Politics

UNITED METHODISTS JOIN PRAYER VIGIL FOR GUN CONTROL

By UM News

Photos by Mike DuBose

August 22, 2023 (Nashville, Tenn.) -- Gun reform supporters, including United Methodist clergy and church members, gathered for an early morning prayer vigil at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, yesterday. The gathering came as lawmakers begin a special legislative session focused on public safety and mental health following a mass shooting at the Covenant School here in March. The Rev. Ingrid McIntyre, a United Methodist pastor, helped organize the vigil.


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REP. JACOBS CALLS CONSERVATIVE COURT'S RULING AGAINST MIFEPRISTONE 'GROSS ATTACK' ON WOMEN

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

Photo: Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, East County Magazine Zoom Interview (2021)

August 19, 2023 (San Diego) -- Rep. Sara Jacobs on Wednesday called the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling against access to the abortion drug mifepristone a “gross attack on our bodies and freedom.”


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JANESSA GOLDBECK CONCEDES IN D4 RACE FOR SUPERVISOR, CONGRATULATES DEM RIVAL

Janessa Goldbeck

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

Janessa Goildbeck campaign photo

August 18, 2023 (San Diego) - Democrat Janessa Goldbeck on Thursday conceded her loss in Tuesday’s county supervisor election, saying in a statement: “It appears that our campaign does not have a path to victory.”


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JUSTICE FOR RENTERS ACT QUALIFIES FOR NOVEMBER 2024 BALLOT

By Branda Gorgies

 

Photos by Eric Brehm and Ivan Bandura on Unsplash and Creative Commons via Bing

 

August 16, 2023 (California) – The “Justice for Renters” Act is officially on the November 2024 ballot. If approved by voters, it would repeal a law that bans rent control statewide on most housing, allowing local governments to enact ordinances to limit rent hikes.


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JUDGE DENIES MENDOZA’S REQUEST TO EXTEND RESTRAINING ORDER , MAY ORDER HER TO PAY LEGAL FEES IN LEBARON’S ANTI-SLAPP SUIT

 

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch Full Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wkN9EZZbEw

 

August 15, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- Lemon Grove Councilmember Liana LeBaron came out as the lone victor in the restraining order filed back in February by Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza Monday at the El Cajon Superior court. Mendoza may also have to pay LeBaron’s legal fees in an anti-SLAPP suit (Strategic Lawsuit against A Public Participation) counter suit filed by LeBaron.


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EL CAJON HALTS FUNDING FOR EAST COUNTY HOMELESS TASK FORCE, BUT LEAVES DOOR OPEN FOR FUTURE FUNDING

 

By Jacob Pamus

 

Photo:  Pastor Rolland Slade speaks out on Council's decision to defund the task force.

 

 

Updated August 21 with statements from Bonnie Baranoff, Coordinatorof the East County Homeless  Task Force, disputing the city's assertions and media statements.

 

August 16, 2023  (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council majority voted to drop its funding for the East County Homeless Task Force.  Ironically El Cajon has the most homeless among East County communities and 16% of the homeless in San Diego County. 


City Manager, Graham Mitchell said during a Council meeting in late July that even though El Cajon’s interests do align with the task force, “Over time, that alignment has been shifting.” Mitchell  noted that initially he was in support of the task force because of how many different perspectives were involved, including law enforcement and business oriented individuals, but now he does not see that.


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STEPPE LEADS IN SUPERVISORIAL RACE, WHICH APPEARS HEADED FOR A RUN-OFF

By Miriam Raftery

August 15, 2023 (San Diego) – Early results in the 4th Supervisorial district special election show San Diego Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe, a Democrat, with a strong lead at 40.71%  However the race appears likely to head to a run-off in November, if no candidate receives more than 50%.

Republican Amy Reichert, a small business owner and founder of Reopen  San Diego, is in second place with 28.67%, followed by Marine veteran and veterans’ advocate Janessa Goldbeck at 25.51.  Trailing at a distant fourth is Paul McQuigg, a Republican and advocate for disabled vets. Steppe has 31,418 votes thus far, Reichert 22,126,  Goldbeck 19,681, and McQuigg 3,941.


