Politics and local government

Bill to protect Native American children passes Legislature unanimously, heads to Governor

By Miriam Raftery

September 19, 2025 (Sacramento, CA) – After passing both the Assembly and State Senate unanimously (with one abstention), a bill aimed at preventing placement of Native American children in foster care away from their tribes and providing supportive services is now awaiting action by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Assembly Bill 1378 would amend state law to let tribes and tribal organizations partner with the California Department of Social Services to provide services to help keep Native American children safely at home and out of foster care.

According to the bill’s author, Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rose),  Native American children in California are placed in foster care at about four times the rate of other children.


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Incompetence and cruelty are expensive: Trump’s actions may bankrupt U.S. treasury

By Alexander Schorr

September 18, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- President Donald Trump could render the US Treasury bankrupt. According to an op-ed by a businsess law educator published in  Newsweek, everything hinges upon whether or not the Supreme Court will side with Trump’s declared tariffs that critics have called illegal — a decision that could force the Treasury to repay half a trillion dollars to the companies that pad the import tariffs, which could set off a crescendo of failures throughout the economy at home and abroad.

Trump's alienation of U.S. allies, his inflationary policies and budget blil that sent the deficit skyrocketing are all further weakening the nation's economic stability.


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Issa casts deciding vote to block release of Epstein files

 

By Alexander J. Schorr

Image: Birthday message from Trump to Epstein, released by Epstein’s estate.

September 16, 2025 — By a one-vote margin, House Republicans blocked release of files related to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his client list.

Among San Diego County representatives Darrell Issa spoke in support of Trump and voted to block release of the Epstein files, while the region’s four Democratic members voted for release of the files.

The Congressional action comes despite release by the Epstein estate this week of a lewd drawing of a prepubescent torso reportedly sketched by Donald Trump as a birthday gift for Epstein, according to the Epstein estate which released the sketch created decades ago. Trump has denied making the drawing, which bears his signature.


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Supreme Court “legalized racial profiling” in Los Angeles ruling, immigration and civil liberties experts warn


By G. A. McNeeley 


September 14, 2025 (Los Angeles) -- The Supreme Court has lifted restrictions that had barred the Trump administration from carrying out immigration-related raids in the Los Angeles area based on broad criteria, such as speaking Spanish or gathering at locations where day laborers often congregate, according to POLITICO


The justices, divided 6-3 along ideological lines, put on hold a federal district judge’s order that had reined in what critics called “roving” raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That judge found that the tactics were likely unconstitutional, because agents were detaining people without probable cause at car washes, bus stops and Home Depot parking lots based on stereotypes. 


Immigrant rights and civil liberties advocates accused federal officers of stopping Latinos solely because they were speaking Spanish or present at home improvement store parking lots or car washes. With nearly half the population in L.A. of Hispanic origin, such a broad-brush approach is certain to sweep up many U.S. citizens and legal immigrants, POLITICO reported. 


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Protestors confront El Cajon City Council over ICE resolution, Ortiz recall

Leslie Thompson (photo, left) of El Cajon speaks out about Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Sept. 9 El Cajon City Council meeting

By Paul Levikow

Sept. 11, 2025 – (El Cajon) Protestors showed up at the El Cajon City Council meeting again this past week to continue voicing opposition to the city’s resolution regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

They also reminded Councilmember Phil Ortiz that their efforts to have him recalled from office are ramping up.

Their appearance came a day after the United States Supreme Court overturned a U.S. District Court Judge’s temporary restraining order in Los Angeles that barred federal agents from stopping people without reasonable suspicion.

The Supreme Court ruling allows agents to stop and detain people based on ethnicity, spoken language, type of work they do or their location.


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Cottonwood sand mine in Rancho San Diego rejected by Board of Supervisors

By Paul Levikow
Karen Pearlman contributed to this report
 
Sept. 10, 2025 (San Diego County) – The Cottonwood Sand Mine project in Rancho San Diego was rejected unanimously Wednesday by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
 
In a packed board room, the supervisors heard from more than 100 speakers in a span of over two hours, including more than a dozen by phone.
 
