Politics and local government

FAKE ELECTORS FACE CHARGES, INVESTIGATIONS IN SEVERAL STATES: TRUMP NOW A TARGET OF PROBE INTO EFFORTS TO STEAL 2020 ELECTION

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Boxes hold electoral college electors' votes, awaiting certification by Vice President Mike Pence in Congress on January 6, 2021.  Photo courtesy of Senator Jeff Merkley.

July 19, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – Former President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he received notice that he is a target of a federal grand jury investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The Grand Jury has been looking into the violent attack on the U.S. capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.  That attack included plans by insurrectionists to halt the counting of votes and now appears tied to a conspiracy to certify fake electors from multiple states and substitute them for the real electors’ votes.

The U.S. Department of Justice and some states have launched probes into the fake elector scheme,with the first arrests announced in Michigan, where felony charges have been filed. Here’s the latest, according to Newsweek:


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COMMON LOGICAL FALLACIES TO WATCH OUT FOR IN POLITICS

 

By Branda Gorgies

Images:  Creative Commons via Bing

 

July 15, 2023 (San Diego) – Whenever a major political event occurs, misinformation becomes rampant. With the upcoming presidential nominee election, false information can be spread to influence public opinion from various people, organizations, and even foreign governments.

To be a well-informed voter, it’s necessary to protect against this misinformation. While reputable news organizations including East County Magazine strive to report factual and unbiased information, not all publications will–let alone social media memes that may go viral without links to verify sources.

This article brings to light some tactics that might appear in future elections or issue discussions to ensure that people vote with only the truth in mind.


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TONI ATKINS MARKS SAN DIEGO PRIDE WITH BILL TO BOOST NATIONWIDE ACCEPTANCE OF LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Sen. Toni Atkins speaks during a press conference to promote her Senate Bill 447. With her are Assemblymember Chris Ward (left), Sen. Steve Padilla and Fernando Lopez, executive director of San Diego Pride. Photo by Chris Jennewein

July 15, 2023 (San Diego) - State Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins welcomed San Diego Pride on Friday with with an emotional pitch for legislation that would enable California to lead the nation in expanding acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community


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ISSA COUATHORS HERO ACT TO AID SERVICE MEMBERS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

East County News Service 

July 15, 2023 (San Diego) -- Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) was joined by House colleagues Richard Hudson (NC-09), Michael Waltz (FL-06), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) this week to introduce H.R. 4334 – “The HERO Act.”  If enacted, it would grant service members who are victims of medical malpractice in a Dept. of Defense medical treatment facility the right to take their claim to District Court.


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LA MESA FENDS OFF GUN-RIGHTS SPEAKERS, ADVANCES LAW FOR SAFE STORAGE AT HOME


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ECM TO HOST FORUM FOR SUPERVISOR CANDIDATES

July 7, 2023 (San Diego) – East County Magazine will host an online forum for the four candidates running for the District 4 seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.  All four candidates have agreed to participate in the forum on Monday, July 17 at 12:30 p.m. The forum will be live-streamed on Facebook and a recorded copy will be posted on our news site.

The special election will be held  August 15. If no candidate receives a majority, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff on Nov. 7.

The qualifying candidates are:

  • Janessa Goldbeck, Marine veteran and CEO of Vet Voice Foundation
  • Paul McQuigg, Military veteran and speaker for disabled veterans
  • Amy Reichert, small business owner and founder of ReOpen San Diego
  • Monica Montgomery Steppes, President Pro Tem of the San Diego City Council

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LA MESA PROPOSES MODEST SPENDING INCREASE AS REVENUES RISE

By Jacob Pamus 

Photo: Finance Director Tammi Royales gives presentation on proposed budget

July 3,2023 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa City Council voted  unanimously on June 27 to approve a tentative biennial budget of $130,246,110 in fiscal year 2023-24 and $133,151,664 in fiscal year 2024-25. The Council is expected to vote on a final budget in August 2023. 

Cannabis tax revenues are projected to rise sharply as new dispensaries open, with other revenue sources such as property tax and leasings also on the upswing.

