AB 666 WOULD HAVE REQUIRED COUNTIES TO ENSURE THAT FIREFIGHTING SERVICES EXIST BEFORE APPROVING NEW BUILDING SUBDIVISIONS

October 13, 2009 (Sacramento)--Governor Arnold Scharzenegger has vetoed legislation by Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) to require counties to ensure that adequate fire protection exists before approving new subdivisions in high fire hazard areas.

“I am very disappointed that the Governor chose to ignore the safety of firefighters and residents in very high risk areas,” said Jones, a candidate for state Insurance Commissioner. “My bill simply required counties to make sure there is adequate local fire protection before approving new subdivisions in high fire risk areas. This legislation would have avoided putting the lives of firefighters and the lives and property of homeowners at risk.”

Agriculture Spending Bill Includes $6 Million for California Sought by Boxer'

Projects Range From Food Safety to Water Efficiency

October 8, 2009 (Washington D.C.) -- The U.S. Senate today passed the Agriculture Appropriations conference report, which includes more than $6 million requested by U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) for key investments throughout California.

Senator Boxer said, “This crucial funding will not only help our state’s farmers and ranchers, but it will also help protect our state’s $32 billion agriculture economy. I am so pleased that this bill makes critical investments to protect consumers by safeguarding public health and growers from economic losses due to pests and food-borne illness outbreaks. I look forward to watching President Obama sign this bill into law.”

The bill also includes $350 million in emergency funding to help struggling dairy producers.

By Miriam Raftery
 

October 8, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has launched an investigation into allegations that Assemblyman Joel Anderson’s campaign may have received funds funneled illegally through the Fresno County Republican Central Committee. (Read details.) Anderson (R-Alpine) has announced plans to run for the State Senate.

The news sparked heated comments from Simon Mayeski, a state board member of Common Cause, a citizens watchdog organization committed to holding government officials accountable for their actions and encouraging citizen participation. “It is extremely discouraging that the constant need to raise campaign dollars now places Joel Anderson, my very own Assembly representative, under the investigative eye of the FPPC,” Mayeski, a San Diego resident, told East County Magazine. “It is even worse that he is under investigation because of the Commission’s own decision, and not by complaint of another politician.”

October 5, 2009 (Sacramento) – Last week, the Sacramento Bee published an article stating that Meg Whitman, Republican candidate for Governor, did not register to vote in the past 28 years. Initially, Whitman responded by stating that her voting record was “inexcusable,” adding, “I failed to register and vote on numerous occasions throughout my life. That is simply wrong and I have taken responsibility for my mistake."

Today, however, the Whitman campaign has issued a press release accusing the Sacramento Bee of distorting her voting record and asking the newspaper to correct the record. Whitman “clearly remembers voting on multiple occasions, including the 1984 and 1988 presidential elections,” the release states. The release also asserts that the San Francisco registrar has no records for voters prior to 1992—and that the registrar could not produce voting records before 1992 for Senator Diane Feinstein or House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, either.

By Miriam Raftery

October 5, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) issued a press release announcing that the House of Representatives passed a conference report on H.R. 3183, the fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Act. The legislation includes $120,000—funding secured by Congressman Hunter, according to the release, to perform a feasibility study of the water system in San Diego County and determine an approach to connect under-utilized reservoirs.

There’s just one problem: Hunter voted “no” on adoption of that conference report on October 1st, according to the roll call vote published in the Washington Post.

Candidates for Attorney General and Insurance Commissioner Spoke at Festive Gathering

September 30, 2009 (Lemon Grove) – Dozens of people packed into the Por Favor Restaurant in Lemon Grove Friday night to celebrate the community’s newly formed Spring Valley-Lemon Grove Democratic Club. The new club hosted an impressive array of guest speakers, including two candidates for statewide offices: Attorney General and Insurance Comissioner. The group’s next meeting is slated for Thursday, October 1st. .

“Valley Grove is back,” Lemon Grove Councilman George Gastil proclaimed, referring to the area’s former Democratic Club, which disbanded several years ago. But victories by President Barack Obama and local Democratic candidates have revived a surge of interest in Democratic Clubs countywide, prompting Gastil to organize the new club.

  Whitman takes heat for failure to vote for nearly 3 decades

By Miriam Raftery
 

September 27, 2009 (Indian Wells) – Three Republican candidates vying for the California governorship offered contrasting views on how to revive the state’s ailing economy—and lobbed some pointed barbs at each other at this weekend’s state Republican convention.
 

September 25, 2009 (Sacramento)--Assembly Bill 66, authored by Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) has passed the Legislature unanimously and is now on the Governor’s desk.
“

The bill changes the way schools issue student work permits, giving control over the process to local educators who can best to protect students’ grades,” said Assemblyman Anderson.

 
Tent city jails, sonic weapons, border crimes, Las Colinas prison expansion, and cuts in deputy staffing among hottest issues
 

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Leon Thompson
 

Political protesters and counter-protesters raise voices at Sept. 12 rallies

"Leadership is about going where others won't." –Francine Busby

By E.A. Barrera

September 9, 2009 (San Diego)--Democrat Francine Busby says the 50th Congressional District is ripe for change and she is the candidate best suited to unseat Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray next year.

East County Magazine Editor Miriam Raftery to Co-Moderate

September 11, 2009 (El Cajon) – East County’s top law enforcement issues will be on the front burner at the hottest political debate in town Saturday, when four candidates for San Diego County Sheriff will face off on issues ranging from border protection to a jail expansion in Santee.
 

September 9, 2009 (San Diego)--Assembly Member Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) urged the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to collaborate with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and other stakeholders in developing a long-term distributed generation strategy to reduce the risk of wildfire and provide safe power generation in case of emergencies.

By Miriam Raftery

By Miriam Raftery

August 25, 2009 (Rancho San Diego/El Cajon)—The setting was serene, but the political exchanges were rocky at “Politics in Paradise,” a community legislative forum sponsored by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce Friday evening at Cuyamaca College’s Water Conservation Garden.