Politics

NIKKI HALEY MARKS "ROE" ANNIVERSARY BY SAYING SHE'D SIGN NATIONWIDE ABORTION BAN

By Chris Walker, CC BY-NC-ND- 4.0

Photo by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0

This article originally appeared in Truthout

January 23, 2024 (New Hampshire) -- Nikki Haley, a Republican candidate facing uphill odds against Donald Trump to become the GOP’s 2024 presidential nominee, stated on Sunday that she was fully supportive of a nationwide abortion ban.

Haley, a former United Nations ambassador in the Trump administration who previously served as governor of South Carolina, has tried to portray herself in town halls, debates and other appearances as a “moderate” choice for Republicans. However, although she opposes her former boss’s false claims of election fraud in the 2020 election, her record is decidedly much further to the right than she admits.

During an appearance on Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Haley admitted her views on abortion differ from most Americans.

Haley at first tried to sidestep the issue, claiming that the question was trying to put “fear and judgment” into the American people.


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CITY OF LEMON GROVE LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY INPUT ON REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN

 

By: Jessyka Heredia

 

January 22, 2024 (Lemon Grove) -- The City of Lemon Grove announced last week that it received a planning grant for the Lemon Grove Rezoning & Downtown Specific Plan Expansion (DSPE) Project. under SANDAG’s Housing Acceleration Program for Projects. The amount awarded was $300,000 in grant funds with a $33,500 (10%) in-kind match for a total project cost of $333,500.


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HOUSE PANEL TO TAKE UP BACKDOOR ATTACK ON SOCIAL SECURITY

"This commission is a poison pill designed to slash Social Security and Medicare behind closed doors."

By Jake Johnson, senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 Deed

Photo: House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Library of Congress

January 22, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) -- Social Security defenders sounded the alarm ahead of a Thursday House Budget Committee hearing and vote on the Fiscal Commission Act, bipartisan legislation that opponents say is a ploy to fast-track cuts to the popular New Deal program without political accountability.

"This commission is a poison pill designed to slash Social Security and Medicare behind closed doors," Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, said in a statement ahead of Thursday's markup. "The White House has accurately stated that such a commission is a 'death panel for Medicare and Social Security.'"


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FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SUSPENDS 'FAILING' PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

"Ron DeSantis should be forced to carry his Presidential campaign to term."

By Olivia Rosane, staff writer for Common Dreams, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 Deed

Photo: Facebook

January 22, 2024 (New Hampshire) -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Sunday that he was suspending his presidential campaign ahead of Tuesday's New Hampshire primary and endorsing former President Donald Trump.

DeSantis broke the news in a video posted on social media nearly a week after he finished 30 percentage points behind Trump in the Iowa caucuses.

"Ron DeSantis, a man who built his entire campaign on attacking and demonizing already marginalized communities, has finally suspended his failing Presidential campaign," Florida Representative Anna V. Eskamani, a Democrat, posted on social media in response to the news. "As Floridians we will be stuck with him until 2026, so continue to hold him accountable and demand better for Florida."


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SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE ON HOMELESS CAMPING BANS

By Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

January 20, 2024 (Sacramento) -- The U.S. Supreme Court will weigh in on whether cities can legally ban or limit unhoused people camping in public spaces — a case that could grant California officials more power to sweep homeless camps.

The case, originating from the Oregon city of Grants Pass, could overturn or narrow a five-year-old precedent from a federal appeals court that limited how much cities in Western states could criminalize those who sleep on the streets when there aren’t enough shelter spaces available.


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TONI ATKINS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2026

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

January 19, 2024 (San Diego) -- San Diego’s Toni Atkins yesterday signaled she would run for governor, and several news outlets say her announcement is expected today.

Atkins, 61, a Democrat who rose through the ranks of city politics to become the first gay leader of the state Senate, has filed paperwork to begin raising money for a gubernatorial bid in 2026.


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SENATOR BRIAN JONES SPEAKS OUT ON LOCAL ISSUES IN EXCLUSIVE ECM INTERVIEW

 

By Miriam Raftery

January 18, 2024 (San Diego)—East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery recently sat down for an exclusive interview with state Senator Brian Jones, who represents the 40th district and is also the minority leader in the California State Senate.

Issues discussed included homeowners losing insurance, the need to upgrade aging dams in the district, homelessness, housing, crime, and more.