General expenditures will be boosted by 6%to cover rising utility costs, as well as studies on police staffing issues and a new citywide strategic plan are among the reasons for the increase. 

This new budget is being made with open gov online, an online system that connects live financials with the budget, available in 135 languages, and is fully interactive and accessible for residents and students.


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BIPARTISAN IMMIGRATION REFORM AIMS TO PROVIDE IMMIGRANTS WITH LEGAL STATUS

By Daniela Torres

 

June 30, 2023 (Washington D.C.) -- Representatives María Elvira Salazar of Florida and Veronica Escobar of Texas have proposed a bipartisan immigration bill, the Dignity Act, that will address issues like providing immigrants with a path to citizenship, while also strengthening border security.


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SENATOR JONES’S MEASURE TO PROTECT HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS UNANIMOUSLY PASSES KEY COMMITTEE

Source: Senator Brian Jones'  office

June 28, 2023 (Sacramento) – Today, California State Senate Majority Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) announced that his measure to protect human trafficking victims and make it easier to prosecute human trafficking perpetrators unanimously passed out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

“Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery,” said Jones. “The evil people who buy and sell humans for their own benefit must be convicted to prevent further trauma for all victims. This bill will help bring justice to human trafficking victims and prevent further exploitation of innocent people by putting perpetrators behind bars. Thank you to the members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee for understanding the importance of this issue and moving the bill forward.”


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COUNTY BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDING FOR KEY EAST COUNTY PROJECTS

East County News Service

Photo and budget breakdown via County News Service

June 28, 2023 (San Diego) – A new fire station in Jacumba and an animal shelter for Santee are among the projects funded by the County’s $8.17 million budget for fiscal year 2023-24, which Supervisors unanimously adopted on Tuesday.

The budget also has substantial allocations to the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, build affordable homes, plant trees and help communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost investment in mental health and addiction services, foster youths, justice reforms, and more.


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JONES’ REQUEST TO AUDIT LIBERTY HEALTHCARE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

East County News Service 

June 27, 2023 (Sacramento) -- The Joint Legislative Audit Committee this week unanimously approved a request by Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) to audit Liberty Healthcare’s long-running exclusive contract to manage the Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Conditional Release Program (CONREPO) currently overseen by the Department of State Hospitals. A petitionin support of the audit request has almost 1,600 signatures.


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EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS BUDGET AND REVIEWS BAN ON ENCAMPMENTS

Story and photos by Christianne McCormick

Photo, left: Director of Finance Clay Schoen presents budget breakdown

June 25, 2023 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon’s City Council on June 13 received a presentation on the Preliminary Annual Budget for fiscal year of 2023-2024.  Council also moved forward on a ban on homeless camping on public property that would be similar to the City of San Diego’s new ordinance.


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EL CAJON MAY MIRROR SAN DIEGO’S BAN ON HOMELESS CAMPING

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  former homeless camp in unincorporated El Cajon later cleared by the County, which opened a safe parking lot on the site

June 22, 2023 (San Diego) – El Cajon’s City Council voted unanimously on June 13 to direct staff to draft an ordinance prohibiting camping on any public property, such as sidewalks and parks.  The ordinance would mirror a similar, controversial ordinance adopted by the San Diego City Council 5-4 on the same date.


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HUNTER BIDEN TO PLEAD GUILTY TO TAX CHARGES

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Hunter Biden during a 2014 meeting with India's prime minister

June 20, 2021  (Washington D.C.) The son of President Joe Biden, has reached a plea bargain deal with the U.S. Department of Justice. Hunter Biden will plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of filing his 2017 and 2018 taxes late, according to court documents released today, the New York Times reports.  A judge must still approve of the plea deal; Biden is expected to appear in federal court in Delaware for arraignment.

Hunter Biden will not be sent to prison or charged for failing to disclose drug use when he purchased a hand gun in 2018, provided he abides by terms of a two-year probation that includes remaining drug-free and agreeing to never own a gun again.  This sentence is consistent with how tax and gun registration misdemeanors are customarily handled for other non-violent first-time offenders, though questions remain over whether or not the Justice Department has dropped or is continuing to investigating questions over Hunter Biden's controversial actions while serving on a Ukrainian energy company's board of directors.

