By Miriam Raftery

September 12, 2019 (El Cajon) – Ray Lutz, founder of the nonprofit watchdog group Citizens Oversight in El Cajon, announced today that he has formed an exploratory committee for a possible run for the 53^rd Congressional district seat.  Congresswoman Susan Davis announced last week that she will not be seeking reelection.

Lutz, a Democrat, lives in the 53^rd district since redistricting in 2010, though he previously ran against Rep. Duncan Hunter back in 2008.

Lutz and the organization he founded have been instrumental in attaining several landmark actions in our region ranging from a lawsuit that won $775 million for local ratepayers to a succesful fight that helped save East County's peforming arts center,as well as leading efforts to improve safety of  nuclear waste storage and battling to keep Blackwater out of the backcountry.

September 12, 2019 (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:

LOCAL

• A divided County Board of Supervisors moves ahead on community choice energy (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Plea deal reached in San Diego County sheriff's deputy sexual misconduct case (10 News)
• More deaths associated with mysterious vaping illness; 11 cases reported in San Diego County (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Getting hooked on vaping (Ramona Sentinel)
• SANDAG Board OKs Formula For New Homebuilding (KPBS)

STATE

• California rewrites the laws of employment (Los Angeles Times)
• Coast guard issues warning after California boat fire: limit cell phone charging (USA Today)
• Trump pushing for major crackdown on homeless camps in California, with aides discussing moving residents to government-backed facilities (Washington Post)
• California would allow college athletes to profit under bill headed to Newsom (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Uber: We’ll fight in court to keep drivers as independent contractors (San Francisco Chronicle)
•  California is first state to ban fur trapping (HuffPost)
• Lions, tigers and bears no more: California lawmakers ban exotic animals at circuses (Los Angeles Times)
• Boat where 34 died was a ‘fire trap’ despite passing inspections, experts say. It’s far from alone (Los Angeles Times)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

September 12, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Pentagon pulls funds for military schools, daycare to pay for Trump’s border wall (MSN)
• Elizabeth Warren proposes major expansion of Social Security (CNN)
• Supreme Court allows broad enforcement of asylum limits (10 News/AP)
• Trump cancels secret meeting with Taliban leaders, Afghan president after attack (The Hill)
• Trump fires John Bolton (CNN)
• Impeachment inquiry ramps up as Judiciary panel adopts procedural guidelines (NBC)
• Legal Challenge Highlights Battle Between Vintners and Pot Farmers (NBC7)
• To shield Trump from embarrassment, GOP prepares to scrap primaries (MSNBC)
• Billionaire who wants to impeach Trump makes the October presidential debate stage (Los Angeles Times)
• Top NOAA official warned staff against contradicting Trump (Washington Post)

WORLD

• Tentative list of the missing in Bahamas has 2,500 names (USA Today)
• The Bahamas' death toll is rising as 70,000 residents left homeless by Hurricane Dorian seek food and shelter  (CNN)
• Summer heat wave killed nearly 1,500 people in France (Newsy)
• Iran says it’s no longer abiding by uranium enrichment limits (Bloomberg)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

East County News Service

September 11, 2019 (El Cajon) -- Since 1999, The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College has been at the forefront of saving water and other natural resources. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the Garden is hosting a benefit concert on Saturday, November 16th. 

East County News Service

September 11, 2019 (Escondido) -- The Russian Ballet Theatre brings a new production of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake to Escondido and San Diego on Sept. 19 and 20. Tickets for the performances are on sale now at www.russianballettheatre.com.

This event has been cancelled due to not enough RSVPs to meet the restaurant's minimum.  Refunds will be issued to those who purchased tickets. 

September 9, 2019 (El Cajon) -- Our next East County Dining Club event is a Mideast feast at Happy Times Mediterranean Restaurant (2441 Jamacha Rd., El Cajon in the Rancho San Diego area) on Thursday, September 26 at 6:30 p.m.

Come savor the flavors of Iraq with authentic foods and a special musical performance by Fouad Sawa and the Peace Band performing on authentic Middle Eastern instruments. Meet the media and make new friends, plus we'll have opportunities win win prizes.

This restaurant requires us to RSVP no later than Sept. 17 - no exceptions  Early reservations are strongly recommended!

Motion to amend voted down 3/2, final resolution passes unanimously

By Jonathan Goetz

September 11, 2019 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa is one step closer to competing with SDG&E on electricity acquisition, after approving the first reading of a resolution authorizing specifics on a joint power agreement, or JPA, with the cities of San Diego, Chula Vista, Encinitas and Imperial Beach at its September 10 meeting. It still requires a second reading in La Mesa and ratification in the other cities. The specifics can be found here. https://www.cityoflamesa.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/4095?fileID=8858

“This is the most significant labor trafficking prosecution in this district in many years.” – Robert Brewer, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of California in San Diego (photo, left)

By Miriam Raftery

IVM Indictment - Click HERE

September 11, 2019 (San Diego) --  A dozen leaders of Imperial Valley Ministries, including the former pastor, are charged with subjecting dozens of mostly homeless people to forced labor, an indictment unsealed today reveals. Victims in San Diego and Imperial Counties were coerced to surrender welfare benefits and compelled to panhandle up to nine hours a day, six days a week, for the financial benefit of the church leaders, prosecutors allege.

Source:  City of La Mesa

September 11, 2019 (La Mesa) - The City of La Mesa receives approximately $400,000 annually from the federal government through the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) to fund housing, community development, and infrastructure projects. The city would like your input to help determine housing and community needs in the community for future funding.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  A trio of hungry ticks, waiting for a meal to walk by.

Source: County News Service

September 9, 2019 (San Diego) -- The County Board of Supervisors will hold its next 12 board meetings at the County Operations Center in Kearny Mesa starting September 10th while the downtown chamber undergoes renovation. 

By Miriam Raftery

September 9, 2019 (Washington D.C.) -- With 450 cases of severe lung illness and five deaths tied to vaping reported nationwide, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control are advising everyone to avoid all vaping (e-cigarettes)– especially young people and pregnant women. The advisory includes all vaping including nicotine, marijuana, and other substances.

By Miriam Raftery

September 6, 2019 (Ramona) --- After Virulent Newcastle Disease (VND) was detected in Ramona last week and the area placed under a regional quarantine, the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture has announced that it will hold a town hall at the Ramona branch library on Monday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. 

Bird owners are invited to come learn more about the disease, how to proptect your birds, methods to clean your property,  status of the outbreak, and what to expect in recovery.