Editorials

The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine.

READER’S EDITORIAL: THANKS TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS—AND TO THE VIEJAS WILDFIRE ALERTS

By Ed and Donna Tisdale, Morningstar Ranch, Boulevard
 
October 2, 2011 (Boulevard) – We express our appreciation for the firefighters and others who responded so quickly and successfully to the Sept 30 lightning -sparked fire in Tierra Del Sol area of Boulevard AND for the Viejas Wildfire Alerts.
 
As I write this letter of appreciation for our family and neighbors, my thoughts and prayers are with those  impacted by and fighting the Great Fire currently burning over 2,000 acres near Julian and into Anza Borrego Desert State Park and the Cleveland National Forest.




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READER’S EDITORIAL: GUHSD BOARD ENDS HOPE FOR NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN ALPINE

 By Bill Weaver

 
 
  
October 2, 2011 (Alpine)--The September 29, 2011 Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) Special Board Workshop did not turn out as we expected. We expected full consideration of all available demographic data when the Board voted on new boundaries for all schools in the district. We did not get that.
 
The GUHSD Board discussions totally avoided data and charts that offered reasons to build the District’s 12th high school in Alpine. The majority of Board members rushed to hasty judgments, made unfounded conclusions, and then voted to kill the Alpine and Blossom Valley-serving 12th high school (HS12) project.
 
 

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READER’S EDITORIAL: HUNTER SHOULD SUPPORT JOBS PROPOSAL

 

By Bonnie Burns Price, Ph.D.

September 16, 2011 (Spring Valley) -- President Obama has addressed the public's concern about the lack of jobs by a proposal that addresses public needs, such as infrastructure repair, as well as jobs for the unemployed. Several elements of his proposal had bipartisan origins.

 


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READER'S EDITORIAL: COUNTY MUST PROTECT JACUMBA RESIDENTS FROM EYE GNATS

By Supervisor Dianne Jacob

 

September 13, 2011 (Jacumba)--Like the residents of Jacumba, I’m frustrated by the lack of progress on the eye gnat infestation and disappointed that the plan to remedy the situation hasn’t been executed properly. As I see it, the problem has three layers:

 


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READER’S EDITORIAL: 21st CENTURY EDUCATION—THE NEED FOR INNOVATION

 
By Bill Weaver                             

September 12, 2011 (Alpine)--I would like to thank our Alpine Union School District for its pursuit of 21st century education reforms it seeks in serving our East County's local youngest students.  On the AUSD website (www.alpineschooldistrict.net) they describe this in detail.


What the  AUSD calls its "revisioning", is a process for managing its innovation. Experts state that fewer than 2% of all organizations actually have systems in place to successfully manage innovation processes. This buzzword is found in many strategic plans, however the 2% factor highlights the large percentage of these organizations that will fail at innovation leadership, because they lack a proper management plan.
 The Grossmont Union HS Districts’ recent decision to delay building the Alpine and Blossom Valley area new high school (HS12) is a prime example.

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READER’S EDITORIAL: A YEAR DOWN THE ROAD—OR IN THIS CASE, ALPINE BOULEVARD

 

For three years, the Alpine Community Planning Group (ACPG) had a SRPL Ad Hoc Subcommittee...No one is quite sure what it did, since it never had agendas or minutes.

 

By Lou Russo


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READER’S VIDEO EDITORIAL: SAVE EAST COUNTY’S EAGLES

By Billy Ortiz

View video of eagle chick shot April 21, 2011 in Lakeside's El Monte Valley:  http://youtu.be/G__OAP57RW4

I am sending this in hope of raising awareness of our Golden eagles here in San Diego County. Recently these magnificent eagles have come under attack by the construction of the Sunrise Powerlink. This could be the last time we see footage like this video of an eagle chick here in Lakeside, California and in many other parts of the San Diego's East County.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: A TIME FOR US AND MARRIAGE EQUALITY

 
 
A San Diego internationally acclaimed author speaks out about marriage equality and skyrocketing violence against gays 
 
 By Terry Angel Mason
 
 
“Today, you would think that because I am an African-American, that I would have awakened with a new zest for living, a belief that all things are possible and a renewed hope in America, the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. But instead, I felt a chilling numbness emotionally very similar to the kind of feeling that I experience when someone close to me in my family has just died!”
 
 
 
These were the words penned in my Pulitzer-nominated book, “Love Won’t Let Me Be Silent” after Proposition 8 passed in California, amid the euphoria and jubilation of electing America’s first African-American President.

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READER’S EDITORIAL: WHY THIS INDEPENDENT-MINDED VOTER SUPPORTS RON PAUL

 

By Vince Wallgren

 
 
August 20, 2011 (La Mesa)--Well, well, well ... the fat-cats are out of the bag, big time!


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READER’S EDITORIAL: PENNY WISE POUND FOOLISH—CUTS IN FREE FLU VACCINES

 

By Joel A. Harrison, PhD, MPH

 

August 15, 2011 (San Diego)--According to an article in Friday’s Union-Tribune (Aug 12), “State to reduce supply of free flu vaccines,” San Diego County will receive 30,000 “fewer free flu vaccines available for low-income adults than in previous years.”