The vote apparently means the end of a years-running saga for East County residents since sand mining along the Sweetwater River was first proposed seven years ago.

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Former San Diego City Attorney announces State Senate run to represent East County

By Paul Levikow

September 9, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Former San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott on Thursday announced she’s running for the California State Senate District 40 seat, currently held by Republican Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, who will be leaving office due to term limits.


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Lemon Grove moving forward on plans to tackle homelessness, including grant to rehouse people living in camps along highway 94

By Karen Pearlman

Photo by Miriam Raftery:  An outreach volunteer speaks with a homeless woman in Lemon Grove near State Route 94

September 6, 2025 (Lemon Grove)  — Lemon Grove has released its new strategic Homeless Action Plan 2025, a comprehensive document helping the city address the growing issue of housing instability.  The City Council has previously allocated $250,000 to combat homelessness in the city, and the council and staff are now looking at several actionable goals to help make a dent in helping those experiencing homelessness.

The city has also started its first phase of using the $8.4 million State of California Encampment Resolution Funding Grant it received in March to address homelessness, eyeing rapid rehousing of individuals living in encampments along the state Route 94 corridor.


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Santee set to hire new city manager on Wednesday

By Karen Pearlman
 
Sept. 5, 2025 (Santee) -- The Santee City Council is set to hire a new City Manager at its next City Council meeting.
 
Wendy Kaserman, who has been assistant city manager for the city of Poway since 2016, has been tapped to lead Santee. The City Council will consider appointing Kaserman on Sept. 10.
 
Santee has been without a full-time city manager since Marlene Best  stepped down in April. Gary Halbert has been serving as interim city manager since Best’s departure. Best was the fourth city manager for Santee, which incorporated as a city in 1980.
 
The City Council launched a search for a new city manager in June, following a competitive nationwide recruitment. 
 
Her first day with the City of Santee is expected to be Oct. 23, pending City Council approval of her employment agreement.
 

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Evaluation, Performance, Analytics Office releases new strategic plan

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 4, 2025 (San Diego) - The County’s Office of Evaluation, Performance and Analytics has released a new plan listing 18 questions that will guide the County’s evaluation of important programs and services, ranging from homelessness to climate, public safety, and physical and mental health.


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Cajon Cruise returns next week in El Cajon, hosted by Downtown Café

By Paul Levikow

September 3, 2025 (El Cajon) – East County car enthusiasts have cause for celebration, after the El Cajon City Council on Tuesday approved a two-month extension of the Cajon Cruise on Main Street and Prescott Promenade, this time hosted by Downtown Café.

The revived car show will rev up on Wednesday nights Sept. 10 through Oct. 22 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., featuring classic and show cars.

In prior years, the car show ran six months, from April through October. But this year, due to a funding shortfall, the event customarily hosted by the downtown merchants’ organization ran for only two months, from June 4-July 30.


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California, Oregon, Washington to launch West Coast Health Alliance

By Paul Levikow

September 3, 2025 – (East County) The governors of California, Oregon and Washington today announced they will launch a West Coast Health Alliance aimed at recommendations about immunizations, in response to recent cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson issued a joint statement saying the alliance is “in response to recent federal actions that have undermined the independence of the CDC and raised concerns about the politicization of science.” The governors say they are beginning the process to provide evidence-based unified recommendations to their residents regarding who should receive immunizations and to help ensure the public has access and credible information for confidence in vaccine safety and efficacy. 


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Passages: Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Congressman and Decorated Aviator

East County News Services
 
Aug. 29, 2025 (San Diego County) – Randall Harold (Randy) “Duke” Cunningham, a highly decorated naval aviator whose political career crashed after he was convicted of accepting more than $2 million in bribes during his tenure as a United States Congressman, has passed away.
 
Cunningham, who won a seat as a Republican in the House of Representatives 44th District in 1990 after a career as a celebrated fighter pilot during the Vietnam War, died Aug. 27, 2025 at age 83, in Hot Springs Village, Ark.

