Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

October 12, 2023 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District will be demonstrating support for undocumented students by joining community colleges across California in Undocumented Student Action Week October 16-20. Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges will be holding a wide range of events in support of undocumented students and immigrants.

Students are encouraged to visit the Together We Rise Center at Cuyamaca College or the Dream Center at Grossmont College, which offer programs and services to help empower undocumented students to achieve their academic and personal pursuits.  Both centers serve as a resource to help students with access to higher education, advocacy and educational materials, campus-based and community services, current events, engagement activities, legal aid referrals, legislative updates, and more.

East County Supervisors, candidate for vacant seat split on views over migrant aid

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left:  Migrants in Jacumba Hot Springs in May 2023

October 12, 2023 (San Diego) – By a 3-0 vote,  San Diego County Supervisors on Tuesday approved allocating $3 million in federal American Rescue Act funds to aid nonprofit groups that have become overwhelmed by waves of migrants in our region. Agencies through the region’s  Rapid Response Network are handling hundreds of asylum seekers daily in recent weeks. The funding will provide immediate aid with a goal of consolidating resources into a proposed migrant center in the future.

An estimated 98% of these migrants have family in the U.S., according to the proposal. But after being processed and screened by Border Patrol agents, many are being dropped off at transit stations without food, water, translation services, or any means of contacting relatives or traveling to reunite with their families. Recently, many migrants have been held temporarily in scorching desert heat in areas such as Jacumba and Boulevard without shade, water or food; community volunteers have stepped up to provide tarps, water, and sandwiches in what ECM reporter Rebecca Person termed “peanut butter diplomacy.” One immigrant called a volunteer offering food “an angel.”

An award-winning ECM report in May led the Southern Border Communities Coalition to file a federal complaint with Homeland Security over alleged mistreatment of migrants in violation of U.S. and international laws.

The use of the federal funds approved by Supervisors, intended as a three-month stopgap measure while the  County pushes for more federal money, will be used to help migrants and asylum seekers with translation help, transportation, food, water, hygiene kits, restrooms, access to Wi-Fi and equipment to reach relatives and move beyond San Diego to their destination, while asylum seekers await hearings in immigration court.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 12, 2023 (San Diego) -- The County of San Diego released an Annual Report earlier this month that listed numerous accomplishments and stated that the County, the public it serves, local cities, community groups and organizations are better when they work together.

By Rebecca Person

Photos by R. Person and Noah Miller

October 10, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) -- What began as a trickle of migrant activity at the Mexican border outside small towns in the farthest corner of east San Diego County has surged to a humanitarian crisis - a river, a deluge of hundreds of border crossings here daily. The scene has mirrored and surpassed the crisis last May, when the towns of Jacumba Hot Springs and Boulevard felt a sudden wave of migrants when Title 42 was lifted and Title 8 returned.

Those changes allowed migrants to apply for asylum.  But for those not able to qualify for asylum, crossing the border can lead to formal deportation back to one’s country of origin and possible criminal prosecution if the person makes a second entry within five years. 

Humanitarian groups such as Border Kindness have joined local resident volunteers and some church groups to bring a steady supply of donations - bottled water, blankets, jackets and tarps to migrants camped along the border fence. Also sandwiches, especially the peanut butter kind.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Screenshot of Indigenous People’s Day video posted by San Diego Miramar College on Facebook.

October 10, 2023 (San Diego) -- Indigenous People’s cultural awareness day was celebrated in different ways in San Diego County in 2023. Here are some of the events and activities that took place:

At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians hosted an all-day event that included tellings of the tribe’s cultural stories and exhibitions of the tribe’s art and craftsmanship. There were also traditional foods available throughout the park. There was an opening blessing ceremony at 10 a.m., a closing prayer at 4 p.m., and live music performed by members of the San Pasqual band.

At San Diego Miramar College, there was an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration with free frybread tacos and a musical performance by the Soaring Eagles of Southern California.

By Jacob Pamus

The United Auto Workers (UAW) continues to expand, with the strike now in its 26th day. On Sept. 29, the UAW added new locations: Fords’ Chicago Assembly plant and General Motors Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant in Michigan. The number of workers striking is now over 25,000.

Today, Canadian autoworkers walked out on strike against Ford in solidarity with the UAW in the U.S.

