Story by Kyle Serzen

Photo by Leon Thompson

May 27, 2009 (Cuyamaca College)—Despite the friendly conversation and satisfying meal at last Friday’s Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Meeting at Cuyamaca College, the focus was a serious issue—fire safety and preparedness for East County residents as fire season approaches. Cal Fire Battalion Chief Dave Allen and San Miguel Fire District Chief August Ghio spoke on what to expect and how to be prepared in the upcoming months.

By Dennis Moore

May 24, 2009 (La Mesa) –Following a joint investigation by East County Magazine and Channel 10 news into allegations that Helix Water Board violated open government laws, the Board has voted to cancel a May 27 hearing and revise its rate hike proposal.

May 26, 2009 (Sacramento)—Assembly Bill 157, a measure authored by Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) to help fire victims and other disaster survivors, passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 18 by a unanimous vote. Under Anderson’s bill, homeowners in the 2003 Cedar Fire, as well as those who lose homes in other disasters after July 1, 2007, will have seven years to replace their homes in San Diego County without facing property tax consequences.

May 26, 2009 (San Diego)--Tomorrow, Congressman Bob Filner is hosting a Veterans Town Hall at San Diego State University (SDSU) to publicly discuss the impact of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill on our veterans. Congress passed legislation to significantly expand the educational benefits for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The Department of Veterans Affairs recently began accepting applications for these benefits.

Honored at Formal State Recognition Celebration - Selected from among 3.7 million small companies in California Editor's note: Can we pick 'em or what? Gio was one of the very first restaurants we covered when we launched, with a rave review by our "Vines & Steins" connoisseur columnist: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/?q=0809vinesteins

By Miriam Raftery

May 24, 2009 (Ramona)—San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) wants to expand its right to trim or remove trees within 18 inches of power lines dramatically – increasing that range to 25 feet on either side of power lines. On Friday, the Mussey Grade Road Alliance, a citizens’ watchdog group, has filed an opening brief with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) opposing SDG&E’s plan.

May 11, 2009 (La Mesa)-- On Saturday, May 30st beginning at 9:00 am, downtown La Mesa will dress up in red, white and blue for the Annual Flag Day Parade, "A Salute to Old Glory!" The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. and marches through downtown La Mesa Village. Spectators will enjoy over 75 entries, including 6 marching bands led by the Marine Corps ensemble. Grand Marshall Shannon O’Dunn, spearheaded the fundraising effort to save the parade after the City Council was forced by budget constraints to withdraw municipal support.

East County Roundup highlights the best stories about East County issues found in other publications.

MENTALLY ILL DETAINEES’ TREATMENT AT HOSPITALS WORRIES ADVOCATES

San Diego Union-Tribune (May 18, 2009)--Federal immigration officials send mentally ill detainees to a private psychiatric hospital in La Mesa, where they are shackled to beds 24 hours a day, prohibited from watching television or using the telephone, and cut off from family.

Disability-rights lawyers and advocates for the mentally ill say the conditions at Alvarado Parkway Institute in La Mesa violate state and federal laws governing treatment of mentally ill people. They also say the hospital, known as API, is one of a little-known network of private hospitals that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses to hold severely mentally ill detainees around the country, often out of reach of lawyers and even their families.

SUNRISE PLAN HINGES ON FOREST IMPACT

Opponents say SDG&E's new route not studied

San Diego Union-Tribune (May 9, 2009)-- San Diego Gas & Electric planners are figuring where they want to place the towers for the Sunrise Powerlink.

But a big piece of the plan to build the massive and controversial power line connecting Imperial County to San Diego has yet to fall into place: SDG&E does not yet have permission to build it across the Cleveland National Forest.

The man who will make that decision, Forest Supervisor William Metz, said yesterday he is still sifting through thousands of pages of environmental documents – and he's a long way from making up his mind.

VALLEY CENTER WATER BOARD ADOPTS VOLUNTARY 8% CUTS

Valley Roadrunner (May 13, 2009)-- It’s official. On July 6 the water district’s customers will be asked to save 8%.


Last week, after the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) took action to call for Level 2 water shortage response, and after a short public hearing, the Valley Center Municipal Water District adopted an 8% voluntary reduction program.

The San Diego Better Business Bureau (BBB) has announced that distribution has begun at about local 500 retail outlets of its 2009 Summer edition of the BBB Yellow Pages, a free, 216-page, yellow-page-type directory that includes contact information on 6,000 BBB accredited businesses, as well as consumer protection tips articles and information on how to avoid scams and make better buying decisions.

by Gayle Early

May 20, 2009 (Mt. Helix)—Residents poured into Fuerte Elementary School’s auditorium Thursday evening, May 15th to get a status update on Helix Water District’s (HWD) rate-increase proposals and express outrage over what they contend is an unfair tier-pricing system. GMIA, representing the large unincorporated area of East County around La Mesa, offered eight recommendations to residents as well as to the water district for ways it can make the system fairer.

A special joint investigative report by East County Magazine and Channel 10 News

10news.com story

By Miriam Raftery

May 19, 2009 (La Mesa)—A water board controversy has sparked public outcry in East County. No, we’re not talking about a torture tactic—though many ratepayers fear pain from steep rate hikes in the Helix Water District. The local “water board” controversy centers around allegations that the Helix Water Board voted on hefty rate-hikes and eliminating irrigation meters for homeowners without adequate public input, possibly violating state law.

Two cure and correct letters (PDF 160 kb) sent to the district allege that the board failed to provide adequate notice of hearings, did not follow proper meeting procedures, appointed an ad-hoc committee after adjourning a public meeting and then reconvened to take action after some citizens had left. The Board has called a special meeting for Friday, May 22 at 10 a.m. specifically to address the legal issues raised.

May 19, 2009 (San Diego) – Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) announced today that more than $20 million in rebates and incentives are available this year to business customers for qualifying energy-efficiency projects—the largest pool of incentive money in the utility’s history.

The Gas Company shared the news with more than 300 business representatives gathered for its 4th Annual Energy-Efficiency Expo in Downey, Calif.

May 19, 2009 (El Cajon)--At 7:33 p.m. tonight El Cajon Firefighters responded to reports of a fire in the kitchen area of the Bank of America branch, located at 512 Fletcher Parkway. Upon arrival fire crews found smoke coming from the rear of the building where they made entry. Quick action by firefighters had the fire knocked down in 15 minutes. The bank will remain closed until repairs can be made.

“I had a dream that I would have a drum,” recalled Neka’asawe, a drum maker who was among the many vendors displaying indigenous crafts at the Sage & Songbirds Festival at Viejas Outlet Center in early May. “I went into a sweat lodge and prayed. A spirit told me I would make many drums.”

May 17, 2009 ()San Diego) -- Advanta Home Care's owner Rick McKee is now partnering with leaders of local organizations to present an exclusive and innovative Elder Care Community Education Series. Representatives from local faith based organizations, retirement communities, health care facilities, physician groups, HOA’s, civic organizations and employers are encouraged to contact Rick directly to schedule any or all of this timely and informative series for their membership, free of charge.