By Miriam Raftery

August 12, 2014 (San Diego)--A local legislator says she has received threats over introducing a bill that would help poor mothers afford diapers for their children, 10 News reports. 

AB 1516 would give $80 for diapers to every family with a child under 2 years old, if the family qualifies for CALWORKS, the state’s program that helps welfare recipients get jobs.  

The high cost of diapers prevents many parents from returning to work, since most child care centers require that children wear disposable diapers, so reusing cloth ones is not an option during working hours.

By Miriam Raftery

August 12, 2014 (El Cajon)—El Cajon’s City Council will vote at today’s 3 p.m. meeting on directing staff to pursue a draft final agreement with Rock Church for establishing a partial lease of the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC).  The deal would also authorize Rock Church to lease land adjacent to the theater to construct a new building for the church that would be partially available for city use.

The measure is on the consent calendar, however ECM has received several e-mails from community members who are concerned  about separation of church state issues and about the long-term loss of the theater for public use during a significant number of hours each year.  They want to see any leasing decisions halted until the city follows up on its promises to hire a professional theater management company.

By Miriam Raftery

August 8, 2014 (Boulevard)—Donna Tisdale is the elected chair of the Boulevard Community Planning Group and has long been a champion fighting for rights of rural residents against an onslaught of industrial-scale development proposals.  So why did Soitec Solar snub Tisdale in three invitation-only meetings with residents on Soitec’s controversial industrial-scale solar projects in Boulevard, held at a private ranch?

"Politics in Paradise" showcases hot issues--and partisan divide in East County

Story and photos by Sharon Penny

Hear an audio report by Janis Russell: http://kiwi6.com/file/t3ud7qryhp

Photo, left to right:  CA Senator Joel Anderson, County Treasurer Dan McAllister, Supervisor Dianne Jacob, Assemblyman Brian Jones, Lemon Grove Mayor Mary Sessom, and Congressman Duncan Hunter

August 8, 2014 (El Cajon)--Six East County politicians participated in a lively question and answer session under the stars at Cuyamaca College's Water Conservation Garden during a mild summer evening on August 7.

The location for the annual event hosted by the joint Chambers ofCommerce in East County was apropos because the state’s water issue was a hot topic discussed by local leaders. The site exemplified ways that constituents could help with the current drought. Other issues debated at the event were welfare, immigration, the local craft beer industry, using public pension funds to invest in affordable housing, providing incentives to private developers, Proposition 13, high-speed rail, and even Shamu.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Center for Food Safety

August 10, 2014 (San Diego)-The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that no more genetically engineered crops or pesticides toxic to bees will be used at any National Wildlife Refuges across the country. This brings protection to wildlife n over 150 million acres of federal land, including  refuges here in San Diego County.

August 10, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Robert Gehr snapped this photo(s) during National Night Out on August 5 at the El Cajon Police Department.  “Low civilian turnout was a bit disappointing, yet that meant no crowds,” he writes. “Games for the kids, face painting as well. SWAT display, mini fire truck rides, hot dogs, Sheriff mounted patrol, K-9 and SWAT demonstrations, and lots of camaraderie amongst Police personnel.” This annual event was also free.”

August 10, 2014 (San Diego)—Chidren at the Visionary School for the Performing Arts presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Visionary Performance Space (7202 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, 92115) on August 14-16 and August 21-23.

North Coast Corridor Public Works Plan/Transportation and Resource Enhancement Program has “dire consequences to public health, climate change, and coastal integrity” says Duncan McFetridge, Cleveland National Forest Foundation co-director

East County News Service

August 10, 2014 (San Diego)--The Cleveland National Forest Foundation (CNFF) has sent a formal request to the California Coastal Commission to postpone project approval for the North Coast Corridor Public Works Plan/Transportation and Resource Enhancement Program (PWP/TREP). This project would expand and widen areas of Interstate 5 between La Jolla and Oceanside.

McFetridge has long contended that transit problems encouraging sprawl anywhere in the county puts added pressure on forests in the inland regions.

We're catching up on our archiving, after getting through the primary elections and moving our office/studio. Our May podcasts are now online, including many candidates who will be on the November ballot, as well as interviews on issues ranging from firefighting job opportunities to legal tips for surviving disasters.

To listen to our May radio shows online now, plus see a complete list of interviewees and other content on each show in May,  click here.

By Greg Dunne                                             

August 10, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--The Raven has such an undeserved reputation--always associated with darkness, despair, death. Right away one thinks of Ravens and Alfred Hitchcock, the Addams family, or Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven” and the movies inspired by Poe’s poetry, the 1935 classic “The Raven” starting Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. The list of Raven influence and culture is endless.

I am 59 years old and contemplating retirement, with dread. I just cannot imagine myself not going into work each day or being able to afford not working. What would I do with the time? I am alone at home and sometimes even on the weekends I get lonesome. My nest egg is comfortable but not luxurious. I wonder if it will last out my life, though. Guess I could live with my kids if necessary. Eeww! I often wake up at night thinking about my future and then cannot get back to sleep. Signed “Worried”

By Sharon Ann Hamilton

August 10, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Dear Worried, You are right to be worried! And you are not alone. July 13, 2014 research by US Census Bureau, Saperston, and Bankrate shows us that 80% of people, even as young as 30, do not believe theywill have enough money for retirement. In fact 35% rely completely on Social Security. 76% of people polled cite worries about money as a leading cause of stress. As we all have heard, stress can kill you.

August 9, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) - Every minute that a victim of sudden cardiac arrest waits for CPR, their chance of survival drops by up to 10 percent.

County News Service

August 6, 2014 (San Diego) -- San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors unanimously directed County staff Wednesday to start working on a program to promote agriculture. Ultimately, the program could open up nearly one-third of the unincorporated county to wineries.

August 7, 2014 (Spring Valley)--The Sheriff's Department wants your help in identifying and locating a man who robbed a bank in Spring Valley.

By Greg Dunne                                          

August 8, 2014 (Lake Murray) --Always dazzling when you see them with their long S-shaped necks, usually standing motionless, they look as if they are in stealth mode. The Great Blue Heron is one of our largest, most majestic birds in the East County.