476 of 605 officer deaths in 2020 and 2021 in the U.S. were due to COVID-19

By Miriam Raftery

October 17, 2021 (San Diego) – Law enforcement officers risk their lives daily to protect the public. Yet many have voiced fear over COVID-19 vaccines as their unions push back against mandates.

The irony is that according to the “Officer Down Memorial Page,” the greatest risk by far to the lives of police and other law enforcement officers isn’t an armed criminal. In 2020 and 2021, COVID-19 killed by far more law enforcement officers nationally and statewide than anything else. In California last year, COVID took the lives of more officers than all other causes of death combined.

By Miriam Raftery

October 13, 2021 (San Diego) – If you’re a San Diego County resident not yet vaccinated against COVID-19, you’re in a shrinking minority. San Diego County has one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation with over 2.2 million people fully vaccinated. That’s 80% of everyone eligible (ages 12 and up), the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.  Even more, 89.2%, are at least partially vaccinated.

Yet hospitalizations and deaths continue – nearly all among unvaccinated people. In the past 30 days, 263 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 in San Diego County – and 258 of those were not fully vaccinated. In the past week, 37 deaths were reported from COVID-19, and 31 of those were not fully vaccinated.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of the Pentagon: U.S. troops help evacuate Afghan refugees

October 8, 2021 (San Diego) – San Diego Supervisors voted unanimously this week to adopt a proposal by East County Supervisor Joel Anderson to have the County Office of immigrant and Refugee Affairs work with refugee resettlement agencies to assist with a wave of Afghan refugees arriving in our region. The board also approved Anderson’s plan to ask the federal government to spend part of $9.5 billion in frozen Taliban assets to pay for refugee resettlements.

In addition, Supervisors approved a proposal by Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer to create an Afghan Resettlement Task Force.

With the Taliban takeover of the country, those who helped American troops as translators or in other capacities faced risk of death if they remained, as did women’s rights and human rights advocates. Many fled Afghanistan with few personal possessions.

Anderson stated, “I am thankful that my colleagues recognize the importance of this measure that will ensure San Diego County is ready to welcome these refugees into our communities.” He added that his East County district has a large population of Afghans and others with Middle Eastern heritage.”

By Miriam Raftery

View full video of Zoom interview 

Hear audio from our radio show on KNSJ (updated with status on bills signed into law)

Updated October 7, 2021 with status of bills signed or vetoed

October 3, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Last week, East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery

Interviews State Senator Brian Jones (R-Santee) via Zoom.  The Senator discussed his legislative accomplishments in getting several bills passed by the Legislature and onto the Governor’s desk.

 Several have been signed into law, including a measure to help homeless students get resources, a bill to protect foster children from human trafficking, and another to require that conservancy hearings remain private unless a judge finds a compelling reason to make them public.

Others remain pending, including a bill require personal protective gear for social workers during a pandemic, and more.

The Senator also spoke out on concerns over what he views as not enough clearing of forest lands to prevent devastating wildfires, even though funds for the clearing have long been allocated. In addition, he raised criticisms over the state’s homelessness policies and concerns about crime.

September 30, 2021 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• Residents of tiny town sue to stop 600-acre solar project: Opponents of the facility in Jacumba Hot Springs hire law firm that fought the Keystone XL pipeline. (Los Angeles Times)
• Insurance Companies Increasingly Drop Homes Throughout San Diego County As Fire Risks Rise (KPBS)
• Grossmont High students break the (dress) code (The Reader)
• Families who fled Afghanistan describe harrowing journey to escape Taliban (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Santee officials attack SANDAG’s transit-centered plan: ‘It’s a frickin slap in the face’ (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Chabad Of Poway Shooter Pleads Guilty To All 113 Federal Charges (KPBS)
• Anti-Vaxxer Turns Vaccine Advocate After Husband Dies From COVID-19 (NBC 7)
• Survey: Many SDPD officers say they would rather quit than comply with vaccine mandate (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Bob Baker, car dealership owner, philanthropist, dies at 89 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• El Cajon police identify sergeant, gunman he hit with vehicle and fatally shot (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• California outlawed the all-white-male boardroom. That move is reshaping corporate America
• Not enough subs: California schools face severe teacher shortage (Cal Matters)
• With recall defeated, Newsom scores well in poll against 2022 rivals (Los Angeles Times)
• What just happened with single-family zoning in California? - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
• Newsom Marks California Vaccination Milestone: 80% With at Least One Dose Times of San Diego)
• Education Dept. opens investigations into 5 statewide bans on mask mandates (The Hill)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

