By Miriam Raftery

April 11, 2023 (San Diego) – During a special meeting convened today,  San Diego County Supervisors passed a vote of no confidence and approved a letter calling on disgraced Supervisor Nathan Fletcher to resign immediately. The vote was 4-0, with Fletcher absent while undergoing treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and alcohol abuse.

On March 29, Fletcher announced his resignation effective May 15, after an MTS employee went public with allegations that Fletcher sexually assaulted and harassed her when he was MTS chair. Fletcher, who is married with children, has denied those allegations but said he had a “consensual” relationship. The woman, Grecia Figueroa, has denied this and filed a lawsuit against Fletcher and MTS. Fletcher has resigned as MTS chair and dropped his campaign for the State Senate.

Nora Vargas, Chair of the County Board of Supervisors, said before the vote, “"My priority is ensuring that we are able to serve the people of San Diego” noting that Fletcher has been absent for the past two weeks and hasn't answered the troubling allegations against him. "We encourage him to resign immediately so he (can) focus solely on his treatment, and the people of San Diego can move forward with the representation they deserve."

Calls grow for Fletcher to step down immediately from Board of Supervisors; second woman claims harassment by Fletcher

By Miriam Raftery

April 9, 2023 (San Diego) – The Metropolitan Transit Board (MTS) on Thursday announced that it will hire outside counsel to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of sexual assault and harassment made by MTS public information officer Grecia Figueroa  against Nathan Fletcher, ([photo, left), who was chair of MTS at the time.

Grecia was fired on February 6, the date Fletcher announced his intent to run for the State Senate. Fletcher withdrew from that race on March 26 and announced he was entering rehab for PTSD and alcohol abuse. After the MTS allegations surfaced soon after, he  resigned from the MTS board and announced he will resign as Supervisor effective May 15.  Fletcher, who is married with children, has denied sexually assaulting or harassing Figueroa but claimed a “consensual” relationship.

Acting MTS Board Chair Stephen Whitburn issued a statement after a closed-door session of the MTS board,  Whitburn indicated that findings in the independent investigation will be made public. The transit board has also cut off legal support to Fletcher, who must pay for his own defense. ”Mr. Fletcher failed to act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interest of MTS,” Whitburn stated.

By Miriam Raftery

April 7, 2023 (Jamul) – By a unanimous vote, the Jamul-Dulzura Community Planning Group on March 28 approved a letter sent to Mark Slovick, deputy director of San Diego County’s Planning & Development Services.  The letter asks County staff to take action on several concerns to mitigate impacts of  Jamul Casino’s plans to build a hotel and event center.

The planners voice concerns that the tribe’s plans do not adequately address potential traffic, fire safety, environmental and noise concerns.

The recommendations include:

By Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski, ProPublica

This story was originally published by ProPublica.

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April 6, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) - In late June 2019, right after the U.S. Supreme Court released its final opinion of the term, Justice Clarence Thomas boarded a large private jet headed to Indonesia. He and his wife were going on vacation: nine days of island-hopping in a volcanic archipelago on a superyacht staffed by a coterie of attendants and a private chef.

Unsealed indictment alleges pay-offs to three people with negative claims about Trump were fraudulently covered up in order to protect his presidential campaign

By Miriam Raftery

View District Attorney Alvin Braggs' press conference after arraignment

View Trump's speech at  Mar-a-Lago after arraignment

April 5, 2023 (New York) – Former President Donald Trump was arrested yesterday in Manhattan and pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election. 

If convicted, Trump could be sentenced to up to four years for each count, though the court could determine whether terms would be served concurrently or consecutively.  Trump’s lawyers have until August to file motions, with the next court hearing scheduled for December 4.  Barring further delays, a trial could be held early next year, just as the 2024 primaries get underway.

Trump, also a candidate running in the 2024 presidential race, was booked and fingerprinted, but not handcuffed nor was a mugshot taken. After the arraignment, he was released pending trial and returned to his home in Florida, where he gave a blistering speech railing against the prosecutor and judge despite a judicial warning to refrain from rhetoric that could incite violence.

Webinars will be held every Wednesday on a variety of topics to improve financial health

Source:  SDCCU

April 3, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego County Credit Union^® (SDCCU^®), one of Southern California’s largest locally-owned financial institutions, is proud to host weekly financial wellness webinars throughout the month of April in celebration of National Financial Literacy Month. Webinars are open to the public and free to attend. 

By Jacob Pamus and Miriam Raftery

March 31, 2023 (San Diego) – A Manhattan grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump on criminal charges related to alleged pay-offs made to porn star Stormy Daniels, the  New York Times and other media outlets confirm.  The indictment remains sealed until the arraignment, though sources have told media outlet including CNBC that Trump could face around 30 criminal charges.

Trump is the first former president to be indicted. He is also a candidate in the 2024 presidential election, so his arrest casts unprecedented uncertainties into the campaign. 

