Foreclosures down 41% in California and 19% nationwide

By Kurt Wannebo

January 5, 2013 (San Diego)--The year 2012 has become the critical turning point in this downward market that began many years ago. Analysts will say that the real estate market started its downward trend in 2008, however, through my work I was able to see indicators and pockets of areas starting to decline as early as 2006. 

By Miriam Raftery

January 5, 2013 (San Diego)—Assembly Speaker John Perez has announced committee assignments for the new term. San Diego’s delegation will be well represented on several key committees.  San Diego County members will control 3 of 7 votes on Housing and Community Development, with two or more members on several other key committees, notably education  and the budget committee. Our region lacks representation on several committees however, such as transportation, revenue and taxation, and natural resources, where San Diego doesn’t have a single member.  Below are the assignments of our region’s members.

January 5, 2013 (Santee) -- An 18-year-old Santee woman says she is lucky to be alive after a gas fireplace she was trying to light exploded into flames, burning her face, hair and arm.  Schannon Burr, who is now recuperatoring at home, spoke with ECM 10 News to share details of how the accident happened, plus get tips on how to avoid having a similar situation occur in your home.  For details see: http://www.10news.com/news/santee-woman-burned-while-lighting-familys-ga...

January 5, 2013 (La Mesa) – La Mesa residents Robert Mckany, 36, and Richard White, 57, have been arrested as part of an international effort to break up child pornography rings and rescue young victims from predators.

Arrests of 245 suspects in 35 states have been made. In addition, 123 victims were identified and 44 have been rescued from their abusers. 

By Miriam Raftery

January 4, 2013 (El Cajon) – At its meeting on Tuesday, January 8 at 3 p.m., El Cajon’s City Council will consider a resolution to condemn the actions of Jillian Hanson-Cox in embezzling at least $3.5 million from her former employer, Century Design.

In addition, Council will consider a proposal to buy surplus property from Cal-Trans for $299,500 and weigh a recommendation to pay $662,000 in a promissory note to act as the successor agency to the former El Cajon Redevelopment Agency. 

Council’s agenda will also include an ordinance to provide more flexibility for signage downtown and an ordinance to revise the zoning code. In addition, Council will hear an appeal of a planning commission decision to deny a permit for alcohol sales to the Magnolia Family Market at 112 East Madison Avenue.

January 4, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Youth Symphony is a free, after school advanced music program for young musicians ages 6 to 25. No tuition and/or fees are required to participate. Ongoing auditions are now being held  in January and February for the Spring 2013 Concert Season. All sections have open positions.

Pre-Orchestra Division is for the string players ages 6 to 12. Concert Band is for the winds and percussions ages 9 to 18. Symphony Orchestra (all instruments except saxophone and bass clarinet) is for ages 10 to 25.

January 4, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- If you're not yet receiving our free weekly e-newsletter with top news and events each week, take a sneak preview by clicking here.  For a free subscription to our weekly newsletter and/or wildfire and emergency alerts, click here. 

Community must match donations by Jan. 31 to reach $18,000 total

Activist Ball January 19 aims to raise remaining funds; donors also welcome -- East County Magazine Radio show can launch once station is on the air

January 3, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) – KNSJ Radio (89.1 FM), Network for Social Justice, moves closer to going live on the airways across East County and much of San Diego with nonprofit community radio.   The station already has FCC approval for a station to broadcast out of Descanso.  Now, an angel donor has come forward to pledge $9,000--half of the $18,000 still needed to build a transmitter---under condition that the community match that with $9,000 by the end of January.

On January 19 at 7 p.m., the Activist Ball in the World Beat Center at Balboa Park will be held to raise money for the station’s transmitter.  Join ECM's VIP table for $20; RSVP to editor@eastcountymagazine.org. Individual tickets cost $19 in advance or $25 at the door and include appetizers, a drink, live music and dancing. Additional food available for purchase. There will also be a silent auction and prize drawings.  For general reservations call 619-283-1100 or visit http://knsj.org/

By Miriam Raftery

January 1, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)- Last week we posted our most-read stories of the year—those that drew the most readers, and newsmakers of the year.   Now we present the year’s top stories/issues of most significance to our region--issues with major impact, as well as milestones for our communitie, in the view of our editorial staff. Some are individual articles, others ran a series.

In case you missed these, be sure to scroll down and click the "read more" button to see the stories we think everyone should read--including some hot topics that will continue to be debated in 2013 as major decisions impacting East County remain on the horizon.

Impacts will affect drivers, gun owners, renters, homeowners, immigrants, employers, and many more

January 1, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Starting today, your boss can’t ask for your Facebook password or username, thanks to AB 1944. Neither can universities, due to SB 1349.

Duke Cunningham won’t be able to run for office again under AB 2410, which bans those convicted of a felony involving bribes, embezzlement of public funds, perjury or offense of the public trust from becoming a candidate for any elective office in California.

These are just some of the new laws that take effect January 1, 2013.  Scroll down to read more--and how these legislative changes may impact you, your family, your workplace or your school.

January 3, 2013 (San Diego)-- Hurricane Sandy slammed into the East Coast 66 days ago, but the House Republican leadership has thus far refused to bring up a measure to provide relief to survivors. Among the staunchest defenders of that decision is San Diego Republican Congressman Darrell Issa. In a Fox News interview, Issa claimed the measure was loaded with pork. But now Issa has drawn scathing criticism from fellow Republican Congressmen Peter King and Michael Grimms of New York, areas hit hard by the storm.

King said, "Darrell Issa is 1,000 percent wrong. There is absolutely no pork in the bill." He noted that less than one percent of the Senate bill formerly included funds for Alaska, which were removed from the House version.  King added, “I wish Darrell Issa had learned that and looked into that before he went public and said that my constituents should not get their homes rebuilt, should not have the waste management plants rebuilt, that Governor Christie should not be given the opportunity to rebuild New Jersey and Governor Cuomo in New York."

Gas-powered plant is pitched to provide backup for non-windy days at Ocotillo wind project—also owned by Carlyle

By Miriam Raftery

January 2, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) –Cogentrix has sold a majority of its North American assets, including Quail Brush GENCO (applicant for the Quail Brush power plant near Mission Trails) to subsidiaries of Carlyle Entities, managed by the Carlyle Group.   View letter to  California Energy Commission with details.   

Cogentrix had argued that the Quail Brush gas-fired “peaker” power plant was necessary to meet energy needs when there is now enough wind or sunshine for large-scale wind and solar projects.

Carlyle's 2009 Annual Report confirms that Carlyle also founded Pattern Energy, developer of the Ocotillo Express Wind project, a site that has drawn criticism for minimal wind resources.  But now, if Quail Brush is built, Carlyle stands to profit whether the wind blows or not.

January 2, 2013 (Alpine) -- Meet our 6 month-old neutered, purebred, Bichon Frise male that is extremely loveable. He would fit in well in a loving home with children who would be gentle with him in return.

December 31, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A photo is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. East County Magazine’s photographers and readers have compiled an impressive portfolio of dramatic images this year. These are our editor’s picks for the photos that create an emotional chord, from inspiration to anguish. We deeply appreciate our professional photojournalists and citizen photographers who helped document the images that defined the news and character of our region this year.

By Joel A. Harrison, PhD, MPH

January 2, 2013 (San Diego)--Since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut the news and internet has been abuzz with some variant of “Freedom vs Gun Control,” as if no reasonable rational alternative exists beyond this absolute dichotomy. In the mix is always the 2nd Amendment: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The 2nd Amendment has been interpreted both as a right to individual self-defense and, by some, as a check on government, i.e. a right to use force to overthrow a “tyrannical” government.