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TOBACCO RETAILERS WILL NEED A LICENSE TO SELL IN LA MESA

Story and photo by Michael Howard

Photo: Tobacco retailers like this smoke shop will be subject to licensing later this year. 

January 15, 2024 (La Mesa, CA) - The La Mesa City Council adopted a new ordinance earlier this month that mandates tobacco retailers shall have a license to sell tobacco products.

The ordinance passed unanimously during the January 9,2024 City Council meeting upon Councilmember Jack Shu’s motion to adopt. Shu showed his support of the ordinance by wearing two lapel pins.

“One is ‘I love clean air’ and the other is a lung that was given to me for cleaner lungs by not smoking,” Shu said.


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COUNTY SUPERVISORS REELECT CHAIRWOMAN FOR 2024

January 11, 2024 (San Diego) -- The County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to select Supervisor Nora Vargas as the chairwoman for 2024.

Chairwoman Vargas served as board chairwoman last year. The chair acts as the voice of the county.

During Tuesday’s organizational meeting, Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer was reelected as vice chair and Supervisor Joel Anderson as chair pro tempore.


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COUNTY SUPPORTS FEDERAL INITIATIVE TO PROTECT IMMIGRANT MILITARY FAMILIES

January 8, 2024 (San Diego) -- The County’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs is promoting a federal immigration program that supports immigrant families of U.S. service members.  

The Military Parole in Place (MPIP) program provides some members of U.S. military families temporary permission to remain in the country while seeking permanent residency.  

The temporary immigration status allows spouses, widow(er)s, parents and children of U.S. service members to stay, work and travel freely in the United States. The Board of Supervisors previously approved promoting the program to reaffirm the County’s support for service members and their families. 

“Families can be divided when a loved one serves in the U.S. armed forces,” said Rick Wanne, Director of County Self Sufficiency Services. “This program allows them to be reunited in our country and recognizes our military men and women for their honorable and selfless service.”


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BIDEN’S FIRST CAMPAIGN SPEECH AT VALLEY FORGE WARNS OF THREATS TO DEMOCRACY; TRUMP POSTS MESSIANIC VIDEO

By Miriam Raftery

January 7, 2023 – A day before the anniversary of the deadly Jan.6,2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, President Joe Biden and his likely campaign opponent Donald Trump presented sharply divergent messages.

In a speech near Valley Forge, Biden spoke of General George Washington crossing the Delaware with patriot soldiers in 1777 to defeat the British and win freedom and democracy—the then radical idea that the people could govern themselves, without a king or dictator. “But if democracy fails, we’ll lose that freedom,” the President said.  He warned that Trump has openly announced plans to dismantle our democracy, stating bluntly, “Democracy is on the ballot.  Your freedom is on the ballot.”

Trump meanwhile posted a video on his social media platform that proclaimed “God created Trump” to be a “shepherd to mankind” who would be “willing to go into the den of vipers, call out the fake news for their tongues as sharp as the serpents” as well as “wrestle the deep state” and  “wield a sword.”


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MENDOZA ORDERED TO PAY $32,000 IN LEGAL FEES AFTER LOSING ANTI-SLAPP SUIT AWARDED TO LEBARON

By Jessyka Heredia

 

January 5, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Tuesday during a hearing over Zoom, Superior Court Judge Peter A. Lynch ruled that Lemon Grove Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza must pay fellow Councilmember Liana LeBaron’s $32,000 in legal fees from an anti SLAPP suit filed by LeBaron.


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CA FARM ANIMAL CRUELTY LAW TAKES FULL EFFECT

 

By Suzanne Potter, California News Servic

 

January 3, 2024 (Sacramento)-- Pork sold in California will now have to comply with Proposition 12.

The law bans some types of extreme confinement of farm animals, specifically gestation crates -- which are metal cages, often so small sows cannot turn around. Some provisions of the 2018 law have already gone into effect, concerning egg-laying hens and calves raised for veal.


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THE NEW CA LAWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

By Lynn La, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

January 2, 2024 (Sacramento) - Monday marked the day many new California laws went into effect, including the state’s new concealed firearm restrictions that, until Saturday, had been blocked by a federal judge. 


