Closed-door meeting with county fire officials reported by residents violated Brown Act, legal experts advise ECM

By Nadin Abbott and Miriam Raftery

March 19, 2013 (Julian)—At a March 14 meeting of the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire District Board  to discuss the possibility of joining the County Fire Authority and dissolving the community’s volunteer fire district due to financial shortfalls in the emergency medical services side of the ledger, Fire Captain James Stowers made a surprise announcement.

Public meeting and vote set for March 21 on 3 local power plants, though judge denies public entry to March 20 with energy industry representatives and state regulators

By Miriam Raftery

March 18, 2013 (San Diego)— Superior Court Judge  Timothy Taylor today denied an injunction sought by Masada Disenhouse, who had asked the court to halt the California Public Utilities Commission from holding a closed-door, invitation-only meeting with energy industry stakeholders at the Scripps Seaside Forum in San Diego on Wednesday, March 20.

March 18, 2013 (Sacramento) –  Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. has proclaimed Women Veterans History Week in California, March 18-24, 2013 to honor their courage and sacrifice in defense of our nation.

“Currently, women make up 14% of the active duty U.S. Armed Forces and 18% of the Guard and Reserves.  Women also make up 8 percent of the total U.S. veterans population and 10 percent of the veterans population in California,” said Peter J. Gravett, CalVet Secretary.  “Nationally and statewide, the women veteran population will continue to grow. Therefore, it is imperative that we remember to recognize and honor their service and contributions, as they often face unique challenges when transitioning out of the military and back into our communities.”

March 18, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Shirley Frantum, 51, of Upland was riding her Harley Davidson east on Highway 78 on March 16 when she entered a curve east of San Felipe Road. She was struck by a Hyundai Sonata driven by Matthew Hon, 20, from Murrieta.

“According to witness statements, the Hyundai and the motorcycle entered the curve at approximately the same time.  The driver of the motorcycle was traveling on the double yellow lines," said Officer Brian Pennings with the California Highway Patrol. “ The Hyundai was driving close to the yellow lines, but still within the westbound lane.”

Terry Francke

March 20, 2013 (San Diego) – The Society of Professional Journalists will honor Terry Francke of Californians Aware (CalAware) with SPJ’s Sunshine Award for his efforts over many years. The  award will be presented on March 27 at 6:30 at the 501 West Broadway office of Sheppard Mullin on the buildings 19th floor.

Francke, currently general counsel for Californians Aware, has a 31-year history of helping journalists, citizens and public officials understand and use their First Amendment and open government rights.

March 17, 2013 (San Diego) -- On March 11,  San Diego’s City Council unanimously approved funding for a new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. The CAD system is used for dispatching emergency 9-1-1 calls and is of critical importance to emergency response times. In an emergency, seconds can make every difference, including that of a life or death situation. The current software was originally written in the mid-1970s and the existing CAD system was installed in 1991.  The council’s action approved $6.9 million in one- time revenue toward the long overdue CAD system replacement.

The new CAD system will improve response times and modernize the tools available for the efficient dispatching of 9-1-1 calls. By committing the necessary funding to upgrade the CAD system, we increase public safety for all San Diegans and give our first responders the tools necessary to serve our residents. It is estimated that the CAD system replacement will take three to five years, depending on the scope of work.

March 17, 2013 (San Diego) – A 50-year-old man was struck and killed while attempting to cross Interstate 15 north of the Landis Street overcrossing near University at 6:55 p.m Wednesday night. 

According to the CHP,  the victim was hit by a Mercedes traveling 50 to 60 mph in the number one lane.  The driver was not injured. The victim’s name has not yet been released, pending notification of  family.  The collision remains under investigation.

If you have information on this accident, call Officer Jake Sanchez at the San Diego CHP office at (619) 220-5492.

March 16, 2013 (San Diego)--Mayor Bob Filner has launched the City’s first ever Open Government web pages. The newly created web pages are another step by Mayor Filner to provide easier access to documents the public has a right to and need to know.

“The public has a right to know what their government is doing, and why,” said Mayor Filner. “This information will help make it easier for the public to participate and find documents.”

By Janis Mork

January 30, 2013 (El Cajon) Updated March 15, 2013- Last week, Troy McKinney, Fresh Fund coordinator from the International Rescue committee (IRC), participated in an exclusive interview with East County Magazine. He gave more details of the future farmers’ market that will be set up on the Prescott Promenade in downtown El Cajon each Thursday starting March 21.

Like the IRC’s farmer’s market started four years ago in City Heights, the El Cajon farmer’s market will help both local refugees and the broader community.

March 14, 2013 (San Diego)--Three additional deaths were reported for this flu season, including the first child’s death, the County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) announced yesterday.

A 10-month old child who had underlying health conditions died in February and was referred to the medical examiner to determine the cause of death. In past flu seasons, San Diego has reported zero or one pediatric death each year due to influenza. Last year there was one pediatric death.  The total number of overall deaths for this flu season is 51.

By Nadin Abbott

March 13, 2013 (Potrero)—Community members in Potrero are rallying to raise funds to help pay for the medical expenses of Gerry Fowler, who was critically injured on Sunday March 10 when he fell into the family's well, as ECM reported. Fowler, an independent truck driver, does not have medical insurance. 

Walena Arnold, owner of the Potrero General Store told ECM that the community is very close knit and that a fund has been created to help defray the medical costs.  Blood donations are also needed and can be made in Gerry Fowler’s name at the San Diego Blood Bank.

By Nadin Abbott, photos Tom Abbott

March 11, 2013 (Potrero)— Gerry Fowler, 43, and his father were working on the well they rely on for water yesterday when planks of wood used for support gave way. Fowler’s father was able to keep himself from falling, but  Fowler fell 35 feet to the bottom of the well.

An emergency call was placed to 911, which led to mobilization of multiple fire agencies, as well as Mercy Air and American Medical Response.  The patient lapsed into unconsciousness during the ordeal and was listed in critical condition as of 11 p.m.

March 12, 2013 (Santee) – Santee’s City Council on Wednesday will weigh actions aimed at reducing  activities by the homeless including panhandling, overtaking public parks, riverbed camping and “scavenging” (including taking items from recycling bins). 

The City of Santee has no shelter for the homeless.  The proposals to discourage homeless people from taking up residency in Santee public areas focuses not on providing services to help the homeless, however, but rather emphasizes punitive actions such as banning cigarettes in public parks and alcohol on weekdays, prohibiting single-sale sizes of alcoholic beverages at new businesses, and prohibiting aggressive conduct by panhandlers.

March 11, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – A 4.7 earthquake  at 9:56 a.m. rattle San Diego and Imperial Counties.   The temblor was located 64 miles east of San Diego, 13 miles east-southeast of Anza and 23 miles south of Palm Springs. The U.S. Geological Survey has downgraded the strength of the quake, which was earlier estimated at 5.2.

By Roy L Hales

Reprinted with permission from San Diego Loves Green; original published at http://www.sandiegolovesgreen.com/articles/improving-californias-water-supply/

March 10, 2012 (San Diego)--A recent Sierra Club news release states, “For more than two million Californians, access to clean drinking water is a daily struggle. This year, a number of legislators are taking the lead to address this growing problem. According to a study conducted by the California Water Resources Control Board, 680 communities in California rely on contaminated water sources and roughly a third does not have necessary filtering systems in place to make sure that the water that comes out of their faucet is safe to drink.”