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EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL LOOKS AT A NEW LARGE SCALE FARMERS MARKET AND WAYS TO USE $4 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS

By: Jessyka Heredia

Photos from City of El Cajon meeting and presentation

 

August 14, 2023 (El Cajon) – The  El Cajon City Council on Tuesday was given a presentation by the city’s marketing and engagement manager, Chris Berg, about a new farmers market idea that includes a beer garden, farmers, artisan foods and goods plus three concert stages and more. The proposal is much larger in scope than other farmers markets around the county.

The City Manager, Graham Mitchell, also introduced three different proposals to the Council on possible projects to use their remaining ARPA funds on.


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SPECIAL PROSECUTOR APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE HUNTER BIDEN; DEMOCRATS TO RELEASE REPORT ON TRUMP FAMILY PROFITEERING

By Miriam Raftery

August 13, 2023 (Washington D.C.)—Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday that he has appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss to serve as a special prosecutor to oversee the probe into Hunter Biden, the son of  President Joe Biden.  Weiss was already overseeing the Justice Department’s investigation of Hunter Biden, but a special prosecutor has more independence to launch a potentially broader probe and report directly to Garland. 

Weiss was nominated by then-President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate. Despite this, some  Republican leaders have criticized his appointment as special prosecutor, because Weiss oversaw a plea deal that has since fallen apart.


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LA MESA CITY COUNCIL VOTES DOWN ELECTRONIC BILLBOARDS

By Jacob Pamus

 

Image: Rendering of a proposed e-billboard in La Mesa

 

August 8, 2023 (La Mesa) – On July 25, the La Mesa City Council rejected a recommendation of an ad hoc committee known as the “Digital Billboard Ad-hoc Subcommittee.” Councilwoman Patricia Dillard and Councilman Jack Shu are in this subcommittee; its purpose was to issue a request for proposals with billboard companies to build digital billboards in La Mesa.

 

But ultimately, Shu and Dillard shifted their stances to oppose electronic billboards.


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STARTING SATURDAY, SEVEN VOTE CENTERS OPEN FOR SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION IN SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 4 RACE

East County News Service

Sources:  San Diego County News Service and San Diego County Registrar of Voters

August 4, 2023 (San Diego) -- If you live in District Four and would like to vote for a new County supervisor in person, you can do so before Election Day. In addition to voting at the Registrar’s office, you can cast your ballot at any one of seven vote centers starting Saturday, Aug. 5 through August 15. Or you can drop your ballot off at ballot drop-off sites. 

See below for lists of both in-person voting centers and ballot drop-off sites.

 

View our forum with candidates and read a summary of their responses .


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LEMON GROVE ADOPTS EMERGENCY SHELTER ORDINANCE TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS IN THE EAST COUNTY

By Jessyka Heredia

Photos provided by Shane O'Garro

 

August 1, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – On July 18, Lemon Grove was the fourth city in East County to pass an emergency ordinance that will pave the way to hopefully having more shelter beds in East County and sharing the burden with other East County cities by applying for grant money as a region instead of individual cities The Council voted 4-0 with Liana LeBaron  absent.


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FACT CHECK: DID MONTGOMERY STEPPE SUPPORT DEFUNDING THE POLICE?

 

Monica Montgomery Steppe has continuously voted to approve city budgets that increase the police department spending. However, she has proposed overtime cuts and sought opportunities to reallocate funding.

by Andrea Lopez-Villafaña  Originally published in Voice of San Diego

August 4, 2023 (San Diego) -- Monica Montgomery Steppe has continuously voted to approve city budgets that increase the police department spending. However, she has proposed overtime cuts and sought opportunities to reallocate funding.

So we’ve been getting a lot of calls about a mailer.  

The San Diego Police Officers Association sent it to damage San Diego Councilwoman Monica Montgomery Steppe’s image as she runs for the county supervisor seat former County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher vacated.