East County News Service

August 31, 2021 (San Diego) – The California Highway Patrol is asking for witnesses to two freeway shootings early this morning by a shooter in a black four-door sedan who remains at large. The shootings injured two motorists.

The first shooting occurred around 2:14 a.m. on north I-805 in Imperial Avenue; the second occurred about 11 minutes later on east State Route 94 east of College Grove Way near Lemon Grove.

Below are details provided by the CHP:

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Boeing C-17 carrying 640 passengers out of Afghanistan, via Air Mobility Command 

August 20, 2021 (San Diego) – San Diego Congressional members and residents with ties to Afghanistan are voicing concerns over the Biden administration’s actions in the wake of a rapid Taliban takeover in Afghanistan following pullout of most U.S. troops.  Chief among the concerns is how to provide safe evacuation of thousands of Afghans who aided American troops, as well as their families, in addition to U.S. citizens, nonprofit workers, journalists and others still in Afghanistan and at risk of losing their lives to vengeful Taliban forces.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

August 3, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) –East County Magazine’s staff is shocked and saddened to learn that our beloved multicultural journalist Briana Paul Gomez, 31, died in a rollover vehicle crash Sunday morning, August 1, 2021.

“We are all devastated at this tragic loss of a young reporter passionate about diversity issues,” said Miriam Raftery, Editor of East County Magazine. “Briana always strived to tell all sides of the issues she covered and had a promising future as a journalist. She was generous, compassionate, and a cherished friend as well as a talented writer. Our hearts are with her family, especially her young daughter.”

July 24, 2021 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• A plan to repair, revitalize American Legion Hall in La Mesa (La Mesa Courier)
• San Diego County tackles housing shortage with general plan changes (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• A tale of two cities’ transparency: Carlsbad and La Mesa (SD Rostra)
• SD County Planning Commission recommends building Jacumba solar project despite resident opposition (KUSI)
• Judge rules Poway synagogue shooting victims can sue Smith & Wesson (The Hill)
• Good Samaritans Rescue Driver of Burning SUV Accused of Hit-and-Run Spree (NBC San Diego)
• San Diego Police Announce Crackdown on Growing Violent Crime, Deadly ‘Ghost Guns’ (Times of San Diego)

STATE

• Gov. Newsom signs $12 billion plan to address homelessness(10 News)
• California approves 1st state-funded guaranteed income plan (AP)
• California businesses hiring homeless workers can get a $30,000 tax credit through new law (Sacramento Bee)
• California changes course on schools  enforcing mask mandate (AP)
• California’s Cliffs Are Collapsing One by One (Atlantic)
• Trump supporters linked to plot on California Democratic HQ had guns, zip ties, steroids (Sacramento Bee)
• California fires are burning faster, hotter, more intensely — and getting harder to fight  (Los Angeles Times)
• LA County Will Require People To Wear Masks Indoors  (Los Angeles Times)
• Couple charged in Southern California wildfire sparked by gender reveal(10 News)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

Our radio shows from January through March 2021 are now online.  For links to listen plus an index with full list of topics and interviews in each show. Click here or click the "read more" link and scroll down for audio links below the index. (Audio files may take a few moments to load.)  

Interviews included Congresswoman Sara Jacobs on the Capitol insurrection and COVID, Erica Pinto, chair of Southern Calif. Indian Healthcare, attorney Scott Gottredson on PFAS lawsuits and contamination at military bases, author Roger Showley, author of San Diego Memories III: A Time of Change – The 1960s and 1970s, and Craig Unger, author of American Kompromat.