 


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READER’S EDITORIAL: TIME TO TRIM TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR LA MESA OFFICIALS


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READER'S EDITORIAL: THE HIDDEN COST OF THE HOME LOAN MODIFICATION PROCESS

 

by Jason Jones, J.D.

 

August 4, 2011 (San Diego)--As a bankruptcy attorney, I meet with clients everyday who struggle to make mortgage payments on their homes. Most of these clients participate in their bank’s loan modification program. But despite government pressure on banks to offer loan modifications, the sad truth is that most clients will never actually receive a modification.

 

Despite this fact, the bank’s programs will “consider” every applicant; no matter how likely they are to ultimately qualify. While it seems like this over-inclusiveness would be good, or at least neutral, it is in fact harmful to the struggling homeowner.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: AUGUST 4 DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS ON U.S. WIND ENERGY GUIDELINES: ASK THE USFS TO PROTECT EAGLES

By Mark Duchamp, CEO, European Platform Against Wind Farms www.epaw.org
President, Save the Eagles International www.savetheeaglesinternational.org
 

August 2, 2011 (Washington D.C.)--The US Fish and Wildlife Service is asking the public to send in their comments regarding its revised draft Land-based Wind Energy Guidelines. The deadline for sending your comments is August 4, 2011.


This concerns people from anywhere in the world, as these guidelines may inspire other countries and be used as justification for killing protected species.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: TEA PARTY TACTICS ON DEBT CEILING ARE REVOLTING

By Doug Hunter

 

July 31, 2011 (San Diego)--The original (Boston) Tea Party was staged by area businessmen, who hired and organized a bunch of thugs and drifters to disguise themselves as Indians and destroy the cargos of East Indian Company ships. The parallels with today’s Tea Party are striking, but I fear the ultimate outcome will be less desirable.

 


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READER’S EDITORIAL: BEYOND THE DEBT CEILING CRISIS

 

By Russell Buckley

 

July 29, 2011 (La Mesa)--Our nation is in a tough spot. Our government has run up an unprecedented level of debt that many Americans now realize will become unsustainable in the very near future. Too, the interest on Government debt precludes more spending on progressive social programs.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: DEBT CEILING PROPAGANDA

 

Cutting government spending doesn't create jobs--it increases unemployment and is bad for our economy

 

By Carol Guerrero, Spring Valley

 

July 26, 2011 (Spring Valley)--As the debate on the debt ceiling continues, I am distressed to hear the Republicans continue to use propaganda techniques to obscure clear economic analysis. Although there are many possible examples, I will use one from the House Speaker’s response to President Obama’s address to the nation last night. He repeated, as have his Republican colleagues over and over again, that lowering government spending will create jobs and help the economy.

 

As any macroeconomic class teaches, this statement is false in the short run and probably in the long run as well.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: OPEN LETTER TO OTAY WATER DISTRICT'S DIRECTOR

 

By S. Robert Perry

 

 

July 21, 2011 (Otay) -- This is a letter sent to Director Robak relating to his vote against the "blank check" benefit adopted by the Otay Water District's Board.  It points out some of the objections to this open-ended forever benefit adopted by the Otay Water District's Board.  Hopefully there will be enough public reaction to cause the four who approved this multi-million dollar gift of public funds to look at what they've done and reverse the decision. 


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READER'S EDITORIAL: GUHSD BOARD 'S VOTE TO DELAY ALPINE HIGH SCHOOL IS FISCALLY SHORT-SIGHTED

 

Why are three swimming pools approved for construction, but not the new school approved by voters? Citizens Oversight Committee should demand accountability

 

By Bill Weaver

 

July 17, 2011 (Alpine)--The majority of Grossmont Union High School District‘s education facilities and campuses were in horrendous shape prior to the Prop H improvement bond. Decades of needed maintenance had been neglected.  Now we have funds from Prop U as well.  We should all be very proud of our support leading to our successfully passed 2004 Prop H and 2008 Prop U Bonds.

 

That said, some members of the GUHSD Governing Board now boast of fiscally conservative policies, and how they are now protecting the districts’ financial future and its fiscal health. I am a fiscal conservative also, and I take issue.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: COVER OF DARKNESS

 

"...The ACPG bent rules with both the Powerlink and High School Ad Hoc subcommittees that cost our community dearly."

By Lou Russo, Alpine Planning Group Member


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READER’S EDITORIAL: WHEN VAGUE PROMISES EQUAL FAILED POLICIES

 By Vincent Wallgren, Jr, L a Mesa

  

June 23, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--A quick perusal of the definition of the word “govern” reveals the critical inclusions to be: manipulate, restrain, control and exercise authority. In consideration of same, one cannot but conclude that even the most legislatively restrained government is a sovereignty led by a body of rulers; who, in the USA, are elected to “serve and protect” the governed.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: MORE TAXPAYER-PAID JUNKETS COMING TO LA MESA?

