“I disagree with all of these assertions.” -- UC President Janet Napolitano

By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2017 (Sacramento) – A report by California’s state auditor claims that the University of California hid $175 million in secret reserves while it raised administrative spending by 28 percent.  The hidden reserves were not disclosed to the board or regents over the past several years, meaning regents were voting to hike tuitions without knowing about significant funds that might have alleviated the need to force students to pay more.

By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2017 (La Mesa) – Was the 2016 presidential election hijacked by Russian hackers?  San Diego investigative reporter John Mattes believes so. The award-winning journalists’ disturbing findings have been published on numerous news sites. On Wednesday, May 3^rd, he’ll be presenting his evidence at a meeting of the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club at 7 p.m. in the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa.

By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – A body found in Otay Valley Regional Park in Chula Vista has been identified as Kimberly Arteaga, Lieutenant Kenneth Nelson with the San Diego Sheriff’s homicide detail announced today.

Overall crime rate still the second lowest in 37 years

Source: SANDAG

April 24, 2017 (San Diego) -- The number of homicides, aggravated assaults, and motor vehicle thefts in the San Diego region went up in 2016, compared to 2015, while the number of rapes, robberies, burglaries, and larcenies went down, according to the annual crime report released by the SANDAG Criminal Justice Division.

East County News Service

April 24, 2017 (Ramona) – State Route 67 between Ramona and Lakeside is one of the most accident-prone stretches of highway in San Diego County. 

Caltrans is planning to install flexible posts between Willow Road in Lakeside and Shady Oaks in Ramona at a cost of $7.14 million in hopes of preventing head-on collisions.

By Miriam Raftery

Chart courtesy of NASA: Temperature data from four international science institutions all show rapid warming in past few decades-- and the last decade has been the warmest on record.

April 24, 2017 (Santee) – Santee’s City Council took a step toward establishing a “Sustainable Santee” climate action plan, but only under pressure from the state to do so. 

By a 4-1 vote on April 12, with Mayor John Minto opposed, the Council voted to hire LSA Associates to complete the city’s climate action plan and an environmental impact report, as required by California law. Council authorized paying up to $133,000 to the consulting company.

East County News Service

April 24, 2017 (El Cajon) – In a month when most Americans just paid their income taxes, the owner of Cunningham’s Tax Service in El Cajon has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for preparing phony tax returns. 

Story and photos by Chris Stone

Reprinted from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association.

April 23, 2017 (San Diego) - Ralph Keeling and Lynn Talley of Scripps Institution of Oceanography aren’t household names. But they lent their scientific weight Saturday to an event that attracted a reported 15,000 people downtown.

SDSU leads the country with a .359 average this season

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

April 23, 2017 (Boise) - The San Diego State softball team scored 10 runs over the first four innings and never looked back in a 10-6 win Sunday afternoon at Boise State. The victory gave the Aztecs (25-15, 9-6 MW) the series over the Broncos (25-17, 7-11 MW).

By Miriam Raftery

“I will argue that my minority and low income citizens have just as much right to be fairly represented as San Diego and Chula Vista.”—Lemon Grove Councilman Jerry Jones

April 23, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Assembly Bill 805  passed the Assembly Local Government Committee on Wednesday by a 5-4 vote.  The measure claims to  reform SANDAG,  but in fact gives virtually all power to the cities of San Diego and Chula Vista, leaving East County cities and other communities in our county powerless to add agenda items to benefit other cities or block objectionable measures at SANDAG, the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District.

Now East County cities are fighting back.   On Tuesday, La Mesa’s City Council will consider a proposal from Council members Bill Baber and Kristine Alessio to hire a legislative lobbyist to advocate on La Mesa’s behalf against AB 805, which was authored by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), according to the agenda.

El Cajon’s City Council has voted to oppose AB 805, as did Lemon Grove and La Mesa.  East County Assemblyman Randy Voepel, former Mayor of Santee, voted against the measure in committee.

By Miriam Raftery

April 23, 2017 (La Mesa) – At the Helix Water Board meeting on Wednesday, the board will discuss funding for Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa, at the request of director Mark Gracyk.  For the past five years, Helix has contributed 35 percent of the park’s operation and maintenance costs. Last year, that amounted to $158,629 donated by Helix.

East County News Service

April 22, 2017 (Campo-Lake Morena) – The Campo Lake Morena Planning Group meets Monday, April 24^th at 7 p.m. at the Mountain Empire Community Center (976 Seridan Rd., Campo).   

The agenda includes a discussion about low-flying military helicopters over communities, a proposed change in state law regarding parks funding, and a review of applicants for a board vacancy.  Applications are still being accepted. 

Scroll down to view full agenda.

By Miriam Raftery

Hear our complete interview by clicking the audio link,  and scroll down for highlights

April 22, 2017 (Ramona) – In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine aired on KNSJ Radio April 3^rd,  Pierre “Pete” Beauregard talked about his candidacy challenging Republican Duncan Hunter in the 50th Congressional district.

“My motto is `country over politics,’” says Beauregard, a Ramona rancher,  and formerMarine Corp medic who later helped start a medical clinic to help low-income people.  He’s worked as a cowboy, enjoys hunting and fishing,  and  is  ex-rodeo bull rider who believes  he’s tough enough to take on Hunter and stand up against Washington lobbyists if elected.  ““Once you ride a 2,000 pound bull,” he reflects, “Why in the hell should I be afraid of you?”

Story and photo by Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2017 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon Library, located at 201 E. Douglas Avenue in El Cajon, will host its first Monarch Butterfly Festival, in partnership with San Diego Master Gardeners and the Water Conservation Garden organization, on Saturday, May 13, 2017, from 1 – 4 pm.   Beautiful orange and black monarch butterflies are both year-round San Diego residents and winter migration visitors.  Their numbers have greatly declined over the years and festival visitors can learn about them and how to help increase their numbers by planting a monarch butterfly garden.  Having a butterfly garden is a popular and fun family activity.  Even if you don’t have room for a garden, you can plant milkweed in pots.