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November 1, 2024 (Sacramento) -- California voters decided on only one proposition on the March primary ballot — narrowly approving Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mental health measure, Proposition 1. In November, voters will determine the fate of 10 propositions — including whether to borrow a combined $20 billion for climate programs and school construction, whether to approve three amendments to the state constitution and what direction to take on crime, health care and taxes. 

The 2024 ballot is still more crowded than in 2022, when there were only seven measures, the fewest in more than a century.

Jump to section, or scroll down to view analysis of all initiatives.

• Prop 2 School bond
• Prop 3 Same-sex marriage
• Prop 4 Climate bond
• Prop 5 Voting threshold
• Prop 6 Involuntary servitude
• Prop 32 Minimum wage
• Prop 33 Local rent control
• Prop 34 Patient spending
• Prop 35 Health care tax
• Prop 36 Criminal penalties
• Watch 1-minute videos
  

Photo:  view from City Heights.  Photo credit:  Martin Eder

Update 6:45 p.m.-- The #Fairmountfire is 25% contained. Six homes have been damaged. Montezuma Rd will remain closed all night for apparatus access. There are no injuries from the brush fire; a shooting near the SDSU trolley is unrelated to the fire.

Update 4:30 p.m.-- The fire is now called #Fairmount Fire and is 37 acres.  Temporary evacuation point is at Allied Gardens Recreation Center.

Update 2:39 p.m.- Hardy Elementary School is being evacuated; students are being taken to Viejas Arena at SDSU, per SDFD. Parents can use Canyon Crest to access the arena; avoid CollegeAve.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo via UCSD HP web cam, view from Mt. Miguel of #MontezumaFire.

October 31, 2024 (San Diego) -- Evacuations are underway in the SDSU college area due to the #MontezumaFire, which has burned 10-15 acres n both sides of Montezuma east of Fairmont.

Evacuations are in progress along Lila Drive, Collwood Way, Lucille Drive, 49th St. and neighborhoods along Yerba Santa Dr., per Watch Duty. Deputies are going door to door. Structures are threatened; fire is burning at a critical rate of spread, per the Watch Duty App.

Cal Fire reports Montezuma Road is closed in both directions and Aldine is also shut down.

Photo, right, by Carey Thoza.

District earns Partnership of the Decade Award; leaders honored

Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

October 31, 2024 (El Cajon) - On Friday, October 25, the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District was honored with a Partnership of the Decade Award from the East County Economic Development Council at their 40^th Anniversary Gala. The event celebrated the accomplishments of the East County EDC, as well as their valued partners. The East County EDC recognized the most impactful partnerships over the past decade, and honored organizations that have played a crucial role in driving economic development in East County.

East County News Service

October 28, 2024 (Lakeside) -- San Diego County Medical Examiner’s investigators are asking for the public’s help to identify a man hit by a car on Mapleview Street in Lakeside back on August 30. They want to notify his family of his death. The decedent appears to be a Caucasian or Hispanic male approximately 55 years of age.  He was 5’8 and 205 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes.  He also had a linear scar on the back of his left hand.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 27, 2024 (San Diego)-- You don’t have to wait until Election Day to vote in person. Voters can take advantage of early voting at 39 vote centers that opened Oct. 26 and will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. around the county until Election Day, November 5.

On Saturday, Nov. 2, over 200 vote centers will also be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 4. On the final day of voting, Nov. 5, all vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

October 27, 2024 (Ramona) – Notable November events are coming up –including the Ramona Art and Wine Fest, Valor Awards for Veterans, La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village, East County Magazine’s Roaring ‘20s party at La Mesa Wine Works, the Romeros Spanish guitar concert, comedy night at Sycuan, Santee’s tree lighting and sledding, North Pole Limited train rides in Campo, a country tree lighting in Julian, and Holiday Lights on Main in El Cajon.

East County News Service

October 27,2024 (San Diego's East County) --The East County Regional Chamber of Commerce has several events coming up including First Friday breakfasts, business after hours mixers, coffee connect, a veterans’ awards luncheon, and holiday mixers.

Go to https://business.eastcountychamber.org/events/calendarcatgid/Chamber-Events-6 to see all upcoming events and to register. Below are links for details on the individual events.

East County News Service

October 26, 2024 (Jamul) -- Mary Cheeks, President and General Manager of Jamul Casino, has received the Excellence in Advocacy Award at the 2024 Freedom Fund Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 19. The NAACP San Diego Branch honored Cheeks along with other notable community members for their ongoing engagement with their communities and continued efforts to create a space that offers equality for all.

