East County News Service

Photo, Michael Schwartz, executive director, SDCGO



November 6, 2018 (San Diego's East County) – San Diego County Gun Owners (SDCGO), a Santee-based political action committee promoting Second Amendment rights, has announced its endorsement of East County candidates for the Nov. 6 election.

By Miriam Raftery

November 5, 2018 (San Diego) – President Donald Trump, in an interview with Axios, declared his intention to eliminate birthright citizenship by executive order – a move that reputable legal scholars on both the left and right agree would be unconstitutional.  Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-Alpine) has previously supported a bill in Congress to similarly end granting citizenship to most children of immigrants born here.

Trump stated,  "You can definitely do it with an Act of Congress. But now they're saying I can do it just with an executive order." 

But the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. is crystal clear that everyone born in the U.S. must be granted citizenship.  It states: "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." Moreover, the Supreme Court has upheld that the amendment does cover children of immigrants, regardless of their parents' legal status.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

November 4, 2018 (San Diego) - SDSU men’s soccer is ready to close out the season at home and they did so today against Cal on Senior Day.  The Aztecs lost track of what could’ve been a great season, falling to 6-9 coming into today’s game. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Zack Gianino, Laura Koval, and Lynda Marrokal

November 4, 2018 (Santee) – There will be at least one new face on Santee’s City Council soon, since District 3 is an open seat with no incumbent.

Three candidates are running in a race where development issues, traffic, and the city’s looming deficit are key issues.  They are Zack Gianino, a community college district liaison, Laura Koval, parks and recreation director at Santee Lakes, and Lynda Marrokal, a retired manager. 

Hear our in-depth interviews with all three candidates by clicking the audio links (Gianino, Koval, Marrokal) and scroll down for highlights.

East County News Service

November 4, 2018 (Poway) – You’re invited to swing into your holiday season at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, November 30^th at 8 p.m. with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party.  So, break out the zoot suits and swing dance dresses to take a step back in time to the ‘40s and ‘50s.

By Miriam Raftery

November 3, 2018 (Poway) – A student at Poway High School has been arrested for threatening during an argument with other students to bring a gun to school and shoot them.

The Sheriff’s Poway station received information from several concerned parents via the Poway TIP line.  After an investigation by deputies, including the Poway School Resource Officer and juvenile detective, deputies identified the student and arrested him at his home.

East County News Service

November 3, 2018 (San Francisco) – “We want to hear from you about wildfires!” states a message from Agatha Wein at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).  “The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is examining how well California's electric utilities are prepared for wildfires and we want input from community leaders.”

SDG&E, PG&E, Southern California Edison, and several other utilities are required to develop wildfire mitigation plans that will include details on:

• wildfire prevention strategies for electric utilities,
• maintenance and inspection of lines,
• outreach to first responders and customers, including low-income, elderly, disabled, and those with limited English,
• restoration of service after a wildfire

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

November 3, 2018 (Santee) – An elderly, disabled man was found dead in a Santee mobile home that burned overnight.  The man called 911 to ask for help, telling the dispatcher he had difficulty moving around. 

Naje Murray & Mallory Adams had double-doubles

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

November 2, 2018 (San Diego) - The Aztec women’s basketball team knocked off Biola 63-53 in an exhibition contest at Viejas Arena Friday evening. After falling behind by double-digits in the first quarter, the Aztecs used a 15-2 run in the third quarter to take the lead and then held off the Eagles down the stretch.

East County News Service

November 1, 2018 (Santee) –  The race for Santee City Council District 1 pits incumbent Councilman Ronn Hall,  an insurance company owner and former Chamber of Commerce president, against Rudy Reyes, a San Diego State University program director, Cedar Fire survivor and advocate for burn victims.

We invited both candidates onto our radio show at KNSJ 89.1 FM.  Reyes accepted; you can listen to his full interview at the audio link and view highlights below. 

Councilman Hall declined, citing dental surgery, but did answer written questions earlier in the campaign which you can read here.

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

November 1, 2018 (El Cajon) - El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho today signed a settlement to end his latest legal battle with the city he represents, after his fellow Councilmembers voted unanimously on Monday to sue Kalasho for illegal use of city resources in his campaign to unseat incumbent Gary Kendrick.

The City had intended to bring the matter to the attention of the County of San Diego District Attorney, the California State Attorney General, and the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

By Miriam Raftery

November 1, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Three East County Magazine writers received honors in San Diego Press Club’s 2018 Awards of Excellence presented this week.  All were entered in the online and daily newspapers category, bringing our total to 112 journalism awards as we celebrate our 10th anniversary.

East County News Service

Photos: Pittsburgh memorial to slain synagogue victims, White House flag at half mast, Eifel Tower in Paris dark in commemoration, Pittsburgh Steelers logo with star of David.

November 1, 2018 (San Diego) – Around the world and locally, the world grieves the slaughter of 11 Jewish people during a worship service and baby-naming ceremony at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this week.   

In San Diego, people of all faiths came together to show solidarity in the face of the attack by an avowed anti-Semitic mass shooter.  Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), who is Jewish,  posted on social media, “An overflowing and diverse crowd of thousands brought love and resolve to Temple Beth Israel - demonstrating how strongly San Diegans reject hate and division. So proud of everyone who stood up and said: Not Here! Not Anywhere!”

Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-Alpine) has been silent on the issue on his social media. 

His opponent, Ammar Campa-Najjar, issued this statement: “I am horrified by the heinous attack,” adding, “There are no words to fully convey our sadness and horror at the murder of Jewish people who were worshipping with their community on Shabbat."

By Donald H. Harrison

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

Photo:  Members of different faiths and communities united in solidarity against hate. Photo by Chris Stone

November 1, 2018 (San Diego) - San Diego is 2,450 miles from Pittsburgh, but the psychological distance Monday was zero as representatives of many faiths filled Congregation Beth Israel’s sanctuary and social hall to overflowing.