By Mike Allen

October 18, 2022 (Santee) -- A group of four environmental organizations led by Preserve Wild Santee filed a lawsuit to overturn the city of Santee’s approval last month of Fanita Ranch, the 3,000 residential project that has been hotly contested for several decades.

By Mike Allen

October 17, 2022 (Lakeside) -- Voters in the unincorporated town of Lakeside will get to vote on four seats of the five-member Lakeside Union School District this November.

The Lakeside district, which covers nearly 75 square miles and has about 5,000 students, consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools, a preschool program, a DREAM Academy, and world language programs.

Seven candidates are running for three seats with a full four-year term, and two candidates are running for a shortened term. 

For the three full term seats the candidates are Jim Bennet, Maureen Cruise, Holly Ferrante, Aaron Gordon, Andrew Hayes, Ron Kasper, and Bonnie LaChappa.  For the short-term seat, the two candidates are incumbent Don Whisman, and Autumn Ellenson.

East County Magazine sent questionnaires out to all nine candidates and received four responses, which are published in full below.

October 15, 2022 (San Diego) – In an interview with East County Magazine also aired on KNSJ Radio, State Senator Brian Jones talked about his accomplishments in the Legislature and his priorities if reelected.

Senator Jones has served in the California Legislature for the past 12 years, first in the Assembly , and now in the State Senate, where he’s also the Senate Republican Caucus Chair. He has a degree in business administration from San Diego State, and has worked as a government relations consultant and church broker. He’s also a former Santee City Councilman and resident of Santee, along with his wife and their three children.

Click the video link to view the full interview, and scroll down to read highlights.

By Miriam Raftery

October 12, 2022 (Alpine) – Voters are often frustrated in trying to get information on judicial candidates since they are prohibited from answering questions on any issues that may come before them in court. But during the Candidates to Constituents forum in Alpine recently, Superior Court judicial candidates Pete Singer and Rebeca Kanter provided details on their backgrounds and experience that provided clear insights into their core values and qualifications.

By Henri Migala

View the full interview by clicking the image below, and scroll down to read highlights.

October 7, 2022 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Councilwoman Laura Lothian spoke with ECM via zoom about her run for re-election. Council. The interview also aired on KNSJ radio, 89.1 FM.

Lothian is one of four candidates running (a fifth, Kathleen Brand, has dropped out); ECM will be publishing and airing interviews with all the candidates over the next several days. She aims to "class up" La Mesa, bucking the trend toward high-density housing downtown, while also working to reduce homeless and crime, as well as cut regulations for businesses and homeowners with permit applications for new construction or remodeling.

By Miriam Raftery

View a video report by John Lekven with excerpts of Senator Jones’ press conference by clicking the image below; scroll down to read highlights.

October 9, 2022 (Escondido) – State Senator Brian W. Jones (R-Santee) held a press conference Sept. 23 to announce a new bill he plans to introduce on the first day of the next legislative session, December 5. The measure would prohibit homeless encampments near sensitive community areas such as schools, parks, libraries, and day-care centers. It would also require enforcement officers to provide information to homeless people about sleeping alternatives, homeless and mental health services, and homeless shelters.

“It’s unfair and dangerous for neighbors, families and children that are near these sensitive areas. Our measure, along with Governor Newsom’s Care Court, will hopefully work together to help end the public camping in these areas, while also compassionately assisting  the homeless with getting treatment for their  mental and health needs and finding a more suitable space to stay.”  He added that he is not seeking to criminalize homelessness. “Every Californian deserves a path off the street, and our bill will help make that happen.”

East County News Service

October 10, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) - Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) announced the formation of the Congressional Rodeo Caucus, which he will chair alongside his bipartisan colleagues Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) and Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16).

By Miriam Raftery, based on interview by Henri Migala

October 6, 2022 (La Mesa) – In an interview with East County Magazine’s Henri Migala originally aired on KNSJ radio, La Mesa City Council candidate Mejgan Afshan shared her experience as a civil rights leader and her goals to build a more equitable La Mesa if elected. She is one of four candidates running (a fifth, Kathleen Brand, has dropped out); ECM will be publishing interviews with all of the candidates over the next several days.

Update Nov. 15, 2022:  A federal appeals court has blocked the student loan forgiveness plan.  The Biden Administration is likely to appeal the decision.

By Miriam Raftery

October 7, 2022 (San Diego) – Congressman Darrell Issa has been sharply critical of President Joe Biden for cancelling a small percentage (10-20%) of student loan debts. But Greene Properties in Vista, for which Issa is listed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), pocketed $151,313 in federal loan forgiveness on a Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The company’s website had since gone dark, offline for at least the past several weeks.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Assemblymember and medical doctor Akilah Weber, author of AB 2343

October 6, 2022 (San Diego) – Ignoring recommendations of the State Auditor, Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed Assembly Bill 2343, the Saving Lives in Custody Act. The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. of San Diego in respond to the disturbingly high rate of deaths occurring in San Diego County’s jails.

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

Photo:  Ammar Campa-Najjar with Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas at a Chula Vista Police Foundation event in September. Campaign photo

October 6, 2022 (San Diego) - The San Diego Republican Party claimed last week that Chula Vista mayoral candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar doesn’t live in the South Bay city, an accusation he described as “desperate” politics.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 5, 2022 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego released its Annual Report Tuesday calling on San Diegans to “Connect With Us” to build “a just, sustainable and resilient future.”

By Miriam Raftery

October 4, 2022 (La Mesa) – Candidates for La Mesa Mayor and City Council will participate in a forum at the La Mesa United Methodist Church this Wednesday, October 5 at 7 p.m. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 4, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- Amy Reichert is running for the 4^th Supervisorial District seat currently held by board chairman Nathan Fletcher. She is a licensed investigator and pastor who founded Reopen San Diego, a nonprofit that fought against shutdowns of schools and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as vaccine mandates. She’s married with two sons. and calls herself a “Mom on a mission.”

Her top issues include homelessness, cost of living, and increased crime. View her full interview with East County Magazine, originally aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the image on the left, or hear the audio at the audio link, or scroll down to read highlights.

Supervisors Joel Anderson and Vice Chair Nora Vargas brought forward Tuesday’s board action

Photo:  in anticipation of Tuesday’s vote, Supervisor Anderson (left, at podium) and Vice Chair Vargas (right) hosted a press conference along with Deborah Norwood Ruane (center-right), founder of the Middlemarch Fund, Lori Holt Pfeiler (center), CEO of Building Industry Association, and Angeli Calinog Hoyos (center-left), Public Affairs Manager at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

October 1, 2022 (San Diego) - At the Tuesday, September 27^th meeting, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a board letter, put forth by County Supervisor Joel Anderson (District 2) and Vice Chair Nora Vargas (District 1), that will direct County staff to develop a pilot workforce housing program.