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MILITARY FIREFIGHTERS ARE UNJUSTLY DENIED VA BENEFITS: HOW THE MICHAEL LECIK MILITARY FIREFIGHTERS PROTECTION ACT MIGHT CHANGE THAT

By Miguel Leyva

Photo by Marine Corporal J.R Heins

August 4, 2023 (San Diego) --Working as a firefighter entails numerous dangers, from smoke inhalation to crush injuries from collapsing structures. Still, a more insidious health threat these courageous people face is toxic exposure, as a fire can release many hazardous agents, including carbon monoxide, benzene, asbestos, hydrogen cyanide, particulates, and sulphur dioxide. Even if they wear the maximum feasible protective equipment, firefighters are inevitably exposed to these substances to a significant extent. Because of occupational toxic exposure, cancer is the leading cause of death in firefighters. They have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% greater risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population. 

Unfortunately, military firefighters are no exception, as they encounter the same health hazards on the job, if not more.


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MCCONNELL, FEINSTEIN HEALTH ISSUES RAISE CONCERNS OVER AGING SENATORS


By Jacob Pamus

 

On July 26, 81-year-old Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell abruptly froze mid sentence for around 20 seconds during a press conference, he was escorted away and later returned to finish.It is unknown for sure what the cause of this behavior is, whether it was related to his concussion in March from falling earlier this year.

 

But the symptoms can also be a sign of a mini-stroke, known as a Trasient Ischemic Attack (TSI) or even a major stroke.. Whether you support Mitch Mconnell,  a Republican, or not it is important to recognize how dangerous a stroke can be, especially for older individuals. If you suspect someone is having a stroke, you need to call 911 immediately for proper treatment since the longer it takes to get treatment, the higher the risk of damage to the brain.

 

This incident, along with health issues involving California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, who is 90, also raises concerns over the fitness of some long-serving members of Congress.


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‘MOST SIGNIFICANT CHARGES YET': TRUMP INDICTED FOR TRYING TO OVERTURN 2020 ELECTION

"Holding Trump accountable for his crimes pulls our democracy back from the precipice and prevents his criminal attempt to overturn an election from being forgotten or normalized," said one watchdog leader.

By Jessica Corbett. at Common Dreams

Aug 01, 2023 (Washington D.C.) --  Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday was indicted by a federal grand jury in Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and incite the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Trump—now the leading candidate for the GOP's 2024 presidential nomination—faces four charges: conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights.


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ISSA BILL TO STREAMLINE HIRING OF FEDERAL FIREFIGHTERS PASSES COMMITTEE



Image: CC via Bing

July 31, 2023 (Washington, DC)  — The House Committee on Natural Resources unanimously approved legislation authored by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) by a 32-0 vote last week. The bill would streamline and accelerate hiring of critically needed federal firefighter personnel.

The legislation – H.R. 3499, Direct Hire to Fight Fires – grants permanent “direct hire” authority to federal firefighting agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service. Some of California’s worst wildfires have burned federal lands, including Cleveland National Forest in San Diego County.

“An indispensable strategy in taking on the severe fires we know are on the way is to deploy the necessary personnel to stop these blazes wherever they occur,” said Issa. “With this new hiring authority, our federal agencies can bring together the teams of firefighters we need to hold the line, halt the destruction, and save lives and property that are too often lost forever.”


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NOVEMBER BALLOT INTIATIVE ISSUES INCLUDE RENT CONTROL, MINIMUM WAGE, TAXES, LOW-INCOME HOUSING, AND LABOR ISSUES

By Miriam Raftery

Image: CC via Bing

July 29, 2023 (Sacramento) – California voters will decide next year whether or not to raise the state’s minimum wage, allow local governments to approve rent control, tax the rich to fund prevention of future pandemics, ban workers from suing employers over state labor law violations, and make it harder for voters, state or local governments to raise taxes.  Backers of these measures have submitted enough signatures verified by county election officials to be eligible to qualify for the ballot by 131 days before the next statewide election.


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LA MESA COUNCIL BACKS EXPANDING LIBRARY, NOT BUILDING A NEW ONE

By Jacob Pamus

Photo, right: Interior of existing library


July 27, 2023 (La Mesa) – In July, 2021, La Mesa created a library task force to decide what changes would be made to the San Diego County Library in La Mesa. On July 25th, three options were presented to the La Mesa City Council. All three would result in approximately the same sized facility, around 16,000 square feet, but with different layouts. Two would entail expanding the existing structure, while the third would have authorizing construction of a new facility.