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REP. ISSA SEEKS TO MODERNIZE PASSPORT PROCESS TO END BACKLOGS FOR U.S. TRAVELERS

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San DIego Online News Association

Photo:  a U.S. passport. Photo via Pixabay

December 26, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) - Legislation by Rep. Darrell Issa to modernize the U.S. passport system and eliminate backlogs is moving forward in Congress.


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LEMON GROVE CITY EMPLOYEES RECEIVE A 3% RAISE; CITY MANAGER RECEIVES 5.5%

 

By: Jessyka Heredia

Watch video here

 

December 22, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove’s City Council on Tuesday voted 3-0 (with Councilmembers Liana LeBaron and George Gastil both absent) for a 3% raise for all non-contracted employees. The Council also approved an amendment for a 3% increase to the City Managers pay, a half percent increase above what her contract states as well as an additional 2.5 making a total of 5.5% increase.


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YEAR IN REVIEW: CALIFORNIA DESCENDS INTO BUDGET DEFICIT

By Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo:  Gov. Gavin Newsom unveils his budget proposal for the 2023-24 fiscal year during a press briefing at the California Natural Resources Agency in Sacramento on Jan. 10, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

December 19, 2023 (Sacramento) - Two seemingly diametrically opposed things were both true about California’s budget in 2023.

The state had to pare down its spending as it confronted a nearly $32 billion deficit for 2023-24. Nonetheless, the final spending plan for the general fund was still the second largest on record — $308 billion in total. As recently as 2019, the budget was less than $200 billion.

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EAST COUNTY REP. DARRELL ISSA JOINS GOP VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Rep. Darrell Issa at Gold Star Family hearing last August in Escondido. Photo by Chris Stone

December 14, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) - The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to formally authorize its ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden as Republicans unite behind the effort even though they have yet to find evidence of wrongdoing by the Democrat.


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POLL WORKERS NEEDED FOR MARCH 5 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

December 13, 2023 (San Diego) - Poll workers, especially those who are bilingual in any one of 10 specific languages, are needed for the March 5 Presidential Primary Election.


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COUNTY SUPERVISORS APPROVE $3M IN FUNDING FOR MIGRANT SERVICES - BUT TOWNS CLOSEST TO BORDER BREECHES NOT ALLOCATED FUNDS

 

By Rebecca Person

 

December 13, 2023 (Jacumba Hot Springs, CA) -- Local volunteers in isolated East county border towns Jacumba and Boulevard are seeking support for humanitarian aid for migrants via a new crowd-funding campaign.  Volunteers set up this fundraising account in the face of a lack of  support by government entities such as Border Patrol and the National Guard and nonprofits such as the Red Cross, which have failed to utilize their resources to help masses of border crossers still arriving on U.S. ground. Border Patrol has directed them into barren detention sites with zero supplies. Water, shelter and food resources are being supplied mostly by volunteers through donations.


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SANDAG ADDS ADVISORY MEMBER TO REPRESENT UNINCORPORATED AREAS

By Jessyka Heredia

December 10, 2023 (San Diego County)—Friday, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) unanimously voted in both the Executive Committee meeting and the Board of Directors meeting to approve adding an advisory member to represent the unincorporated areas of San Diego County.


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LA MESA LEADERS END E-BILLBOARD PLANS

 

By Miriam Raftery

December 13, 2023 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Mayor Mark  Arapostathis and Vice Mayor Laura Lothian introduced a motion at the Dec. 12 City Council meeting directing staff to terminate the request for proposals  (RFP)  for electronic billboards. By a unanimous vote, the City Council voted to reject electronic billboards and end the RFP,  following an ECM investigation that found a history of many serious traffic accidents where the billboards were proposed to be installed.

“After considering substantial citizen commentary and careful evaluation regarding this matter, we believe that the placement and installation of digital billboards in La Mesa is inappropriate at this time,” the agenda attachment for item 8.1 stated. “Therefore, rather than expend valuable staff time, resources, and effort processing the RFP, we request that the Council immediately (at this meeting) redirect staff to terminate the RFP and all related actions.”


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LA MESA TO ROLL OUT LICENSE PLATE READERS


By Michael Howard

 

December 8, 2023 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa City Council voted on Nov.28 to join 15 San Diego County cities and agencies in installing 20 automated license plate readers (ALPR) in high traffic areas throughout the city at a cost of $124,500 for a two-year period. 

 

The vote passed 4-1, with Vice Mayor Laura Lothian casting the only dissenting vote.


