“$40 billion has been stolen. Let’s get it back.” – Mike Aguirre

Plaintiffs ask public to urge Senators to press Dept. of Justice to join suit; say federal government should recover bailout funds to reduce deficit instead of slashing Medicare and Social Security

Story and photos by Miriam Raftery

July 7, 2011 (San Diego) – Derek Casady, former editor of the Daily Californian newspaper in East County and his wife, Nancy, have filed a lawsuit against several of the world’s biggest financial institutions alleging that AIG and others engaged in fraudulent practices and misled the federal government to get bail-outs. The suit documents fraudulent practices alleged in detail. It also seeks return of bailout monies paid for with taxpayers’ money—plus triple damages and a jury trial.

By Miriam Raftery

July 9, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Citing public safety concerns, Cleveland National Forest Supervisor William Metz has ordered closure of Cedar Creek Falls, the San Diego River Gorge Trail and adjacent areas through November 8. (The Forest Service may opt to reopen the area sooner if deemed appropriate, per a press release that accompanied the closure order.)

Closure follows a teen’s death Wednesday and a string of serious injuries at the falls which are revealed in the closure order.

Teen who died at falls identified as Joseph Meram, 16, of El Cajon

Sheriff says falls will stay closed until ways are found to protect public safety

By Miriam Raftery

July 8, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A family outing turned to tragedy when Joseph Meram, 16, hiked ahead of his relatives and wandered onto the wrong trail with his cousin over the weekend. The teen plummeted over an 80-foot cliff into a swimming hole at the base of Cedar Creek Falls.

His death has prompted closure of the falls indefinitely--and debate over the role of government in balancing accessibility vs. safety on public lands. Now Sheriff Bill Gore speaks out on the tragedy, which occurred soon after the U.S. Forest Service improved a trail to make the site more accessible—a move Sheriff Bill Gore says was well-intentioned, but resulted in serious consequences.

Cedar Falls may remain closed until end of season; Forest Service bans alcohol, jumping, diving and rock climbing at all area falls

July 6, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)—The victim who died of injuries from an accident at Cedar Creek Falls today was a 16-year-old boy from El Cajon, the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office reports.

The teen was hiking with his family when he slipped and fell down an 80-foot cliff, landing in the water. The victim fell against a 17-year-old, injuring him.

Anton Botter
August 16, 1955 to July 1, 2011

July 4, 2011 (Escondido) – The charred remains of a man were discovered in the burned wreckage of a Dodge Caravan minivan that was involved in a T-bone collision with a black Lexus ES300 Sedan in the 700 block of Washington Ave. at the intersection of Elmwood Drive at 2:15 a.m. yesterday. The minivan became engulfed in flames immediately after the accident.

July 4, 2011 (La Mesa) – Christopher Sanchez, 22, of Paradise Hills was struck and killed last night by an eastbound Green Line San Diego Trolley approximately 200 yards east of the Grossmont Center trolley stop in Mesa, according to the County Medical Examiner. La Mesa Police and Fire personnel confirmed death at the scene due to obvious fatal trauma.

“The urgency is great and we require your help to meet this need in our community”—Alpine Food Bank

July 4, 2011 (Alpine)—The Alpine Food Bank reports a “significant increase” in need, according to a press release seeking donations of funds and food.

“Our economy over the last few years has been struggling, leaving many families barely scraping by to make ends meet. These people, who come from all walks of life and economic backgrounds, have one thing in common, the need to provide the basic necessity of food for their family,” says a statement issued by the Alpine Food Bank, a new partnership between Bethel Christian Assembly and the San Diego Food Bank to help those who are hungry in our backcountry areas.

Injured Woman Remains Hospitalized

July 2, 2011 (San Diego County) -- The owners of two pit bull dogs that attacked and seriously injured a 75-year-old woman were arrested this evening for owning dogs that caused serious bodily injury, a felony. Carla and Alba Cornelio (ages 19 and 39 respectively) were taken into custody after an arrest warrant  was issued following  an investigation  by County animal control officers into the June 18 incident.

July 2, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--California residents must have carbon monoxide detectors in their homes as of July 1, 2011, when a bill passed by the Legislature last year goes into effect. This timeline applies only to single-family homes that have appliances that burn fossil fuels (wood, gas or oil) or homes that have attached garages or fireplaces.

July 2, 2011 (El Cajon) – Pilots of the Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter followed a trail of smoke and directed El Cajon Police officers to a teen, 17, who is suspected of firing a flare gun at the helicopter. The flare, believed to have been shot from the vicinity of Main Street and Sunshine Avenue, exploded about 30 feet from the helicopter.

“Fortuntely the flare did not impact the helicopter, but could have caused a fire on the aircraft or entered the cockpit and incapacitated the pilot,” said Lt. J.D. Arvan.

July 1, 2011 (Washington D.C.) - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc. yesterday announced a voluntary recall of about 300,000 Hamilton Beach classic chrome 2-slice toasters.  The heating element in these toasters can remain energized indefinitely when an item is placed in the toaster which may ignite the contents, posing a fire hazard if the toaster is near flammable items.
 

Fire parcel fee, redevelopment cuts, tuition hikes, freeze on teacher lay-offs, and "crippling" cuts in border crimes enforcement among the budget impacts on our region

By Miriam Raftery
 

June 30, 2011 (Sacramento) –Governor Jerry Brown and Democrats in the state Legislature have approved a majority-vote budget without a single Republican vote. The move ends a months-long impasse in which Republicans held out for an all-cuts budget, while Democrats sought revenue increases to prevent slashing programs ranging from healthcare to law enforcement. The budget includes $7.9 billion in cuts which aim to reduce the state’s $26 billion deficit to $5 billion.

By Jeremy Los and Miriam Raftery

“Californians can no longer afford to build roads and infrastructure with golden shovels. We need to send the money where the rubber meets the road. Literally.” –  Senator Joel Anderson

“Eliminating Caltrans would result in an ineffective and scattered patchwork of local projects, hamper the movement of goods and people, and ultimately hurt our economic competitiveness… During the 2007 wildfires, we partnered with first responders and helped with emergency road repairs and evacuations.” --Matt Rocco, Caltrans

June 27, 2011- State Senator Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) is revved up over his new bill to cut state spending by eliminating the California Transportation Department (Caltrans).  SB 851 would shift responsibilities for highway building and maintenance onto local cities and counties, also allowing local governments to outsource to private companies.  

Can local communities afford those cost?  How will motorists and taxpayers be impacted?

Supporters say the bill would save money and cut waste.  Opponents question whether public safety could be jeopardized, particularly in San Diego--where a Grand Jury investigation found roadway conditions "appalling" and where local agencies have relied on Caltrans for quick highway repairs during major wildfires and other disasters.

June 29, 2011 (El Cajon) – An injured man who called 911 after falling down an embankment last night has been found following an intensive search and will be transported to a hospital, Melissa Aquino, public affairs officer with the San Diego Sheriff’s Office, advises.