By Briana Gomez

October 31, 2020 (San Diego) -- The San Diego Arab and Muslim Community Coalition recently held its fourth biennial Community Forum last week. This year’s forum took place in the unprecedented zoom fashion due to COVID-19 and public health concerns.

The Coalition is comprised of 16 local organizations that deal directly with the Arab and Muslim communities (which sometimes overlap). Many of these organizations also deal with other social justice issues and are inclusive of other non-Arab, Middle Eastern minorities such as Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Kurds who have large populations in the East County suburbs.

The forum was attended by various prominent community members, including representatives of elected officials and local figures.

East County News Service

Photo: Together We Can Do More: The Leon Williams Story (available now at shopaztecs.com)

October 30, 2020 (San Diego) -- On October 22, 2020, the Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission met to discuss the election climate and inform residents how to report voter intimidation or harassment.

The Commission released the following statement:

“The Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission promotes positive relations, respect, and the integrity of every individual regardless of gender, religion, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, or citizenship status. The Commission condemns racism, bigotry, white supremacy and hatred of any kind. Appreciating and respecting one another is of utmost importance during the election season. We want to reassure voters that our Commission and law enforcement is making safe peaceful voting a top priority. All eligible citizens have the right to vote in a peaceful manner. We urge all to respect differing points of view and to be able to peacefully disagree with one another. We implore the public to continue this level of understanding after the election and call for civility while exercising our civic duty.”

East County News Service

October 30, 2020 (Sacramento) - State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced today that all California-based school districts, county offices of education and classroom-based charter schools can apply for the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP), a $45 million grant-funded initiative to support and expand existing community schools.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos:  Darrell Issa, left, and Ammar Campa-Najjar, right

October 30, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) -- A new San Diego Union-Tribune/10 News poll conducted by Survey USA shows Republican Congressman Darrell Issa with a double-digit lead over Democratic opponent Ammar Campa-Najjar in the 50th Congressional District race to fill the seat left vacant by Duncan D. Hunter’s resignation. The poll has Issa leading with 51% to Campa-Najjar’s 40%, with 9% undecided.

By Miriam Raftery

October 29, 2020 (San Diego) – Restaurant owners in San Diego and several other counties filed claims Tuesday October 27, asking for refunds of state and local fees assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plaintiffs seek refunds of costs incurred for liquor licenses, health permits and tourism fees at a time when public health orders shut down many businesses or forced them to operate at reduced capacity, while incurring added expenses.

The state has 45 days to respond to the claims, after which a lawsuit could be filed.

By Donald H.  Harrison, San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar

October 29, 2020 (San Diego) - Congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar, reacting to an unfavorable story carried about him by the Breitbart news organization, reiterated on Wednesday his support for a peaceful two-state solution for the Israelis and Palestinians, and his opposition to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Asylum seekers gather in Tijuana in 2018. Photo by Chris Stone

October 28, 2020 (San Diego) - Jewish Family Service of San Diego is leading a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s controversial “remain in Mexico” policy to keep asylum seekers out of the United States.

October 28, 2020 (San Diego) -- 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

• Cities sue SANDAG over plan that greatly increases goals for new affordable housing (San Diego Union-Tribune) 
• Coronavirus crisis in the arts: What if concerts, theater and other live events don’t come back in 2021? (San Diego Union-Tribune) 
• FBI, state agents raid Borrego Community Healthcare Foundation and El Cajon billing contractor (San Diego Union-Tribune) 
• Some Schools Have No Teachers Willing to Return for ‘Phase One’ Reopening (Voice of San Diego)
• Debate videos:  Darrell Issa and Ammar Campa-Najjar, 50th Congressional District candidates (NBC 7)
• 71st Assembly candidates modify campaigns amid coronavirus, wildfires (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Free flu shots offered throughout San Diego County (NBC 7)
• Two Sexual Assault Investigations At Different El Cajon Nursing Homes Turned Over To DA’s Office (KPBS)
• Students work with Poway Unified to fix racism in schools (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Trump administration rejects, then approves, emergency aid for California fires, including biggest blaze in state history (Washington Post)
• California's most intense campaign: The private pursuit of Harris' Senate seat (Politico)
• Disneyland reopening: Theme park fires back over CA's 'arbitrary guidelines' (ABC)
• Orange County fires burn more than 27,000 acres, as some Irvine evacuation orders are lifted (Los Angeles Times) 
• Here’s the latest California vaping law (The Hill) 
• About 110,000 Californians have bought a gun since the coronavirus arrived, study says (Los Angeles Times) 

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

October 28, 2020  (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.

