Fire burning in Mexico near Tecate is visible across East County

By Miriam Raftery

December 8, 2020 (San Diego’s East County)—With wind speeds up to 65 miles per  hour reported last night, SDG&E has shut off power to 15,441 customers in rural, high desert and mountain areas as of 9 a.m. today, with shut-offs possible for another 45,042 customers. Expected restoration time is 6 p.m. tomorrow night in most areas without power, according to SDG&E’s outage map.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning extended through Wednesday night, due to high fire danger from gusty Santa Ana winds and low humidity. A high wind warning is also in effect locally.

The Alpine Union, Valley Center-Pauma Unified and Warner Unfied school districts have cancelled classes today due power shutoffs and high winds.

A brush fire burning in Mexico near Tecate cast a red glow overnight visible across much of East County. Cal Fire reports the fire is well within Mexico and is not considered a threat to the U.S. at this time. (Photo, right, viewed from Campo, by Don Lumb)

SDG&E has set up community resource centers from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. today in Descanso (9545 River Drive), Julian (17606 Harrison Park Rd), Potrero (24550 Highway 94), Ramona (1275 Main St.), Valley Center (29200 Cole Grade Rd.), and Warner Springs (30950 Highway 79.)

December 7, 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

• In a first, California considers allowing housing project on San Diego ecological reserve (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego Businesses Lose Court Bid to Resume Indoor Operations, Will Try Again (Times of San Diego)
• Surge in D’s and F’s in San Diego County schools raises questions: How to grade during pandemic (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• SDSU Considers Canceling Spring Break to Avoid COVID-19 Surge (NBC San Diego)
• Ravaged by fire, USS Bonhomme Richard bound for scrapyard, Navy says (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Paul Parker Returns to Lead County Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board (County News Center)

STATE

• California will receive 327,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine by mid-December. Who gets them?  (Sacramento Bee)
• Biden Picks Xavier Becerra to Lead Health and Human Services (Xavier Becerra)
• CIF Delays Start, Cancels Fall Regional, State Championship Dates (Patch.com)
• California health chief says all school reopening is local (Politico)
• California sets record with most COVID-19 hospitalizations since pandemic began (Los Angeles Times)
• Thousands of curfew breakers rally to reopen California (10 News)
• Conception boat fire: Captain charged over 34 deaths in California (BBC)

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

East County News Service

Nov. 25, 2020  (San Diego’s East County)  – Stock up on coolers to keep your Thanksgiving leftovers chilled.  Due to a Red Flag Warning  issued by the National Weather Service and forecasted Santa Ana winds, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has notified approximately 2,700 customers in the communities of Alpine, Campo Reservation, Crestwood, Descanso, Julian, La Posta Reservation, Manzanita Reservation, Pala, Santa Ysabel, Santa Ysabel Reservation, Valley Center and Viejas Reservation, that it may have to turn off power to reduce wildfire risk beginning early Friday morning.      

 “The last thing we want to be telling any of our customers right now is that we may have to shut off power given the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and the ongoing COVID pandemic,” said SDG&E’s Chief Customer Officer Scott Crider. “Public Safety Power Shutoffs are a last resort to prevent wildfires, and our employees are dedicated to doing everything we can to minimize impacts should it come to that. We’re hoping Mother Nature cooperates, but in an abundance of caution we have reached out to our customers so they can be prepared.”

Several hundred SDG&E linemen, troubleshooters and support personnel will be working on Thanksgiving Day and through the holiday weekend to ensure that power can be restored as quickly and as safely as possible, should safety power shutoffs occur.

By Miriam Raftery

Chart via San Diego County: Surging COVID cases increase stress on healthcare system

November 19, 2020 (San Diego) – California’s Department of Public Health today issued a curfew Nov. 21-Dec. 21 aimed at reducing spread of COVID-19 as cases surge statewide. The County also announced beefed up enforcement efforts, with many cease and desist orders issued in East County, including El Cajon despite the Mayor's pledge not to enforce health rules.

What the curfew impacts

The limited stay home order applies in Purple Tier counties including San Diego. Between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., the order prohibits gatherings with people not in your household either on your property or elsewhere. 

Non-essential businesses must cease operations during the curfew; only activities defined as “critical infrastructure” (COVID19.ca.gov Essential Workforce) may continue.

The curfew does not prohibit individuals or people in the same household from leaving their residence, as long as they don’t interact with people from other households. You can walk your dog, exercise alone or with those in your household, ride your horse, and travel for essential purposes such as medical visits, picking up food or going to the pharmacy. The curfew also does not apply to people who are homeless.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo,left: Major's Diner in Pine Valley, a long-time roadside stop for travelers also popular with local residents, could not survive another shut down in winter weather, the owner says.

November 13, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) – Several East County business owners and at least one megachurch have announced intentions to defy a new state mandate to shut down indoor services starting Saturday.  In addition, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells says police in his city won’t prioritize enforcement of businesses that remain open despite public health orders.

