Editorials

The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine.

READER’S EDITORIAL: WHY I'M AN INDEPENDENT FOR CONGRESS VS. SARA JACOBS AND BILL WELLS

By Stan Caplan
 
from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
 
Photo: Stan Caplan holds up a bill he’s proposing for Congress while addressing a Ramona audience. Photo by Ken Stone, Times of San Diego
 
February 25, 2024 (San Diego) -- In a political landscape marked by extremes, I find myself standing as a beacon of reason and compromise. I ran as the endorsed Republican candidate against Sara Jacobs in the last midterm election, but today I proudly represent the people as an Independent/No Party Preference (NPP) candidate in California’s 51st Congressional District.
 
My decision to step away from the Republican Party is rooted in a deep sense of disillusionment felt by voters who have grown tired of politicians prioritizing self-interest over the needs of the people.

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READER’S EDITORIAL: SIGN A PETITION TO SAVE SAN DIEGO RODEOS

By Shiloh Ireland

February 18, 2024 (San Diego) --The San Diego City Council is examining the termination of rodeos in the city limits of San Diego after one horse had a mild injury in a performance in last week's first rodeo at Petco Park. Veterinarian care was immediate and on site. Follow up care determined a full recovery. The incident was a Native American custom. The rider suffered no lasting injuries.

 Activists have exacerbated the incident and are applying pressure to the San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and the San Diego City Council. At this time, at least one council member has proposed a ban on rodeos in city limits. The attack is on our Western Tradition with many safeguards in place and with many rodeos in the State of California with few incidents and adequate safeguards.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: UNDERMINING TRANSPARENCY--SHEDDING LIGHT ON WHY CAJON VALLEY NEEDS NEW LEADERSHIP

 

“Sunshine is said to be the best of disinfectants.” – Louis Brandeis, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1913)

By Alex Welling

February 6, 2024 (El Cajon) -- On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Cajon Valley Union School District’s controversial special meeting to approve former Board President Tamara Otero’s $60,000 golden parachute, current Board President Jim Miller undercut the will of the people again.

Cajon Valley is no stranger to violating its bylaws and California’s signature open meetings law, the Brown Act. Over the years, lawsuits have been threatened and filed; however, no violation has been as overt as what happened at Tuesday’s special meeting. Board President Miller called for a last-minute, improperly noticed meeting at an inconvenient time to force through more than 500 Board Policy updates.

These policies are critical as they define the roles and responsibilities of the Board and its only employee, Superintendent David Miyashiro. They're also extremely controversial in the case of Cajon Valley.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: SAN DIEGO'S PROPOSED RODEO BAN IGNORES A HISTORIC SPORT'S DEEP CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

By Josh Muse, Raymond J. Welch, John Christman, Ramon Jara and Jed Pugsley, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  a performer demonstrates the art of Charro rope performing at the recent San Diego Rodeo at Petco Park. Courtesy San Diego Rodeo Coalition
 
January 25, 2024 (San Diego) - As members of the San Diego Rodeo Alliance, comprised of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, the Barona Band of Mission Indians, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, the Charro Coalition of San Diego, and the many other organizations and individuals we represent, we find ourselves in the position of having to defend our cultural heritage against a proposed rodeo ban in the city of San Diego, a discussion from which we were excluded.

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READER'S EDITORIAL: PROP 1 WILL HAMSTRING SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S EFFORTS TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS

By Supervisor Joel Anderson

January 23, 2024 (San Diego's East County) -- This Tuesday, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors will consider whether or not to adopt a support position on a ballot measure that could have irrevocable damage to our behavioral health system if passed. Here’s why I’ll be voting against agenda item 14, a resolution in support of Proposition 1, and what other leaders are not telling you.

Prop. 1 is disguising itself as the solution to California’s homelessness and behavioral health crisis. In reality, it’s a multi-million-dollar state money grab that will hurt the same vulnerable people it claims to help.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: LEASE REVENUE BOND IS NEEDED TO ADDRESS SAN DIEGO'S DEFERRED MAINTENANCE QUICKLY BEFORE NEXT MAJOR STORM

By Shane Harris, president,  People’s Association of Justic Advocates

Photo via National Weather Service:  flooding today in Mission Valley

January 22, 2024 (San Diego,CA ) -- The imagery of our city under water is deeply troubling but the out of sight out of mind approach by the Mayor is even more appalling. This is a time when leaders should be out helping the most vulnerable such as our seniors and unsheltered. I wanted to call attention to the reason that so many across San Diego are experiencing flooding today and the reason this happens every time San Diego experiences heavy rain.