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TRUMP FACES NEW CHARGES OF OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE, ORDERING VIDEOS DESTROYED

By Miriam Raftery

July 28, 2023 (Miami, FL) – Special Prosecutor Jack Smith has issued an updated indictment in the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump. It adds new charges alleging that Trump ordered a staffer to delete surveillance video at  his Mar-a-Lago estate to coverup evidence of crimes, after Trump learned that the U.S. Department of Justice was seeking the video during its investigation. Read the new indictment.

The revised indictment also charges a new defendant, Carlos DeOliveira, the head of maintenance at Mar-a-Lago. Prosecutors allege that Trump spoke with Oliveira and his valet, Walt Nauta, and that the two employees then told a third employee to delete the security footage because “the boss” wanted the videos destroyed. However, the third employee reportedly balked at destroying evidence and has not been charged; he may be a cooperating witness.

The indictment charges Trump, Nauta and Oliveira with violating two federal laws in an attempt to destroy evidence, which suggests that the video was not destroyed and may be shown to jurors. Those statutes make it illegal to corruptly destroy or tamper with a record to impair its use in an official proceeding, and to corruptly try and persuade someone else to alter or destroy evidence.


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LEMON GROVE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING TO NEGOTIATE BETTER WAGES AND BENEFITS WITH THE CITY

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch full video here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJOZ2axvBX0

 

July 21, 2023 (Lemon Grove)—On Tuesday, members of the Lemon Grove public works department, their family members and union representatives filled the audience during public comment at the Lemon Grove City Council meeting. They asked for the city’s support in negotiations currently underway with the city and Local Union 127 that represents city workers.


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SUPERVISOR CANDIDATES SPEAK OUT ON EAST COUNTY ISSUES IN ECM FORUM

By Miriam Raftery

View video of forum

Hear audio aired on KNSJ: part 1; part 2

July 23, 2023 (San Diego’s East County)—Ballots have been mailed for the special election in the 4th Supervisorial District to fill the vacancy left by Nathan Fletcher’s resignation. East County Magazine hosted a forum for the candidates, who spoke out on issues including homelessness, housing, energy, policing, drug addiction, sand mines, wildfire safety, and more. ECM editor Miriam Raftery moderated the forum.

August 15 is the last day to vote in the special election primary.

The three candidates who participated are Monica Montgomery Steppe, an attorney and president pro tem of the San Diego City Council, Amy Reichert, a private investigator and founder of Reopen San Diego, and Janessa Goldbeck, a former Marine and CEO of a nonprofit helping veterans.  (A fourth candidate, Paul McQuigg, a military veteran and U.S. Labor Dept. employee, RSVP’d that he would attend but said he was unable to get connectivity for the forum on Zoom while traveling overseas.)

Click the video to view highlights of the forum,  listen to audio for the version aired on radio (edited slightly for length), and scroll down to read highlights.

Audio: 


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SANTEE CITY COUNCIL DUMPS ROUNDABOUT PROJECT, COSTING CITY MORE THAN $800,000

By Mike Allen

Image:  Plan for roundabout by Dokken Engineering. Santee spent about $800,000 on engineering and design work since 2015, funds that will be lost if city doesn’t build it.

July 22, 2023 (Santee) -- Last month, the Santee City Council eliminated a project to build a roundabout at the Highway 67 off ramp at Woodside Avenue, costing the city about $800,000 it had spent on design and engineering plans going back to 2015.

The decision was made June 14, during a discussion of the city’s capital improvement program (CIP), essentially a wish list of projects over the next five years. While no formal vote was taken, at least three Santee councilmembers said the roundabout or traffic circle wasn’t necessary and would likely cause more traffic problems than the current, four-stop configuration.


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WITH NO GOP SUPPORT, SENATE PANEL PASSES BILL REQUIRING SUPREME COURT TO ADOPT ETHICS CODE

"Republicans are making clear they will defend their corrupt allies on the Supreme Court no matter what," said one campaigner. The bill is not likely to become law, due to opposition in the GOP-controlled  House.