Places of worship, gyms, restaurants and movie theaters are ordered to stop indoor operations under state mandates due to high rates of COVID-19 that have moved San Diego County into the purple tier.  Retailers are supposed to cut service to 25% capacity and any schools not yet reopened are prohibited from doing so.

Restaurants and bars have been tied to 9.2% of all COVID cases in San Diego County from June 6 through November 7, or 3,666 cases, according to newly released county health data. Even with many modifications, the most recent two weeks of data from October 25 to November 7 show 389 cases tied to restaurants and bars, or 10.01% of total new cases—more than any other specific business category.

Yet some restaurant owners say they’re done with shutdowns and would be unable to survive another shutdown as winter approaches.

Chamber of Commerce calls on Congress to pass federal stimulus aid to save jobs and businesses

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Creative Commons image by SA via Bing

November 10, 2020 (San Diego) – The state has moved San Diego County into the most restrictive level, the Purple Tier, after the county’s COVID-19 case rate exceeded 7 cases per 100,000 residents for a full two weeks, soaring as high as 8.9.  To limit spread of the virus, the region must stop indoor operations at restaurants, gyms, churches and movie theaters starting Sat., Nov. 14. Retailers will need to keep customers at 25% of capacity.

“If we don’t continue to take proven, preventive precautions, we won’t be able to get out of the Purple Tier and loosen restrictions,” said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the County public health officer. “The key to decreasing cases is wearing a mask, maintaining social distance, avoiding gatherings and following other public health recommendations.”  She added, “We understand that people have COVID fatigue, but we have to do what we know works.”

The County will remain in the Purple Tier for at least three weeks. It won’t be able to advance to the Red Tier unless it posts a case rate below 7 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks in a row.

San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jerry Sanders, in a statement on the new shutdown orders, said, “Small businesses, which account for more than 90% of the businesses in San Diego County, have shouldered the bulk of the impact in the struggle to contain the spread of COVID-19. The toll this health crisis is having on small business is overwhelming and every day more small businesses are not able to survive the closures and changing restrictions on their operations."

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Darrell Issa announcing his candidacy at an El Cajon press conference earlier this year.

November 8, 2020 (San Diego) – Former Congressman Darrell Issa will return to Congress, where he served for 18 years.  Issa, a Republican, declared victory in the 50^th Congressional district race after the Associated Press projected that he has won the race. He currently leads 53.7% to 46.3%, a margin of 22,470 votes, according to the California Secretary of State’s website.  His opponent, Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar posted on Facebook that he has called to congratulate Issa.

Unlike the Presidential race, in which Donald Trump has yet to concede, both Issa and Campa-Najjar sought to put a sometimes bitter campaign behind them and offer praise for each other to unite the district.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Issa thanked all voters as well as his supporters and volunteers.  “Whether you supported me in this election or not, I will work tirelessly in Congress for all who call the 50^th District their home, for the State of California which I love so much, and for our great country.”  Issa thanked his opponent for a “spirit campaign” adding “I wish him the best moving forward.” He praised his endorsers and primary opponents, adding, “I hope to continue to work with all of you for the betterment of our community.”

Democrats appear to have taken control of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for the first time in at least a generation. But that doesn’t mean they’ll automatically agree on what to prioritize, or how to go about it.

By Jesse Marx and Maya Srikrishnan, Voice of San Diego

Photo:  from left: Democrats Terra Lawson-Remer, Nathan Fletcher and Nora Vargas / Photos by Adriana Heldiz

November 4, 2020 (San Diego) - Democrats appear to have taken control of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for the first time in at least a generation.

November 3, 2020 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Magazine will be livestreaming a special election night show  with East County elections results from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Watch live at https://www.facebook.com/EastCountyMagazine. 

Also follow EastCountyMag on Twitter for results.

By Miriam Raftery

October 13, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) – As voters begin casting ballots in the 50th Congressional district, last-minute mailers and online ads for Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar and Republican Darrell Issa have gone negative, each tarring the other as unfit for public office with allegations ranging from terrorist ties to criminal actions. 

The candidates are seeking to replace disgraced Congressman Duncan Hunter, who has been convicted on federal corruption charges for diverting a quarter million dollars in campaign donations for personal use.

One campaign sent a mailer displaying ECM’s logo without permission; ECM does not endorse candidates and prohibits use of our logo for political purposes.

Both Issa and Campa-Najjar also recently appeared in video interviews with Defend East County. Campa-Najjar drew sharp criticism from progressives and people of color for meeting with what some has characterized as a racist vigilante group, even as Issa denounced Black Lives Matter for “doing damage” to African Americans and referenced “criminal elements” in BLM and Antifa during his video discussion with DEC's leader.

