January 30, 2012 (Santee) -- The Board of Directors of Padre Dam Municipal Water District appointed officers for 2012. The Board unanimously reappointed Bill Pommering as president, Augie Caires as vice president, and Doug Wilson as treasurer. Committee members were also appointed for 2012.

D.A. declines to prosecute felony conspiracy charge for protest at Mayor’s speech, following public pressure

By Miriam Raftery

January 29, 2012 (La Mesa) – First Amendment advocates expressed shock when San Diego Police arrested La Mesa resident Mike Garcia and three others on felony conspiracy charges--a tactic customarily reserved for grave offenses such as organized crime activities and drug trafficking.

Their purported crime? Interrupting Mayor Sanders’ state of the city speech with a brief “Mic-Check” protest over a free speech issue. 

January 29,2012 (San Diego’s East County) – If you’re driving in East County, please be aware of the following hazardous situations:

• A medical helicopter is en route to 1840 Buckman Springs Road in Cameron Corners, where a rollover accident has resulted in major injuries. The accident involves a van that went off the roadway near a fire station. The accident was reported at 11:08 a.m.
  
• A bicyclist, 17, has been hit head-on by a vehicle on Japatul Road at Hidden Glen. CHP is closing the roadway, CHP reported at 10:47 a.m. The victim was reportedly conscious and breathing.
  
• High wind warnings have been issued for I-8 from Alpine to the County line and CHP advises the area is unsafe for high-profile vehicles. A wind warning has also been issued in the Julian/mountain areas.
  
• In Alpine, Arnold remains closed at South Grade due to repairs from a water main break.

 
January 28, 2012 (La Mesa) -- Helix Water District Board President DeAna Verbeke has announced that Director of Engineering Carlos Lugo has been selected as the new general manager of the Helix Water District.

Feb. 29 meeting will allow public testimony on Red Tape Reduction Task Force recommendations, including developers’ proposal to eliminate community planning groups and Resource Protection Ordinance

By Miriam Raftery

January 27, 2012 (San Diego)—A lawsuit filed by Californians Aware has succeeded in persuading the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to vacate votes that approved key changes made by a developer-stacked Red Tape Reduction Task Force without public input. The lawsuit alleged that the Board violated the Brown Act by voting on items not listed as action items on the agenda.  Now, the County has announced it will hold a public hearing on February 29. 

President calls for trade reforms to bring jobs back to U.S., tax fairness and more

By Mia Myklebust and Miriam Raftery

January 26, 2012 (San Diego)—The State of the Union address traditionally reviews the condition of our nation and previews the President’s legislative plan for the future. This year, Barack Obama’s speech had added importance as his last State of the Union address before the 2012 election.  The incumbent presidents challenges were to address successes of his current term and his long-term goals for a potential five more years.    

The President provided evidence that economic recovery is underway. He touted his administration’s success in combating terrorism, eliminating Osama bin Ladin, ending the Iraq War and improving America’s relationships overseas. In addition, he laid out ambitious proposals for “an America built to last.”  He issued repeated calls to action, among them:

•   Trade reforms and tax credits for businesses that bring jobs back to America
•   Tax “fairness” to help middle class Americans
•   Invest savings from ending the Iraq war into reducing the deficit and creating jobs
•  Creation of a Veterans Jobs Corps
•  Prevent high school drop-outs and provide incentives to stop tuition hikes
•  End oil subsidies, increase U.S. oil production, and support clean energy  technologies
  

Council also approves program to promote composting by local gardeners

January 24, 2012 (La Mesa)—Gearing up for the city’s year-long centennial celebration, 2012 promises to be “a very busy, festive and memorable year,” said La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid during tonight’s State of the City address.

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Community Planning Group (ACPG) is holding a series of public hearings on proposed land use changes that could impact about four percent (3,000 acres) of all lands in the APCG planning area.  The properties are among some 77,000 acres countywide of privately owned lands within Cleveland National Forest. 

January 25, 2012 (San Carlos)—A teen driver with four passengers in a Dodge Charger struck a Dodge SUV carry a family with three young children last night on Badin Drive near Jackson Drive. The crash, which occurred around 8:30 p.m., injured eight people.

January 24, 2012 (San Diego) – A Sig Alert has been issued for Highway 94 west near Federal Blvd. due to a rollover accident. At least one victim is reportedly trapped, according to the CHP website. Two lanes are blocked and traffic is impacted in both directions.

Is duck-hunting training for dogs a wise use of public land and water, or just plain daffy?

By Miriam Raftery

January 23, 2012 (Jamul) – Last week, ECM reported on controversy surrounding sporting groups’ plans to create the Honey Springs Sporting Dog Training Facility  in the Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Area, a state-owned preserve.  Neighbors were shocked to learn that dog training ponds would be filled with 2.4 million gallons of groundwater a year.  So was the local planning group and the area’s rural fire department, which relies on the same water supply to fight fires.

Now state and county officials have both confirmed that groundwater will be the key factor in determining whether or not the project moves forward.

January 23, 2012 (Mount Laguna)--The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Mount Laguna Recreation Area water system located on Sunrise Highway, Mt. Laguna, CA 91948 effective immediately.

The drinking water system has tested present for total coliform bacteria and absent for E.coli.

January 22, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is offering absolutely free tax preparation and e-filing services in East County. Volunteers will staff these locations from February 1, to April 17, 2012.

Supervisors accused of approving items not on agenda regarding cutting red tape for development projects

By Terry Francke, General Counsel, Californians Aware

January 20, 2012 (San Diego)--Californians Aware has filed suit against the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, challenging its decision at a meeting last month as a violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law for local government.

The petition, filed today in San Diego County Superior Court, cites the Board’s immediate approval of a slate of recommendations from an advisory committee on cutting red tape in development approvals.