By Miriam Raftery

Photo via San Diego Immigrants Rights Consortium

October 1, 2021 (Washington D.C.) – A federal district court judge in July declared the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program illegal in part because the Obama administration did not allow public comments by publishing the rule in the Federal Register. Judge Andre Hanen let stand the program for those already enrolled, but blocked new applications.

So now the Biden administration’s Department of Homeland Security has published the regulation, which is open for public comments until November 29.  The department has also appealed the court decision.

East County News Service

September 30, 2021 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa First United Methodist Church hosted a candidate forum for those running to fill a vacancy left on the La Mesa City Council when Dr. Akilah Weber won election to the state Assembly.  The election is November 2, with ballot drop-off locations available starting Oct. 25. View the forum at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2852523438206427/permalink/4288325947959495/.

Four of the six candidates participated in the forum; Michelle Louden and Jim Stieringer did not participate.

The candidates running are:

By CalMatters staff, CalMatters

Photo:  Andre m., CC SA 3.0

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

September 24, 2021 (Sacramento) - The second year of the coronavirus pandemic in California was shaped by two political undercurrents at the state Capitol: a budget awash with cash, thanks to a booming stock market and federal aid, and a looming recall election asking voters to throw Gov. Gavin Newsom out of office.  

East County News Service

Image Credit: Shutterstock 

September 15, 2021 (San Diego) -- The County Board of Supervisors voted today to move forward with plans to legalize microenterprise home kitchen operations, or MEHKOs. MEHKOs are defined by California law as a small retail food facility, operated from a private home.

By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 14, 2021 (San Diego) - Tuesday, Sept. 14 is the deadline to cast your ballot in the California Gubernatorial Recall Election. You can do so now at one of 221 voting locations around the county or the Registrar’s office until 8 p.m.

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

Photo:  Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher and Nathan Fletcher last month. Photo by Chris Stone

September 12, 2021 (San Diego) - Lorena Gonzalez of the California State Assembly underwent successful surgery for breast cancer this weekend.

By Miriam Raftery

September 11, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) -- For his first initiative as County Supervisor, East County’s representative Joel Anderson established the Transparency Subcommittee to solicit ideas from the public to improve access and participation with their County government. At a recent hearing, over 60 people attended and hundreds sent in comments with “great suggestions to ensure the public’s interest is best served,” says Anderson.

He adds,  “I’d love your feedback on the input we have heard so far. Please take this survey and let me know which ideas you support. There’s also room for you to write in your own ideas if you don’t see them listed in the survey,” says Anderson.

Click here to take the survey.

East County News Service

September 4, 2021 (San Diego) – Supervisors Joel Anderson and Nora Vargas invite you to share your ideas on transparency in county government during a Transparency Subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, September 7 from 5 p.m to 6:30 p.m.  both in person at the County Administration Building and online via Zoom.

Update August 31, 2021:  One local family with three Children in the Cajon Valley district has been left behind after the U.S. troop withdrawal,  10 News supports. A district spokesperson said they are exploring ways to bring them home.  The other Cajon Valley familes have been safely evacuated and some students are now back in school. 

Over 104,000 civilians have been evacuated by U.S. in past 10 days; airlifts continue despite bombings as Biden vows retaliations against ISIS

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of the Pentagon: U.s. Air Force personnel help evacuate Afghan civilians at the Kabul airport on Aug. 24

August 26, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – After today’s deadly terrorist attacks near the Kabul airport, concerns are heightened over the fate of some Cajon Valley Union School District students and their families. Around two dozen students and their families who traveled to visit relatives became trapped in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, the district announced earlier this week.

Today, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that four of the local families have escaped and two have arrived safely in Southern California. But the whereabouts of five other local families, including 14 children, remains unknown.

Martinez and Myers to present their visions for the Sheriff's Department, answer questions from frontline Deputies

East County News Service

August 25, 2021 (San Diego) -- The 2022 Sheriff's Race kicks off Thursday with candidates appearing at their first forum on August 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. hosted by the Deputy Sheriff's Association (DSA) of San Diego County.

Both candidates have years of experience in the San Diego County Sheriff’s organization: Kelly Martinez, current Undersheriff, and retired Sheriff’s Commander Dave Myers.

The event will be live-streamed on the DSA’s Facebook Page.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

August 23, 2021 (San Diego) - As mail ballots start showing up in mailboxes around San Diego County, the Registrar of Voters office is encouraging voters to act on their mail ballot and vote early.

Source:  Congressman Darrell Issa

August 20, 2021 (San Marcos) - The Office of Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) will host a free online cybersecurity webinar for small business owners and organization leaders August 25, 2021 from 11:00 – 12:00pm PT. The Chief of Cybersecurity for the Western United States from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will conduct a detailed briefing and answer attendee questions.

By Miriam Raftery

August 20, 2021 (San Diego) – The Biden administration today filed an emergency request with the U.S. Supreme Court requesting the high court to block a Texas judge’s order to reinstate the controversial Migrant Protection Program (MPP). Reuters reports.  The program was ordered via an executive ordered issued by former President Donald Trump in early 2019 and required asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while awaiting the outcome of their asylum cases in U.S. courts.

The Biden administration discontinued the policy, but U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, last week found that the Biden administration violated procedural laws and acted “arbitrarily” by failing to consider some benefits of the program.  However, Kacsmaryk stayed his decision for a week to allow the Biden administration to appeal.

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