Perhaps many have all heard about the City of San Diego’s substantial deferral of major infrastructure upgrades, such as street repairs, but this is yet another example that impacts most of us in a dramatic way every time it rains and requires both immediate and long term commitment from our Mayor and City Council to rectify.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: WE MUST TAKE TRUMP’S THREAT TO DEMOCRACY SERIOUSLY

By C. Jones

 

January 6, 2023 (Spring Valley) -- Three years ago, we all witnessed a violent mob descend on the Capitol, costing people their lives, because one man—Donald Trump—spread lies about a ‘stolen’ election.

 

The January 6 insurrection was an attack on our democracy and our freedom to vote. Our nation came dangerously close to a coup orchestrated from within the Oval Office and the halls of Congress by President Trump and his allies.

But it didn’t end there. Trump and his allies are laying the groundwork for a second presidency even more extreme and authoritarian than the last.

Should he win the 2024 presidential election, Trump is already planning to pardon himself and his allies of crimes committed on January 6th, purge the federal government of officials who disagree with him, use the Department of Justice to exact political revenge, and even unleash the military on civilians exercising their first amendment rights.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: TRUMP MUST BE STOPPED

By Jeanne Fleetwood

 

Photo: C-Span screenshot of Donald Trump rallying supporters at the Capitol ellipse, moments before they marched to attack the Capitol.

 

January 6, 2023 (El Cajon) -- As we mark the third anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, it’s important to remember how we got to that moment and who was responsible for it. Donald Trump and his allies engaged in a months-long criminal conspiracy after the 2020 election. They spread lies about voter fraud and used those lies to put pressure on state officials to illegally overturn election results. When their scheme to interfere with Congress’ certification of the 2020 election results failed, Trump and his co-conspirators incited a violent mob to attack the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021.

 

MAGA Republicans nationwide have continued this assault on our democracy by introducing radical voter suppression bills in Congress and state legislatures, spreading false election conspiracy theories, and threatening to overturn election results they disagree with.

 

Now, Trump is running for president again and he and his allies are planning for a second term that is even more extreme and authoritarian than the last one. If he is re-elected, he plans to pardon himself and his supporters, use the Department of Justice to exact revenge on his enemies, and purge the federal government of anyone who doesn’t agree with him until there’s no one left to say no.


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READER’s EDITORIAL: CEASE FIRE? OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES

By Mel Gurtov

November 17, 2023 (San Diego) -- Appeals for a cease fire in Israel’s war with Hamas are growing louder. Along with many governments and international and nongovernmental organizations, the UN General Assembly, by a 120-14 vote (with 45 abstentions), has called for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.” 

So far that call has only yielded an Israeli decision on a daily four-hour humanitarian pause for north Gaza. I have seen very little detailed discussion of how a lengthy cease-fire might be achieved. So here are my thoughts on the complications of implementing a cease-fire as well as the opportunities it might create.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: THE THREAT SMALL BUSINESSES FACE IN CALIFORNIA

 

 

By Michelle Rains

September 29, 2023 (Ramona)-- As the owner of a bar and restaurant in Ramona, I can personally attest to how difficult California’s business environment can be. Starting a business involves balancing budgets, building customer relationships, hiring and training quality employees, creating a welcoming environment; these are the challenges I signed up for. However, in California, there is an added level of difficulty complying with the many different laws and regulations that can dictate a business’s everyday operations.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: GEORGIA HAS SPOKEN—DONALD TRUMP IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW

 

By Brenda Thompson, La Mesa

Photo:  Trump 's mugshot, via  Fulton County, Georgia Sheriff's department

 

September 21, 2023 (La Mesa) -- By now, we’ve all heard the news that Donald Trump was indicted for a fourth time, this time on racketeering charges in Georgia for the criminal conspiracy he allegedly led to overturn the 2020 election.