“Trip to Spain” concert on Nov. 17 will feature music with a Spanish flair

​Source:  Poway Symphony Orchestra

October 26, 2024 (Poway) – The Poway Symphony Orchestra will open its 21st concert season

with “A Trip to Spain with The Romeros,” presenting a program of lively Spanish-inspired music

and featuring the world-renowned Romeros guitar quartet. The concert will take place on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at the Poway Center for Performing Arts.

October 25, 2024 (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 round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• First locally acquired case of dengue virus reported in Escondido (NBC San Diego)
• Sheriff introduces new jail safety efforts, and faces critics, in first oversight-board appearance and in-depth interview
• State delivers millions in funding for rail corridor in San Diego and Orange County (KPBS)
• ‘They took away the love of my life’: Widow sues over diabetic man’s death in San Diego jail  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• County Official Accuses Two Supes of Racist Remarks (Voice of San DIego)
• Grossmont High School math teacher named one of California's top 5 educators (10 News)
• First phase of CDC survey on health impacts of sewage crisis launching (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• State Bar seizes law office of El Cajon woman accused of posing as attorney (10 News)
• Big Donor Dominance: Campaign Finance in San Diego (Maplight)

STATE

• Fact-checking claims about California's Proposition 36: What it means for drug arrests (CBS 13)
• Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Workers Continue Strike; Union Accused of ‘Slow Walking’ Negotiations (Times of San Diego)
• California’s plan  to overhaul a key climate program — raising the cost of gas — ignites debate (Cal Matters)
• Endangered birds released at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu  (Fox 5)
• L.A.’s quake mystery: 2024 brings the most seismic activity in decades. Why now? (LA Times)

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

Cost reduced due to a generous sponsor!

East County Magazine invites you to our Roaring '20s Jazz Age Party!

Sunday, November 17  6 p.m.

at Wine Works (8167 Center St., La Mesa, CA 91941)

Benefits East County Media, 501c3 nonprofit supporting East County Magazine local news reporting and our East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

• Celebrate the era of Great Gatsby, flappers, gangsters, silent film stars, ragtime. speakeasies and the Jazz Age
• Savor an elegant dinner and delicious desserts from Cupid’s Catering including charcuterie/appetizers(meats, fruits, cheeses), tri-tip, herbed chicken, portabello mushrooms (on request), ambrosia, salad, cheesecake, lemon marscapone cake
• Award-winning wines and sparkling wines available from San Pasqual Winery, the winemakers who led La Mesa to roll back its Prohibition-era ban on alcohol production
• Live jazz by the Joseph Luna duo (piano, sax, and vocal)
• Silent auction and raffle with amazing prizes
• Hear about local history during Prohibition from La Mesa Historical Society
• Dress in your best ‘20s attire or cocktail wear and party the night away
•  

Cost:  $50

Prepayment is REQUIRED for this special event.  To reserve space:

East County News Service

October 22, 2024 (Spring Valley) -- A juvenile has been arrested on suspicion of threatening another student and bringing a replica firearm (BB gun) to an East County magnet school yesterday.

October 22, 2024 (Ramona) — A Ramona man, 36, died at the scene of a collision on State Route 78 near the Old Julian highway on October 18 shortly before 5 p.m.

The victim was riding a 2020 Harley Davidson motorcycle westbound when he crossed over the double yellow lines and crashed into a Ford F-250 pickup truck driven by a Ramona woman, 52, according to Officer Jasmine Lopez with the California Highway Patrol.

By Lindsay Elias

October 21, 2024 (El Cajon) - The superheroes gathered at The Magnolia in El Cajon for the 2nd annual Haunted Circus. The event was organized by Twisted Orbit Circus Entertainment and included appearances by Captain America, Ghost Rider, Poison Ivy, Wonder Woman, and the duo Harley Quinn and the Joker.

Hear audio of full interview aired on KNSJ

October 20, 2024 (San Diego) -- Victor Crosthwaite Contreras is the founder of  Early California Speaks, an organization that provides historical recreations for schools and other locations. East County Magazine recently interviewed him for our radio show on KNSJ, where he spoke about the multicultural programs offered. He also provided a dramatic reading bringing to life a soldier from the first Spanish expedition here.

Early California began in 2019, “direct of my ancestry and working with Old Town San Diego State Park,” Contreras says. He became involved in Old Town through his  mother for the 200^th anniversary of San Diego, where descendants of those early residents were asked to provide documents and stories and artifacts of early California.

“I’m a retired teacher, so schools are close to my heart, and of course California history is close to my heart because of my ancestry,” he says. Also an accomplished actor, Contreras was the head of the theater department at the school of performing arts in Chula Vista, as well as Cal State San Marcos.