• 'There's no way to sugarcoat it': COVID-19 cases are surging; one American dies every 107 seconds (USA Today)
• Senate confirms Trump's Supreme Court nominee a week ahead of Election Day (CNN)
• Biden outperforming Trump in all key swing states, polls say (CBS News)
• A Regulatory Rush by Federal Agencies to Secure Trump’s Legacy (New York Times)
• 5 winners and 3 losers from the dueling Trump-Biden town halls (Vox)
• Hunter Biden’s alleged laptop: an explainer (Washington Post)
• Feds examining whether alleged Hunter Biden emails are linked to a foreign intel operation (NBC)
• Famed Navy SEAL pushes back after Trump amplifies baseless bin Laden conspiracy theory (Politico
• Agencies to Have Wide Latitude In Deciding Which Jobs to Strip of Civil Service Protections (Gov.Exec)

WORLD

• Russia gives whistleblower Edward Snowden permanent residency rights (Reuters)
• 9 People Detained Over Beheading Of Teacher In Paris Suburb  (NPR)
• Pope calls for civil unions for same-sex couples, in major departure from Vatican doctrine (NBC)
• With Vacation Rentals Empty, European Cities See a Chance to Reclaim Housing  (New York Times)
• EU Sanctions Russian Officials Over Navalny Poisoning, Citing Chemical Weapons Use (NPR)
• Thailand Declares State Of Emergency Amid Anti-Government Protests  (NPR)
• Germany issues travel warnings as COVID surges in Europe (Reuters)
• Taliban endorses Trump reelection campaign (Newsweek)

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

By Rick Beavin, Desert Pacific Medicare President, Humana

October 28, 2020 (San Diego) -- The annual Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan open enrollment period is traditionally a time for educational events, classes and one on one meetings, but this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some new and different ways to learn about Medicare. October 15 to December 7 is the time when millions of people eligible for Medicare can access the latest information about available health plans for 2021. In California alone, more than 6.4 million people are enrolled in Medicare including more than 2.9 million with Medicare Advantage.

There are resources to help you choose the plan that’s right for you without having to leave home, including informational websites, virtual educational events and one-on-one virtual meetings with sales agents. At the same time, it’s important to safely access Medicare information online while protecting your personal information and avoiding fake offers and other scams.

Here are some tips for how to prepare for the Medicare fall open enrollment period:

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 28, 2020 (San Diego) - With just over a week left to vote, the Registrar’s office reports more than 725,000 San Diego County voters have already cast their ballots in the Nov. 3 Presidential General Election. That’s 435,000 more than those returned as of this date for the November 2016 presidential election. And it’s more than a third of all 1.95 million mail ballots sent to voters this year.

As part of its COVID-19 Vote Safer San Diego campaign, the Registrar urges you to vote safer and vote early. Make voting decisions and complete your ballot from the safety of your home. Sign and date your return envelope, seal your completed ballot inside and return it to a trusted source.

Ballots received by the Registrar’s office throughout this week should be processed in time for the first release of Election Night results that are posted shortly after 8 p.m. The sooner you return your mail ballot, the sooner Registrar’s staff can process it into the count.

If you want to vote in-person that option is available, too. The Registrar urges you to avoid crowds and take advantage of early voting. You can do so:

By Miriam Raftery

October 28, 2020 (San Diego) – East County Magazine writers and photographers picked up seven awards in the  San Diego Press Club’s 47^th annual  Excellence in Journalism Awards. ECM’s winning entries included coverage of the May 30-31 riot and protest in La Mesa, Cajon Valley Union School District’s educational challenges during COVID-19 and controversial spending on promotional videos, the railway museum’s centennial celebration in Campo, and a column addressing health issues in local communities.

“I’m proud of our team of hard-working journalists, who went above and beyond the call of duty to report during tumultuous times,” says ECM editor Miriam Raftery. “I also want to thank the Facebook Journalism Project grant, which supports local journalism and funded our reporting on most of this year’s winning entries amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”

This year’s Press Club awards program drew more than 1,100 entries, making it one of the largest journalism competitions in the nation. Judges for the Press Club’s entries included members of 15 journalism professional organizations from around the country, including press clubs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Rochester, Florida, Cleveland, Orange County, Milwaukee, Tulsa and Alaska.

ECM's  award-winners this year are editor Miriam Raftery, photojournalists Paul Kruze, Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson, Henri Migala, and Jake Rose, as well as columnists David Shorey and Paul Levikow.

By Miriam Raftery

View our video interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq20LfdAzpc

October 27, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) – In a Zoom interview with East County Magazine, Vickie Knight Butcher, J.D. shared concerns over the impacts of COVID-19 on families in the Helix Water District and her hopes to make water rates equitable based on family and lot size, as well as water usage. Butcher, who has extensive state and international experience in water policy, also wants to hold down water rates and have any rate change proposals considered annually with full public input.

Butcher is running in district 5 against Director Joel Scalzitti and two other challengers who did not file ballot statements (Luis Tejeda and Tyler Logan).  ECM previously interrviewed Scalzitti; view video of his interview. District 5 covers the eastern portion of the Helix district including portions of El Cajon, Granite Hills, Bostonia and Lakeside. View map.

“I have had water as my passion for a number of years,” says Butcher. I have served on many boards and commissions at the city, county, state, national and international level…and I’m  committed to making my community a better place to live.”