marie Waldron (R-Valley Center) would authorize counties to create special infrastructure financing districts in high or very high fire hazard severity zones.  These districts would fund wildfire mitigation apparatus and infrastructure including new heavy equipment to clear vegetation, create firebreaks, and harden utility infrastructure against wildfires.

 “As climate change progresses, our state is affected by longer, more intense, and increasingly hazardous wildfires. In San Diego alone, almost one-fourth of all wildfires start from the combustion of roadside vegetation by vehicles. It is crucial to have the proper firefighting equipment to prevent wildfires,” a statement by Waldron in the  Senate Floor analysis.“Obtaining funding to increase prevention response and fire-fighting equipment. backcountry areas has been difficult. The creation of an infrastructure financing district for this purpose will raise the necessary funding without the need to raise taxes.”

The bill has passed the Assembly unanimously (with several members absent) and is currently awaiting action in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  All legislative business must be concluded by August 31, the last day of the legislative session.

By Jessyka Heredia

July 23, 2024 (United States) – Presidential hopeful Vice President Kamala Harris clinched enough delegates to proceed as the Democratic nominee today before an official vote. Harris was quick to address the public and assert herself as the democratic nominee after she secured the backing of more than the 1,976 delegates needed to garner the nomination.

Today in her first campaign speech in Wisconsin, Harris addressed her party, “When I announced my campaign for President, I said I intended to go out and earn this nomination. Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party’s nominee. I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon.”

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch full video here

July 20, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – An angry crowd of residents confronted Supervisor Monica Montgomery-Steppe during a community forum in Lemon Grove Thursday night, most opposed to a homeless sleeping cabin project voted on by Supervisors before the community’s voices were heard. The meeting had to be moved to the recreation center’s gymnasium to accommodate the overflow turnout.

Just two days earlier, Supervisors voted 4-0 to move forward on the project, with Chair Nora Vargas absent. The forum, held after the vote, left many residents feeling lied to. as they had believed Thursday's forum was a chance for the community to be heard. The crowd was loud and passionate.

By Jessyka Heredia

July 17, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Residents of Lemon Grove were told there would be a community forum tomorrow  to discuss the possibility of bringing 70 sleeping cabins to Lemon Grove to house homeless people. But County Supervisors voted 4-0 yesterday (with Nora Vargas absent) to move forward on the project just two days before the community forum, leaving residents to wonder if their input ever mattered.

The project was to be built with a $10 million dollar grant from the state originally slated for 150 sleeping cabins in Spring Valley, but that project was cancelled after objections from neighbors over proximity to homes and sensitive sites. Vargas said she “heard the concerns of the community” and backed instead building a smaller-scale project in Lemon Grove near the Spring Valley boundary.