By Miriam Raftery

August 22, 2012 (San Diego)—Some people just don’t learn.  Back in January, San Diego Supervisors  got sued for hiding information from the public about a developer-backed scheme to eliminate community planning groups. The Board backed down to avoid a trial, vacated votes and held a hearing with proper public notice and open—though heated--public testimony. 

Now history has repeated itself. San Diegans for Open Government has filed a lawsuit alleging that Supervisors once more violated the Ralph M. Brown Act. According to the suit, this time the County failed to post an agenda for Supevisors' June 26, 2012 agenda on  the County website for the 72-hours required by state law. Supevisors further failed to postpone the meeting, took action on agenda items and refused to allow members of the public to address Supervisors on a key agenda item.

Officials,organizations across party lines dissect benefits and shortcomings of initiative; consumer interest groups call measure deceptive

By Thea Skinner

August 19, 2012 (San Diego)--According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) for the State of California, Proposition 32 is an initiative that seeks to prohibit political contributions via payroll deductions and contributions to candidates.

The ballot measure proposes to change state campaign finance laws to restrict spending by public and private labor unions, corporations and government contractors in local and statewide political races. The measure has sparked fierce debate and is emerging as one of the most controversial measures on the November ballot.

Your Online Weather for San Diego on Wednesday:

http://youronlineweather.com/coasts/

http://youronlineweather.com/valleys/

http://youronlineweather.com/mountains/

http://youronlineweather.com/deserts/

August 21, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) -- Church members from the Gathering @RSD packaged 3,200 meals to be sent to needy children and their families in the Dominican Republic. The church raised the money through collecting extra change. The effort was coordinated through the organization, Children of the Nations, which reach out to children in need in Africa and the Caribbean.

August 21, 2012 (Alpine) – The San Diego Medical Examiner’s office has released the names of two men who died of injuries sustained in an accident on I-8 in Alpine on August 16.

August 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Scattered thunderstorms and heavy rains are forecast for Tuesday through Sunday in San Diego County’s mountains and desert areas.

Skywarn weather activation is requested for Tuesday.

Reposted with permission; original published August 14, 2012 at http://www.mojavedesertblog.com/2012/08/desert-lands-policy-wind-industr...

By Shaun Gonzales

August 20, 2012 (Mojave Desert)--If you have been listening to the past few stakeholder conferences for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) -- an inter-agency effort to protect desert ecosystems while identifying areas suitable for renewable energy in California's deserts -- then you know that representatives from the California Wind Energy Association (CalWEA) sound disappointed as their plans to industrialize much of California's desert wildlands meet resistance.   Some of the DRECP's proposed development focus areas would only accommodate 2-17% of the nearly 2 million acres to which the wind industry initially requested access. The wind industry expressed frustration during the meetings, wondering aloud why they cannot bulldoze desert, carve hundreds of miles of new roads, and set up massive wind turbines standing over 400 feet tall across public lands.

August 19 2012 (San Diego)—San Diego Police seek public help to locate John Sharpe, 72. Missing from his apartment at 5048 Wightman Avenue #10 in San Diego, he was last seen on August 17 at 5:30 p.m. 

The missing man has Alzheimer’s disease and is considered at risk, according to a police bulletin issued today.  He was last seen wearing a hat, yellow shirt and brown shoes. He is black with a dark complexion, has grey hair, brown eyes, stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 176 pounds.

August 19, 2012 (La Mesa) – Biz Center Art presents Inside Out, an art show with a 70’s vibe, on August 25 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the La Mesa biz Center, 7317 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa.  The event will feature 70’s music and 70’s art.  The show will run through October.

Dress up in 70’s themed attire and step back in time with art that speaks to the 70’s.  There will even be an entire wall devoted to black velvet paintings.

August 19, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Community Planning Group will be meeting on August 23 at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd., Alpine to vote on the Alpine Design Review Checklist.  The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m.

The Checklist includes items such as village character, planting, Alpine Blvd., etc.  The Checklist can be viewed here.  

By Miriam Raftery