The indictments in Georgia and Washington, D.C. made clear that Trump knew he had lost the 2020 presidential election, but worked with his cronies on a variety of illegal schemes to change the election’s outcome so he could remain in power. When his plans to pressure state officials to overturn the will of voters and create fake elector certificates failed to secure him the presidency, Trump and his allies resorted to instigating a violent insurrection to try to keep Trump in power.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: THE LEGISLATURE MUST STOP UTILITY MONOPOLIES FROM GREEDY TACTICS

By Cheri Ippolito, El Cajon

 

August 26, 2023 (El Cajon) -- PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E are trying to pull a fast one on us, and there hasn’t been nearly enough media coverage about what they’re up to. They are trying to impose a utility tax of between $400-$1,000 per year on us. This will raise electricity bills for millions of hard working Californians like myself, who are just trying to make ends meet. I’m appalled that the legislature and Governor Newsom voted in favor of this proposal.


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EDITORIAL: REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SHOULD STOP DENYING CLIMATE CHANGE

View United Nations 2023 video on climate change:  https://youtu.be/I1Vx_a6F57Q 

 

By Roger Coppock

 

August 26, 2023 (La Mesa) --Before this week’s GOP 'debate,' I used to give Republicans a healthy benefit of the doubt.  I would listen to them and read their literature.  However, when a political party's line differs from introductory science textbooks, that party is too extreme for my vote.

 

Last night 8 GOP Presidential candidates were asked, "If you believe in man-made climate change, raise your hand."  None did.  One candidate called it "a hoax." 


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READER’S EDITORIAL: BRING BACK ALARM SIRENS TO ALERT SAN DIEGANS DURING EMERGENCIES

By Alicia A. Degracia

August 22, 2023 (San Diego) --  With what happened in Maui,  I wonder if San Diego can reinstate the alarm system they had back in the’40s,‘50s, ‘60s into the early ‘70s or so. That was an alarm that was installed on top of telephone poles. They were installed during World War II in case of an attack. These alarms would be tested once a month on the first Monday of the month at noon.  It was just testing and people  knew it.  These could be solar-powered.

This could save a lot of lives, especially when people don’t have their phones on, or the power is off during an emergency, or worse yet, in the middle of the night. We can’t rely on power 100%.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: PARAQUAT EXPOSURE CONTRIBUTING TO SYSTEMIC RACISM AND PARKINSON'S DISEASE AMONG LATINO FARMWORKERS AND NEARBY COMMUNITIES

By Miguel Leyva

Photo: Farmworkers, CC-NC via Bing

August 4, 2023 (San Diego) -- Systemic racism affects nearly every facet of life for people of color. Across the country, there are serious racial disparities concerning representation, land, and money within the agricultural field. Up to 83% of farmworkers nationwide are Latino, and unlike most workers, they do not benefit from overtime protections. San Diego County is home to California's ninth most lucrative agribusiness sector, generating over $1 billion annually. Furthermore, roughly 90% of its farm revenues are derived from labor-intensive crop industries. Although they provide essential services, Latino farmworkers usually earn low wages and must endure substandard working and living conditions. Approximately 35% of San Diego County's population is Latino, and many of these people work in agriculture.

As one of the most accident-prone industries, agriculture has the highest fatality rate in the country. Farmworkers face countless safety, health, environmental, biological, and respiratory hazards every day.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: DIGITAL BILLBOARD PLAN LA MESA CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER TUESDAY COULD ENDANGER MOTORISTS, SPARK LAWSUITS

By Don Woods, La Mesa

Image: Rendering of a proposed digital billboard created by Clear Channel, via City of La Mesa documents

July 22, 2023 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa City Council will discuss a digital billboards proposal this Tuesday evening.

At a prior meeting, the City Council appointed Council members Pat Dillard and Jack Shu to form an “ad hoc” committee to consider a proposal by Clear Channel Outdoor Advertising company to erect a huge new, two-sided digital billboard along the north side of the I-8 freeway as it runs past the Grossmont Center shopping center. The committee has met and has now made a recommendation, which the Council will take up at its 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday.

Item 14.2 on the Council’s Tuesday agenda says “The Digital Billboard Negotiating Ad-hoc Subcommittee recommends the Council direct staff to develop and circulate, within 30 days, a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the placement and installation of digital billboards in the City, to include: (1) a statement of facts identifying the process to authorize digital billboards; and (2) a listing of questions and concerns (for response) raised by the Digital Billboard Negotiating Ad-hoc Subcommittee”.

So instead of just discussing the proposal with Clear Channel, the ad hoc committee now wants to open up a bidding competition to see who is willing to pay the most to be allowed to erect a digital billboard. In effect, they are interested in selling the safety of La Mesa residents to the highest bidder!  

The committee’s recommendation shows a surprising lack of due diligence. It also seems to ignore a number of facts, and tries to put the cart before several horses.