October 8, 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

• El Cajon Nursing Home Reaped Big Profits While Shortchanging Resident Care, Analysis Shows (KPBS)
• Most San Diego County school districts have reopened or plan to reopen in October (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• SDG&E launches $107.4 million program for zero-emission buses, trucks and forklifts (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• COVID-19 Exposure at SD City Council Meeting Forces Councilmembers Into Quarantine (NBC 7)
• USMC F-35 fighter crashes near U.S.-Mexico border after midair collision (UPI)

STATE

• It’s official: we have our first ‘gigafire’ in Northern California (Norcal News)
• Wildfires Continue to Ravage California; At Least 1,200 Fatalities Linked to Inhaling Toxic Smoke  (Democracy Now)
• California adds COVID-19 equity requirement. It could trip up counties’ reopenings (Los Angeles Times)
• In latest clash with NRA, Newsom signs bill to help police trace guns (Los Angeles Times)
• ‘Significant areas of total devastation’ as California fires torch wine country (Los Angeles Times)
• California moves to end sales of new gas-powered cars (KCRA)
• California to ban chokeholds, independently review police shootings under newly signed laws (Politico)
• California’s Filipino American nurses are dying from COVID-19 at alarming rates (San Jose Mercury News)
• California task force will consider paying reparations for slavery (Los Angeles Times)

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

September 27, 2020 (San Diego) – Due to elevated fire weather conditions and forecasted Santa Ana winds, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has notified certain backcountry residents that it may have to turn off power in order to reduce wildfire risk in the coming days. Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are approved by state regulators as an important safety tool to mitigate fire risk during dangerous weather conditions.

The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Monday for inland San Diego County mountains and foothills. Weak to moderate strength Santa Ana winds are expected to arrive today, peak Monday morning in strength and become weak to moderate by the end of the day. In preparation, SDG&E has activated its Emergency Operations Center to monitor conditions 24/7 and has organized personnel and pre-staged materials and equipment for response.

September 26, 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

• How One District Got Its Students Back Into Classrooms (New York Times)
• Two arrested as feds shut down Kumeyaay border wall occupation camp (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• County approves charter high school (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Miguel Fire District figuring out how to fill a seat no one wants (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Grossmont College president to resign (Pagesuite)
• Duane Pillsbury, rancher, conservationist, husband of Joan Embery, dies at 91 (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• California’s COVID-19 positivity rate drops below 3% for the first time  (Los Angeles Times)
•  Coronavirus: California’s numbers keep trending in right direction  (San Jose Mercury News)
• California pauses unemployment amid coronavirus pandemic (10 News)
• California passes bill to allow former inmates who served on fire crews to pursue a career in fire (Wildfire Today)

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

September 18, 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

• Former SD Sheriff's Captain Pleads Guilty to Trafficking ‘Off-Roster' Firearms (NBC San Diego)
• In Jamul, two hemp farms lost in Valley Fire (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Your say: How is virtual learning going so far? (San Diego Union Tribune)
• Blue Lives Matter Is the Wildfire Cavalry No One Asked For (Daily Beast)
• Federal Jail Downtown Now Has One of the Country's Worst COVID Outbreaks (Voice of San Diego)

STATE

• California eviction moratorium is ‘a real nightmare’ for renters to understand — here’s what you need to know (Marketwatch)
• Fast-moving Snow fire, sparked by burning car, prompts evacuations near Palm Springs (Los Angeles Times)
• In California, Trump continues to deny climate change is real: “It will start getting cooler” (Los Angeles Times)
• Another California firestorm where warnings did not prevent mass deaths (Los Angeles Times)

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

September 9, 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

• Sheriff’s Department to begin video surveillance in Lemon Grove (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• DA files charges against 20 people in wake of May protest-turned-riot in La Mesa  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Citizens report shows developers buying far-right Santee City Council Votes (Preserve Wild Santee, via OB Rag)
• It Starts With A Conversation: How To Protect Your Child From Falling Victim To Sex Trafficking Or Predators Online  (NBC 7)
• El Cajon City Council candidate dealing with fake website (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Jury Trials To Resume In October In San Diego County (Patch)
• ICE makes dozens of arrests in San Diego County (Patch)
• Missing San Diego couple found dead in Baja California (Borderland Beat)
• Plea deal reached in San Diego County sheriff's deputy sexual misconduct case (10 News)
• Over 28,000 Property Owners In Tax Default Amid Coronavirus (Patch)

STATE

• California Sets Record With 2M Acres Burned So Far in 2020 (NBC 7)
• As fire ‘engulfed everything’ around campers, an air rescue like no other in the Sierra (LA Times)
• UC must immediately drop use of the SAT and ACT for admissions and scholarships, judge rules (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lawmakers fail to approve wildfire protection money, help for California insurance crisis (Sacramento Bee)
• California Bill to Strip Badges From ‘Bad Officers' Fails (NBC 7) 
• California seeks immediate reversal of U.S. Postal Service changes  (Los Angeles Times)

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