President Biden has avoided commenting on his son’s legal issues. A  White House spokesman, Ian Sams, issued a statement which reads, “The President and First Lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life. We will have no further comment.”

Former President Donald Trump, who is awaiting trial on criminal charges relating to mishandling of classified documents and alleged hush money payments made to a porn star, criticized the deal on social media, claiming, “Our system is  BROKEN.”


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NEWSOM PROPOSAL FOR CONSTITIONAL CONVENTION TO AMEND GUN LAWS DRAWS CONTROVERSY, CARRIES RISKS

By Miriam Raftery

Image: U.S. Constitution, cc via Bing

June 18, 2023 (Sacramento) – California Governor Gavin  Newsom has proposed a 28th amendment to reduce gun violence. Newsom says, “The 28th Amendment will enshrine in the Constitution common sense gun safety measures that Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and gun owners overwhelmingly support — while leaving the 2nd Amendment unchanged and respecting America’s gun-owning tradition.”

Because Congress lacks enough votes to pass even modest gun reforms,  Newsom has called for a constitutional convention to be convened,as allowed under Article V of the Constitution.  But that’s never been done.  It requires a steep bar:  two-thirds of states must call for a constitutional convention,  amid a currently divided political landscape.

But even some who might support gun reforms may think twice about potential risks to our democracy that a constitutional convention could pose, since the process could open the door to rewriting other aspects of the Constitution that  Americans have long taken for granted as permanent protections for our rights and liberties.


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LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL MAY ADD SALES TAX INCREASE INITIATIVE TO THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR

Other priority goals include street repairs, addressing homelessness and climate change, and livestreaming council meetings

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch full video here

June 15, 2023 (Lemon Grove)- At last week’s Lemon Grove City Council meeting, city manager Lydia Romero highlighted the Council’s top priorities for fiscal year 2023/2024 from the priority-setting workshop back in May. Among these priorities are to “engage residents, businesses, and stakeholders on the benefits of passing a sales tax in FY 2024 that will increase revenue to address priority needs,” according to the staff report. Romero said this was voted as the top priority from Council with four votes and three votes from the small handful of residence in attendance at the workshop.

Can the measure succeed after an earlier tax increase ballot initiative narrowly failed to win passage?


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WALDRON BILLS PASS ASSEMBLY, ADRESS HEALTHCARE ISSUES, WILDFIRE PREVENTION, AND WATER CONCERNS

East County News Service

June 14, 2023 (Sacramento) -- This year, the “House of Origin Deadline” was June 2nd, the final day for bills to pass the house in which they were first introduced. Several bills by  Assemblywoman  Marie Waldron (R-Valley Center) passed the Assembly by that deadline.


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ELDER EX-REP DUNCAN HUNTER RIPS NPR FOR HINTING HE SQUELCHED MARINE DEATHS

By Ken Stone,Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Former Rep. Duncan L. Hunter, shown in 2019, says NPR “twists things” on the April 2004 friendly fire incident. Photo by Ken Stone

June 13, 2023 (San Diego) - Ex-Congressman Duncan Lee Hunter, the father of disgraced Rep. Duncan Duane Hunter, says he traveled to Iraq at least four times when he was House Armed Services Committee chairman in the early 2000s.


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RESTRAINING ORDERS EXTENDED AGAINST LEMON GROVE COUNCILWOMAN PENDING HEARINGS, BUT JUDGE GRANTS LEBARON’S ANTI-SLAPP MOTION

By Miriam Raftery

June 13, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Judges in two separate cases have extended restraining orders against Lemon Grove Councilwoman Liana LeBaron pending future hearings, but have not yet ruled on the merits of the cases.

Temporary restraining issues were issued in response to requests from Councilwoman Jennifer Mendoza and from LeBaron’s estranged husband, Timothy C.D. Howell.