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EDITORIAL: A SAD DAY FOR SAN DIEGO -- HELP SAVE LOCAL JOURNALISM

By Miriam Raftery

July 10,2023 (San Diego) -- Today is a sad day for journalism in San Diego. The San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper has been sold to Media News Group, which is owned by Alden Global Capital. Employees have been notified via email of the sale.

The new corporate owner has a reputation for “evisceration” of  U.S. newspapers,according to  NPR.  Alden is a “vulture” capital company known for gutting newsrooms, laying off journalists and even closing some newspapers, the Atlantic reports. They also ended reader comments at all of their newspapers, which include many Southern California publications.

This is troubling for our region, particularly East County communities that already lack adequate coverage in San Diego County's largest newspaper.  It’s also bad for democracy, with no robust discussion of issues and the focus on profits, not in-depth news such as investigative reporting,

Now, the need to maintain and expand -- not cut -- our coverage at East County Magazine is critical.  But we've struggled to keep up with our reader's requests for news coverage amid rising costs-- and we urgently need your help.

Will you please make a generous donation at www.eastcountymedia.org/donate and consider becoming a sustaining monthly donor? 

Without more readers committed to saving local journalism, there could someday be no news outlets left to cover news that matters in many local communities nor even important countywide news.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: IT’S TIME TO CHECK THIS RENEGADE SUPREME COURT

By Maureen Lasher, El Cajon



July 2, 2023 (Washington D.C.) -- Americans are losing faith in our Supreme Court, and it’s easy to see why.

In the year since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, abortion has been effectively banned (with extremely limited exceptions) in fourteen states. Nearly one in three Americans have lost access to abortion care.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: GRANHOLM VISIT RAISES MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS

 

By Bart Ziegler, PhD

June 27, 2023 (San Diego) -- When announcing that the Biden administration has committed $26 million to search for sites to store the nation's nuclear waste, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm raised more questions than answers.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: DONALD TRUMP IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW



By Rose Volstorf,  El Cajon

June 13, 2023 (El Cajon) -- “This is secret information. Look, look at this.”

Those are the words of former president Donald Trump, captured on tape, while he was showing stolen classified documents to others in a meeting at his private club, Mar-a-Lago. This is one of the many disturbing details in the recent indictment against Trump, where he is charged with 37 federal crimes, including obstruction of justice and violations of the Espionage Act.

The classified documents included information about U.S. and foreign defense and weapons capabilities, U.S. nuclear secrets, potential military vulnerabilities, and response plans for a possible foreign attack against the U.S. That’s just plain terrifying.


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READER'S EDITORIALS: COMMERCIAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: THE BATTLE AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY

By Yusef Miller

May 7, 2023 (San Diego) - Sex Trafficking is an insidious crime, which is found throughout our county, consuming our women and girls mostly, but men and boys are also vulnerable. Sex trafficking, a form of sexual exploitation that uses force, fraud or coercion to trap a person into a seemingly endless state of abuse and terror.  It is not consensual, though it may appear to be on the surface; for survival sake.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: PUBLIC CRIES FOUL OVER DENIAL OF RIGHTS TO ENJOY NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE FACILITY

By Carolyn McGavock

April 11, 2023 (Alpine) -- The closure of the Loveland Fishing Access in Alpine has the public at odds with the Sweetwater Authority. Recently, SWA drained Loveland Reservoir to deadpool, killing the fish population and the fishing program which was established jointly with the national forest service. Hiking and bird watching along the shoreline are also enjoyed there. When the reservoir was empty, Sweetwater claimed the resulting erosion had created a hazard. Since then, rain has refilled the reservoir and covered the erosion leaving the public area as safe for hiking and bird watching as it had been during the 25-year history of the recreational program. However, SWA’s public relations officer, Gwyneth Shoecraft, recently reported, “At this point we do not know the timeframe for restoring access.”