He is expected to turn himself in for an arraignment on Tuesday,, PBS reports. His attorneys have indicated that he will plead not guilty. It is anticipated that he will be fingerprinted, have a mugshot and DNA sample taken,but as is customary with New York defendants in white collar crimes, he will likely be released until the trial. 

East County News Service

April 1, 2023 (Boulevard) – The Boulevard Community Planning Group will hold a public scoping hearing Wednesday, April 12 at 6 p.m. on the proposed 565-acre Starlight Solar project. County staff will present information and public comments will be accepted at the hearing at the Backcountry Resource Center,39919 Ribbonwood Rd., Boulevard (in the old fire station equipment bay).

It would be located south of I-8 and Old Highway 80 and east of Tierra Del Sol Road.  The project has proposed eight solar array areas with approximately 300,000 PV modules on support structures. It would connect to the Boulevard Substation.

The proposed 100 megawatt industrial-scale solar facility would include a battery energy storage system (BESS), collector substation, transformers, inverters, gen-tie line, and 24’ internal roads, water tanks for fire protection, security fencing, lighting, and signage.

By Miriam Raftery

March 30, 2023 (El Cajon) – Two days ago, El Cajon Police relocated homeless people found camped in drainage canals and warned of flood dangers. The National Weather Service reports that El Cajon received more than an inch of water during the past two-day period.

El Cajon Police posted this warning message and photos on Facebook:

By Miriam Raftery

March 28, 2023 (Ramona) – A 56-year-old man from Ramona has died of injuries sustained in a collision with a school bus from Ramona Unified School District on March 24.

The victim was driving a 2003 Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck southbound on Mussey Grade Road just south of Foster Truck Trail in Ramona around 4:10 p.m. when he lost control of his vehicle in a curve and crossed onto the northbound side of the road, “directly into the path of the oncoming school bus, resulting in a head-on crash,” according to Officer Jared Grieshaber with the California Highway Patrol.

By Jessyka Heredia 

View video: Regular CityCouncil Meeting 3/21/2023

March 25,2023 (Lemon Grove) On Tuesday, Lemon Grove Finance Manager Joseph Ware presented the Mid-Year Budget Review, which projects a substantial surplus.

 “Sales tax is exceeding our expectations,” he informed the City Council, adding that as of January, the projected increae is $500,000. "Sales tax is “by far our biggest revenue,” he said, noting that 35% of the city’s revenue comes from sales tax .

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

March 23, 2023 (Bonita) - County Animal Services shelters are feeling the wealth of dazzling huskies. So, San Diego County, season 2 of Real Huskies is back with this year’s cast of aspiring housedogs who have fabulous personalities, unlike some of those other shows’ casts.

East County News Service

PHOTO: Shane Harris, President of the People's Association of Justice Advocates, speaks out as National City Police Chief Jose Tellez, anti-human trafficking advocate Marisa Ugarte, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, National City Mayor Ron Morrison and Abdur Rahim Hameed, President of the National Black Contractors Association, look on.

March 22, 2023 (San Diego) – Civic leaders are urging Governor Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature to repeal Senate Bill 357, a recent law which decriminalized loitering with the intent to sell sex.  Elected officials, police chiefs and civil rights leaders say that far from protecting victims of sex trafficking, the law has created opportunities for perpetrators to exploit vulnerable minors.

At a press conference in late February in San Diego, officials including California Attorney General Bonta, San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit, National City, CA Police Chief Jose Tellez and San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan discussed how this law has made it even more difficult to address human trafficking. 

By Daniela Torres

Jacob Pamus also contributed to this article

March 21, 2023 (San Diego) – A lawsuit has been filed seeking to block implementation of California’s CARE Courts program.  Disability Rights California, Western Center on Law and Poverty, and the Public Interest Law Project have filed a petition at the CA Supreme Court because they believe that the program is unconstitutional.

Gov. Gavin Newsom designed, championed and signed this into law last year to mandate care for people with severe mental illness, primarily those who are homeless and refusing care.

But the human rights groups believe the program could strip away people’s autonomy and that affordable housing should be what needs to be at the front and center.

Naloxone is next medication California aims to manufacture

East County News Service

March 21, 2023 (Sacramento) --  Governor Gavin Newsom announced on March 18 that CalRx has secured a contract with the manufacturer CIVICA to make $30 insulin available to all who need it.  The action will bring down the price of insulin by about 90%, saving cash-paying patients between $2,000 and $4,000 annually.

Right Care Alliance, a patients and providers coalition, has documented  deaths of at least 14 diabetic Americans who’ve died due to rationing insulin since 2017, when prices skyrocketed.

“People should not be forced to go into debt to get life saving prescriptions,” Governor Newsom said. “Through CalRx, Californians will have access to some of the most inexpensive insulin available, helping them save thousands each year. But we’re not stopping there – California will seek to make our own Naloxone as part of our plan to fight the fentanyl crisis.”