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HOW THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA IS COVERING TRUMP INDICTMENT NEWS

By Jacob Pamus

June 12, 2023 (San Diego) -- Former president Donald Trump’s second indictment, this time by federal prosecutors who allege that he compromised national security by mishandling classifeid documents,  is big news around the world.  Here’s a sampling of how the international press is covering the story.


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QUESTIONS RAISED OVER IMPARTIALITY OF JUDGE ASSIGNED TO TRUMP CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE

By Jacob Pamus and Miriam Rafery

Photo:  Judge Aileen M. Cannon, official portrait via U.S. Southern District Court in Florida

June 12,2023 (Washington D.C.) --The federal judge in Florida’s Southern District who is handling Donald Trumps’ indictment over classified documents at his home is Judge Aileen M. Cannon, who was appointed by Trump in 2020. She is slated to preside over Trump's arraignment tomorrow afternoon. Trump has denied guilt in public statements since being informed of the indictment.

Last year, Judge Cannon ruled in favor  of allowing Trump to have a special master review documents seized by the FBI from his Mar-a-Lago home. This temporarily halted prosecutors’ investigation into the stolen documents. The Justice Department said that this decision, one of several pro-Trump rulings made by Cannon, would “significantly harm important governmental interests, including national security interests."

Her ruling was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the11th Circuit, which found that Cannon had  "improperly exercised equitable jurisdiction." The Appeals court judges, including Trump appointees, ordered Cannon to lift the block she had imposed on prosecutors’ accessing the documents.


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TRUMP INDICTED UNDER ESPIONAGE ACT FOR RISKING NATIONAL SECURITY, SHARING DEFENSE SECRETS AND HIDING EVIDENCE FROM GRAND JURY

Timeline analysis prepared by ECM documents efforts to conceal records from FBI

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, from indictment: Boxes with classified records stored insecurely in a bathroom at Trump’s Mar a Lago Club.

June 10, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – Special Counsel Jack Smith yesterday unsealed a 49-page indictment charging former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump with “felony violations of our national security laws as well as participating in a conspiracy to obstruct justice,” Smith announced, after a Florida grand jury voted to indict. Trump is charged with 37 felonies; if convicted, he could face decades in prison.

His chauffeur and former White House aide Waltine Nauta also faces charges, including conspiring with Trump to obstruct justice.

Prosecutors allege that Trump:

  • Showed a secret Pentagon plan of attack against a foreign country to unauthorized persons including a writer and publisher in a taped meeting in July 2021, in which he stated, “See as president I could have declassified it…Now I can’t, you know, but this is still a secret.”
  • Showed a political action committee member without a security clearance a classified map of a foreign country during a military operation that he stated was “not going well” in summer 2021.
  • Asked his lawyers to defy a subpoena, withhold documents and lie to the FBI;
  • Ordered an aide to move boxes of subpoenaed documents without telling his attorneys, shortly before the FBI raid on Mar a Lago;
  • Stored highly sensitive documents in an insecure manner in a bathroom, ballroom, storage closet and other areas with unlocked doors Mar a Lago, where thousands of guests attended over 150 events while records were there;
  • Mishandled documents on nuclear weaponry of the United States, America’s vulnerabilities,  nuclear capabilities of a foreign country, a foreign country’s support of terrorism against U.S. interests,and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack.

Smith says of the indictment, “I invite everyone to read it in full to understand the scope and the gravity of the crimes charged…Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced. Violations of those laws put our country at risk….We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone.”


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SUPERVISOR ANDERSON TO HOST JAPATUL TOWN HALL JUNE 17

East Count News Service

June 10, 2023 (Alpine)-- In Saturday, June 17, Supervisor Joel Anderson will be hosting a town-hall style Community Coffee in Japatul at the residence of John & Cori Mendez, 23155 Illahee Drive in Alpine, from 3:00 to 5:00  p.m.


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PADRE DAM BOARD TELLS CWA IT CAN’T ACCEPT ANY WATER RATE INCREASE

By Mike Allen

June 9, 2023 (Santee) -- Padre Dam Water District’s board is fed up with having to pay higher rates for the water it purchases from the San Diego County Water Authority, and voted unanimously not to go along with any rate hike unless the CWA gets serious about its long-range planning.