The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  Our shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. (Note: Due to COVID-19 quarantines, some show dates aired reruns. Original shows are listed below.) Shows also include station IDs and public service announcements.

July 10, 2021 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• County Nixed Spending $1.5 million for Fire Retrofits in Backcountry (iNewsSource)
• Number of Delta variants in San Diego County more than doubles in a week (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Search on for trio who broke into popular San Diego restaurant DZ Akins (10 News)
•  State auditor to investigate deaths in San Diego County jails (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• La Mesa’s new police chief didn’t let tough childhood drag him down (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• U.C. San Diego forced to cut out of state admissions (KPBS)

STATE

• Delta variant now California’s dominant coronavirus strain (Los Angeles Times)
• Gov. Newsom files lawsuit against his secretary of state over recall filing 'mistake' (KCRA)
• Gavin Newsom recall election date officially set: California voters to cast ballots in September
• FEMA Rejected 95% Of Aid Applicants During California's Last Wildfire Disaster. Why? (NPR)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Miriam Raftery

View press conference

Photo: Shane Harris President of People's Association of Justice Advocates speaks Thursday at announcement as San Diego Unified School District Board President Richard Barrera looks on. (Photo via SDUSD)

July 9, 2021 (San Diego) – San Diego Unified School District's board of trustees is poised to become the first public agency to adopt a “Boost Democracy” proposal by Rev. Shane Harris, President of the People’s Association of Justice Advocates. During its July 13 meeting, the board will test out allowing members of the public to receive a text message on request shortly before an agenda item they wish to speak on comes up. Harris hopes to have other government agencies across our region and nation follow suit.

Harris said that COVID-19 turned public meetings into a telecommunications platforms through online programs such as Zoom. “People engaged, people woke up, and people spoke up” about concerns ranging from COVID-19 to their children’s education.  “The central place that something going on was at these public meetings....One of the things I saw during this time was a breakdown in efficiency. It made government meetings more accessible,” since people could call in from where they were at, “but it did not make government meetings more efficient.” He said he saw mothers caring for children, activists and business owners calling in for meetings and waiting hours sometimes to speak on agenda items.

East County News Service

Photo: County Administration Building, courtesy of San Diego County News Service

June 29, 2021 (San Diego) – San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to adopt a $7.23 billion revised budget for fiscal year 2021-22. The adopted budget responds to voices in the community and follows a Framework for the Future that will fundamentally change County operations, with significant funding to address justice system reform, racial justice, health and environmental equity, homelessness, and economic opportunity.

“This is a budget that meets the needs of all our residents,” County Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer said,  adding that the budget is “stretching, but maintaining a prudent and responsible fiscal position.” 

The budget reflects new priorities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that caused hardships for many San Diegans and also reflects the board’s shift to a 3-2 Democratic majority after decades of Republican control, though all five Supervisors backed the revised budget.

June 15, 2021 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• San Diego County reaches key benchmark: herd immunity (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Publisher’s cancer battle endangers future of Julian’s newspaper (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• El Cajon-based Taylor Guitars hit new highs and lows during pandemic (10 News)
• Scripps Health Notifying 147,000 Whose Data Possibly Compromised in Cyber Attack (Times of San Diego)
• Number of ‘ghost guns’ seized by San Diego police on pace to double last year’s take (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• 2 SDPD officers among three people killed in wrong-way crash on I-5 in San Ysidro (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Ticks on a ‘quest’ for blood at California’s beaches. Is Lyme disease a rising risk?(Los Angeles Times)
• Gov. Newsom: A vaccination verification system is coming ‘very shortly’ (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Biden restores $929 million for California high-speed rail withheld by Trump (Reuters)
• Been vaccinated? California wants to give you a dream vacation (Los Angeles Times)
• Disneyland increases attendance capacity, drops masks and physical distancing as pandemic rules end (Los Angeles Daily News)
• The Central California town that keeps sinking (HCN)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.