By Jake Johnson, Common Dreams

Photo: Justice Clarence Thomas,via Library of Congress 2012. Thoms has drawn criticiism for accepting lavish trips and other gifts from a billionaire, actions which would be illegal for judges at any other level of the court system.

July 20, 2023 (Washington D.C.) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday advanced legislation that would require the U.S. Supreme Court to adopt an enforceable code of ethics and adhere to stronger disclosure rules following a series of revelations about the luxury trips and other gifts justices have received from right-wing billionaires.

Led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act advanced out of committee without any Republican support.


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FAKE ELECTORS FACE CHARGES, INVESTIGATIONS IN SEVERAL STATES: TRUMP NOW A TARGET OF PROBE INTO EFFORTS TO STEAL 2020 ELECTION

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Boxes hold electoral college electors' votes, awaiting certification by Vice President Mike Pence in Congress on January 6, 2021.  Photo courtesy of Senator Jeff Merkley.

July 19, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – Former President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he received notice that he is a target of a federal grand jury investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The Grand Jury has been looking into the violent attack on the U.S. capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.  That attack included plans by insurrectionists to halt the counting of votes and now appears tied to a conspiracy to certify fake electors from multiple states and substitute them for the real electors’ votes.

The U.S. Department of Justice and some states have launched probes into the fake elector scheme,with the first arrests announced in Michigan, where felony charges have been filed. Here’s the latest, according to Newsweek:


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COMMON LOGICAL FALLACIES TO WATCH OUT FOR IN POLITICS

 

By Branda Gorgies

Images:  Creative Commons via Bing

 

July 15, 2023 (San Diego) – Whenever a major political event occurs, misinformation becomes rampant. With the upcoming presidential nominee election, false information can be spread to influence public opinion from various people, organizations, and even foreign governments.

To be a well-informed voter, it’s necessary to protect against this misinformation. While reputable news organizations including East County Magazine strive to report factual and unbiased information, not all publications will–let alone social media memes that may go viral without links to verify sources.

This article brings to light some tactics that might appear in future elections or issue discussions to ensure that people vote with only the truth in mind.


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TONI ATKINS MARKS SAN DIEGO PRIDE WITH BILL TO BOOST NATIONWIDE ACCEPTANCE OF LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

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

Photo:  Sen. Toni Atkins speaks during a press conference to promote her Senate Bill 447. With her are Assemblymember Chris Ward (left), Sen. Steve Padilla and Fernando Lopez, executive director of San Diego Pride. Photo by Chris Jennewein

July 15, 2023 (San Diego) - State Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins welcomed San Diego Pride on Friday with with an emotional pitch for legislation that would enable California to lead the nation in expanding acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community


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ISSA COUATHORS HERO ACT TO AID SERVICE MEMBERS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

East County News Service 

July 15, 2023 (San Diego) -- Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) was joined by House colleagues Richard Hudson (NC-09), Michael Waltz (FL-06), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) this week to introduce H.R. 4334 – “The HERO Act.”  If enacted, it would grant service members who are victims of medical malpractice in a Dept. of Defense medical treatment facility the right to take their claim to District Court.


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LA MESA FENDS OFF GUN-RIGHTS SPEAKERS, ADVANCES LAW FOR SAFE STORAGE AT HOME


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ECM TO HOST FORUM FOR SUPERVISOR CANDIDATES

July 7, 2023 (San Diego) – East County Magazine will host an online forum for the four candidates running for the District 4 seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.  All four candidates have agreed to participate in the forum on Monday, July 17 at 12:30 p.m. The forum will be live-streamed on Facebook and a recorded copy will be posted on our news site.

The special election will be held  August 15. If no candidate receives a majority, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff on Nov. 7.

The qualifying candidates are:

  • Janessa Goldbeck, Marine veteran and CEO of Vet Voice Foundation
  • Paul McQuigg, Military veteran and speaker for disabled veterans
  • Amy Reichert, small business owner and founder of ReOpen San Diego
  • Monica Montgomery Steppes, President Pro Tem of the San Diego City Council

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