February
9, 2009 (San Diego) — Congressman Bob Filner introduced the Military
Environmental Responsibility Act, H.R. 672, which would require the Department
of Defense (DOD) to fully comply with Federal and State environmental laws.

"Military exemptions from environmental requirements harm human health by
polluting our water, air, and soil. Communities around military bases should
be protected equally from harmful waste and by-products, just like any other
American town," said Filner. "Cleaning up after ourselves is the responsible
course of action."

February 9, 2009 (Mesa) “ Thanks to the generosity of La Mesa citizens, business leaders and elected officials who donated out of their own pockets, La Mesa’s annual flag day parade has been saved from the budget chopping block. The 14th annual event will take place on Saturday,

“We met the goal and then some,” an e-mail signed by Council members Ernest Ewin and David Allan stated. “Thank you, Shannon O’Dunn for your leadership in this effort.” O’Dunn (photo), a La Mesa resident, ran for La Mesa Council in the last election.

February 1, 2009 (San Diego) — Congressman Bob Filner has reintroduced the
Fair Taxes for Seniors Act, H.R. 674, which will provide a one-time increase
in the capital gains tax exemption on the sale of a home for citizens who are
50 years of age or more.

"The Fair Taxes for Seniors Act would give many seniors the additional money
they need for nursing home care, medical costs, and other retirement expenses,"
stated Filner, a Democrat whose district includes southern portions of East
County as well as San Diego's South Bay area. "As a result, family members
and, in many cases, the government will be relieved of the burden of caring
for these individuals as they grow older."

Dual views on hot topics

The
President's proposed economic stimulus plan has split Congress down party
lines, with Democrats overwhelmingly in favor and House Republicans unanimously
opposed. San Diego's Democratic Congressman Bob Filner and San Diego County
Republican Party Chairman Tony Krvaric face off with drastically divergent
views on the stimulus proposal. Texts below were submitted to ECM as press
releases issues by these political leaders' offices.

By Miriam Raftery

Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego) with Jan Hedlun of Potrero.

“This issue is as basic as it gets,” said Congressman Filner (D-CA), who voted
in favor of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which is now on President Barack
Obama’s desk.  ”You should not be paid less because you are a woman. You
should not be treated differently because of the color of your skin or your
religious beliefs. The Supreme Court has tried to roll back the clock on this
issue of basic fairness, but Congress will not stand for it.”   San
Diego Congressional representative Susan Davis also voted for the bill, while
Congressman Brian Bilbray, Duncan D. Hunter and Darrell Issa voted against
the measure.

Congress approved several major bills in January, including measures to improve healthcare for low-income children, provide oversight of bail-out funds, delay conversion to direct TV,  set aside public lands and ocean areas as environmental preserves, protect fair pay for women,  and improve remedies for victims of discrimination. The Senate also approved  nomination of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.  Do you know how your elected officials voted?  Find out here!

For more information on these and other bills, visit www.vote-smart.org or www.govtrack.us

View our full library of photos from local presidential inauguration events in East County and East San Diego at eastcountymagazine.org/?q=414_inauguration_photo_library.

Watch our video of the inaugural community ball in City Heights at www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U9e-XN7bXs.

At the Community Inaugural Ball hosted by City Heights Library Performing
Arts Annex, Poet Sylvia Cameron Telafaro read a poem she composed especially
for the occasion. Below is the text, along with her photo.

By Miriam Raftery

Antoinette Curry and Dupreesha Jones have hope for their futures. (Leon Thompson)

Sunny Farrand, San Diego Heroes To Hometown, clasps hands with fellow onlooker as Obama is sworn in.

Crowd at Malcolm X shows emotion as Barack Obama is sworn in as America's first African-American President.

January 21, 2009 (San Diegoâ’s East County) — Cheers and tears of joy
were evident among hundreds of local residents gathered at the Malcolm X Library
in east San Diego yesterday to watch the inauguration of Barack Obama,
America’s first African-American President.

”I am happy because with Barack, I know we can be anything we want,” said
Antoinette Curry, a student who attended the inauguration viewing along with
other 7th and 8th grade students from teacher Haroon Abdul-Mubaarik’s classes
at Holly Drive Leadership Academy in San Diego.

By Miriam Raftery

Carrol W. Waymon, PhD

January 20, 2009 (San Diego) — Watching the presidential inauguration of Barack
Obama holds special meaning for Carrol W. Waymon, PhD, San Diego’s most prominent
living civil rights leader.

”It’s incredible to me,” said Waymon, who led efforts to desegregate schools
and housing in San Diego as head of San Diego’s Human Relations Commmittee.
He also served as San Diego’s official delegate to the funeral of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. “I couldn’t imagine at that time in 1968 that we’d have a
black president 40 years later.”

EXCLUSIVE
TO EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE 

By Dennis Moore

Steve Breen

The opinions expressed are the views and beliefs of the author only, and do not necessarily reflect the views or beliefs of East County Magazine, its publisher or editor.

Author Dennis Moore has offered East County Magazine an exclusive
preview of his upcoming book, The City That Works: Power, Politics, And
Corruption In Chicago.  Moore alleges that he felt fearful for his
life after refusing to go along with a corrupt political system. The book provides
an insider’s glimpse into Chicago’s formidable political machine - with revealing
insights into Chicago's top political figures including President-elect Barack
Obama, Mayor Richard Daley and Governor Rod Blagojevich, now facing impeachment
proceedings for attempting to sell Obama’s former Senate seat.

In addition to private parties that are planned all over the county several national organiztions are mobilizing supporters to open their homes for viewing parties. To find out if there is a party in your neighborhood click on the following links.

Moveon.org is planning many local house parties as well as some events in local restaurants: http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=158&rc=homepage

The Presidential Inauguration Committee is also organizing neighborhood viewing parties in our area http://www.pic2009.org/content/home/

January 13, 2009 (San Diego) - Ron Nehring, Chair of the California Republican Party, gave an update on the GOP’s priorities nationally and statewide during a San Diego County Republican Party Central Committee meeting January 12. Nehring reported that during the Obama administration, the Republican National Committee’s priorities will include limiting the scope of government, opposing higher taxes and maintaining a strong national defense, according to the conservative blog site, Red County.

To commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2009, President-elect Obama has created a national day of service and is calling on all Americans to renew America together.

This call to service is extended to every American across the country, regardless of political party affiliation, to reignite our national spirit of volunteerism and community service not only on a single day - January 19, 2009 - but continuing commitment to our local communities throughout the year.    Renew America Together is not just about stepping up to serve for a single day, but about a continued commitment to our communities.

Richard and Rita with Enrique Morones at a joint Latino African American press conference on the day they left for the battleground states. Enrique is the director of Border Angeles, an immigrant rights group in San Diego that provides water and food to immigrants in the desert.

Kensington residents Richard Griswold and Rita Sanchez are among thousands
of ordinary - or should we say extraordinary - citizens who felt inspired to pull
up stakes and travel to distant states campaigning for Barack Obama.
What’s it like to hit the road and talk to strangers all over the U.S. on behalf
of a presidential candidate? Below is Griswold’s chronicle of this remarkable
saga detailing the memorable places and colorful characters that he and Sanchez
encountered in their journey through the heart of America.