January 27, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for Saturday due to high winds and warm, dry weather that will create “explosive fire growth potential.”

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. 

By Miriam Raftery and Mia Myklebust

January 26, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) - President Barack Obama laid out some ambitious new legislative plans in Tuesday night’s State of the Union speech. Here’s a bipartisan sampling of reactions from local business and community leaders, as well as voters.

Scott Alevy, president and chief executive officer of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, voiced support for some of the president's economic proposals, while voicing skepticism over other points in the speech. “Anything that brings jobs to Americans, be it jobs coming back from another company or creating jobs, is good,” said Alevy. “As a veteran myself, I love the idea of employing the veterans coming back with a Jobs Corps.”

Creations will be displayed at Parkway Plaza and auctioned; entry deadline extended to Feb. 15

 
January 26, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media.  This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:   

•  San Miguel Fire Agency may contract out its mission (San Diego U-T) 
• Judge strikes down political fundraising limits in San Diego (LA Times)
• Ex-Helix QB Smith one win away from Superbowl (UT San Diego)
• Citing costs, poor service, charters ditch district special ed
• Special Report: La Mesa Policing 2012—Can the robbery wave be stopped? (La Mesa Today) 
• Fair Trade La Mesa organizers hold monthly events (La Mesa Today)
• Doug Manchester, cheerleader in chief (Voice of San Diego)
• How to dodge lobbyist regulations, the expensive way (CityBeat) 

• Federal judge blocks California cuts to in-home care program (Sacramento Bee)
• Plan would eliminate tuition to UC’s benefit (San Francisco Chronicle 
• Protesters briefly trap regents inside building at UC Riverside (LA Times blog)
• Cal-State caps pay for university presidents (Los Angeles Times) 

January 26, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:  

• State of the Union: Obama calls for tax fairness (BBC)
• Starbucks pro-gun policy prompts gun victims’ advocate group to announce nationwide boycott on Valentine’s Day
• Army says suicides down, but violent crimes up (MSNBC)
• Senate Dems make Mitt Romney the poster boy for tax reform (The Hill)
• Wisconsin recall petition of Gov. Walker gets 1 million signatures (Washington Post)

• South Carolina primary: Newt Gingrich defeats Mitt Romney (ABC)
• Obama launches swing state tour (CNN)
• Santorum hails delayed Iowa win as huge upset (CNN)
• Bain Capital owns Clear Channel:
• Romney parks millions in Cayman Islands offshore tax haven (ABC News)
• Ex-wife claims Gingrich sought open marriage, Gingrich says allegation false (Fox News)
• Perry drops out, endorses Gingrich (CNN)

• Navy Seal raid frees Somali hostages (BBC)
• Israel rattled as hackers hit bourse, banks, El Al (Reuters)
• The secret document that transformed China (NPR)
• Recent attacks by radical Islamist sect in Nigeria (San Diego U-T)
• Afghan asylum bids hit 10-year high (San Diego U-T)

• Blind can see again: First patients seen to improve with stem cell tissues (Reuters)

Take our poll: Should the GUHSD have notified all residents by mail before changing school district boundaries? 

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – At a Grossmont Union High School District board of trustees meeting on October 13, trustee Priscilla Schreiber asked Superintendent Ralf Swenson how workshops on proposed district boundary changes would be publicized. Swenson replied, “We are sending out mailers, putting things on websites, and we are working with our feeder districts to get the word out through their schools…”

But no mailers were ever sent to district residents. Nor did feeder schools (middle and elementary) notify parents of future high school students. Yet the district approved boundary changes November 10 that will affect thousands of students. Now a clamor has arisen among parents who had no idea such changes were in the works—and want the action reversed.

January 25, 2012 (San Diego)—Terence Jarvis and David White have been charged with a series of crimes that occurred during a 12-hour period on December 27 and 28, including the robbery and attempted murder of 18-year-old Grant Richman in the College West neighborhood.

 
January 24, 2012 (Lakeside) -- What could be more beautiful than a mid-winter’s sunrise over an East County mountainside? 

Photographer Billy Ortiz shot these stunning images while hiking in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley, along El Capitan, over the Lunar New Year, marking an idyllic start to this Year of the Dragon.

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.

February 3 protest planned at Congressman’s El Cajon office

January 25, 2012 (Ramona)—Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows. On February 3rd, members of the liberal Ramona Forum will join forces with conservative members of the TEA party to demand the resignation of Congressman Duncan Hunter. The protest will be held at Rep. Hunter’s office, 1870 Cordell Street in El Cajon, from 1 to 4 p.m.

 
Group also announces release of new album, “A Different Kind of Truth” 

Republicans draw fire for criticizing speech—before it was written or delivered

January 22, 2012 (Sacramento ) – Governor Jerry Brown laid out his vision for restoring California’s reputation as a leader in innovation, job creation and renewable energy in his State of the State speech last week.

January 22, 2012 (La Mesa)—Do you have the “write stuff to be a novelist or nonfiction writer?” Want to learn about the literary world or meet local authors? From romance writing to knights and chivalry, from political figures to an e-book publishing expert, you’ll find it all at the first annual La Mesa Readers and Writers Festival.