 

By Scott H. Kidwell, La Mesa

 

At the June 14, 2011 La Mesa City Council meeting Mayor Art Madrid moved to remove the city from the East County Economic Development Council and rather use the $5,000 annual membership fee to allow city officials to do more travel to defend city financing at state and federal levels. Time will tell how worthwhile this plan will be.

 


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READER’S EDITORIAL: WHY DID ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS BLOCK UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE BILL WHEN HEALTHCARE FOR ALL IS IN THE PARTY PLATFORM?

 

By Hugh Moore, RN, El Cajon

 

An Open Letter to the California Democratic Party:

 


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READER’S EDITORIAL: ARIZONA’S FIRES REIGNITE CONCERNS OVER THE SUNRISE POWERLINK

 

By Laura Cyphert

 

June 10, 2011 (Lakeside)--As we watch the fires burning our neighbors in Arizona, we are again reminded why relying on imported power transmitted over hundreds of miles of vulnerable transmission lines, is a dangerous gamble for San Diego.

 


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READER’S EDITORIAL: CAPITOL HILL NUCLEAR POWER ADVOCACY REPORT

Local pastor visits 60 Congressional offices and meets with CA Senators; Feinstein pledges to oppose new nuclear plants

 

By Rev. Peter Moore-Kochlacs

Special Correspondent for the Southern California Ecumenical Council, the National Religious Coalition for Creation Care and the Green Ecumenical and Interfaith Religious Communities in California

 

May 14, 2011 (El Cajon) -- April 29 to May 6 was a working week for me in Washington, DC. I was in the Capitol advocating against our government’s current new nuclear power public policies.

 

Visiting over 60 Congressional Senate and House offices, I made the point on moral, safety and financial grounds that in light of the Fukushima, Japan nuclear power plant accidents and other problems inherent with nuclear energy, the federal government should stop permitting the building of new US land-based nuclear power plants.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: REP. DUNCAN HUNTER JR – GET A GRIP!

 

By Mike Thaller

 

May 15, 2011 (San Diego) --I read today that Rep Duncan Hunter is out bashing gays again. Now he wants to revive Don't Ask Don't Tell: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54644.html

 


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READER’S EDITORIAL: DEFEND OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND REC DEPT. FROM DESTRUCTON MAY 3

A community leader and historian contends that the City's proposal to eliminate its recreation department is a lemon--and that residents will be squeezed.

 

By Helen Ofield, president, Lemon Grove Historical Society

 

April 26, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – [Councilman] Tom Clabby has given permission to release to you his response to Howard Cook's bizarre email. Please see below. Cook, who ran as a budget wizard, is evidently unable to fathom the same budget figures you and I have been reading.

 

Poison pen letters like the one to Tom, wild statements to media (Channel 10 a couple of days ago, Union-Trib, etc.) to spread inaccurate statements, skewering long-time, skilled, city employees, attempting to divide the council on trumped-up fiscal issues -- all of this is a throwback to the bad old days when we suffered with a rogue councilman, who also touted himself as a financial wizard. The said rogue has long since been discredited, but not before nearly destroying the Senior Center with his budget mismanagement. In other words, history is repeating itself.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: A VIEW WORTH PRESERVING

 

By Billy Ortiz

April 23, 2011 (Lakeside) – It’s a beautiful April day as I head down East Main Street in El Cajon towards my home near Tunnel Hill. I can't help but notice Old Glory high above the El Cajon skyline and beyond, my favorite place towering in the background: El Cajon Mountain, also known as El Capitan.

 


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READER’S EDITORIAL: TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION IS ALIVE AND WELL

 

By David Smyle

 

April 23, 2011 (La Mesa)--On Wednesday April 20th, the Helix Water Board on a 4-1 vote approved the two year MOU negotiated by the employees for the employees with no rate payer representation. That’s right! Mark Weston and Lisa Irvine, employees of Helix Water were appointed by the Board to represent the ratepayers’ interest in the negotiations with the employees.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT US!

 

By Russell Buckley

March 31, 2011 (La Mesa)--"Today's benefit structure for public employees is unrecognizable from the design, funding structure and goals of the original 1932 version. Instead of retirement security, the public pension became a wealth generator. Initially, state workers retiring at age 65 could expect retirement income at roughly half of their final compensation, based on an average salary earned during their last five years of employment. The retirement formulas and benefits began ratcheting up in the 1940's and never stopped. California's pension plans are dangerously under funded, the result of overly generous pension promises, wishful thinking and an unwillingness to plan prudently. Unless aggressive reforms are implemented now, the problems will get far worse, forcing counties and cities to severely reduce services and layoff employees to meet pension obligations."

 

The words above are taken from the 50 or so pages of the Little Hoover Commission Report released last month. The report is about the State at large - but its words apply so accurately to La Mesa that it seems to be talking about us.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: AN OPEN LETTER TO HELIX WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGARDING SAFETY AND ACCURACY OF SMART METERS


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