Some advocates suspect that the lake is closed to hide the fact that the fish population was killed and the publicly purchased fishing pier is in pieces. Advocates fear that SWA plans to exclude them permanently and are appealing to public officials in the forest service for representation.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: NEW STUDY BY 84 SCIENTISTS PROVES WILD HORSES ARE NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA: CALIFORNIA MUST CHANGE ITS POLICY TO PROTECT THEM

An open letter to legislators and elected state and county officials
 
By William E. Simpson II, Executive Director Wild Horse Fire Brigade
Photo: Wild mustangs, courtesy U.S. Bureau of Land Management
 
April 9, 2023 (San Diego) -- A New Study conducted by 84-researchers and published in Science magazine (March 2023) dispels the myth that horses didn't exist in America until the Spanish arrived, and proves that horses were already  living in North America at the time of the Spanish arrival. And we know that wild horses were documented by Sir Francis Drake in 1580 as living among the local indigenous peoples in the area along what is today the Oregon-California border. 

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MISSING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

By Assemblymember Marie Waldron

February 19, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- San Diego County has more tribal governments than any other county in the nation. Since these communities are all located within the 75th Assembly District, tribal issues are very important to me, especially regarding their safety and prosperity.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: LA MESA PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENT MUST AVOID CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

An open letter to La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis 

By Aaron Amerling

Photo, left: Kathleen Brand

January 24, 2023 (La Mesa) -- I want to wholeheartedly recommend Kathleen Brand for the planning commissioner spot. She has over 20 years of history serving the people in La Mesa in both volunteer positions and on boards and committees, her work experience is in city planning and she has shown an even-keeled approach to sustaining growth while not losing what makes La Mesa, La Mesa.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: USDA, FOREST SERVICE, CONGRESSIONAL AND SWEETWATER AUTHORITY CHRISTMAS GIFT

Sweetwater Water Authority has drained Loveland Reservoir to dead pool status despite community objections loss of recreational resources, wildlife habitat and firefighting impacts, as ECM reported.  Activist and fisherman Russell Walsh sent in photos and this message in response. 

 

Photos:  left, Loveland Reservoir after being drained to dead pool level; right, before the draining, maintained at 75 year minimum pool level.

 

By Russell Walsh

 

December 27, 2022 (San Diego's East County) - Happy Holidays. This will be for my Grinch of 2022 Christmas Card. "Caring For The Land And Serving People 2022."


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READER’S EDITORIAL: THE GOP AND GUNS

By Chris Pearson, Spring Valley

Image: CC via Bing

November 24, 2022 (Spring Valley) -- Republicans support guys with guns because they hide behind the 2nd Amendment and cower before the NRA. They support criminals who are murdering our kids and neighbors. The GOP has gone soft on crime. That has to change.  We have an epidemic of gun crimes in the United States right now. It needs to stop.  We need solutions, not politics.  


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READER'S EDITORIAL: HUMANE SOCIETY OPPOSES HORSE-RACING BAILOUT IN PROP 26

Source:  San Diego Humane Society

November 5, 2022 (San Diego) — San Diego Humane Society has joined animal welfare organizations across California to oppose Proposition 26 — the only ballot measure that legalizes sports wagering at horse racetracks, including Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Prop 26 has drawn considerable opposition from leading animal welfare advocates because it gives a special interest bailout to California’s horse racing industry — providing the industry millions of dollars in new revenue despite its declining popularity and troubling safety record.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: SANDAG NEEDS A NEW ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER TO BRING EQUITY FOR UNINCORPORATED AREAS

By Robin Joy Maxson, Chair, Ramona Community Planning Group and Member, County of San Diego Social Services Advisory Board

 

October 28, 2022 (Ramona) -- With a “commitment to equity,” SANDAG the San Diego Association of Governments) should expect and welcome a new advisory board member onto the board of directors.

 

From SANDAG’s website:

“SANDAG is governed by a Board of Directors composed of mayors, councilmembers, and county supervisors from each of the region's 19 local governments. Supplementing these voting members are advisory representatives from Imperial County, the U.S. Department of Defense, Caltrans, San Diego Unified Port District, Metropolitan Transit System, North County Transit District, San Diego County Water Authority, Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association, Mexico, and the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.” 

Website line: https://www.sandag.org/index.asp?fuseaction=about.board

 

These members hold unchecked and unequal power over the planning and funding of the unincorporated communities without providing a balanced voice for a population of approximately 500,000 residents - which comprises the second largest community in the County.

 

The unincorporated communities cannot lead nor effectively participate in their own future without a seat at this table of regional power.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: YES ON EL CAJON MEASURE P

By Yes on El Cajon Measure P (FPPC: 1453166)

October 22, 2022 (El Cajon) -- Measure P is an investment in El Cajon. It is an investment in decreasing homelessness, reducing 911 response times, increasing firefighter staffing, and beautifying parks and streets.


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

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