By Buck Shott

October 22, 2011 (Rancho Penasquitos) – Assemblyman and Mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher (R-San Diego) stopped by Rancho Penasquitos as part of an “education listening tour” on Friday.

Local Republican Congressmen vote to deny emergency care to save mothers’ lives
 

By Shannon Michael
 

October 15, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The Republican-controlled House this week passed a restrictive measure that would let hospitals refuse to provide an abortion even if urgently needed to save a woman’s life.

“The misnamed Protect Life Act is about allowing women to die if they need an emergency abortion,” said Meghan Rhoad at Human Rights Watch. “It is a vicious attack on women’s rights and on the most basic right to life.”

Local Republicans Duncan Hunter, Brian Bilbray, and Darrell Issa voted for the bill, H.R. 358, while San Diegio Democrats Bob Filner and Susan Davis voted against it.

October 15, 2011 (Santee) – Born in San Diego on the 4th of July in 1925, Democratic leader Sarah Lowery passed away on October 5, 2011 of congestive heart failure. Active in politics at the local, state and national levels, the Santee resident was known for her passionate advocacy of civil rights and equality for all individuals.  In 2001, the San Diego Democratic Party honored Lowery with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

October 12, 2011 (La Mesa) –“We’re astounded,” Nancy Ryan, a La Mesa resident who asked the Council to adopt a resolution that would have declared the community a free-trade city, upon hearing that Council voted down the resolution 3-2 last night.

Mayor Art Madrid and Council member David Allan voted for the measure, while Council members Ruth Sterling, Mark Arapostathis and Ernest Ewin voted against it.

By Miriam Raftery

October 7, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – Congressman Duncan D. Hunter has sent a letter to the Secretary of Defense recommending that medals be reviewed to see if some should be upgraded to a Medal of Honor.

By Bruce Sims

October 1, 2011 (Escondido)--In a workshop on September 28 regarding a proposed change from a general law city to a charter city, there were presentations made by various entities for and against the measure. Among some three dozen private citizens who spoke out, the voices were unanimously against the controversial proposal.

Click to view video of speech highlights

September 22, 2011 (San Diego) –Congressman Bob Filner laid out an ambitious plan for revitalizing San Diego in a speech Saturday at the County’s Democratic Convention. He wants to transform the port into a maritime center to employ thousands of people and replace good-paying jobs for skilled middle class workers that vanished when General Dynamics left San Diego. He aims to make San Diego the alternative energy capitol of America, bringing green jobs to our region. In addition, he seeks to create a more “livable city”, moving redevelopment out of downtown and into communities with greater needs.

Why does he believe he can succeed at leading such a major redevelopment effort? Because he already has. “I wrote the Gaslamp plan,” he says of his service on the City Council before his election to Congress.

3 local Congressional members vote to cut funds for disaster relief
 

Update: A stopgap measure has been approved to fund FEMA partially through Tuesday, but at lower levels than the agency says is needed.

September 21, 2011 (Alpine) Assemblyman Brian Jones, Republican representing the 77th district, will host an event dedicated to “spreading awareness about the Second Amendment and firearm safety,” according to a release issued by his office. The event is slated for Friday, Sept. 23 from 1-5 p.m. at the Lemon Grove Rod & Gun Club, 16232 Sequan Truck Trail in Alpine.

City to hold meeting on charter proposal Sept. 28

By Bruce Sims

September 14, 2011 (Escondido)--The City of Escondido has been weighing the option of becoming a charter city and plans a September 28 public meeting on the issue. Now a citizens’ group is preparing an education campaign against the change.