By Miriam Raftery

March 14, 2019 (Washington D.C.) – In direct contradiction to his campaign trail promises not to cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid, President Donald Trump has proposed a budget that would deeply slash all of these programs—programs which help the elderly, the poor and the disabled.

“I was the first & only potential GOP candidate to state there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid,” Trump tweeted on May 7, 2015, adding, “Huckabee copied me.”  He repeated that pledge in media interviews and at rallies.

His proposed new budget, however, would cut trillions of dollars from Medicaid and Medicare. Social Security would also be slashed by $25 million over the next 10 years, including whacking $10 billion from the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for people who are unable work.

The administration claims it will make up for these deep cuts in Social Security,Medicare and Medicaid programs by finding waste, fraud and abuse. But if not enough waste, fraud or abuse is found--and there have been years of efforts to do--benefits to recipients could be reduced reduced and some poor, disabled and elderly Americans might be denied medical or disability coverage completely.

Source:  RFFC

March 13, 2019 (San Diego) -- The Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) of Greater San Diego County (RCDGSDC) and Inland Empire (IERCD) were each awarded $1.5 million by the California Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Conservation to improve forest health and increase fire resiliency throughout key segments of San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties.

Source: Caltrans

March 12, 2019 (Spring Valley) -- Caltrans  crews will reduce a quarter-mile section of State Route 94 (SR-94) to one lane just east of Freezer Road in Dulzura (south of Jamul) weekdays, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. beginning Wednesday, according to Caltrans.

The lane reduction is needed for work along the north side of the highway as part of the SR-94 Curve Realignment Project.

District releases audit of coordinated school safety plan

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Meeting recording provided by ECM: ECMCVUSDStudentSafety

March 11, 2019 (El Cajon)--Following a safety and security audit recently conducted by AECOM and DMB Consultants, two security engineering firms specializing in building security audits, the Cajon Valley Union School District (CVUSD) has been conducting a series of town meetings at local schools over the past month. The meetings are being held throughout the district to advise parents on what the district is doing to improve student safety and building security.

Meetings have so far taken place at Hillsdale Middle School, Grossmont Middle School, and Montgomery Middle School. Future meetings are set to take place at Cajon Valley Middle School on March 14,  Emerald Middle School on March 21, and Los Coches Creek Middle School on March 27, all at 6 p.m.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

March 11, 2019 (San Diego) – A winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service is in effect from 3 p.m. today until 12 noon tomorrow.  Snow is forecast above 5,500 feet in mountain areas of San Diego, San Bernadino and Riverside Counties.

By Miriam Raftery

March 8, 2019 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – The proposed 90 megawatt Jacumba Valley Ranch (JVR) solar project on 1,345 acres next to the Jacumba Hot Springs airport has a project footprint “much larger than the small town that is right next door,” says Donna Tisdale, chair of the Boulevard Planning Group.

An environmental impact report will be prepared and public input  is sought on what should be included in the EIR.  Comments are due by April 8.  A scoping meeting will be held on March 21, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Highland Community Center, 44681 Old Highway 80, Jacumba Hot Springs.

Below is the county’s public notice with full details:

Source:  Smart Border Coalition

March 7, 2019 (San Diego) - Today the binational San Diego-Tijuana Smart Border CoalitionTM opens access to its new, free public website, designed with entirely new content to help improve the user experience at the region’s legal border crossings: www.smartbordercoalition.com.

Motorists advised to expect delays through the construction zone

Source: Caltrans

March 6, 2019 (Dulzura) - Crews will begin work on the new State Route 94 (SR-94) Curb Realignment Project in Dulzura (south of Jamul) beginning Monday, March 11, according to Caltrans. The long-awaited  project will soften the curve on a quarter-mile section of SR-94 just west of Freezer Road and will include relocating utility poles and lines.

The work will require reducing SR-94 to one lane within the construction zone with 24/7 one-way traffic control for much of the year-long project. Temporary traffic control will be used at each end of the lane closure to signal drivers when to safely proceed through the single lane.

East County News Service

March 4, 2019 (San Diego) -- Superior Court Judge Eddie C. Sturgeon sided with the ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLUF-SDIC) and several San Diego news media outlets, ruling on March 1st that local law enforcement agencies must comply with a new state public records law, SB 1421, and disclose relevant records regardless of when they were created.

By Miriam Raftery

View video of Cohen’s complete testimony:   https://www.c-span.org/video/?458125-1/michael-cohen-president-trump-he-racist-con-man-cheat

View highlights:  https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4782554/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-apologizes-lying

February 28, 2019 (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump’s long-time personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, called his former boss a “liar”, a” conman” and a “racist” during several hours of testimony before the House Oversight and Reform Committee this week.  Cohen testified that Trump knew in advance that Wikileaks planned to release stolen Democratic Committee emails.  He also told committee members that Trump directed him to violate the law—and Cohen provided a check signed by Trump after he became president for “hush money” paid to cover up an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels.

Republicans grilling Cohen sought to discredit him, since he previously lied to Congress and since his cooperation with federal prosecutors could result in a reduction of his three-year prison sentence. However Cohen also handed over documents to the committee, including extensive financial records that Cohen suggested implicate Trump and Trump’s family members in financial crimes.

Democrats on the committee probed Cohen’s knowledge of other potential witnesses to the alleged criminal activities, also laying the groundwork to subpoena the President’s tax records.  Cohen has apologized and voiced remorse for lying and covering up illegal activities on behalf of Trump.

By Miriam Raftery

February 28, 2019 (La Mesa) – You’re invited to an East County Solar Experience on Saturday, March 2 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at the Salvation Army KROC Center community center room, 6845 University Ave. in La Mesa. 

Hear from nationally accredited energy professionals and nonprofit climate champions to learn about the evolving solar power landscape including what’s changing for solar power and clean energy policy in 2019. You’ll also learn from neighbors who went solar.

Register at www.SDSolarExperience.org for this event hosted by Sullivan Solar Power and Climate Action Campaign.  There’s power through education!