By Miriam Raftery and Nadin Abbott

January 27, 2013 (El Cajon)- San Diego Sheriff today announced the arrest of Darin Williams in connection to an early morning fire that caused an estimated $250,000 in damage to St. Gregory of Nyssa Greek Orthodox Christian Church in the unincorporated area of El Cajon.  Williams s charged with arson, burglary and a hate crime, said Sergeant E. J. Dayitt.

The suspect was released last week from a psychiatric institution and became upset when the church’s priest, Simeon Corona, told him he could no longer stay at a parishioner’s home if he woud not take his medications,  U-T San Diego reports.  The priest called Williams, 38,  a “troubled man.”

Hunter among those voted against extending protections to all women

By Miriam Raftery

January 26, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) – One in four women has been a victim of domestic violence and nearly one in five has been raped during their lifetime, the Center for Disease Control reports.  Yet last year, House Republicans blocked reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act  (VAWA),  allowing it to expire rather than approve a Democratic proposal to expand  protections  from domestic violence for  Native American women, immigrant women and gay women.  

Now,  programs  funded by VAWA  for all women are in danger of disappearing, unless Congress takes action. Nationwide, VAWA supporters are organizing efforts to persuade Congress to pass a newly introduced VAWA bill before funds for all VAWA programs run out.

Advocates  of last session's VAWA measure hoped to end discrimination that has prevented  many women from getting help after violent assaults. Native American women are 2.5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than any other racial group; one in three has been raped.  Undocumented immigrant women are often afraid to report domestic violence for fear of deportation. Battered women in same-sex relationships have been discriminated against when seeking shelter 45% of the time.

January 26, 2013 (Campo) -- Underage drinkers, empty lots littered with empty beer bottles and irresponsible alcohol retailers have residents speaking out after a recent community meeting to voice their concerns about youth access to alcohol in Back Country areas.

Boulevard resident Tammy Daubach said she noticed teens drinking in the empty lot near her home in Boulevard. She explained kids frequent the empty lot to ride their BMX bikes on the dirt tracks. “When the kids need to fill their motor bikes at the gas station nearby, they gas up and get their stuff. You constantly see the trash back there. We’ll go out with bags to pick it all up and find chips and wine coolers and little liquor bottles, all of that.”

$10 Million Returned to San Diegans in 2012

January 25, 2012 (San Diego)--County officials and community partners kick off the 2013 campaign to help low-income families and individuals boost their federal tax refunds by taking advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and applying for CalFresh (food stamps). 

From Jan. 30 through April 15, hundreds of volunteers and college students will file income taxes for free at nearly 100 sites across the County. They will also screen families to determine if they qualify for CalFresh benefits. Residents can call 2-1-1 for more information. 

An ECM special investigative report:

Serious questions raised over industry claims on wind production here and around the world

By Miriam Raftery

Photos and videos by Jim Pelley

January 23, 2013 (Ocotillo) – Since taxpayer dollars were used to fund the destruction of public lands for the Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility, why won’t the federal government tell us how much power the project is producing?

Engineer and award-winning photojournalist Jim Pelley lives in Ocotillo.   A series of videos shot nearly each day since the wind project went online December 5, 2012 raises serious questions.  Turbines are not  turning , or scarcely moving,  in nearly all of the videos shot in December and January.  Wind speed readings and weather reports further suggest wind speed measurements are far below the minimum needed for the project to produce any power at all—let alone the levels claimed by developer Pattern Energy.

When the project went online December 5, Pattern claimed that with wind forecasts looking “favorable” it expected to power more than 125,000 homes. http://news.yahoo.com/video/controversial-ocotillo-wind-farm-goes-025000610.html.  But Ocotillo residents have long voiced concerns that their area lacks sustained strong winds needed to power the massive, controversial wind project on public lands that has been opposed by tribes, environmental groups and most residents.

After viewing videos bolstering concerns over lack of wind, East County Magazine sought public records to learn how much power has been produced.  The shocking result?  Federal and state authorities claim they don't know--and further, that public officials and the public have no right to find out.

Board directs action to plan long-term for the ground water’s sustainability

By Janis Mork

January 21, 2013 (San Diego)- At the January 9th meeting of the San Diego Board of Supervisors, all five Supervisors voted to direct the chief administrative officer to work with Borrego Water District to design a plan to address the long-term sustainability of  groundwater in the Borrego Valley and to report back with a potential recommendation.

Update January 23: The board passed this resolution, joining several Coastal City Councils in calling for an adjudicated license amendment hearing by the NRC

January 21, 2013 (San Diego) – San Diego Unified School District Board Vice President, Kevin Beiser and Board Member Richard Barrera are introducing a Resolution (Agenda Item H.1) similar to that passed by the Del Mar City Council last fall, calling for an adjudicated license amendment process by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the restart of the defective San Onofre nuclear reactor proposed by Southern California Edison. Eight and half million people live within the 50-mile potential evacuation radius around San Onofre. The action will be considered Tuesday January 22 at 5 p.m.; a press conference will be held at 4 p.m. Details below.

