EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

February 21, 2019 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Why is the San Diego Sheriff’s department charging $350,000 for records? (New York Times)
• As agents in federal gun probe keep quiet, ties emerge between Hamel, Garmo (SD Union-Tribune)
• Riot at Donovan state prison sends 10 inmates to hospitals (Times of San Diego)
• SDSO releases documents in deputy misconduct investigation (NBC)

STATE

• Should California buy disaster insurance? (Cal Matters)
• California's Supreme Court has thrown cities—and citizens—into chaos over local taxes Cal Matters)
• California lawmakers propose phasing out plastic products that aren’t recyclable Los Angeles Times)
• 45 and counting — Trump lawsuits put California at ‘Hall of Fame’ status, Newsom says (Sacramento Bee)
• Newsom claims ‘retribution’ after Trump administration demands high-speed rail funds back (Sacramento Bee)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click "read more" and scroll down.

LOCAL

Why is the San Diego Sheriff’s department charging $350,000 for records? (New York Times)

More than a quarter of a million dollars to provide public police records?  The San Diego Sheriff’s Department this week told KPBS that it would cost $354,524.22 to provide records on police shootings that the television channel had requested under a new state law. That response, KPBS said, is “the latest development in a battle between law enforcement agencies and media organizations across the state.”

As agents in federal gun probe keep quiet, ties emerge between Hamel, Garmo (SD Union-Tribune)

… Hamel and Garmo…have known each other for years. Both were active in the Deputy Sheriffs Association of San Diego County…Garmo served as a director of the association. Hamel has been a donor and was named an honorary deputy sheriff. The Deputy Sheriffs Association operates a store in Poway that sells guns and other law enforcement-related merchandise and supplies to members. Also, both Garmo and Hamel won election in June 2016 to the Republican Central Committee…

Riot at Donovan state prison sends 10 inmates to hospitals (Times of San Diego)

A riot erupted at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility Friday, leaving 10 inmates injured, one seriously, before guards could restore order.  Nearly 50 convicts began fighting in an exercise yard at the Otay Mesa- area state prison.

SDSO releases documents in deputy misconduct investigation (NBC)

…A deputy was forced to resign after an internal investigation determined he fondled a homeless woman who was the alleged victim of an assault in a transient encampment. More than 100 pages of internal investigation documents obtained by NBC 7 tell a multi-level tale of misconduct by former SDSO Deputy Juan Andrade. According to the investigation, while Andrade was interviewing a homeless woman, the alleged victim of an attack on Jamacha Boulevard on March 11, 2017, the deputy told her he was attracted to her and made inappropriate comments.

STATE

Should California buy disaster insurance? (Cal Matters)

Hoping to save California taxpayers some money after spending nearly $1 billion to fight wildfires last year, three officials say it’s time to look at purchasing disaster insurance for the state.

California's Supreme Court has thrown cities—and citizens—into chaos over local taxes Cal Matters)

… The central question at issue is a simple one, or at least it ought to be: How many votes does it take in California for a new tax to become law?

California lawmakers propose phasing out plastic products that aren’t recyclable Los Angeles Times)

New legislation would require single-use materials to be reusable, fully recyclable or compostable by 2030.

45 and counting — Trump lawsuits put California at ‘Hall of Fame’ status, Newsom says (Sacramento Bee)

 On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a pending legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the Mexico border that would become the state’s 46th lawsuit against the White House. .. In a December 2018 appearance on The Sacramento Bee’s California Nation podcast, Becerra said the lawsuits are paying for themselves. As of October, the state had spent $9 million on its Trump-related lawsuits.  “In one case, we got to compel the federal government to provide to our state more than $29 million that they were withholding from us,” he said, referring to an August decision that obligated the Trump administration to release public safety grants. “That pays for the 45 lawsuits and way more.”

Newsom claims ‘retribution’ after Trump administration demands high-speed rail funds back (Sacramento Bee)

The Trump administration, stepping up its fight with California over the state’s struggling high-speed rail project, said Tuesday it plans to rescind a $928 million federal grant. The action could imperil the first phase of the project, connecting the major cities of the San Joaquin Valley, which is dependent on federal funding.