By Miriam Raftery

“Fix the poverty rate and schools, then long term we will have a great city.” – Chris Shamoon

October 2, 2012 (El Cajon )—Chris Shamoon has big dreams for El Cajon. A successful business owner and recent law school graduate, Shamoon says he was approached by local business owners to run for El Cajon City Council. His platform extends far beyond the business community, as he seeks to represent needs of all people in the city—and tackle head-on the root causes of poverty, health and education problems dismissed by some candidates as unsolvable or not the role of the city to address.

Shamoon, one of seven candidates vying for three seats on the Council, shared his vision in an exclusive interview with ECM.

October 4, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Loose seats on American Airline flights ground planes  (WAFB TV)
• Ahead of presidential debates, polls show Obama ahead on key issues (Washington Post)
• Mitt Romney would allow waivers to DREAMers (NBC)
• Most swing states are better off today (LA Times)
• Supreme Court rejects appeal on airport scanners (Reuters)
• China farm sues Obama over blocked wind farm deal (BBC)
• Obama blocks Chinese company from owning Oregon wind farm (Fox)
• Montana governor sees big savings with new state health clinic (Reuters)
• Intelligence effort named citizens, not terrorists(UT San Diego)

WORLD

• U.S. intelligence now says Benghazi attacks deliberate (Reuters)
• Pesticide use ramping up as GMO crop technology backfires: study (Reuters)
• Nigeria probes student killings (BBC)
• The Arab Spring becomes a Western Winter (Jewish World Review)
• California man behind anti-Islam film arrested

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

October 4, 2012 (San Diego) – County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk Ernest Dronenburg wishes to advise all property owners whose property was damaged or destroyed during the recent Shockey Fire that property tax relief is available. This tax relief program requires the reassessment of the property to reflect its damaged condition. The reduced value will remain in effect until such time as the property is rebuilt or repaired.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

October 4, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--The cooler weather is beginning to slowly settle in as we are now into Fall.  This is a great time for many of us to start those outdoor activities that we avoided during the summer heat. We have plenty of great spots to hike and enjoy the scenery here in East County (and surrounding area).

By Janis Mork

October 4, 2012 (Spring Valley) - San Miguel fire board recently voted to outsource all fire services to Cal Fire. There are six candidates running for four seats on the board. Other candidates include retiree Randy Dibb, incumbent board members Karrie Johnston Scully, fire captain/paramedic David Rickards, civil engineer John Revels, and college educator/businessman Dan McMillan. View a map of the district: http://www.smgfire.org/district-map. Below is a profile on retired civil engineer William Kiel.

By Nadin Abbott

Photos by Tom Abbott

October 4, 2012 (El Cajon)--The candidate forum in El Cajon last night was moderated by Dona Bartlett-May, Co-President of the League of Women Voters.

Given the issues at stake, and the charges of sign stealing recently leveled by more than one candidate, I expected a charged atmosphere. Instead we were greeted by a very business-like and relaxed atmosphere—offering hope that winners in this race will find ways to set aside past conflicts and work together for the betterment of El Cajon.

The candidates-- three incumbents (Bill Wells, Bob McClellan and Tony Ambrose) and the challengers (Kathy Spacone, Ben Kalasho, Chris Shamoon, Lily Schworm and Duane Swainston) were ready for the task at hand.

View video, full text of debate, ECM analysis and fact-check links

By Miriam Raftery

October 4, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – If you missed last night’s debate on domestic issues between President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney,  you can view the full video or read the complete transcript text here:   http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/81994.html

The candidates sparred on issues including the economy, jobs, healthcare, taxes, education, and the deficit. 

Post-debate fact-checking found major exaggerations  or distortions by both candidates.  (See  our story on fact-checking the presidential candidates here:  http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/11264 ) 

Scroll down for highlights of the debate, as well as controversy over the moderator and debate format. 

October 4, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- A power outage has left 671 SG&E customers without electricity in the Descanso, Green Valley Falls, Cuyamaca, Guatay, Pine Valley, Mount Laguna, Viejas, and Boulder Creek communities as of 9:28 a.m. 

Power is expected to be restored by noon.  Cause is under investigation, according to the SDG&E website.

October 3, 2012 (Alpine)—The Alpine Planning Group will hold a special meeting on Monday, October 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard.  County of San Diego representative Michael Long will be making a presentation on why the County seeks to repave Alpine Boulevard between Tavern and South Grade Roads now rather than later.  Drainage issues will also be discussed.

“Alpine Boulevard will be torn up again, by the County, to an even greater degree than Sunrise Powerlink,” says planner Lou Russo, who urges the public to attend.  “There are options as to when and input is needed.”

October 3, 2012 (Lakeside)—Wildcat Canyon Road is blocked in both directions due to a rollover accident.  The driver of the vehicle, a pickup truck, is walking and does not appear seriously injured, a Barona firefighter at the scene told ECM’s marketing director, who has been stuck in traffic for over 20 minutes at the scene, where tow trucks are now arriving. 

October 3, 2012 (El Cajon) -- They are on the front lines of finding and defusing bombs. Take a trip into the world of robots as the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson Unit showcases its high tech tools at a Robo Expo.

Members of the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson Unit will have a display at the San Diego Science Alliance Robotic Education Expo on Saturday, October 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It will be held at the Cuyamaca Community College Student Center, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon.

Additional details released by Chula Vista Police

October 3, 2012 (Chula Vista)- A young mother of five who was shot to death September 28 after striking a plainsclothes Border Patrol officer with her vehicle was on probation for possession of drug paraphernalia in a 2011 offense, Captain Gary Wedge with the Chula Vista Police told ECM today. “She also had a prior conviction for possession of methamphetamine.”   

Chula Vista Police Department is continuing its investigation into the death of Valeria Munique Tachiquin-Alvarado. Today, the Department released additional details on the shooting.  

Critics contend the Commission, which took over the debates from the nonpartisan League of Women Voters in 1986, is too beholden to corporate donors

October 2, 2012 (Washington D.C.) – In response to an organized email and letter-writing campaign, three of the ten corporations identified as sponsors of the Commission on Presidential Debates have withdrawn their sponsorship. 

By Bonnie B. Price

October 2, 2012 (El Cajon)--As campaign season draws nearer to the November 6 election, contenders for the three city council seats are having a strange type of conflict in the wonderland of El Cajon campaign politics.  Issues such as the highest sales tax in the county and high sewer taxes* in the poorest city in the county are not being discussed. 

Instead, people have been distracted from these significant issues with a battle over political sign locations! 

October 1, 2012 (San Diego) – In honor of Bi-National Health week, PCI (Project Concern International)’s California Border Healthy Start (CBHS) Program and its partners, Black Infant Health (BIH) and San Diego Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Program (SANDAPP) are celebrating their pregnant program participants and children at a community baby shower this fall. The free event will be held on Wednesday, October 3 at the Jacobs Market Creek Plaza on Euclid and Market from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. The pregnant women and children will be treated to health services information from different community clinics, pregnancy-belly dancing, photo sessions and gifts. Lunch will be served.