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FOUR CANDIDATES QUALIFY FOR SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL FLETCHER SEAT ON BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left to right: Janessa Goldbeck, Paul McQuigg, Amy Reichert, Monica Montgomery Steppes

June 7, 2023 (San Diego) – Yesterday was the deadline to file papers to run in in the special election to fill the vacancy on the County Board of Supervisors in District 4 left by Nathan Fletcher’s resignation. 

Four candidates qualified to appear on the ballot for the special primary election August 15. If no candidate wins a majority, a run-off between the top two vote-getters will be held Nov. 7.  The qualifying candidates are:

  • Janessa Goldbeck, Marine veteran and CEO of Vet Voice Foundation
  • Paul McQuigg, Military veteran and speaker for disabled veterans
  • Amy Reichert, small business owner and founder of ReOpen San Diego
  • Monica Montgomery Steppes, President Pro Tem of the San Diego City Council

A fifth candidate who pulled nomination papers, Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez, has announced that she decided not to run.

Scroll down for information on the District 4 candidates.


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MAYOR VASQUEZ DROPS CAMPAIGN FOR SUPERVISOR

By Miriam Raftery

June 5, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – On May 30, Lemon Grove Mayor Raquel Vasquez picked up nomination documents from the Registrar of Voters to run for County Supervisor District 4 in the August 15 special primary election to fill the vacancy left by Nathan Fletcher’s resignation. But today, one day before the filing deadline, Mayor Vasquez announced in an e-mail to followers that she has decided not to run.

“Though I have the experience, qualifications, and ability to serve the residents of District 4, I will be taking a step back. I will continue to build consensus on other pathways to help our communities grow and prosper,” she stated. “Residents who live, work and play in Rancho San Diego, Spring Valley, Casa de Oro and Lemon Grove are worthy of a leader who will invest in our communities. I wish the candidates all the best with their campaigns and look forward to working with the elected County Board of Supervisors for District 4.


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VOTING OPTIONS FOR SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION IN 4TH SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT

East County News Service

June 4, 2023 (San Diego) – Ballots will be mailed the week of July 16 for the August 15 special primary election in San Diego’s 4th Supervisorial District. This election will fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Nathan Fletcher following sexual misconduct allegations. If no candidate receives a majority vote at the primary election, then a special general election will be held on November 7, 2023.

Here are your voting options, which include mail-in, ballot drop-off boxes, and in-person voting prior to or on election day:


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COLIN PARENT KICKS OFF HIS RUN IN THE 79TH STATE ASSEMBLY RACE

By Jessyka Heredia

 

June 2, 2023 (La Mesa)-State Assembly candidate Colin Parent kicked off his campaign for the 79th State Assembly  at Bolt Brewery in La Mesa on Wednesday with approximately 35 supporters in attendance.

Parent spoke briefly to the crowd, noting that in 2016 he became the first Democrat elected to the La Mesa City Council in years. “We have accomplished a lot already,” he said.

For example, he noted that the city “broke ground earlier this year on the first 100% affordable housing project in the city in decades--right next to the trolley, right caddy corner to city hall. It’s going to create hundreds of units for low- and moderate-income families.”  He added, “We also adopted some rules to make it much, much easier for homeowners to build Accessory Dwelling units (ADU) in their backyard.”

Parent also addressed equity issues, stating, ”Three years ago we decided for the first time to fly the pride flag and just this week, we fought back a proposal to eliminate that.”


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CALIFORNIA SENATE VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO PROTECT “COUNTLESS CHILDREN” FROM TRAFFICKING

By J.W. August

 

June 1, 2023 (Sacramento, CA)-- In a rare unanimous vote, the state Senate has passed legislation that would make trafficking of minors a serious felony on May 25th.


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SENATE PASSES SENATOR JONES’ MEASURE TO HELP FIX TEACHER SHORTAGE

East County News Service

June 1, 2023 (Sacramento) -- Yesterday, legislation by Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) to help fix California’s teacher shortage was approved by the State Senate with strong bipartisan support. Senate Bill 811 will make it easier for teachers to move throughout the country.


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