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The rights of women are under assault: leadership that distrusts its people

By Alexander J. Schorr

Image: suffragists rallied outside White House in 1917, calling for the right to vote.

August 29, 2025 (Washington. D.C.) — Women’s rights in the United States are in danger of being eliminated or rolled back to pre-1960s, before women gained civil rights, equal pay rights, and reproductive rights. Even women’s right to vote has been weakened and some advocate eliminating the 19th amendment that granted women the right to vote in 1920. Earlier this month, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegsdeth reposted a video by a conservative pastor calling for repealing women’s right to vote.


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International postal services suspend deliveries to U.S. after Trump ends tariffs exemption

Suspensions are temporary and in some cases, indefinite


By G. A. McNeeley 


August 29, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- Australia, Japan, Mexico, and Taiwan have joined a growing list ofcountries that are suspending certain parcel shipments to the United States, following the implementation of new rules under President Donald Trump’s Administration that will end tariff exemptions, according to CNNDozens of countries suspended postal services to the United States, to take time to adjust to the new rules and account for increased expenses. 

 

The “de minimis” exemption, that previously allowed shipments of goods worth $800 or less to enter the U.S. duty free, was eliminated on Friday, August 29. 

 

Starting today, packages will be subject to fees relating to the tariff rates applying to their country of origin, making postage more expensive. Postal services will either have to cover the increased cost or pass it on to customers, according to The Guardian


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Supervisors Anderson, Aguirre Supporting Cease-and-Desist Order to Expand Sewage Treatment from Tijuana River

East County News Services
 
Aug. 28, 2025 (San Diego County) -- San Diego County Supervisors Paloma Aguirre and Joel Anderson (photo, left) are praising the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board for approving a cease-and-desist order that will expand treatment capacity at the International Boundary and Water Commission's South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.
 
The order authorizes the plant to treat an additional 10 million gallons per day, increasing 25 million gallons to 35 million gallons, a major step toward reducing untreated sewage flows through the Tijuana River Valley.
 
Aguirre, who represents District 1, is Chair Pro Tem; Anderson oversees District 2.
 
"South Bay families have been forced to live with toxic pollution for years now," Sups. Aguirre and Anderson wrote in a joint statement.
 
"This cease-and-desist order is an urgently needed step to protect public health and finally bring some relief to South Bay residents. We want to thank the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (SDRWQCB) for approving the cease-and-desist order to expand treatment capacity at the International Boundary and Water Commission's South Bay plant. This is an important step forward."

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East County Neighborhoods Could Be Impacted By Proposed State Law to Allow Significantly More Multi-Family Housing Projects

By Paul Levikow

Image, left, via United Neighbors

August 26, 2025 (East County) – Large-scale, high-rise apartment complexes could soon be built within a half mile of a bus stop or trolley station near you, under a proposed state law that would take away local control of developments and turn single-family neighborhoods into high-density housing.

State Senate Bill 79, the Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, was introduced by Sen. Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco) earlier this year and passed by the Senate in June by a vote of 21-13. Sen. Brian Jones (R-Santee) voted no. Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D. (D) voted yes. They both represent East County. The vote was not entirely down party lines; Catherine Blakespear, a North County Democratic from Encinitas, voted no.

The State Assembly is scheduled to hold its next hearing Friday in the Appropriations Committee and could release the bill for a full Assembly vote next week. Meantime, rallies opposing SB 79 were held around the state over the weekend, including local residents rallying in a Clairemont park.


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Amid remap push, Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar files to run against Rep. Issa

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

Photo:  Ammar Campa-Najjar (left) and Darrell Issa. (Times of San Diego file photos)

August 24, 2025 (San Diego) - With his prospects enhanced by potential redistricting, Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar on Friday filed papers for a rematch against Rep. Darrell Issa in the 48th Congressional District.


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Reichert's Restore San Diego newsletter spreads misleading claims about AB 495

By Jesse Kendrick
 
Image: Restore San Diego founder Amy Reichert
 
August 23, 2025 (El Cajon) – “State-sponsored kidnapping loophole” is the epithet lobbed at Assembly Bill 495 by local “Restore San Diego” newsletter. 
 
