View video of interview, which also aired on KNSJ radio: https://youtu.be/6CG6xMtEY8U

March 25, 2024 (La Mesa) East County Magazine recently interviewed La Mesa activists Janet Castaños, PhD, and Gene Carpenter, who raise concerns over La Mesa City Council’s Feb. 27 decision to end remote public comments.  The action came after anti-Semitic comments were made by several callers at the previous meeting, though the city’s stated reason for ending the public’s ability to call in with comments was that the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

Castaños calls the vote a “knee jerk” reaction without public input.  “We had built greater community activity, greater engagement in our City Council with our Zoom and call-in options,” noting that people who were sick or had childcare issues could call in from home.  She objects to the decision made “without even taking the time to look at a variety of options that are used by the City of San Diego City  Council or the Board of Supervisors...”

“It affects all boards and commissions for the city of La Mesa...You have to physically be there if you want to make a comment on anything on the agenda,” she added.

Source: Congresswoman Sara Jacobs

March 10, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) -- Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) secured $13.5 million for 15 local community projects in San Diego in an appropriations package that passed the House today. These projects were submitted by local governments and non-profits across California’s 51st district, from Lemon Grove to Grantville to Miramar. The Senate is expected to pass this package later this week, and then it will head to President Biden’s desk for his signature.

Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “Bringing home federal dollars to San Diego is one of my biggest responsibilities, so I’m incredibly proud that I secured $13.5 million for local projects across California’s 51st district – especially during such a politically fraught time in Congress. This much-needed funding will help address homelessness, support children, prevent wildfires, care for service members and veterans, build beautiful community spaces, and more. I’m excited to see all the good that this funding will do to make our community healthier, safer, and stronger.”

Rep. Sara Jacobs secured $13.5 million for these 15 San Diego projects:

By Miriam Raftery; Jonathan Goetz contributed to this report

View video and read full text

“My purpose tonight is to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment...What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack at — both at home and overseas at the very same time.” -- President Joe Biden

March 9, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – In a powerful State of the Union speech, President Joe Biden announced his intent to “both wake up Congress and alert the American people” about threats to our democracy at home and abroad.  He likened the global threat to 1941, when President Franklin Roosevelt addressed Congress with a warning while Hitler on the march and war raged in Europe. Biden warned of Russia’s threats to the free world, as well as threats to freedoms in the U.S.

In addition, Biden  touted historic economic gains, plans for a mortgage tax credit, a goal to cut more prescription drug costs, and a goal to further reduce the deficit by increasing taxes on wealthy individuals earning over $400,000  whose taxes were cut by the Trump administration.  He called on Congress to pass aid to Ukraine and a bipartisan border security and immigration reform bill, also announcing emergency orders for the military to build a pier to bring more humanitarian aid to Gaza.

By: Jessyka Heredia

Watch video here

This Article was edited on March 11, 2024 to express the concerns of residents who suffered storm damage and to better show the timeline of events and relationships between council members and Borderlands for Equity. 

March 7, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Tuesday, the Lemon Grove City Council members were presented a chance to pass a resolution “calling for an immediate, and permanent ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis affecting Gaza and Israel.”

Update March 6:  As of this morning, Steve Garvey has pulled ahead of Adam Schiff in the partial term Senate election.  Garvey is leading with 1,317,911 votes to 1,173,917 for Adam Schiff.  The two will run-off in November, with the winner seated as soon as votes are certified to serve the remaining few weeks in the late Senator Dianne Feinstein's term this November and December. 

Schiff  still has a narrow lead in the long-term race for the six-year term starting in January; currently Schiff leads in the long-term race narrowly with 1,247,753 over Garvey with 1,218,050 votes.  They will run-off in November as well for the long-term race to fill the next six-year term beginning in January.  

March 5, 2024 (San Diego) --With the balance of power in the U.S. Senate nearly equally split between Republicans and Democrats, the California race to replace the late Dianne Feinstein may decide the balance of power in the Senate and the Nation.

Currently, there are 49 Republicans, 48 Democrats and 3 Independents in the Senate. The Independents have chosen to Caucus with the Democrats, giving them a slight edge. Additionally, on January 20, 2021, Democratic vice president Kamala Harris took office. Her tie-breaking vote established a Democratic majority in the Senate.

With the death of long-serving Senator Dianne Feinstein, a seat that has been held by Democrats for decades is now up for grabs. Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler to fill the seat until an election could be held.

Today's ballot includes both a partial term election to complete the last two months of Feinstein's unfinished term, as well as a full-term election for the next six-year term beginning January 3, 2025.

By Miriam Raftery

March 6, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, a Democrat, has finished first in the primary election in the 51^st Congressional district, with 56.28% of the vote.  She will run-off against El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, a Republican, in the November general election. Wells captured 40.09% of the votes tallied thus far.

Wells has served as the city's mayor since 2013, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy left by resignation of Mayor Mark Lewis. He was later elected and twice won reelection. Should his Congressional bid be unsuccessful he would remain as mayor, since his term ends in 2024.*

By Michael Howard

March 5, 2024 (San Diego) – As the California State Assembly primary election results begin to unfold, it appears that the race for the 76th Assembly District seat is shaping up to be a face-off between Republican candidate Kristie Bruce-Lane (photo, left) and Democrat Darshana Patel (photo, right). The departure of incumbent Brian Maienschein has opened the door to a competitive contest with the two candidates vying for the vacant seat. 

With 19.9% of precinct’s reporting, Kristie Bruce-Lane received 26,271 votes, and Darshana Patel 17,918. Trailing behind the two top contenders was Democrat Joseph Rocha with 9,877 votes. 

By Jonathan Goetz

March 5, 2024 (San Diego's East County) -- On Super Tuesday, President Joe Biden won all 16 states holding Democratic contests for President, while former President Donald Trump won at least 12 of the 14 states holding Republican primaries or caucuses today. Neither secured enough delegates yet to secure their party’s nominations, though both appear on track to do so. This is Biden's first loss to primary challengers in the 2024 election cycle and Trump's second, following Haley's victory in Washington, D.C.

Jason Palmer, a venture capitalist and former staffer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, defeated Incumbent President Joe Biden by 51 votes to 40, in American Samoa's caucus. As a result, Palmer secured all six Democratic delegates from American Samoa. Palmer told NBC news after his surprising win, “You can never expect to beat an incumbent president, but I love the people of American Samoa, and they’ve been so wonderful to me this past month.”

Trump was denied a sweep by Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor (ret.) of South Carolina, who won the Republican primary in the State of Vermont, picking up at least 9 of 17 Republican delegates.