According to SDUSD Board Vice President Beiser, “The Board of Education of the San Diego Unified School District is considering this Resolution because restarting the defective Unit 2 nuclear reactor at San Onofre will have profound impacts on our children in San Diego Unified and the surrounding communities in the event of a nuclear accident regarding radiation contamination of air, water and food, evacuation plans, and long term viability of life in Southern California.”

January 20, 2013 (La Mesa) – La Mesa City Council will hear a presentation Tuesday regarding the San Diego Grantmakers’ Homelessness Working Group’s “Keys to Housing: Ending Family Homelessness Initiative.”  In addition, a status update on construction of the downtown streetscape will be presented.

Also on the agenda are interviews of applicants for city board and commission vacancies, council committee reports, and discussion of council travel policy, among other items.

January 19, 2013 (Alpine) – Jeremiah Smith, 38, of Alpine has been arrested for suspected drunk driving after striking and killing a man beside I-8 in Lakeside. He is the owner of Gym Trix  and Rocket Cheerleading in Alpine, ECM has learned.

The victim, a Mexicali resident, was driving a Chevy Astro minivan towing a Toyota west of Lake Jennings Park Road with his wife following in a Toyota at 4:10 a.m.  One of the vehicles had mechanical trouble. Both pulled over and the man exited his vehicle.  He was standing by his wife’s car when the GMC 2500 driven by Smith struck the Toyota, pushing it into the victim.

January 19, 2013 (Mt. Helix) --Family members returned home to their residence in the 4500 block of Calavo Drive at 12::55 p.m. Thursday to find smoke filing their home. One resident ran to the back bedroom and pulled one of the family’s two dogs to safety. A second dog was carried out from the backyard. Thick smoke was pouring out of the house when San Miguel Fire arrived with the first of approximately 18 firefighters who helped battle the blaze. 

By Miriam Raftery

January 17, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – As ECM reported earlier, President Obama has announced a package of reforms aimed at stemming gun violence in the wake of numerous mass shootings.   Initial media reports were unclear on which actions were done as executive orders by the President for immediate implementation, and which actions require Congressional approval.  So ECM contacted the White House. 

“I am providing you with two things that might help your readers understand the President’s announcement yesterday," Brian Lepow with the White House press office responded. “ THIS LINK will take you to the President’s transcript from yesterday.  I have also attached a fact sheet and executive summary on the package of proposals to reduce gun violence and a list of gun violence reduction executive actions.

Equine ordinance and Ewiiaapaayp rezoning request among agenda items

January 17, 2013 (Alpine) – The Alpine Community Planning Group will meet on Thursday, January 24 at 6 p.m. in the Alpine Community Center.

A County representative will be on hand to discuss the County’s proposed Equine Ordinance for horse owners.  The Ewiiaapaayp band of Kumeyaay Indians will send a representative to request rezoning of a parcel to “rural commercial” designation.  The agenda also includes cell phone site modification requests from Sprint and AT&T, and more.  For the full Agenda, read more. 

January 17, 2013 (La Mesa) –The City of La Mesa is nearing completion of a draft environmental impact report on Park Station, a proposed 18-story high-rise project that would be 10 stories taller than any existing structure in the city. 

Before planners and council members weigh in, Urban Housing Partners, marketers of the project have issued a survey, which you can take here: 

http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/UrbanHousingPartners/la-mesa-community-survey

Update: ECM has obtained the complete list of Executive Actions taken by the President from the White House press office. View them here.

By Miriam Raftery

January 17, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – Joined by families victimized by gun violence, President Barack Obama yesterday announced a comprehensive plan to reduce gun violence, including background check,s limits on ammunition purchases, improved mental healthcare, better resources for schools and law enforcement.

The President has the backing of most Americans, according to several new polls which found strong support for key elements of the proposal.

January 15, 2013 (Ramona) -- Sheriff’s deputies have arrested Oscar Torres, 32, of Chula Vista on suspicion of burglary and vehicle theft in Ramona. A bizarre string of events began when deputies responded to a call reporting a suspicious person in the 17000 block of Ridgeview Lane, Ramona yesterday shortly after 3 p.m.

“The suspect entered several residences in the area and was described as having black paint on his face and arms,” said Sergeant Ken Jones. “The suspect stole a Ford F-150 truck from one of the driveways and left the area.”  Deputies found the vehicle traveling east on Main Street toward Highway 78. The ASTREA helicopter and canine units were requested.

While being followed by deputies, Jones said, the suspect began to throw objects out of the vehicle and dowsed himself with gasoline. He then lit a towel on fire, throwing it onto the roadway.