Editor's Note: Well, at least he was honest

By Rachel Mipro, Kansas Reflector

Marion police chief resigns after body cam footage shows him rifling through records about himself

October 9, 2023 (Marion, Kansas) — Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody has resigned, less than two months after he instigated a widely covered raid on a local newspaper that culminated in a federal lawsuit and one woman’s death. 

East County News Service

October 9, 2023 (Ramona) -- A woman has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting a house fire in Ramona early this morning.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department received a call around 6 a.m. from one of two residents at a home in the 200 block of Haley Street,  stating that their house was on fire.   

By Miriam Raftery

October 7, 2023 (San Diego) – The San Diego Jewish Federation today announced that the attacks by Hamas on Israel including in Sha’ar HaNegev, San Diego’s sister city, has had “terrible consequences…Our dear friend, Mayor Ofir Libstein z”l’ was killed in a gun battle with Hamas terrorists early this morning.”

The SDJF has launched a fundraising drive to help families impactedin Sha’arHaNegev, and assures, “We are assessing the situation in partnership with the leadership of the municipality and will make sure all dollars donated go directly to the areas of greatest need.” You can learn more or donate at https://www.jewishinsandiego.org/.

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 6, 2023 (San Diego) - It’s no trick! Take advantage of an October treat during National Dog Adoption Month.  The San Diego County Department of Animal Services is waiving dog adoption fees throughout October to help find loving homes for dogs who have been in the shelter for more than 14 days.

"We have folks getting injured on the job because they're trying to do too much and see too many people and work too quickly," said one union leader, demanding better staffing levels. "It's not a sustainable situation."

By Jake Johnson, staff writer, Common Dreams

Photo:  Kaiser Permanente workers are seen on strike in Roseville, California on October 4, 2023. (Photo: SEIU-UHW)

Reprinted under a Creative Commons license from Common Dreams

October 4, 2023 (San Diego) - Tens of thousands of healthcare workers across the United States began a three-day strike against Kaiser Permanente on Wednesday to protest the nonprofit hospital giant's alleged unfair labor practices, bad-faith bargaining, inadequate wages and chronic staff shortages that employees say are harming them and patients.

Governor Gavin Newsom has selected Laphonza Butler to complete Senator Feinstein's term in the U.S. Senate

By Lynn La, Cal Matters

October 2, 2023 (Sacramento) -- Late Sunday evening, Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed that Laphonza Butler, president of EMILYs List — a political action committee focused on electing pro-choice, Democratic women — will replace the late U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and finish out her term through 2024.

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – President Joe Biden has signed a stopgap bill to prevent a government shutdown threatened by right-wing Republicans.  The measure funds the government for 45 days.

All five members of San Diego County’s Congressional delegation voted Saturday keep the federal government open.  The  Spending Reduction and Border Security Act, as the stopgap bill was called, passed with House Democrats joining some Republicans to pass the measure, though 91 Republicans voted against it.

The Senate later passed the stopgap measure, which President Joe Biden signed over the weekend.

The stopgap bill will provide short-term funding for federal employees, from military members and Border Patrol agents to air traffic controllers and national park rangers. But it does not include aide to Ukraine, which far-right Republican legislators have refused to support.

East County News Service

September 30, 2023 (El Cajon) –  A homeless sex offender exposed himself to a  66-year-old woman waiting at a bus stop in El Cajon on Sept.22 at 1 p.m.

According to Lt. Jeremiah Larson, the suspect told the woman he would not hurt her. The victim ran towards people nearby and asked for help to call police. Officers arrived and arrested  ClarenceWhite,62, for indecent exposure.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: C-span screenshot  of impeachment inquiry opening hearing

September 29, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – With a government shutdown set to cripple the economy just days away,  House Republicans have failed to pass a budget and instead, focused their efforts on opening an impeachment inquiring hearing yesterday. The GOP leaders say the hearing aims to investigate claims of corruption or bribery involving President Joe Biden, but even expert witnesses called by the  Republicans testified that so far,  there is no solid evidence to support such claims.

This is not a hearing that will result in a vote to impeach the president, but rather an impeachment inquiry to determine whether or not there is evidence of any high crimes or misdemeanors that could warrant a separate impeachment hearing.

Meanwhile a vote to prevent a shutdown failed, as Republicans in the House reneged on an earlier budget agreement with Biden. Even a stopgap spending measure has thus far failed,  meaning in two days, federal workers will stop getting paid for jobs ranging from military positions to TSA agents at airports, national park rangers to Border Patrol officers.