The bill, officially entitled AB 495: Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025, outlines a series of revisions to existing laws surrounding parental rights and legal guardianship proceedings. Specifically, lawmakers seek to widen the class of persons eligible to file a Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit, to establish temporary guardianship protocols, and to institute immigration-related protections in public schools. The introduction of the bill states that these measures have become necessary to protect children and provide continuity of care in circumstances where parents may be abruptly deported or detained by immigration enforcement officials.

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Supervisors to weigh reducing County reserve funds in wake of federal cuts to Food and Health programs for those in need

Update: Supervisors approved dipping into reserve funds by a 3-2 vote, with Supervisors Anderson and Desmond opposed.

By Miriam Raftery

August 22, 2025 (San Diego) – On Tuesday, Aug. 26, San Diego Supervisors will consider a proposal to revise the county’s reserve policy to allow use of some reserve funds to cover critical services being cut by the federal government. The plan, Item 23 on the agenda, is proposed by Supervisors Monica Montgomery-Steppe and Terra Lawson-Remer, but has drawn opposition from Supervisor Joel Anderson.

According to the agenda item overview, “The County now faces threats from deep cuts due to the passage of H.R. 1, or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”—a law that hands massive tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations while slashing the critical services thousands of our residents rely on. In San Diego, the impacts are immediate and severe: over $300 million in new annual costs to the County, and significant cuts to food assistance, healthcare, and core social services that put local families, seniors, and veterans at risk.”


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Calif. Congressional district maps favoring Democrats approved by state legislators, signed by Governor, heads to special election in November

By Paul Levikow

August 21. 2025 (Sacramento) -- The California Senate and Assembly voted in favor of Gov. Gavin Newsom's state congressional redistricting plan Thursday, in an effort to counter balance the Texas legislature’s efforts to turn five Democratic leaning districts to favor Republicans.

The vote went mostly along party lines. Among East County legislators, State Senator Brian Jones and Assembly member Carl DeMaio, both Republicans, voting no, while State Senator Akilah Weber-Pierson and Assemblymember LaShea Sharp Collins, both Democrats, voted yes.

The passage by a two-thirds majority in both chambers comes on the heels of the California Supreme Court’s Wednesday rejection of a lawsuit filed by Republicans to block the redistricting plan.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation within hours of passage by the Senate and Assembly.


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Have your say on County's legislative priorities

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  California State Capitol Building.  Image credit:  Shutterstock

August 20, 2025 (San Diego) - The community is invited to a virtual meeting on August 27 to learn about the County’s state and federal legislative priorities and give feedback on what they think is important for the 2026 Legislative Program.


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California fires back at Texas gerrymandering with a midterm redistricting plan of its own

Both states convene legislators expected to vote August 18 on drawing new Congressional district lines

By Alexander J. Schorr      

Miriam Raftery contributed to this report

Photos, left:  Texas Governor Greg Abbott and California Governor Gavin Newsom push dueling redistricting plans

August 17, 2025 — It's a race against the clock between California and Texas, with governors of both states striving to draw new Congressional district maps promptly, instead of waiting for the next census as is customary.

The two states have the most Congressional seats in the nation (52 and 38 respectively), so the results of reapportionment could determine which party will control Congress after the 2026 midterm elections.

Key votes in both state legislatures could occur as early as Monday, August 18. Both states seek a partisan edge, instead of utilizing independent, nonpartisan redistricting options, though California's Governor contends his effort is a necessariliy response to a partisan gerrymandering battle launched by pro-Trump Texans.


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Find out if your vote could be affected by Newsom's redistricting plans

By Jeremiah Kimelman and Alexei Koseff, CalMatters

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

August 16, 2025 (San Diego) - Gov. Gavin Newsom will ask California voters this November to approve new congressional lines that favor Democrats, part of a national redistricting battle launched by President Donald Trump. The map released Friday by the Legislature adds five more Democratic-leaning seats.  Many Californians could see their representative change. Read more about the districts that are the most impacted.