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UNINCORPORATED AREA CREATES ASSOCIATION TO HAVE A VOICE AT SANDAG

By: Jessyka Heredia

December 7, 2023 (San Diego County)—Tomorrow the newly formed Association of Planning Groups-San Diego County will find out if SANDAG will allow the group, comprised of all 18 Planning Groups in the unincorporated areas, to have an advisory role on the SANDAG board. Currently there is no representation for the unincorporated communities.


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LEMON GROVE VOTES TO ADOPT NEW MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT REGULATIONS

By Jessyka Heredia

WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE

Article updated to clartify the views of applicant Pick Axe Holdings and not the opinion of ECM. 

December 6, 2023 (LEMON GROVE)— Lemon Grove is home to 12 massage facilities and is making new policies to cut the number of massage establishments down to eight, require background checks for all owners and managers and display of their therapist certificate issued by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). The ordinance will also regulate what hours they can operate and set other rules.


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LEMON GROVE APPROVES MAJOR PARK UPGRADES ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM PROP 68 GRANT FUNDS

WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE

By Jessyka Heredia

An earlier version of this artile mistakenly reported the Council voted 5-0. The vote was 4-1with LeBaron voting no.

December 6, 2023 (Lemon Grove) —Yesterday the Lemon Grove City Council unanimously voted to move forward with installing all new playground structures at Lemon Grove Park, thanks to the Proposition 68 Per Capita Grant Program. This non-competitive grant program provides funding to local government agencies to support the rehabilitation, creation and improvement of local parks and to address deficiencies in neighborhoods lacking access to outdoor recreation facilities. Lemon Grove currently only has two parks with playground equipment and a recreation center that lost all funding over 12 years ago.


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GOP REP. ISSA VOTES IN VAIN AGAINST THE EXPULSION OF INDICTED REP. GEORGE SANTOS

By Ken Stone,Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

December 3, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) - Indicted Republican George Santos’ brief career in the House of Representatives came to an end Friday, when fellow lawmakers voted to expel the New Yorker over criminal corruption charges and accusations of misspending campaign money.


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A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP

 

By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office

Video by Suzanne Bartole

December 1, 2023 (San Diego) - It’s been a little over a year since the Safe Parking site opened below the State Route 67 overpass on North Magnolia Ave. in East County. The space had previously grown into a large encampment where drug use was common and trash spilled into the street.


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LA MESA CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS GET HEFTY PAY RAISE

By Michael Howard

Photo: Council Salary Adjustment Citizen Panel member Aaron Landua acknowledges his fellow panel members at the October 24 La Mesa City Council meeting

November 29, 2023(La Mesa) -- After 18 years without getting a pay raise, the La Mesa City Council members voted to give themselves a hefty 90% pay increase at their regularly scheduled November 14 meeting.

The ordinance passed unanimously and will amend section 2.04.010 of the La Mesa Municipal Code to increase each city council member’s salary from $1,000 per month to $1,900 per month.  The move also increases the mayor’s compensation by an additional $1,900, reflecting the dual role a mayor plays as both council member and mayor, bringing the mayor’s total monthly salary to $3,800 a month, or a 135% increase.

The increase doesn’t take effect until after the November 2024 elections, which means current pay rates remain the same until then.


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ALEX WELLING, CAJON VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT CANDIDATE, SEEKS IMPROVED TEST SCORES, OVERSIGHT, AND RESPECT FOR PARENTS

 

“We have one of the highest paid superintendents in the state of California, so why are test scores continuing to tank? “ – Alex Welling

By Miriam Raftery

November 25, 2023 (El Cajon) – In an exclusive interview, Alex Welling, candidate running for the Trustee area 5 seat on the Cajon Valley Union School District board of trustees, speaks out. He’s concerned about respecting parents’ rights, increasing transparency, improving low standardized test scores, and holding staff accountable. He has also called for an audit of district finances.

He’s a conservative challenging board  chairman Jim Miller; both are Republicans. Welling has a master’s in legal studies as well as bachelor’s degrees in political science and government.  He’s the communications manager of wildfire resiliency for SDG&E and previously served a public communications officer for SANDAG and as field director for the American Action Network devoted to free market principals. He’s also served on the city of Chula Vista’s board of ethics.

View video  of East County Magazine’s interview,  hear audio aired on KNSJ Radio, or scroll down for highlights.

Audio: 


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