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Lemon Grove Mayor sues organizer of recall effort

Updated Aug. 21 with a statement from King.

By Karen Pearlman

August 14, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – After several months of rebuffs from the city of Lemon Grove, proponents of a recall effort to remove Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow from office have finally received the city’s OK to move forward on their petition.

Snow, meanwhile, has filed a lawsuit in San Diego County Superior Court against the organizers of a recall effort, including main petitioner Kenneth King. The city of Lemon Grove’s election official Joel Pablo, the Lemon Grove City Clerk, is also named.

Snow, elected last November, is alleging that the group is fraudulent in its attempt to remove her from office. The lawsuit seeks to immediately halt the circulation of the petition that Snow claims fraudulently appends voters’ signatures to a previous Notice of Intention to Recall Petition, which Snow calls a “False NOI.”


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The Palms, downtown El Cajon restaurant and banquet hall, loses permit

By Paul Levikow

August 13, 2025 (El Cajon) – The Palms Restaurant and Banquet Hall on Main Street was determined to be in violation of its Conditional Use Permit Tuesday by the El Cajon City Council and ordered to close by Oct. 1, unless it is granted a new CUP at next week’s Planning Commission meeting.

The Planning Commission revoked The Palms’ CUP at its June meeting. The business owners appealed the ruling, which was denied by the City Council on a 4-1 vote. Rather than require the business to close immediately, the Council voted to allow it to stay open until Oct. 1. Mayor Bill Wells voted no.


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EL CAJON POLICE OFFICERS ARE STILL RESPONDING TO MENTAL HEALTH CALLS DESPITE NEWS AND CONCERNS TO THE CONTRARY

By Paul Levikow

August 14, 2025 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon City Council was reassured Tuesday about police responses to mental health calls for service after recent news coverage and concerns expressed by County officials. Some changes have been made in the wake of a ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that was handed down last year stemming from a fatal encounter with police in Las Vegas with a man experiencing a mental health crisis. The item on the agenda Tuesday was for informational purposes only. No action was required by the City Council.


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Protestors demand El Cajon repeal ICE cooperation amidst recall effort against city councilmember

By Paul Levikow

August 13, 2025 (El Cajon) – Dozens of East County residents filled El Cajon City Council chambers Tuesday, demanding the City repeal a resolution allowing police to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The effort was organized by Latinos en Accion and Activist San Diego to urge speakers to address the Council during public comments. Twenty-six presenters addressed the council for 90 minutes in a near-capacity crowd. Some held protest signs and wearing T-shirts displaying their opposition to the resolution and support of an effort to recall District 4 Councilmember Phil Ortiz.

Ortiz voted for the measure in February when it narrowly passed 3-2, as ECM reported.


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Caltrans moving ahead on SR 125/94 upgrades

La Mesa City Council hears update from Caltrans

By Karen Pearlman

Aug. 13, 2025 (La Mesa) – Road changes long planned for state Routes 94 and 125 in La Mesa at the junction with Spring Valley are starting to move again.

The SR 94/125 Interchange Project, in the works for several decades by the California Department of Transportation in collaboration with the San Diego Association of Governments, will bring connectors long anticipated and needed for the freeways and the region.

The original project extended more than three miles along both routes and Caltrans officials say it remains “a highly prioritized project in the region.”

Construction is expected to begin in late spring or early summer 2026 with an anticipated finish to the first of two phases in late spring or early summer 2028.


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Lemon Grove is now accepting applications to fill vacancy left by Councilman Faiai's death

Applications accepted now through through Sept. 4; forum for applicants Aug. 13

By Karen Pearlman

Aug. 12, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove is actively seeking applicants to fill the vacant City Council seat of Sitivi “Steve” Faiai, who passed away on July 8.

Faiai, who was elected in 2024, had just begun his political career when he died at age 50 after suffering a heart attack.

At its Aug. 5, 2025 meeting, the Lemon Grove City Council directed staff to open the application process for the appointment of a City Councilmember to fill out the remainder of Faiai’s term. The Council opted against callling for a special election, which could have cost the city more than $250,000.


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